Students as Researchers Initiative
Empowering Students Through Active Research.
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Initiative Description
The students as researchers initiative is a framework that employs action research for students seeking empowerment and to have a voice on issues within their communities. It is a collaborative endeavor between students, teachers, and the outside community. It is designed for suburban high school libraries, but does not have to be limited to them. The initiative is flexible enough to be implemented in any high school library where there is a need to bring attention to issues through student voice. The initiative can be trimmed and delivered into chunks throughout the course of the school year. Thus, if a elementary school or middle school only wanted to focus on the beginning chunk or “pre-search” phase of the initiative they could. Each chunk of the initiative is meant to build on the last. If all the parts are successfully implemented, then by the end, a student will have a clear definition of not only what the research process entails, but the also the research design process. From here, students could see the potential with applying these principles to many different subjects and topics.
Photo Courtesy of Pixabay.com
Library Demographics
The ideal size of the high school population this initiative would cater to, would be a moderate size school of about 800-1,000 students. The unifying school factor would be that it is a school connected with and/or around a military base. Because of the connectedness with the military base there would be a variety of background demographics that the school library would have to cater to. Military families present a challenge to schools in that they are very diverse in the type of people they bring into a school environment. You would have students whose parents are officers and have higher educations, mixed with students whose parents are enlisted and who may or may not hold a bachelor's degree. However, with both officers and enlisted the parent’s of the high school students would be older and have served long term in the armed forces. A 2015 demographic study of military communities finds that, “The majority of Active Duty members (76.5%) hold at least a high school diploma, but less than a Bachelor’s degree” (U.S. Department of Defense, n.d.)
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
In regards to ethnicity the population would be a mix of caucasian, african-american, latino, with some asian students. According to the 2015 Demographics Report for the Armed forces, …”White(s) represent the largest proportion of the total DoD force (70.7%), while Black or African American members represent 17.0 percent. Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander members make up 4.0 percent, 1.1 percent, and 0.9 percent, respectively. Over two percent (2.5%) of members report themselves as Multiracial”(U.S. Department of Defense, n.d.). One expects the racial makeup of a school serving students of predominantly military personnel to reflect the same demographics. In addition to serving military children who have had to move extensively throughout their lives, and may have not experienced a cohesive school environment, the demographics would include students who are native to the area where the school is located.
With the population the school serves having a mixed demographic, the high school population would have a mixed and diverse cultural background. Many public schools that serve a military community have a variety of students they cater to. Students and their parents have come from across the country, and in some instances across the world. Many of the schools that cater to the military population have students which are labeled as being transient and are not seen as being tied to the community or the issues within the community. The students as researchers initiative would provide students the opportunity to learn about their community and the issues within it. It could also provide students the opportunity to explore the issues within their military community and relay them to the outside community. Either way, the students as researchers initiative offers an avenue for open dialogue between high school students and the community in which they are located in.
​
​
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Current Library Services
Currently the high school library has programs that focus on traditional literacy. For example, there is a 25 books challenge campaign to encourage students to read. The library and English department also encourage students to use Accelerated Reader and to be diligent in their reading habits. There is also a book discussion group where students vote on a book to read and meet-up to discuss issues and/or topics that the librarian has chosen for discussion. There is also a tutoring program hosted by the library where students can help fellow students in their academics. This is a promising program and encourages students to interact with others and reach out to fellow students if they need help.
​
The library offers student services in the form of education and development of research skills of students for papers for subjects and classes. The library offers borrowing services for students and the ability to perform online searches. Students and teachers are able to utilize the library for large scale collaboration in the open middle area of the library or more small scale, quite collaboration or work in small conference rooms. Students are also able to meet with the librarians for an advisory class to help guide them in their studies.
​
The library’s current connection to the outside community is somewhat limited. Monies needed for the library to grow outside of the limits of the school have been limited because it has been unable to prove itself as a viable epicenter of learning within the boundaries of the school. There are a couple of attempts in making contact with outsiders by hosting library events in which community members have been brought in to focus on a specific topic, but there has been very little support for these programs, because they have not been seen as relevant to the needs of the families and/or the students that are emerging from the school. The librarian sees there are a number of issues within the school and within the surrounding community. The librarian is looking for a way to incorporate prior research skills into a program that will make the skills more relevant to students and to give them a voice in their school and community.
