Inquiry and Literacy

PROMPT: Will putting emphasis on the significance of students’ personal conclusion subsequent to research improve their attitudes in relation to executing research?

Yes I believe it will. It is always easier to set back and let others do the work for us, that way we neither get our hands dirty and we are not responsible for what happens afterwards. This can sometimes be the attitude of student researchers, “ I’ll just find out what someone else thinks, then I don’t have to really bother with thinking about what is actually being said.” In most cases younger students are never taught to expand the information they encounter-- never to think farther about the information. Most of the time students are required to spit out information without really adding their personal conclusion about what they interpreted the information mean (even if wanting to do so). If people are stifled about voicing their feeling about the material they find, it makes becoming personally involved with the material difficult to do. Students that feel they have something to contributed I believe have more that to gain and to give. When students are required to analyze information to make their own deductions, there is more intricate thinking, since they are using their previous experiences and insight about the topic. More than likely if someone has more at stake they tend to whatever it is more carefully. If students realize that their views are going to be acknowledged, then they will take the time and effort to justify their stance. And their view of research will be changed because there is anticipation that materials found will be enlightening, enhance their prior knowledge and possible challenge their views. So in conclusion instructors at every level of education should promote the idea of students interacting with the information they come across by analyzing the information and determining what the information is saying to them. I think this will help all students become more comfortable with open-ended questions.