Why Implement Research Projects?
Projects come under the framework of learning known as alternative assessment. Research projects are valuable and can teach students different skills than they might learn from lessons that end with traditional testing. Class time should be spent on explaining the project schedule, the work involved, the topic itself, and the project evaluation or rubrics.
Project work can be done in groups or in pairs. For an individually-based research project, the process is very much the same. However, the individual student is responsible for all the stages of the project and this can be a burden.
Teaching Prerequisite skills and subskills
Teachers should lay the important skills and subskills needed to carry out the project process, which can be anything from how to prepare a laboratory report to how to summarize a paragraph to paraphrasing. They should also know in advance, how they are going to be graded. Designing your own rubrics based on the criteria you wish to assess is important for moving on to the next stage.
Keeping a Project Schedule
Students should record their in-class progress using a work schedule that asks them to record what each student has done and what each student will do for the upcoming lesson. This work schedule portion of the project should be a part of the student’s final grade as it reveals accountability during all stages of project work.
Once the students are instructed in the project requirements and demands, they are now ready to continue to following stages. They should also be presented with a project timetable and know what to expect during the lessons that they will devote on the project.
Stage 1 – Collecting information
Students should be encouraged to use a variety of resources. Here is an excellent site for searching for subject content.
Stage 2 – Digesting the Information
It makes sense to teach the students skills of paraphrasing and summarizing prior to collecting information. They need to know what resources are helpful to answering their research question and summarize accordingly. This is a life long skill, and also incredibly helpful for college. Here is a lesson plan on how to teach summarization.
Stage 3 – Recording and Writing the Information
Students then write out their chapters keeping to the project guidelines. They should be taught the mechanics of writing out a proper bibliography
Stage 4- Preparing for the Final Presentation
The final stage should involve some kind of presentation either by using a power point presentation, a poster, a demonstration revealing what the students have learned in addition to handing in the written form of the research project. This final step makes the project look very professional!
Stage 5 – Reflecting on project Process
Students should be encourage to reflect on their work in class, what they have learned from the project and what they might change for the next research project.
Other Helpful sites for Project Work
Think Quest competition where teams of students, led by local coach, work on projects and generate websites according to age group.
Global Grocery List where students collect and contribute data on food prices throughout the world.
Westward Ho! where for five weeks, teams of students "collaborative" families, based on real families from the past, make daily decisions to insure their safe arrival in Oregon along the Oregon Trail.
International Projects Registry from Global School Net Foundation
Find Free Projects from Tellacollaborate
