The Research Model
I am in the last days of the 5-day Tech Directors Academy through TCEA. This academy spreads 5 days over the course of a year and these last two are about curriculum & instruction and professional development. Today was C&I and there were some real gems in our discussions.
Again, I cannot put in words how valuable this academy has been to me. I am a first year CTO with minimal training in everything I do. This academy is something I see as valuable to my day-to-day role; but I can see how valuable it could be to the “old-timers” out there too. Just plugging it again again – take this academy. It is really a rich resource for all of us. Both Lori and Kari have been a great team for teaching us. They also provide us with TONS of resources we get to take with us and use.
I think today’s biggest influence on me was the idea of developing a district research model and then how to share it with staff and stakeholders. Lori didn’t get to show how they developed their model but shared how to instruct others to use it. She showed how Bastrop ISD gathered librarians, tech apps teachers, and CTE teachers together in groups to apply the research model to solve a problem. A project-based learning model in staff development.
It is interesting to me because many districts develop a Writing Model but it is rare to have one based solely on research. Personally, I feel that this model is key to our students living in the 21st century. The ability not only to research but to ask good questions to find good answers is such a demand for everyone. We need to teach our students not only to research for classroom projects but to answer those questions we all face in the future:
- What is the best cell phone for me?
- Where should I go to college?
- How can I finance my new car?
- Where is the best place to go on my vacation?
Being able to ask good questions and to find information in a variety of methods is key to survival outside the walls of our schools and the homes of our parents.
What Lori shared was the first meeting with the teachers and librarians – she gave them a problem-based learning scenario and outlined the research method. First she had participant gather in their group: librarians, CTE teachers, and Tech-Apps teachers. Then they were all presented the problem which was that the President needed a brief on Global Warming – what it was and how to solve it. Each participant had a laptop and had to assemble the brief.
After they had their information and shared presentations, these groups mixed together so that they could share how each group researched. The discussion among these groups was about the method for implementing good research. Then the discussion continued to be about how students could implement the research model. And on even into how to incorporate the research model into curriculum and instruction.
This is something I want to take back to my district to develop. It seems so fundamental and that it could be that missing link to connect curriculum, libraries, and technology on a foundation shared by all.
Today’s session was about a lot of stuff but my brain got stuck on this one. I really think this is going to be key to our staff development process. Now we just have to develop that research model. Good thing Lori shared her resources with us in the Academy!
June 9th, 2009 at 11:38 am
So glad to hear that was shared with the tech leaders! I agree with you totally!
Our librarians all came together and created a research model for our program based on Carol Kuhlthau that we have been using for a few years, and it came out of some work we were doing jointly with the CTCs, but I don’t think in subsequent years I’ve/we’ve done a good job with getting it out there, particularly at the high school, where people sort of have their own ideas of what they want to do, or maybe it didn’t have enough complexity.
Anyway, it is so uplifting to hear of tech leaders getting that sort of model and training and discussion, and hopefully they will share that insight with their librarians and let them lead!