Independent Investigations THE WHO WHAT WHERE WHEN WHY

Independent Investigations THE WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY, AND HOW BY JENNY ISRAEL

Definition of Independent Investigations Independent Projects or Investigations are individual or small group studies of a topic of interest to the student(s), including the development of a product for sharing information learned with an appropriate audience.

Purposes of Independent Investigations Provide alternative activities that address the differing abilities, interests, or learning styles of compacted students Enrich or extend the essential curriculum Challenge the abilities of highly able students

Advantages of Independent Investigations Can be used in any curriculum area Expand upon interest of student Promote advanced planning, research, and technology skills Encourage critical, creative, and higher-level thinking

Advantages of Independent Investigations Enable students to work with complex and abstract ideas Allow long-term and in-depth work on topics of interest Allow student choice Satisfy intellectual curiosity Increase student motivation and independence

Investigations versus Reports Investigations • Use information gathered through independent research to answer an essential question and make an analysis • Result in the creation of an original written, visual, oral, artistic, or multimedia product • Involve analysis, complex application, synthesis, and evaluation • Inspire new ideas, methodologies and perspectives • Satisfy intellectual curiosity • Generate findings to be shared with a specific, authentic audience Reports • Use information gathered through research to relate information about a topic • Require a written product • Involve acquisition of knowledge, simple application, and demonstration of comprehension • Make plagiarism tempting • Satisfy requirements • Generate information to be shared with the teacher

“Think Abouts” in Planning for Independent Investigations Student interest and learning profile Student level of independence Criteria to be used in assessing and evaluating student work Connections to essential curriculum standard(s) and indicator(s) Resources available Dates to meet with individual(s) or group(s) of students to monitor and discuss progress

Think Abouts Ways to address student questions and/or concerns Working conditions for students Mentors and experts to consult with students as needed Time for students to work in the media center or computer lab as necessary Presentation of the final product to the teacher before sharing it with a larger audience

Planning for Independent Investigations Student planning and management tools available under independent investigations in enrichment folder on T: drive Independent Investigation Product Planner Independent Investigation Timeline Daily Independent Investigation Log Independent Investigation Resource Log Product Idea Web Independent Investigation Reflection Form

INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION METHOD Follow these Footsteps to Success in an Investigation Topic Goal Setting Research Organizing Goal Evaluation Product Presentation

Planning and Implementation of Independent Investigations Conduct an interest inventory to students to determine possible topics/products Samples: Content Process Product Guide students in the development of essential question and research questions Collaborate with the student(s) to refine their question(s) and/or generate a hypothesis Set goals, including the design, evaluation, and presentation of the final product Create a scoring tool that will be used to evaluate student work Discuss final product, working conditions, resources, time lines, scoring tool, and due dates

Planning and Implementation of Independent Investigations Establish a firm time line and due dates Model use of planning and management tools available in the enrichment folder on the T: drive Facilitate investigation by locating and recommending resources Explain how and when students should seek teacher assistance and support Teach students bibliography, data gathering/research, notetaking, and/or outlining skills as needed Monitor progress and offer assistance as needed Have student(s) complete the Independent Investigation Reflection Form available in the enrichment folder on the T: drive

Student Options for Sharing Independent Investigations Students are able to share information learned during the independent investigation in a multitude of ways. Written products, oral presentations, artistic creations, visual displays, multimedia productions, or a combination of these are appropriate. It is important to provide an authentic or live audience for student. See the “Product Idea” form in the enrichment folder on the T: drive for specific ideas.

Questions What question/s do you have before we move to designing an independent investigation for your upcoming student?

Let’s Design Look at poster with post-it notes about your upcoming student. Do a web-based search to find units or lessons for stepping off point. ALEX Begin filling out teacher template for independent investigations

References Westberg Fairfax Renzulli Herbert http: //alex. state. al. us/index. php