iLearn – Social Studies Session 8.2
Enrich Social Studies Exit Project with
Technology
Selecting a Topic and Research Question Using
Inspiration
Facilitator Agenda
Setting the Stage
To be reviewed before the session begins.
Session Overview
In this session participants will gain an understanding of the process involved in using
Inspiration to brainstorm a research question, and create an outline to guide the
research process.
Content Teaching Points
During this session, participants will learn how to use Inspiration to brainstorm a research
question.
Technology Teaching Points
During this session, participants will learn how to use Inspiration to organize the research
process for the Exit Project.
Focusing Questions
How can we use Inspiration to brainstorm a research question?
How can we use Inspiration to organize the research process for the Exit Project?
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iLearn Social Studies Session 8.2: Selecting a Topic and Research Question Using Inspiration
Materials
The following materials are used in this session:
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Laptops or tablets with Internet access
Projector
Interactive whiteboard (optional)
Hard Copies of the Grade 8 Exit Project for Social Studies
Inspiration Software
Blank Inspiration graphic organizer for instructor to model the process
Sample completed Inspiration graphic organizer on “How did African-Americans
win the struggle for the right to vote?”
Resources
The following resources are available on the iTeach/iLearn Web site:
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Social Studies 8_2 Presentation.ppt
Grade 8 Exit Project Instructional Guide for Social Studies
A sample of the Harvard Outline format
Downloadable Inspiration diagrams (.ins, .doc, .jpg)
Instruction
Typically lasts about 20% of session.
Framing the Session
“In this session we will discuss how to use Inspiration to brainstorm a research
question. As a model we will use the question: ‘How did African-Americans win the
struggle for the right to vote?’
“Then, we will demonstrate how to use the software program to transform a
brainstorm graphic organizer into Harvard Outline format in order to guide the
research process. The Harvard Outline is one format used in the social sciences to
organize information. It will be used as a framework to organize the research that will
be used to develop the written component of the Exit Project. The outline format will
be explained, and we will demonstrate how, when using Inspiration, a brainstorm
graphic organizer can easily be converted to a Harvard Outline and vice-versa.”
Teaching
Facilitator should refer to the Inspiration file “Voting.ins”:
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iLearn Social Studies Session 8.2: Selecting a Topic and Research Question Using Inspiration
“A graphic organizer is a tool for organizing ideas and information. It is a visual
representation of a brainstorm of a topic or concept. Watch as I open the Inspiration
file ‘Voting.ins’ and model the process of creating a brainstorm web. I begin by typing
the research question—‘How did African-Americans win the struggle for the right to
vote?’—in the center of the graphic organizer. I then brainstorm the question and add
my ideas to the web.
“As I further brainstorm the question, I add supporting information for each of the
subtopics in the spaces below to complete each strand of the organizer. Once I have
completed the brainstorm, I have a visual representation of my ideas. This graphic
organizer will then guide my research. The software allows me to enter new ideas and
information to the web.
“Now watch as I demonstrate how Inspiration allows me to convert the graphic
organizer into the Harvard Outline format. This feature of the software allows
me to create an outline for the written component of the Exit Project.”
Guided Practice
“Now that I have modeled how to enter information onto the Inspiration graphic organizer
and demonstrated how to use Inspiration to convert the graphic organizer into a Harvard
Outline, you will have the opportunity to develop a research question on the topic ‘The
Civil Rights Movement,’ brainstorm, and record ideas in Inspiration, and create a graphic
organizer.”
Work Time
Typically lasts about 60–70% of session.
Getting Started
Partner activity:
“Working with a partner, develop a research question on the topic ‘The Civil Rights
Movement.’ Brainstorm possible ideas for your question, and use Inspiration to record
and organize your thoughts.”
Participant Activity
Participants will work in teams for 30 minutes to develop a research question on the topic
‘The Civil Rights Movement,’ brainstorm ideas for the question, and organize their
information using Inspiration and create a Graphic Organizer. They will then convert it to a
Harvard Outline.
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iLearn Social Studies Session 8.2: Selecting a Topic and Research Question Using Inspiration
Circulate around the room and confer with participants. Take note of particularly good
examples of work that can be presented during the Share.
Share
Typically lasts about 10–20% of session.
Share
Ask selected participants to share examples of their work. Compare their completed
sample Inspiration graphic organizer and compare with the model. Discuss how the
use of Inspiration can support the research component of the Exit Project.
Ask:
“How does the process of using Inspiration stimulate critical thinking skills?”
Acknowledgements
NYC Department of Education and Teaching Matters
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iLearn Social Studies Session 8.2: Selecting a Topic and Research Question Using Inspiration
TEMPLATE DESCRIPTION
Each session contains the following components and can be conducted in 45–60 minutes:
Session Overview
This is a concise summary of the session, and how it fits into the training series as a whole.
