Research Literacy Blended Unit: Teen Obesity

Tracy LaGrassaJune 2016

Blended Learning Institute

The Research Literacy ClassHigh school 9th grade

34 students

Specialized science high school

Diverse group of “gifted” students

Variable science and ELA backgrounds

No ELLs but several former ELLS

Few students with mild learning disabilities

The Class:

One semester class in scientific research literacy

Foundation for our school’s research program

Goal: Build science research skills and competence

Each student is assigned a desktop computer

Research Literacy is a uniquely blended science course

https://docs.google.com/a/bxscience.edu/forms/d/1J6TKwY1Diw1V8S3aaMVRq35VVd_txbaQWIlguWHlF6A/edit#responses

The Letter

Dear Sweetie,I am considering getting gastric bypass surgery after watching an episode of Oprah with teens and reading an article with Dr. Inge discussing the procedure in other teenagers. I am 15 years old, and as you know, I have struggled with obesity since childhood. I have tried so many diets and strategies to lose weight, but I have continued to gain weight. I now have borderline Type II diabetes, and my doctor just told me that I am at risk of many long-term health problems. I know that you are taking a research class, so I am hoping you’ll do some research for me and give me some advice and what I should do.Thanks.

The Lesson

AIM: How do we conduct research so that we can advise our friend about obesity treatment?

Where should we start?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN2BLrbt8zA&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Use Oprah episode and secondary source as a clue to finding the primary source research article

Students independently watch Screencasts to review how to use PubMed and ScienceDirect scientific article databases:

http://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/coXQYxhIWH

http://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/coXQYnhISE

Unit Plan● Use Oprah, newspaper articles, science websites, and

scientific journal articles to research different teen obesity treatment methods

● Work with a partner to organize all this research (formal outline or graphic organizer e.g., https://popplet.com/ or (https://www.text2mindmap.com/) Exemplar: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CqqRowUo9Zduy-8ICr4EOjsC2qMLt269axwIx95qVJU/edit?ts=5643dfcd

● Synthesize the research into an evidence-based presentation to your friend

Three Options for Final Product● Formal letter● Slide presentation● Interview

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D2EgkbgML-K85pVAStUQJQtkurchuJGK2RbVZMGvaQs/edit?ts=564df46d

Differentiation: ContentMany ways to reach my goals of conducting, organizing, synthesizing, and presenting scientific research

Relatable topic: Teen obesity

Multimedia content transitions from easily accessible to complex: TV newspaper scientific papers➜ ➜

Choice of research materials (e.g., Abstract or full text paper; choice of content)

Differentiation: ProcessHow do I conduct, organize, and synthesize my research?

Unit completion checklist

Multimedia research content

Graduated tasks

Scaffolded note-taking templates and assignments (e.g., table template, guided outline)

Multimedia tutorials and exemplars

Students read aloud; type and dictate writing

Student directed pacing

Choice of how to find materials

Homogeneous and heterogeneous groupings

Peer collaboration and assessment

Differentiation: Product

Formative assessment: How do I know I’m on the right track conducting, organizing, and synthesizing my research?

T-charts

Text annotations

Visual (table, graphs) or written summaries

Practice writing citations

Outline or concept map guided using student-created rubrics

Differentiation: Product

Summative assessment: How do I give my friend evidence-based advice?

Choice of formal letter, slide show, or interview (teacher or teammate poses as friend)

Tiered rubrics guide and assess

Revisions are encouraged

How can we adapt the blended learning philosophy of Research Literacy to teaching and learning in the core science classroom?

Unique issues of teaching core science class:

Regents exam preparation

Dense, Regents-plus curriculum

Observations and Danielson

Most core science classrooms have only one computer