Research+Tools

Research tools are very important tools for students to have access to and understand how to use. Often times teachers assign research papers to students and it becomes a project that is procrastinated, hurriedly written, and a process of just copying facts not learning (Bean et. al, 2011). It is important to provide opportunities for students to research things that are important to them. "Opportunities to become actively involved in pursuing a topic of genuine personal interest are all too rare" (Bean et. al, 2011). Some of the research tools I found meaningful to students were "Dogo News" and "Know it All".

"Dogo News" is a kid friendly website of easy to read articles. The topics on this website include current events, science, sports, social studies, did you know, green, general, entertainment, international, fun, amazing, videos with articles to view. These topics are kid friendly articles that are easy to read and comprehend for students. There is also a box of other news topics ranging from candy and toys to inventions on current history.

"Know it All" is a web portal of fun interactive websites for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, parents, and teachers. This website includes interactive websites, activities, resources, virtual field trips, and a search engine This website is a great way to allow for students to get involved in researching information that interests them. Teachers can set aside a certain amount of time either daily or weekly where students can view these search engines to view information of interest to them. They can be free to look up their questions and interests. After the time is up, teachers can have a discussion format, an author's chair type format, or even have students respond in a weekly journal on the information they found. This is a great way to bring material alive for students, allow for freedom, and also make connections to school to the real world, their own lives, and other text. Allowing students choice in what they are learning is proven to increase motivation and involvement. "The more students have a voice in important decisions about how and what they learn, the more involved and motivated they feel" (Cushman, 2003, p. 106). Allowing students time weekly to view these search engines on their own personal interests can help to increase this motivation and involvement.

Click here to visit Dogo News Click here to visit Know it All

Here are some other Web 2.0 Research Tools to view. Simply click the picture to view the website.