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Targeted Population
The targeted population for this initiative would ideally be high school seniors, because it is anticipated that they have reached the pinnacle of the research skills needed to perform this type of initiative. The typical age level for high school seniors is between 17 and 18 years of age. The desired reading levels needed to successfully have students be able to complete and implement their research would a be a Lexile reading Index of 880-1330 and for Accelerated reading levels 6.0-12.0. The author has deliberately made this a broad range to encompass all types of students and their ability to read, write, and learn.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
It is vital that today’s high school seniors be able to successfully navigate the digital landscape to find information needed for their research endeavors. According to Common Core Standards and AASL Standards for 21st Century Learners, it is expected that by the time seniors graduate they have a working knowledge of the research process and be able to translate this process to the college and/or working arena. More importantly, many students are required to create information to show they are making connections to what they are learning. This initiative would require students to show their knowledge of digital literacy by being able to navigate different devices in order to record and recount information. Field notes, surveys, and interviews could all be recorded on different digital devices and with the usage of these devices students could show a justification for their work and have a medium in which to reflect upon. In addition, students would have the opportunity to show examples of their expertise in information literacy by being able to demonstrate to educators and the outside community their knowledge on the background information of a issue, their viewpoint, others’ viewpoint through the research design process, and a comparable solution. Thus, the students become an integral part of the process in the acquisition and creation of information and knowledge.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
In addition, to showcasing the above skills, the librarian can help students take their prior research knowledge further and help students identify community issues and connect with local experts. High school seniors have the power to impact their surrounding community and to use this initiative could provide seniors the opportunity to do a senior project that could encompass and showcase all the skills they have learned during their education careers; as well as making a positive impact on their community. However, as stated earlier this initiative does not have be strictly for high school seniors, but can be brought down and broken down to other grade levels and used for other topics.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Goals of Initiative
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
The students as researchers initiative seeks to achieve goals in three specific areas: academic success, personal interest, and expression. The primary overarching goal of the initiative is to equip students with the research skills necessary to succeed in a college environment. Today’s college students are required to perform rigorous research and write lengthy research papers. The students as researchers initiative helps students to gain the necessary skills to properly identify the information they need as well as where to find said information. Students will also be required to express their research in diverse and creative formats. By students having hands-on experience in creating a research design project they will able to see the research process in a more versatile light and be more comfortable with it. By linking the research to issues within the community and having students actually perform the research, they will get a behind the scenes view of the process and potentially make a positive impact in their learning communities and beyond. By the time students complete the initiative they will have a better understanding of the background research and knowledge needed to create a quality research study. They will also walk away will the skills needed to make critical decisions pertaining to their future and hopefully have a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment.
In regards to the area of academic success, the goal of the students as researchers initiative is to better prepare students for college by introducing them to terms and strategies they will expected to be familiar with to perform research. Students will learn Boolean operators, proper techniques for finding quality sources, the vetting process once sources are found, how to structure a paper, and conducting actual research. Students will be required to write and reflect and show their justifications and thought processes. This will help their academic success by providing an opportunity for students to work on their collaboration, speaking, and writing skills and to have them feel more comfortable with technical writing, formulating ideas, and delivering a finished product to a authentic audience.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
In the area of personal interest, the goal of the initiative is to peek students' interests by providing an open forum for discussion on issues that directly affect students and/or their surrounding community. It also allows students to learn about issues they are interested in or find relevant. Students are encouraged to reflect upon their research, their opinions are sought after and regarded. By allowing students to connect with an authentic audience students find a greater resonance and will seek to make more of a personal connection, thus bringing a solution that could personally impact themselves or the members of their community.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
In the area of expression, the goal of the students as researchers initiative is to allow students to produce a finished research project in a medium they feel comfortable. Some students express themselves in writing better than others. Thus, while a written report will be required, students will be asked to make an artifact in addition to a written paper so that students can truly express themselves. For example, a student could make a video out of the information they find or an infographic. Other students could choose to make a Public Service Announcement video or a song that would encompass their research. Another student could actually create a product or system that could be utilized in a community. The main part of the initiative is the research, but the more important part are the reflection pieces. As long as students can express their research in a format to present to the community being studied, the format in which it is delivered can vary, thus making this an idea project to allow for students to truly express themselves.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Photo Courtesy of http://www.ala.org/aasl/
Photo Courtesy of Pixabay.com
Photo Courtesy of Flickr.com
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Photo Courtesy of Flickr.com
Description of Programs, Experiences, and Services
The first step in this initiative would be to provide students a Unit By Design to be used as a program for research instruction that would break the initiative down into chunks that could be implemented in a 6 month to year time frame. The UBD will help to accomplish the goals laid out for academic success. A description and complete breakdown of the UBD has been uploaded to provide a coherent breakdown of the program and how it should be implemented. There is flexibility in the unit as to how fast or how slow the librarian wishes to implement it.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
In order to properly implement this program the library will need to have access to up-to-date reference resources. These references can either be text resources or online databases, but ideally they should be both. The library will also need quality technology (i.e. computers) with the necessary software and memory to accommodate a large body of students. The author also suggests that the library and/or school have access to a quality operating system that can support linked accounts, either Google Apps. for Education (GAFE) or Microsoft Education Suite, so that teachers and students can share documents and make comments with ease. In addition, the library should be a space that allows for collaboration as well as individual work. The main part of the library commons should be filled with nested desks that can be easily moved out of the way to make room for other library events. Computers should either be available through a computer cart (to provide easy mobility and once again to create space). The computers should be uploaded with applications that will help students take notes and reflect, if students and teachers wish to use them. Specifically, the applications Evernote and Seesaw.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
For the second goal of providing students with an experience for expression, the author would implement a makerspace into the library. It would be ideal if the makerspace was located in a separate room or rooms that was still linked with the library to provide a separate space for creativity. The space should be similar to that of a shop space. Therefore there should be no carpeting and the tabletops should be made of wood with the expectation that they will become dirty and worn. The Makerspace should be neatly organized with easy to read labels indicating what everything is. The space should have workbenches with raised chairs. It should also provide either cabinets for storage or bookcases, either of which should have bins, doors, and hooks for easy access.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Since makerspaces differ in what they offer according to grade levels, an extensive list of items needed would take up much needed space. However, the main components of a high school Makerspace should consist of, but not be limited to: woodworking tools, metalworking tools, electronics for the basics of circuit design to more advanced microcontrollers, robotics other electromechanical creations, textiles, flexible materials such as cloth, vinyl, leather, rope and string, including soft circuits and wearable electronics, computers (the hardware and software necessary for modern planning, design and fabrication), 3D printing additive manufacturing ability known as 3D printing allowing students to create detailed, complex objects; laser cutting which would provide students the ability to cut and etch materials quickly and with high precision, and Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) machines which accurately cut and sculpt various materials (High School Makerspace Tools and Materials, 2012).
