Week #6 Reading Authentic Research

1. Reading #1

Quote:
“In addition to giving student opportunities to do research that is about important topics and providing students with chances to share their findings with real audiences, we can encourage students to conduct primary research.”( Herrmann 2012)

• I totally agree with statements, simply because I use authentic research in my class curriculum. In the health careers field research is the leading edge for so many different cures, treatments and ways to diagnose. One does not need to be a pure clinical researcher to make a difference in their field. I did not realize I was doing authentic research; I was just trying to get them to think outside of the box when it comes to respiratory therapy. Everyday any respiratory therapist can research a new modality, or medication in the hospital setting, collect data, synthesize and report their findings. But they still need guidance and that’s what I teach them.  
• For the past four years I have had my students research a topic of their choice, preferably one that they have observed while doing their clinical rotations. Then they do a poster presentation, similar to those at larger national symposiums, where they discuss their topic with college faculty, hospital personnel and anyone who may be interested.    

This is one of my students presenting her topic to visiting hospital directors

This is  one of my students presenting to the  Provost

( I couldn't get any unposed face shots.) 

 Reference:

Herrmann B. 'Writing as an exploration: rethinking the research paper.' Wisocnsin English Journal   (54),2 2012
Reading#2

1. What is the difference between writing a report and "doing research"?

• Writing a report involves looking up information, compiling facts and regurgitating it on a ‘word’ document. Writing a report does not ensure reliability and validity of results.  It is an English assignment with the purpose of learning how to write a paper with proper citations and references. It does not expand the students’ knowledge or teach investigative methods necessary to a specific discipline.
• Research on the other hand is a “learning environment outside the world of text and into the real world phenomena” (Gordon n.d.). Research can be consist of, conducting an interview, administering a questionnaire, or keeping a journal. Students are put in an active role of collecting data and constructing meaning. They do the analysis, write and present their findings. 

2. How might doing authentic research better prepare students for the 21st century work place?

•  As stated by Lloyd (2011) , “The aim of this refocusing [ that it is the workplaces that should be used to inform library and educational sectors’ provision of information literacy education.] is to produce future workers who have the capacity to recognize and understand the central place that information, it’s creation, production, reproduction, circulation, and dissemination play in sustainable workplace performance.” 
• Authentic research helps future workers become more engaged in the research process at anytime in their career. It gives them the tools to become an integral part of their workplace and not just a ‘worker bee’.  Do authentic research teaches them where to get information, reliability and validity of results regardless of the topic.  

3. Why might Constructivist type learning better prepare students for the 21st century work place than Behavioral approaches?

• Constructivist type of learning translates to real world situations.
• Critical thinking are issues important to students to be successful in the workplace.
•  To be prepared, students must learn to identify what is important to them. They need to construct new meanings, and explain their understandings to others in some way that is authentic to their topic.
• What I am finding in my students is that they have been going through their college career learning from the behavior model of rote learning or memorizing what they need to know to pass their exam and then on to the next. 
•  The health careers field is ever changing and memorizing for the exam does not work. It is my job to coach the students to make behavior changes to  anticipate events and respond accordingly or critically think through a process to a successful conclusion.

4. How does authentic research support new media literacies?

• To me authentic research is researching in the moment, what and where the most current information is located. When researching new medical modalities, one must have the most current information available to explore and assess the validity of the theories.
•  Jenkins stated “… In this new media age, the ability to negotiate and evaluate information online, to recognize manipulation and propaganda and to assimilate ethical values is becoming as basic to education as reading and writing.” (2007).
• I am still swaying about Wikipedia, however , Jenkins makes the case when he states “ Wikipedia empowers students to take seriously what they have learned in other classes, to see their own research as having potential value in a larger enterprise, and to take greater responsibility over the accuracy of what they have produced.”(2007).
• This exactly what authentic research is all about.

References :

Gordon, C. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/aasl/aaslpubsandjournals/slmrb/slmrcontents/volume21999/vol2gordon

Jenkins, H. (2007, June 26). What Wikipedia can Teach us About New Media Literacies (Part One). Retrieved from Confessions of an Aca-Fan: The Official Webblog of Henry Jenkins: http://henryjenkins.org/2007/06/what_wikipedia_can_teach_us_ab.html

Lloyd, A. (2011). Trapped between a rock and a hard place: what counts as information . Library 

Trends, 60(2), 277-296.