What Constitutesa Good Internet Research

Project?

Hideto D. HarashimaMaebashi Institute of Technology

Introduction

• Dull writing practice• Importance of adopting research projects for

writing development• The WWW -- rich information resource for

EFL students• Most EFL students are unfamiliar with

information search in a foreign language • How should we guide them?

Four Years of Empirical Study

• Indivisualistic Action Research

• Trials and reflections on improving “Search and Write” activities

• Seven Keys to a Good Internet Research Project

Seven Keys to a Good Internet Research Project

• 1. Ease and Clarity (Fencing)• 2. Motivating task design • 3. Variety of information sources• 4. Subjective over Objective information search • 5. Appropriate instruction on search techniques• 6. Appropriate selection of research topics and

methods• 7. Project memo

1. Ease and Clarity

• Novice students to the Internet

• Disoriented and easy to go astray

• Class gets disorderly

• Sheltered research projects with substantial teacher control is desirable

• a portal site as a base (fencing)

• CIA World Fact Book

• project (1)

2. Motivating Task Design

• The essence of research -- autonomous pursuit of truth --must be fostered.

• Students need to be exposed to a variety of information sources to be intellectually motivated.

• They need to learn the information search skills.

3. Variety of information sources

• Problems with one or limited sources:– critical thinking habits– Media Literacy– passive attitude among students– plagiarism

• Freedom to visit a variety of sources

• Autonomy and responsibility

• Project (2)

• Project (3-0)

4. Subjective over Objective information search

• Objective information search– straightforward and easy– Problems

• doesn’t stimulate students’ motivation for intellectual investigation

• doesn’t develop their search skills

• doesn’t foster their critical thinking habits

• susceptible to plagiarism

• Subjective information search– elevate students’ overall research competence– encourage them to think critically– urge them to create their own views after

evaluating different opinions– promotes Media Literacy

5. Appropriate instruction on search techniques

• Autonomous research may end up in dismay without proper guidance on search techniques

• Search techniques– search directories– search engines– effective keywords– advanced search techniques– other search tools/databases– research aid organizations

Some useful keywords

For objective information search

• Data• Numbers• Records• Statistics• List• Table• Standing

• Comparison• Countries• Facts• Recent• Transition• Increase• Decrease

For subjective information search

• Opinions• Views• Review• Discussion• Forum• Comparison• Analysis• Assessment• Evaluation

• Criticism• Critic• Argument• Opposition• Objection• Controversy• Conflict• Difference• Repercussion

• Project (3)

6. Appropriate selection of research topics and methods

• Not all research topics are suited for Internet search.

• We need wisdom on the selection of research topics.

• Awareness of the advantages and the disadvantages of Internet research and library research in terms of effectiveness and quality of information

• Suitable areas of queries for the two methods

Topics suitable for researching on the

Internet and in the Library

Internet• current issues• statistical data• frequently updated data• discussion results• quick data search• personal information • controversial issues• institutions and their activities• IT-related information• business-related information

Library• historical or chronological events• established values, thoughts,

theories, systems• famous people in history• works of specific areas

(literature, art, architecture, etc.)• information about 3rd-world

countries• academic studies in depth

7. Project Memo

• Quite a few students misunderstand task objectives.

• They don’t like to consult with or show their incomplete work to teachers.

• What is citation about?

• Have students to submit an initial and interim project memo

• Help them hold clearer idea about the course of the project

• Project (4)

References

• Brown-Daniel Library (2001) Library Research [Online]. Available: http://www.tnstate.edu/library/library_research.htm

• Dodge, B. (2001) Seven Steps Toward Better Searching [Online]. Available: http://edweb.sdsu.edu/WebQuest/searching/sevensteps.html

• Nunan, D. (1992) Research Method in Language Learning, CUP. 3.

• Pepperdine University Library (2001) Seven Steps to Effective Library Research [Online]. Available: http://rigel.pepperdine.edu/instruction/bisteps.html

• Wilson, F. (2001) Effective Library Research [Online]. Available: http://www.nceltr.mq.edu.au/resources/

Thank you!

http://keiko.maebashi-it.ac.jp/