As I begin my first entry of my blog, I am very conscious that apart from my serious procrastination problem, I have been very uncertain and apprehensive about putting preview to publish.
Kuhlthau (2007) suggests that "Uncertainty is the beginning of learning"...which aptly describes how I am feeling at the beginning of this journey of inquiry.
In Kuhlthau's description of her model of the Information Search Process (ISP) she reveals different thoughts, feelings, and actions at each stage of the inquiry process.
It is the uncertainty and apprehension that she speaks about in her first stage of the ISP that I am currently undergoing.
In this Initiation stage, she suggests that "Some students in the studies described feeling depressed and bogged down and overwhelmed at the amount of work ahead."
(Kuhlthau, p18).
I am experiencing all these feelings as I contemplate the assigned task, get my head around this blogging tool and identify possible issues or questions to pursue in my Information Learning Activity.
Let there be light.....
Questionnaire One
1. Take some time to think about your topic. Now write down what you know about it.
Asking questions is at the heart of Inquiry Based Learning and Guided Inquiry. Inquiry Based learning is a term used to describe an educational approach that is motivated by learner's questions rather than just by the lessons taught and the information provided.
Guided Inquiry is a method of teaching that advocates research, searching for information, investigation, exploration and study of information technology. This inquiry approach is planned for and guided by teachers, teacher librarian or both, whose aim it is to lead the students to a deeper understanding of the subject, area or topic by engaging their interests and challenging them to connect their world with the curriculum.
How interested are you in this topic?
3. How much do you know about this topic?
Not much
4. When you do research what do you generally find easy to do?
I generally start with Google as this is the easiest and first search engine I ever used. I also find it fairly easy to navigate.
I find the library catalogue at the university easy to search and to refine my topic.
The internet generally is fairly easy to negotiate when doing research, as you can narrow your searches.
I generally find it very easy to Procrastinate!
5. When you do research what do you generally find difficult to do?
- I have difficulty in being specific enough in the initial searches, and hence I waste a lot of time, sifting through websites and links and getting sidetracked by 'interesting' but not always relevant material.
- I also find it challenging to analyse the research material, whether from websites or hardcopies, so as to make sure I have the most up to date, academic and reliable sources.
