Students who have grown up with the internet have natural skills that past generations could not imagine. Members of younger generations often have impressive talents in fields like computer science and online content creation that only come from being immersed in digital platforms from an early age.
However, young people’s grasp of digital skills has a downside: It can lead them to believe they know more about the world than they actually do. As Ayanna Mayes, School Librarian for Chapin High School, explains: “Our students’ belief that everything they need to know is online can, without the right skillset, leave them prey to misinformation.” The important question, then, is how educators can teach their students to effectively navigate the flood of online information available at their fingertips.
Teachers interested in this important question might consider enrolling in the Youngstown State University (YSU) online Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) – Teacher Education – Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) – Teacher Leader program. This program is designed for today’s working educators who wish to become leaders in their field and help their students develop essential research skills early in life.
The Importance of Research Skills in Education
Sometimes, education can seem like a process of memorizing and accumulating factual knowledge. Former primary school teacher and blogger Kathleen Morris calls this “collecting the dots.” But for true learning to happen, Morris argues that teachers need to prioritize helping students learn how to “connect the dots”: “That is, rather than memorising information, students must be able to learn how to solve new problems, see patterns, and combine multiple perspectives.”
To effectively connect the dots, students need solid research skills. They need to know how to independently find information, evaluate its quality and effectively put it to use in pursuit of a larger goal, like a project or essay.
The Value of Innovation in Instructional Strategies
Curriculum and instruction specialists are educators best equipped to incorporate research-based resources into standard curricula. These professionals know what it takes to build an effective course of study and, if given the space to innovate, transform a curriculum into one that prioritizes research fundamentals. YSU’s Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction to Improve Learning course prepares working teachers to bring positive change to their schools by teaching instructional design from a practical, hands-on perspective.
Foster a Research Culture Early
While research projects are most often associated with higher grade levels, some teachers are incorporating the teaching of necessary skills even earlier. Class Tech Tips notes that even elementary classrooms need an understanding of research skills.
Research skills in early education classrooms establish a foundation students can build on later. Emphasizing research also helps students practice their critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, foster stronger teamwork and exercise their curiosity. According to Class Tech Tips, this early focus on research in elementary schools can help students acquire lifelong learning skills they will take into all areas of their lives.
Promote Critical Analysis in Classrooms
Ultimately, students with the strongest critical thinking will be best equipped to develop effective research skills. The mechanical steps in the research process — choosing keywords and knowing how to search — are important, and teachers must positively reinforce these steps. However, students can only apply these steps with a well-developed ability to critically analyze. As Morris observes: “All teachers know it’s important to teach students to research well. Investing time in this process will also pay off throughout the year and the years to come.”
YSU’s online M.S.Ed. Teacher Education – C&I – Teacher Leader program teaches the value of research and innovation through courses such as Brain Based Teaching and Learning and Action Research in Urban and Rural Education. Teachers who are thinking about ways to innovate their curriculum to promote critical-thinking skills in their classrooms, no matter the age of their students, will prepare the next generation of digitally fluent students for a successful future.
Learn more about Youngstown State University’s online Master of Science in Education – Teacher Education – Curriculum and Instruction – Teacher Leader program.
