I-search

What is an i-search?
An i-search is a process for carrying out student-centered inquiry.

How would you use it in your classroom? In your teachable? Why would this work? What would you have to do to prepare your students?
An i-search could easily be used in science; actually science fairs follow a lot of the i-search guidelines and characteristics. The student chooses a topic to research and develop a presentation for, they research the topic, record data and information, they then present their project to a panel of judges/peers. The students have the opportunity to choose their own topic of interest and to expand on it. This helps the students stay involved and allows them to relate to the material being studied.



What is i-search?
http://web.archive.org/web/20030219114914/http://stillwater.k12.mn.us/rf/56isear.htm

The i-search here is directed for students to expand on any questions they might have in and around the classroom material, but not on the material itself. They are asked to write a paper and do a project about their topic. The students have to answer some questions in their paper, the questions include; Why did I choose this topic? What questions did I have? Where did I find my answers? What did I learn? All of these questions require some thought by the student. The project is then supposed to express the findings of the quest and expand on the learning of the students.

In order to prepare students for an i-search they need to have reading comprehension, fact finding, organization, not taking, writing, reflection and searching skills as well as basic computer function skills in order to succussfully compleet the task.