The weaving stage has been fun for me so far. I have enjoyed going through (processing) all of the information that I have gathered. Boy there is a lot! It has been interesting to learn about some of our national parks. They offer so many neat discoveries. I hope to include some of these activities and sites in my final project.
I have revisited my California bubble map. Here is the newest one…
As you can see, I have greatly reduced these topics off of CA. By focusing on just four sub-topics, I have been able to really zero-in and expand these ideas. There still might be a need to again weed out some of the sub-topics. I will see how my journey of inquiry progresses.
I am a note taker. I love to jot down keywords and then add to these ideas. For example, as I was searching a Sequoia National Park website, I wrote down words like: lodge, hiking trails, wildlife, wildflowers, trees, horse trails, etc… I did this same type of note taking as I researched my other topics of interest. I also make a note of what source I was using when I found this information. This way, I have source information handy and I can revisit the source if needed.
I also like that during this phase, the researcher is encouraged to use all types of organizers. I was particularly interested in the PMI chart by de Bono. "The aim of doing a PMI is to achieve broadmindedness in our thinking rather than remaining the obedient servant of our own prejudices" (Excerpted). The use of the chart is simple. The user lists plusses(+), minuses(-) and interesting points. After filling the chart, the user can analyze the data to see what direction the inquiry will take. The chart also provides spaces for the plusses and minuses to be given number scores. The scores can then be totaled to show if the plusses or minuses prevail. Here is a link to a blank PMI chart I found at http://www.worksheetworks.com/miscellanea/graphic-organizers/pmi.html. There are many different types of organizers to choose from. I found it interesting to explore them.
I am off to do some more webbing, wiggling and weaving. Ü
Excerpted from Reader's Digest April 1983---2nd Edition, copyright 1982 by the Edward de Bono School of Thinking, by Edward de bono and Michael de Saint-Arnaud, is published by the Edward de Bono School of Thinking, New York, NY.
The PMI Chart by de Bono was a great find! I love to organize information and things...pretty much anything. I am excited to see that you are putting a lot of focus on the National Parks. I took a road trip years ago and visited quite a few national parks in Utah and Wyoming.
ReplyDeleteI have also found that I have had to reduce my focus. Topics can be so broad and it is hard to know exactly what the focus will be from the very beginning. I suppose that is a part of the inquiry process. We have to figure out exactly what information we want to get out of the project.
Yes, I think that you are exactly right about the inquiry process. I think that it is interesting that it is so difficult to narrow it down. I think that this experience has given me some great prospective for what it must be like for students!
ReplyDelete