Screencasting Research

For my screencast lesson, I decided to show off how to conduct research using an Internet Database. Not only is this informative and helps the student to better understand what a database looks like and how to use it, but when used in conjunction with some other pedagogy in the lesson, it creates a seamless research environment.

The students will inevitable need to use internet databases to find peer-reviewed history literature to help write papers or work on their larger research project, and JSTOR is by far the easiest and most in-depth history database I know. Students would watch the screencasts on a library day or even at home the day before a trip to the computer lab, to better acquaint themselves with the system and point out important tools, like tracking citations, converting files into PDF format, and also using what is given to help put together an appropriately formatted bibliography.

After watching the video, the students would then come into class and begin compiling the research, me having modeled the procedure for this task in the screencast. I would have them do this in class because  I would want to make sure students were staying on track and were not confused on what sources to use and how to access the software. While this could be done through E-mail communication, it's easier to address these larger problems in class because more likely than not there are numerous students with the same question. Going through the entire research process as a class instead of just interacting through quick messages encourages a more collaborative effort between the students, allowing for group research or sharing of articles that might be relevant to someone else's research.

While the screencast is certainly not one entire lesson, when put in this framework of modeling then guided practice while clarifying any loose ends makes using an internet database a smooth and not so mysterious process, something that students have often complained about. Using an internet database should not be hard or shrouded in mystery, but should instead be as natural in research as searching library stacks for a book. In this way, students can utilize research tools and methods in all mediums.