Building Knowledge and Exploring Ideas
At the outset of any Inquiry Project, it is important to spend time building your knowledge and begin the process of exploring and playing with ideas. Insight and analysis cannot happen without knowledge, so it is important that you pursue ideas through reading and viewing in your area of interest. Through this process you will begin to build your cache of resources which will serve as your research foundation. From here as well you will develop your Annotated Bibliography & Research Proposal. Suggestions on where to begin… |
On this page: |
Read a General Encyclopedia article on your subject
A general encyclopedia article is a good place to start. General encyclopedias, such as World Book, are designed to give you a general overview of the topic. Importantly, they provide you with the most essentially important information about that topic. They are not necessarily comprehensive, but they will hit the highlights and are therefore a valuable foundation.
Then on Secondary, then on the World Book icon
A general encyclopedia article is a good place to start. General encyclopedias, such as World Book, are designed to give you a general overview of the topic. Importantly, they provide you with the most essentially important information about that topic. They are not necessarily comprehensive, but they will hit the highlights and are therefore a valuable foundation.
- Go to library.sd36.bc.ca and click on Your School Name
- Click on
Then on Secondary, then on the World Book icon
- Type your search term in the search box and click on search. Usually the first item that comes up is the most appropriate.
- Click on the Article tab to read the article
- Click on Related Information to access other articles on the subject and other resources as well.
Published information from an Online Database
An Online Database is a comprehensive collection of information in electronic form and organized for quick retrieval. Typically it is comprised of a large collection of encyclopedia, magazine, and/or newspaper articles, and occasionally other media such as transcripts, interviews, maps, historical documents, photos and videos. Databases, like encyclopedias can be general or subject specific.
Importantly, information contained in published articles has gone through some degree of editing. That means knowledgeable people from the field have reviewed and edited the information before it is published. We call this process refereeing.
- Go to library.sd36.bc.ca and click on Your School Name. From the Library Catalog Home , see
- Click on Secondary
- Click on the icon for Academic Search Primer (please note: if you are working from home you will need a login and password. See your teacher-librarian).
In the search box type your subject. Make sure the Full Text and the Peer Reviewed boxes (on the left) are checked.
It is important that you use the right search terms. Sometimes a bit of experimenting is required. You will get literally thousands of articles, from a variety of sources such as magazines and newspapers. When you get to the results page, click PDF Full Text, underneath the title in blue, to read the article.
You may search for articles from a specific journal by entering the name of the journal in the Publication field. (Set the date range on the right to limit the search).
Internet Research
It is tempting to “Google It”, but beware, the internet, at least the parts you can access for free, is full of misinformation, sweeping generalizations, bias and a shallow approach to most topics.
You must develop skills to critically evaluate webpages in order to obtain reliable information. Here is one method:
Accuracy
Using a Library Catalog – Subject Headings, Basic Searches, Limiting Searches & Root Words
Subject Headings
Resources in a Library are catalogues using an established list of subject headings. Although you can use keyword searching, it is better to determine the subject headings appropriate to your search and use those to look for library holdings. Sometimes, determining that subject heading can be tricky. Try “making up” a title, then check to see how that book has been catalogued: Let’s imagine that we need to find information on Butterflies local to our area. I typed Butterflies in the library catalogue search box then clicked on keyword:
You may search for articles from a specific journal by entering the name of the journal in the Publication field. (Set the date range on the right to limit the search).
Internet Research
It is tempting to “Google It”, but beware, the internet, at least the parts you can access for free, is full of misinformation, sweeping generalizations, bias and a shallow approach to most topics.
You must develop skills to critically evaluate webpages in order to obtain reliable information. Here is one method:
Accuracy
- Author indicated?
- Qualifications indicated?
- Can you contact him/her?
- Is the publishing institution indicated?
- Purpose of publishing institution indicated?
- Is this website attached to an “institution”?
- Are the goals/objectives of the page met?
- Is the information comprehensive or complete?
- Are there opinions expressed by the author?
- Is the page dated?
- Has the page been updated?
- Are the links up-to-date?
- Do the links compliment the page?
- Is there a balance of text & images?
- Is the information presented cited correctly?
