Thing 6. Teacher Guide to the Research Project Calculator

Upon the end of the break on Wednesday, I will be conducting a pilot project with my second hour Criminal Justice class in which they will create a power point production of an issue of their choice concerning Criminal Justice (e.g. sentencing, capital punishment, juvenile justice, racial profiling, state and federal drug policy, DUI policy, alternatives to incarceration, electronic privacy, interrogation and torture, etc.). The easiest part of teaching research for me is helping a student find a topic of interest that is relevant to the content we are studying. The most difficult challenge will be motivating the students to work in an efficient manner with the time limit, which in this case will be ten class periods from start to finish. Also, the ability to convert their research into a Power Point production will be difficult. The RPC Teacher Guide will help me in a variety of ways in this journey with this particular class. The Support Materials are outstanding. I will use several for this project. As for Step 1: QUESTION, my students will receive three items. First, the "Minnesota 5 Student Research Planning Guide". . .Second, the "Narrowing a topic using a general to specific triangle" planning aid. . .Third, the "What is research?" poster. As for Step 2: GATHER, my students will receive two items, First, the "Improve your Google search tip sheet". . .Second, the "10 Qs for evaulating web sites" student aid. . .As for Step 3: CONCLUDE, my students will receive the "Outline organizer". . .As for Step 4: COMMUNICATE, my students will receive three items. First, the "Useful Transitions Tip Sheet". Second, the "keyhole Essay tip sheet. Third, the "Storyboard" (for oral presentations with electronic slides. As for Step 5: EVALUATION, my students will receive one item--the "Grading Rubric for the research process". . .I will keep you informed as to my group's progress. drfaust