Personal Inquiry Project...

Personal Connection...

2008-02-11T14:00:00.000-08:00

In the beginning of this project, I knew that I needed to pick a topic and start gathering information. I did not know to what lengths it would take to actually learn on my own and create a meaningful product. This is a topic that I could have easily Googled and read about and then just kept it to myself. After completing this project, I now know that there is more to inquiry than just that. It is about learning, but also about growing. I consider myself a life-long learner, but what does that really mean? Am I learning or just reading and discarding?

Throughout this project, I was required to utilize the 8Ws developed by Annette Lamb. Sure I had read what they were and the assignments that had gone along with them, but until I completed this project I didn't really know what it truly was. Exploring each of these 8Ws in depth has really helped me find my strengths and weaknesses in completing research becoming closer to a life-long learner.

Not only has this helped me to become a better learner/researcher, but this is important information that I can pass along to future students. I have a teaching license, have taught in the school systems, but I have not really understood the struggles that students have when completing a research project. Utilizing not only Annette Lamb's model, but others as well will help me pass along this knowledge to students, teachers, technology coordinators, parents, and the administration.

Curriculum Connection!

2008-02-11T11:03:00.000-08:00

This is by far going to be my favorite part of the project! I know that it sounds kind of odd, but I love being able to take something that I want to learn about and apply it to the standards. For this project, I am going to apply it to grades 3 and 8.

3rd Grade Indiana Standards:

3.1.1 Describe American Indian groups who lived in the region when European settlers arrived.

ILS: 1, 2, 3

3.1.4 Give examples of people, events, and developments that brought important changes to the local community or region.

ILS: 1-5, 7, 9

3.1.5 Develop simple timelines of events in the local communities.

ILS: 1-9

3.1.6 Read fiction and nonfiction stories to identify the qualities of leaders, such as community leaders, soldiers, presidents, teachers, and inventors.

ILS: 1-3, 5, 8

3.2.7 Use a variety of information resources* to gather information about community leaders and civic issues.

ILS: 1-4, 7

8th Grade Indiana Standards:

8.1.1 Describe major Indian groups of eastern North America, including early conflict with European settlers.

ILS: 1-3, 7

8.1.20 Explain the influence of individuals on key events and developments of the early United States.
Example: Thomas Jefferson, Robert Fulton, Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, Sacajewea, Daniel Boone, Little Turtle, Tecumseh, Black Hawk, John Marshall, James Madison, Dolley Madison, Andrew Jackson, John C. Calhoun, Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, James Polk, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass, Horace Mann, Dorothea Dix, and Lucretia Mott.

ILS: 1-3

8.3.2 Map and locate all states of the United States, major cities, mountain ranges, and river systems of the United States.

ILS: 1-3, 5, 7

8.3.6 Map changes in national boundaries, distribution of population, and economic activities at critical stages of development in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries in the United States.

ILS: 1-3, 7

Curricular Activities for 3rd Grade:

3rd Grade is a great age for students to begin learning and gaining valuable knowledge about the past. Since there are five standards that relate to this topic, it can be taken in a number of directions. When working with this age group, it would be good to include a lot of hands-on activities to keep them motivated. They could explore Webquests, national historic sites, and read-alouds from children's books to educate them.

Curricular Activities for 8th Grade:

There are so many possibilities for this grade level, but here are just a few. This is where students can become really creative and create their own research projects! They can create PowerPoints, newsletters, dioramas, etc. in order to communicate their knowledge of the Trail of Tears. They can also read more information on the Cherokee and their rich heritage. This would also be a great age to take them to the Trail of Tears and let them experience for themselves.

I wish...

2008-02-10T22:56:00.001-08:00

Well, now that the project is finally completed it is time to reflect and wish upon it. I think overall my project went fairly well. There were a lot of ups and downs within the project, but I am satisfied with my final project.

My strengths were being able to gather the information, evaluate it, and apply it. However, it was hard for me to actually sit down and read all of the information I had at hand. Also, writing in a blog was a brand new experience for me, so adjusting to that was a little challenging.

I think that my personal inquiry experiences are very alike to those of children and young adults that I will come in contact with. It is usually easiest to gather all of the information, but piecing it all together is the hard part. I know through personal experience that in order to successfully complete a project well, a timeline is a MUST for me!

Waving

2008-02-09T23:53:00.000-08:00

How am I going to communicate my project to others? Well I am obviously sharing this with the entire class, but what about the other people in this world? In order to educate my family on our historical heritage, I will be sending (e-mail or mail) a copy of my final product. This will help them better understand the struggles our ancestors underwent. I am also going to continue to leave this blog on the web so maybe some people will learn more.

