Over the past week, I have "watched" the world around me to come up with a topic for my inquiry project. Here are a few thoughts I've had and why I considered them:
* Gardening - My family has recently moved from an urban setting to a rural one. For the first time, we have plenty of space to grow a garden. My husband grew up with a huge garden in his yard; his father grew most of the produce that their family ate year-round. I, on the other hand, grew up in family completely lacking green thumbs. So as you might imagine, my husband is eager to plant a garden, but I have no idea where to begin. I'd like to research what to plant, what grows well in this area, what grows well together, and how to keep our forest friends from eating all our produce.
* Local History - As I said, we have recently moved to a small town in rural Indiana. The majority of families in our area have lived nearby for several generations, so as a "newcomer," I'd be interested in knowing more about the area and its history.
* Tecumseh - Our recent move was motivated by my husband accepting a full-time position at YMCA Camp Tecumseh. We both worked there as counselors when we were in college and were thrilled at the chance to return full-time. The camp is named after the Native American chief Tecumseh, and some of our camp traditions are rooted in the Native American history. My husband recently read and greatly enjoyed Panther in the Sky by James Alexander Thom, which tells the history of Tecumseh and his tribe. I'm interested in reading it too, as well as doing further research on Tecumseh, his tribe, and how their history relates to our camp.
* Young Adult Literature - As a former high school English teacher and hopeful future librarian, I LOVE young adult lit. It's always been part of my reading fare, but over the past year, I've noticed it becoming the majority of my "reading diet," largely due to my discovery of some great authors, including Suzanne Collins, James Dashner, Ellen Hopkins, Sarah Dessen, and John Green. Other than using this project as an excuse to read YA voraciously for the next few weeks, I'd be interested in looking at how many other adults enjoy "teenage" literature and how YA has changed over the years. Recent criticism says that YA has become too violent, too graphic, too "adult." In other words, it's come a long way since Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret was considered "cutting edge." I'm interested in looking at those changes and how they affect (or reflect?) readers.
* Indian/Hindu Weddings - My brother Brian is currently engaged to a wonderful woman named Lakshmi. She was born in India but raised in the United States. They are getting married in October, and they have chosen to have a traditional Indian ceremony rather than an "American" one. The wedding itself will be conducted in an Indian language.... I'm not sure which one, but I do know that it is not the same dialect that Lakshmi's family speaks. Since my family and I won't be able to understand what's being said at the ceremony, I'd really like to learn about Indian customs, particularly the symbols, objects, and rituals used during a wedding, to understand my brother's ceremony (and maybe explain it to the rest of my family too!).
So that's what I'm considering for now.... I'll "watch" for a few more days and then make my decision!
What a fun list of possibilities. You're going to have a great time with this assignment. Super job "watching".
ReplyDeleteAs you get further into your postings be sure to be thinking about how to weave the course readings into your blog. For instance, do all the inquiry and information search models begin with this type of brainstorming? Or, do some begin with a prescribed problem to solve?
All of the information inquiry models start with similar steps. I-Search (Ken Macrorie, Marilyn Joyce, and Julie Tallman) begins with "selecting a topic." Choice is implied within that "selection," as learners explore their interests and discuss ideas. In Pathways to Knowledge (Marjorie L. Pappas and Ann E. Tepe), learners begin the process through "appreciation and enjoyment," in which they examine the world around them and pick their subject of interest. In the Research Cycle (Jamie McKenzie), students begin by "questioning," where again the personalized choice of topic is implicit.
ReplyDeleteIn information search and use models, though, learners can begin with a prescribed problem to solve. In the 5As (Ian Jukes), students begin by "asking," where they identify the key questions they hope to answer. These questions may be assigned by a teacher, or a general topic may be assigned by the teacher and the student can identify his own specific area of research within that topic. In the Big 6 (Michael B. Eisenbarg and Robert E. Berkowitz), learners begin with "task definition," which is a very similar process. The student identifies what question he wants to ask or problem he wants to solve. Again, this level allows for either a specific question posed by a teacher, or a generalized topic with student's focus chosen within it, or a question developed completely by the student. This is echoed in the "plan" stage of Eisenbarg and Berkowitz's model for younger students, Super 3. The "define" stage of the DIALOGUE model and the "questioning" stages (task initation and topic selection) of the ISP (Carol Kuhlthau) model function in the same manner.
While information inquiry is designed for a learner to approach a topic of his own interest at his own angle, information search models are easier to adapt to the traditional classroom, as teachers can prescribe all or some of the topic to be examined.
I see that YA lit did not end up being your final choice. I just wanted to say that I, too, consume more YA lit than any other "Genre" for personal reading.
ReplyDeleteI have heard comments about it becoming more violent and involving "edgier" subjects. You brought up some interesting reasons as to why. Part of me thinks, although we think of "reading" as a more intellectual form of entertainment our culture has really "upped the ante" so to speak about what it takes to be considered entertaining.
Anyways, just wanted to comment. You had lots of great ideas. Good luck with your project.