New tools are being created for harnessing the internet and all of the information available on it. One new tool is being created by Dr. Mark Wagner. The web tool is in development and will allow users to search on a topic they want to learn about – results will include many different resources (that are acceptable for writing a research paper) – even video and images. Users will be able to create an annotated bibliography and even share their search with friends, fellow students, and/or teachers. If you are interested, you can go to his blog and test the first phase of the project. He is asking for feedback and suggestions.
I think that this is a really great idea. I love the fact that students would be able to create an annotated bibliography online. I was reading an article in English Journal (from the NCTE) about a student and teacher who worked together to create a more computer savvy method for all of the parts of a research paper. The student kept all of her notes in an excel spreadsheet instead of on note cards. Beyond this, she even figured out how to keep all of her sources in order and reference them in her outline. This tool would be another step in making the research paper an experience in using technology – something that most students would go for!
Annotated bibliographies have always been an overwhelming thing for me. I remember my professors telling me to do the bib first just because it took so long to get complete. I never understood the point in making the process such a tedious and painful one. It is almost like punishing a student for using more resources for a paper. Anything that could make this process an easier and less painful one is good for me. I also think that it might help turn less students off from the whole research paper writing as well. I mean, do we want to create more reasons for our students to back away from looking up new things and learning different perspectives and opinions? I think making the bibliography writing process an easier one will help students, and myself alot
By: mlemallin on December 2, 2008
at 5:15 am
I agree with you that this is a great idea! With all the time i spend researching, nearly half that time is wasted just sifting through all the junk that is on the internet. Perfect example: I was once writing a paper on Shakespeare and while in the midst of researching his life I somehow ended up buying a “Shakespearean-style” shirt. As I was typing my credit card number in, I remember thinking “how the hell did this happen when I was just researching”??! I think Dr. Wagner’s idea would truly save students a lot time (maybe some money too in my case). I would much rather have a focused, narrow search engine to work with then something like google that brings up every possible website with a single word in your search mentioned.
By: marmar1186 on December 3, 2008
at 8:25 pm