So what exactly is my decision? I am sure you have all heard the expression, a picture is worth a thousand words. Well in my case I have 14 pictures, so I guess it will be worth 14,000 words. I have created a collage of pictures that I found on-line and in books. I know that it may not appear to be a lot, but pictures can sometimes speak for themselves...

I have also created a PowerPoint Presentation that can be viewed at:

https://oncourse.iu.edu/access/content/user/ajpicket/TheTrailofTearsProject1.ppt

Wrapping it together!

2008-02-07T22:32:00.000-08:00

What’s the first thing that comes to my mind when I hear the word wrapping? The first thing is obviously a package. I think about Christmas time and the part of the year that I dread when trying to make the presents look presentable. So I think that this is going to be a “messy” wrapping. According to the 8Ws developed by Annette Lamb, “Wrapping involves creating and packaging ideas and solutions.” This means creating a product. The hard part is deciding what kind of product I need to create. There are a lot of options and it’s time to choose.

These are some of the options I am considering:

Map: I can create a map of the Trail of Tears and along with the map, an essay explaining the triumph and journey of the Cherokee Nation.
Newsletter: One of my favorite things to do is create newsletters. I have an idea to create a newsletter about the nation, Trail of Tears, and the U.S. government.
PowerPoint: This is a product that is used widely these days. It is easy to create and simple to follow for others.
WebQuest: I have used Webquests in the past and think that it is an excellent way for students to learn. This could also help me with my future career.
Play: I could create a play to have people reenact the experience.
Collage: One of my favorite things to do is photography. Within this, I like to create collages of different experiences in my life. This could be done with pictures and photographs.

What I want to do is still being decided...

Hmmm...

2008-02-06T22:25:00.000-08:00

The more that I have thought about it, the more I have been disappointed in my last blog. I think that sometimes simple phrases can be used, but in my case, it was just not useful enough. So, I therefore added to an Inspiration web that I have already created!

The Web I Weave...

2008-02-05T21:55:00.000-08:00

It is time that I begin to weave a new web. This is the part of the process that I will put all of my information together. I have gathered and evaluated my resources and information, now I just need to put into a project. As stated by Annette Lamb, “encourage students to process information rather than simply copying…transform information into new forms.”

One of the main ways to organize this information is to create a concept map. Since I have been using Inspiration throughout this project, I will use it again to create a concept map.

Although this concept map doesn't seem to have a lot of information on it, phrases can be just as meaningful as paragraphs. These are the main thoughts and ideas that I saw through my reading/research and what I will incorporate into my project.

Wiggle While I Work...

2008-02-03T17:42:00.000-08:00

As of the moment, all of the information that I have collected is still sitting in a pile at my house. There is a sense of overwhelming, in the fact that I am not really sure where to begin. Should I look at the research, books, videos? This is a question that is pondering me. I think the first step that I need to take is to figure out how am going to decide what to keep and what to toss. How am I going to evaluate these resources? I need to take a look at my resources in order to know what to do. Writing it out and looking at the resources is my own personal best way to complete this task. Annette Lamb states “consider the Multiple Intelligences of your students…interpersonal students…visual/spatial students…bodily/kinesthetic students…” This is the key to my success at this stage, my own “intelligence!”

Books:

I am going to skim and read books that I have chosen about the Trail of Tears. Within this, I will be collecting and evaluating the information. In order to keep the information clear and meaningful, I will be listing it below.

Who were the Cherokee? They were located in what is now Georgia, hunted, fished, farmed, and worked hard. They began to learn the ways of the white man and learned English and created councils for towns. When the Cherokee discovered gold, that’s where it all began. People began rushing onto the land and the Cherokee were forced to be moved.

How were they forced out? President Andrew Jackson ordered that the Cherokee be moved and a lottery was created to sell the Cherokee land. Soldiers came in and forced the Cherokee out of their homes and were very hurtful to the people. They would leave the old and sick along the road without food to die, they forced families apart, and prodded and kicked the people.

How did so many die? As stated before, a lot of old and sick people were left along the side of the road to die. Food was scarce, no warm clothing, and in some places there was a drought. Some Cherokee were imprisoned in the stockades. Many died from disease, malnutrition and exposure. The soldiers eventually fled and left the Cherokee in the Great Smoky Mountains.

What happened next? The Cherokee started moving west towards Arkansas and the summer brought sickness. Once they reached Arkansas, the Cherokee tried to start over, but it was not the same. Back in Georgia, the Cherokee Nation disappeared.