Using a Library Catalog – Subject Headings, Basic Searches, Limiting Searches & Root Words
Subject Headings
Resources in a Library are catalogues using an established list of subject headings. Although you can use keyword searching, it is better to determine the subject headings appropriate to your search and use those to look for library holdings. Sometimes, determining that subject heading can be tricky. Try “making up” a title, then check to see how that book has been catalogued: Let’s imagine that we need to find information on Butterflies local to our area. I typed Butterflies in the library catalogue search box then clicked on keyword:
On the Results page a potentially useful book was listed: Butterflies afield in the Pacific Northwest.
When I click on the title I can see how the book was catalogued and see the subject headings used.
Now I can search by subject heading: Butterflies – Northwest, Pacific – Identification
Basic Search
Our library Catalog interface allows you to do a basic search by Keyword, Title, Author, Subject and Series. Each search will produce different results; a search of Butterflies in Keyword will produce a different result than if you search for the term in Title or Series.
Limiting Searches
Sometimes, it is very useful to be able to limit your results. From the Library Search page, click on Power Search
Basic Search
Our library Catalog interface allows you to do a basic search by Keyword, Title, Author, Subject and Series. Each search will produce different results; a search of Butterflies in Keyword will produce a different result than if you search for the term in Title or Series.
Limiting Searches
Sometimes, it is very useful to be able to limit your results. From the Library Search page, click on Power Search
This is a search for butterflies AND identification BUT NOT fiction. These search limiters are very useful, and will give you very precise results. They are especially useful when searching through a large library collection.
Root Words
Searching by the root of a word is also a useful search tool. You can potentially miss resources if your searches uses one form of a word when there are in fact more. For example, if you search Economics, you may miss resources on the Economy. Using Econ* (the root of the word with a *) your results will include resources using economy and economics.
Root Words
Searching by the root of a word is also a useful search tool. You can potentially miss resources if your searches uses one form of a word when there are in fact more. For example, if you search Economics, you may miss resources on the Economy. Using Econ* (the root of the word with a *) your results will include resources using economy and economics.
Inquiry Portfolio
Your Inquiry Portfolio is the digital place where you will showcase your Inquiry Project, the process and the product. It is a working document showing your progress and learning.
Throughout the project, you will use the Portfolio to:
Here is a basic framework for your Inquiry Portfolio.
Throughout the project, you will use the Portfolio to:
- Complete mini-assignments and reflections through regular entries
- Record sources
- Store notes and other documents created throughout the project
- Store your completed project regardless of the format you have chosen
Here is a basic framework for your Inquiry Portfolio.
- Reflection: what is my understanding of inquiry.
- Reflection: my choice for study and why.
- Timeline and Goals
- Background knowledge collected
- Sources: annotated bibliography
- My Research Question
- Research notes
- Reflection: am I ready to proceed? Do I need to do more research?
- Outline
- Wow factor – create new meaning, ask new questions.
- Draft
- Project
- Preparations for presentation
- Reflection: in the end what did I do well, what did I learn, what would I do differently next time.
Portfolio Entries checklist
library_supported_inquiry_protfolio_entries_checklist.pdf | |
File Size: | 332 kb |
File Type: |
Portfolio Template
lsi_portfolio_detail.docx | |
File Size: | 28 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Building Knowledge & Exploring Ideas Sample
happiness_graphic_organizer.docx | |
File Size: | 321 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Annotated Bibliography
Creating an Annotated Bibliography from Douglas College.
Annotated Bibliography
library_supported_inquiry_annotated_bibliography.pdf | |
File Size: | 261 kb |
File Type: |
Resources:
McKenzie, Jamie. Beyond Cut-and-Paste: Engaging Students in Making Good New Ideas. Bellingham, Wa: FNO, 2009. Print.
McKenzie, Jaime. "The Great Question Press." The Great Question Press. FNO Press, n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2016.
<http://www.fno.org/feb04/questionpress.html>.
McKenzie, Jamieson A. Beyond Technology: Questioning, Research and the Information Literate School. Bellingham, WA: FNO Pess,
2000. Print.
McKenzie, Jamie. Beyond Cut-and-Paste: Engaging Students in Making Good New Ideas. Bellingham, Wa: FNO, 2009. Print.
McKenzie, Jaime. "The Great Question Press." The Great Question Press. FNO Press, n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2016.
<http://www.fno.org/feb04/questionpress.html>.
McKenzie, Jamieson A. Beyond Technology: Questioning, Research and the Information Literate School. Bellingham, WA: FNO Pess,
2000. Print.