Blended Learning Institute (BLI) graduate Tracy LaGrassa shares a full unit plan for her research literacy class. Tracy shares a plethora of resources from prompts to screencasts as well as her blended techniques for differentiating every step of this process.

1. Research Literacy Blended
Unit: Teen Obesity
Tracy LaGrassa
June 2016
Blended Learning Institute

2. The Research Literacy Class
High 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

3. Research Literacy is a uniquely blended science
course
https://docs.google.com/a/bxscience.edu/forms/d/1J6TKwY1Diw1V8S3aaMVRq35VVd_txbaQWIlguWHlF6A/edit#response

5. 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.

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

7. Where should we start?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN2BLrbt8zA&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

8. 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

10. 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

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

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

13. Differentiation: Content
Many 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)

14. Differentiation: Process
How 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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