The Internet:

Websites with plentiful information:

http://ngeorgia.com/history/nghisttt.html

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4h1567.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trail_of_Tears

Journals/Articles:

There is a Q & A paper on the Trail of Tears.

Q: “Why is it so important to preserve this land?”
A: “…the white man completely disrupted their way of life, ordering their forced removal. It’s a story of character of an entire people …story of Andrew Jackson ignoring the U.S. Supreme Court…”

Media:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/images/trail-of-tears-map2.gif

http://redheartculturalcenter.8m.net/images/trail_of_tears_painting.jpg

http://www.nativeamericans.com/tears.jpg

The Trail of Tears Video

So how am I going to evaluate all of this information? There are a lot of resources out there, but how do I know which of these are going to be the best? In reading the books, I know that I can skim through some of these books, especially the long, in-depth ones. I used this approach that Annette Lamb has given, "Some people read the first and last paragraphs using headings, summarizes and other organizers as they move down the page or screen. You might read the title, subtitles, subheading, and illustrations."

What about the websites? There is a website called Evaluation Wizard that can help you evaluate different areas of the website:

Author: PBS, this is a credible source just by name.

Publisher: I believe that PBS would also fall into this category.

Objectivity: This is a one page website on the Trail of Tears, just relating to the historical documents.

Links From: It gives a link at the bottom of the page titled Indian Removal: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2959.html.

Date: There is not a publication date for this URL.

Accuracy: The facts are correct, but there are little details given.

Evidence: This URL is just a part of a series, so there are other links available, but not all specifically to this topic.

Links To: Again, the links given are for other events in history and do not all correlate to this topic.

Overall, this website has not been the most valuable tool to use. Once I actually delved into it and looked at the resources it has available, I knew that it will not be my first source to use.

Webbing!

2008-01-29T11:34:00.000-08:00

When teaching students to research and create meaningful projects, it is important for them to gather questions and thoughts, but this is not always an easy task. There is such a plethora of information available, that it can be difficult to narrow down sources and make sure that it is relevant. According to Annette Lamb, "Webbing directs students to locate, search for, and connect ideas and information...it's helpful to think about the descriptors associated with your topic or questions." Finding all of this information can be overwhelming, especially if the student is unaware of how to search and locate it. This is where webbing comes into play.

First, figure out the best sources based on the students' needs. Are they visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learners? Then educate the students on the different types of resources. Growing up in a technology age, it is easy for students to go straight to the computer and use the Internet and CD-ROMs. However, I grew up in an age of book research. I usually go there first when completing a project. It is important to educate the students on the availability of resources and to use all forms. Annette Lamb states to use "different channels of communications such as words, pictures, motion images, and sounds."

Now that the students have this information, what should they do with it? This is where the webbing becomes very important. Most students need a format for putting their ideas and thoughts on paper. I know that it has always helped me to create an outline or web of ideas. There are numerous graphic organizers available to assist and can be utilized for all students. I have shown an example of mine below:

In order to locate this information, since I work at a library, I used the sources I had available. I accessed the Ball State Library card catalog and searched for the Trail of Tears and the Cherokee Nation. There were books located in the General Collection and Educational Resources collection. I decided to look at books that were less detailed and contained clear and concise information. I also found numerous websites with information, pictures, and maps. I definitely am on the right track as far as the research goes, it's just putting it all together that will be the hard part.

As for my questions, they are basic questions that I can explore and once I delve more into the topic, then I can ask more analytical questions.

I Wonder...

2008-01-24T16:58:00.001-08:00

Now that I have chosen my topic, I am beginning to wonder more and formulate questions related to the Trail of Tears. These are just some of my questions:

Who were the Cherokee Nation before the Trail of Tears?
How did they get forced out of their own land?
What happened along the Trail of Tears?
How has this changed the Nation today?
What was done to change this event in history?
How would the Cherokee Nation be today, if not for this?
What can be done to educate the children of the future?

From each of the questions, come into effect sub-questions. I want to know more and more about this tragedy and the people that suffered. I want to know what I can do to help and how I can help the future generations understand.

As said by Annette Lamb, "Brainstorming, discussing, and reflecting on questions, concerns, and ideas are all part of the wondering phase." Wondering is an important part of any project and/or research that a students completes. Without this component, students would create a research project without actually thinking about what they are learning. The key to success is the ability to learn!

Since this topic is very important to me, I think it is best to ask a lot of questions before I begin all of the research. I have used Inspiration in the past and found it very helpful to gather my thoughts, questions, and ideas. My wondering web is shown below.