​
In regards to the aspect of personal interest, there are two things the author wishes to implement. First, would be the experience of inviting members of the community to come in and talk about their jobs. I think it would be beneficial to hold a careers fair, in which students could learn about different jobs within the community and find out more information about what those jobs entail and how those individuals received their education. Students could have the chance to ask questions about their college and career paths. Students could ask about difficulties these professionals encountered or things they would have changed during their career paths. Students could ask about the demands of the job, and what they as an employer look for in a candidate. I would want to make this a very diverse experience and have all types of jobs from the community represented from blue collar to white collar.
​
In addition, students could possibly ask questions having to do with their research issue. This would give them the opportunity to network, make contacts, get a feel for the types of questions they would ask during an interview, and perhaps be able to setup a time for the interview itself. I think doing this type of program twice a year would benefit students. It’s important that students learn the concept of networking and making professional connections and learning how to communicate with professionals. This experience would strengthen those skills and help students to see the work world outside of a high school experience.
​
In order for this experience to work the library would need to be able to produce additional space to accommodate tables and chairs. I think it would be beneficial to have archival shelving in the library space. This would ensure that enough open space could be generated to accommodate the individuals who would attend. It would be important to begin establishing connections for the event over the summer months, so that the event could be held in the month of October. Since the library would be near to a military base, it would beneficial to make contacts with the military community and invite them in first. From their, contacting local businesses and expressing excitement for the event would help to draw people in. The added bonus with contacting people during the summer would also ensure that they have enough of a timeframe to get materials together. In addition, students could be working on their questions from the beginning of the year.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Another service the author would like to implement, deals with the area of personal interest . The service would be to train certain students on how to use makerspace equipment, and then have them teach students how to use the equipment. Since the makerspace would have a variety of equipment to be utilized, the author, with help from shop teachers, technology teachers, and teachers who have experience with certain types of equipment, could set-up a program where students would have in-depth training on one or many machines. From there, these students could assist me with training other students to use the machines. Safety would be the primary concern. So the bulk of the training would concentrate on safety measures.
​
In order to accomplish this endeavor the library would need to have an area where the author and other educators could present to students on the equipment. Again the idea of an open area where nested tables could be easily moved comes to mind. Also, a large retractable screen with a projector and computer to show student trainers safety rules, regulations, and consequences of action if they or another student fails to comply. It would then be beneficial to have students have hands on experience with the equipment. However, students would have to have parents sign permission forms and parents would need to aware of the possibility for injury. This is where having a shop teacher would be beneficial. Mainly to see how this document would be structured and how one goes about getting permission from parents.
​
The training for the makerspace ambassadors would start at the beginning of the school year. The program could be set-up during the second month of school. The author would first place a call out to students. Once students have expressed interest they would need to first get a recommendation letter from their teacher reflecting on their character. This would ensure that the librarian and teachers were working with students who would want to take a personal interest in the equipment they are learning about and the leadership position they would be placed in. This service could start as early as the junior year for students who qualify and they could continue it in their senior year. If students were to start in their junior year, they would need to re-qualify for the safety brief portion the following year.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Unit By Design Program
Photo Courtesy of Flickr.com
Photo Courtesy of Flickr.com
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
References
Photo Courtesy of Flickr.com
Photo Courtesy of Pixabay.com
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
High School Makerspace Tools and Materials. April 2012. Retrieved from http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:4D8e5YvEiu4J:makered.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Makerspace-High-School-Makerspace-Tools-And-Materials-April-2012.pdf+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
​
U.S. Department of Defense. (n.d.). 2015 Demographics Profile of the Military Community. Retrieved November 28, 2016, from http://download.militaryonesource.mil/12038/MOS/Reports/2015-Demographics-Report.pdf