WOMTC Workshop Materials Western Organization and Management Teaching Conference Los Angeles, February 22, 2003

Carolyn R. Johnson Associate Librarian Arizona State University West

Workshop Materials Hawaii International Conference on Education Honolulu, January 7, 2003

The need for this process

Here is a typical library research assignment:
 

Prepare a 10-page paper on the topic 'X' using at least five different sources of information.  Use MLA style, double spacing, one inch margins, and put your footnotes at the end of the report with the bibliography.  (This is usually followed by a brief lecture on plagiarism).

Teachers and librarians have not paid enough attention to the important part of library research assignments, namely, how to evaluate, synthesize, and organize the information from "five different sources" into an original, logical, and cohesive report.  Students either figure out how to do this on their own, or they never really understand how to synthesize and interpret information from their own unique points of view.  Consequently, very few students actually enjoy doing research, and many are tempted to plagiarize the work of others.
 

• For learners

Summary
Step-by-step instructions

• For instructors

Suggestions for using this model
Objective
Format
Intended audience
Benefits of the model
Student comments
Concept synthesizing topics previously used in classes
Topics to "cut up" for class
Summary article describing educational and psychological theories that support concept mapping:
 
Plotnick, Eric.  Concept Mapping: A Graphical System for Understanding the Relationship Between Concepts.  ERIC Clearinghouse on Information and Technology, June, 1997.  Available online at http://www.ericit.org/digests/EDO-IR-1997-05.shtml

 
 
• Examples using concept synthesis:

 

Dogs	Botox
Eric Clapton	Election 2000

 

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