My main focus for this project will be just to learn!

My Decision...

2008-01-21T18:14:00.000-08:00

After much consideration and research I have chosen to learn about The Trail of Tears. Not only is this topic important to know about in relation to U.S. History, but in regards to my own heritage. I am part Cherokee on my mother's side of the family and I want to learn more about the struggles of my ancestors and how they made it to still carry on life to this day.

In preparation for this topic, I explored Ball State University and found numerous books on The Trail of Tears and the Cherokee Nation, Internet resources, and local bookstore items. In particular, there is one website that grabbed my attention: (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/trail-of-tears.htm).
This website gives a great overview of the removal of the Cherokees and maps of The Trail of Tears. Although there is a lot more to cover than this website has given, this is a great start to this historical event.

After all of the topics listed, I feel that this is best for me because of the meaning to my life and family, as well as the information I can pass on and give to future generations. I can also relate this to future students that may enter my media center or teachers that are covering this subject.

Decision Making...Watching

2008-01-18T12:28:00.000-08:00

There are so many possible topics to choose from, but I have narrowed down my choices to the following:

Laser Eye Surgery:

This is an important topic to me because I wear contacts and glasses. I have numerous friends that have had this surgery and love not having to worry about anything anymore. I typed laser eye surgery into Google and found the FDA website: http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/lasik/. This is a great website to look into if considering laser eye surgery due to what LASIK is, the risks associated, and how to determine if it is the right path for me. After reading more about this topic, I decided that since I am still in my early 20s and wanting to have children in the future, this is not the best topic for me to research now.

The Trail of Tears:

I am looking into this particular topic because I am partially Cherokee on my mother's side. I have always been fascinated with Native Americans and their ways and I recently found out that I am part Cherokee. When completing TrailBlazer 1, I found a lesson about The Trail of Tears. I began reading and realized that this was inflicted upon the Cherokee Nation. It became important to me to learn more about this historical event, so I considered this as part of my Inquiry Project options. I have discovered lots of books in my local library and a lot of website resources that pertain to it. This is definitely a topic worth exploring.

Lent:

People are always talking about what they are giving up for Lent and I thought where does this come from all of a sudden? I have never learned about this particular event in my religious studies or raised in that religious aspect. I thought that this subject would be worth exploring to learn more about how this event was founded and carried out each year. As I thought more about it and searched for information, I found that this was not the best topic for myself at the moment.

Hanukkah:

The Hanukkah holiday has always fascinated me, the same as with Lent. Since I have always celebrated Christmas, I thought it would be good to explore another holiday. Once again, as I began researching for information, I found that it would be better worth my time to search another topic.

Blood Pressure:

Recently in my family there have been a lot of health problems. My grandfather has had a heart attack, my mother a stroke, and my cousin a blood clot. Ever since this has occurred, I felt it is important to watch what I eat, exercise, and check my body health. High blood pressure runs in my family and I am trying hard to keep it at a healthy level. I began looking into the topic and learned that in order to explore this topic, I need to have my blood pressure checked and see a doctor. I definitely want to maintain a healthy body, this might be a great inquiry project.

The 50 States:

One of my life goals is to travel to all 50 states. In order to achieve this goal, I not only have to actually go there, but research and learn about the states. I remember learning about the states in 5th grade, but it was just more of a memorization. After looking into what the project would entail, I think there would be too much to cover with all of the states, instead of just one of the states. Therefore, I do not think that this is going to be the right topic for this project.

Children's Author:

One of my favorite hobbies is to read children's books. When I read these books, I sit and think that I would like to write books, maybe even a series of books. When I first began researching on writing books, I realized that there is a lot more involved than just writing and becoming an author. It takes a lot of time, effort and energy to become a published author. Although this is a life-long dream I also think that this goal will need to be spent more in-depth and more time alloted than just a few weeks. I will continue to pursue this subject, but explore another idea this time.

Africa:

Not only is traveling to all 50 states a goal, but visiting every continent as well. I have a lot of friends that have studied abroad and traveling on vacation to other places in the world and they tell me how magnificent it all is. Since I am interested in traveling to Africa, I know there is a lot that I need to learn before I go there. There is such a rich heritage of tribes and animals that research needs to be conducted before traveling to that part of the world. Since this again contains a lot of information, I feel that it is not my best choice for this product. However, this is something that I can pursue in the future.

Possible Topics

2008-01-15T22:24:00.001-08:00

These are the topics that I am currently considering:

Laser Eye Surgery
The Trail of Tears
Lent
Hanukkah
Blood Pressure
The 50 States
Children's book author
Africa