Information Literacy 707. Research as Inquiry.

Learning Group: Second year undergraduates.

"How are older online users (Ages 55+) experiencing or addressing privacy issues on social networking sites as MySpace and Facebook?"

Learning outcome:
Students will be able to:

• identify key words and related terms in order to locate relevant sources for their activities.
• draft research questions based on gaps in information.
• know what research method to apply for the information need and context of the particular research inquiry.

Activity:

• Brainstorm the topic, and construct a mind-map from the brainstorming showing key words. Also define the information need by evaluating and analysing the key words in the topic.

•  I will give students 3 research questions and articles on research done on 3 topics, and ask students to identify information gaps of questions they think have not been answered in the articles. I will then ask students to draft research questions based on the information gaps.

• I will assign students to keep research logs so that they can track changes in their particular research directions as they identify resources. 

Link the activity to the knowledge practice:
Activties linked to knowledge practices:

• deal with complex research by breaking complex questions into simple ones, limiting the scope of investigations. (Activity 1)
• formulate questions for research based on information gaps or on re-examination of existing, possibly conflicting, information. (Activity 2)
• use various research methods, based on need, circumstance, and type of inquiry. (Activity 3)

Dispositions linked to activities:

• seek multiple perspectives during information gathering and assesment; (Ativity 1)
• value intellectual curiosity in developing questions and learning new investigative methods; (Activity 2)
• consider research as open-ended exploration and engagement with information. (Activity 3)