Focusing Questions
These are the specific questions that guide the session. The purpose of the session is to address
these questions.
Materials
This is a list of all materials that the facilitator must make sure are present at the training site,
including technology resources.
Resources
All handouts can be found linked from the Resources section of the participant agenda.
Participants will be able to access these materials online during the session, but the facilitator
should review them ahead of time, and any instructional support charts should be posted in the
room before the session begins.
Framing the Session
The facilitator explains to the participants what will be covered in this session, how it fits into the
training series as a whole, and how it may be incorporated into their reflective practice.
Teaching
This is a short period of facilitator-led instruction designed to prepare the participants for their work
time. The facilitator might demonstrate a specific use of technology in an authentic curricular
context, selected participants might be invited to share relevant experiences, or the group as a
whole might contribute to a shared brainstorming list. The facilitator should be careful to avoid
giving a lengthy lecture or straying too far from the focusing questions.
Guided Practice
Sometimes it is helpful for the facilitator to walk the participants through a process step by step.
This gives the participants the hands-on experience of work time before losing the scaffolding of
facilitator-led instruction.
Getting Started
The facilitator gives instructions to the participants for their work time, and lets them know what
they will be expected to share at the end of the session.
Participant Activity
Participants are given time to practice the specific process they have seen demonstrated. They
may be working independently, with a partner, or in small groups.
Facilitator Conferring
As participants work, the facilitator moves around the room holding short conferences to help guide
the work and make it more productive. The facilitator should be at eye level with participants during
each conference. These conversations need not be especially private; the facilitator may invite
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iLearn Social Studies Session 8.2: Selecting a Topic and Research Question Using Inspiration
someone sitting nearby to listen in. If common needs among the group emerge, they can either be
addressed immediately or during the sharing time.
Share
Participants gather at the end of the session to demonstrate what they have done, discuss
experiences they have had, and reflect on what they have learned. This is an opportunity to return
to the focusing questions that began the session, and discuss what has been accomplished in the
interval.
Acknowledgements
This section acknowledges those who contributed to the creation of this session.
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iLearn Social Studies Session 8.2: Selecting a Topic and Research Question Using Inspiration
iTeach/iLearn Project Overview
The Office of Instructional Technology (OIT) envisions providing the instructional community
with technology-rich tools and resources to enhance the teaching and learning process while
improving student achievement. We envision students using mobile wireless computers as a
tool for achieving high academic standards, supported by standards-aligned, technologyinfused curriculum, and highly qualified, well-trained, technology-literate teachers.
Each session contains the following components and can be conducted for teachers
in 45–60 minutes:
Session Overview
This is a concise summary of the session, and how it fits into the training series as a whole.
Focusing Questions
These are the specific questions that guide the session. The purpose of the session is to
address these questions.
Materials
This is a list of all materials that the facilitator must make sure are present at the training site,
including technology resources.
Resources
All handouts can be found linked from the Resources section of the participant agenda.
Participants will be able to access these materials online during the session, but the facilitator
should review them ahead of time, and any instructional support charts should be posted in
the room before the session begins.
Framing the Session
The facilitator explains to the participants what will be covered in this session, how it fits into
the training series as a whole, and how it may be incorporated into their reflective practice.
Teaching
This is a short period of facilitator-led instruction designed to prepare the participants for their work
time. The facilitator might demonstrate a specific use of technology in an authentic curricular
context, selected participants might be invited to share relevant experiences, or the group as a
whole might contribute to a shared brainstorming list. The facilitator should be careful to avoid
giving a lengthy lecture or straying too far from the focusing questions.
Guided Practice
Sometimes it is helpful for the facilitator to walk the participants through a process step by
step. This gives the participants the hands-on experience of work time before losing the
scaffolding of facilitator-led instruction.
LessonTemplate
Getting Started
The facilitator gives instructions to the participants for their work time, and lets them know what
they will be expected to share at the end of the session.
Participant Activity
Participants are given time to practice the specific process they have seen demonstrated. They
may be working independently, with a partner, or in small groups.
Facilitator Conferring
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iLearn Social Studies Session 8.2: Selecting a Topic and Research Question Using Inspiration
As participants work, the facilitator moves around the room holding short conferences to help
guide the work and make it more productive. The facilitator should be at eye level with
participants during each conference. These conversations need not be especially private; the
facilitator may invite someone sitting nearby to listen in. If common needs among the group
emerge, they can either be addressed immediately or during the sharing time.
Share
Participants gather at the end of the session to demonstrate what they have done, discuss
experiences they have had, and reflect on what they have learned. This is an opportunity to
return to the focusing questions that began the session, and discuss what has been
accomplished in the interval.
Acknowledgements
This section acknowledges those who contributed to the creation of this session.
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iLearn Social Studies Session 8.2: Selecting a Topic and Research Question Using Inspiration