The document describes the research process as akin to a river's journey from its source to the sea. It outlines the various stages of research - Open, Immerse, Explore, Identify, Gather, Create and Share, and Evaluate - and notes that teachers and librarians provide guidance and support at each stage to help students navigate the "research river."

1. Figure 1.1 Guided Inquiry Design Process. (Kuhlthau, C., Maniotes, L and Caspari, A. 2012.)
Lee FitzGerald, Loreto Kirribilli, April 29,
2013

2. The Research River
 Starting a research task, you are at the
beginning of a journey, called The
Information Search Process
 This is a journey that you’ll repeat many
times in your life at school and work.
 It’s not a simple journey, and may be
likened to the progress a river makes from
its source to the sea.
Lee FitzGerald, Loreto Kirribilli, April 29, 2013

3. The research river: Open
Research can be
likened to a river’s
progress. At its
source, the river’s
flow is weak and
undirected.
In the Open stage of an
assignment you
may feel lost and
uncertain as to the
path you might take.
Your teachers/librarian will initiate
the area of inquiry with you.
Lee FitzGerald, Loreto Kirribilli, April 29, 2013

4. The research river: Immerse
This is a peaceful and
happy part of the
research river.
You immerse yourself in
some shallows and get
surface information on
your topic.
www.flickr.com
Use preliminary
searching: Broad, not
deep - Encyclopedias
Your teacher/librarianwill help you select your
Lee FitzGerald, Loreto Kirribilli, April 29, 2013
information.

5. The research river: Explore
As water is added to the
river, it carves a channel for
itself and soon forms a
series of rapids.
You’ve chosen your area of
interest, but as you seek
information, you find there’s
quite a lot of it!
Use Exploratory searching.
Wide, not deep! Use
encyclopedias and books
which provide an overview.
And what are your teacher/librarians doing?
They are helping you explore your topic.
Lee FitzGerald, Loreto Kirribilli, April 29, 2013

6. The research river: Explore
You may even plunge
headfirst over a
waterfall - unsure of
what lies below it –
THE DIP!
At this stage of the research
process it is completely
normal to fall into the
dip – to feel overloaded,
and confused!
Contained, directed searching
is necessary to come
out of the Dreaded Dip!
It is definitely here where you should seek
teacher/librarian help!
Lee FitzGerald, Loreto Kirribilli, April 29, 2013
Use the resources provided,
especially the online
text book, and Clickview
videos.

7. The research river: Identify
It is only after you’ve
researched widely, navigated
the flood of information that
you feel strong and confident.
In the process, some of the
water is left behind, as you
work through the process of
identifying exactly what you
need to know.
Your teacher/librarian will help you
formulate your information need.
After this sifting process, you
are streaming ahead to the
sea. You feel confident and
focused now.

8. The research river: Gather
http://www.pamsclipart.com/clipart_images/stick_girl_swimming_0515-1104-1203-1310.html
Your teacher/librarian will help you collect
only the Loreto Kirribilli, April 29, 2013
information you need.
Lee FitzGerald,
• The flow of the river has
been controlled.
• You are now in charge of
the information
• You are sorting it,
controlling it, shaping it to
answer your question.
• Use Comprehensive
Searching: Pertinent not
just relevant – Use
sources that relate to your
particular part of the topic.
• Keep adding to your
individual notetaking
scaffold.

9. The research river: Create and share
Finally, as you approach
your destination, another
difficult time! (How can I
work with my inquiry circle
to create our Inspiration
mind map?
How can we shape all our
information into an
presentation that answers
our inquiry question?
Which way will your
research river flow to the
sea?
Lee FitzGerald, Loreto Kirribilli, April 29, 2013
Your teacher/librarian will help
you with your presentation.

10. The research river: Create and share
Here’s where the river meets
the sea at its estuary!
Here the river of information
you have created is shared
with your class.
You will share in the whole
sea of information Year 7 has
created by presenting your
mind map and seeing
everyone else’s.
Lastly, you write an answer in
your exam, that shows your
depth of understanding of
New Kingdom Ancient Egypt!
www.clarence.nsw.gov.au
Your teachers are on hand to help
you create and share your
presentation.
Lee FitzGerald, Loreto Kirribilli, April 29,
2013

11. The Research river: Evaluate
• You’ve conquered the
raging Information
River! Your new sea of
knowledge is full, and
you are peaceful and
happy with yourself.
• You’ve shared your
knowledge, assessed
the knowledge of
others, and been
assessed yourself.
• Or maybe there’s a
little hole back in that
old dam you might
need to fix next time…
Thanks for the River analogy, Di Laycock, Barker College!

www.flickr.com
Your teacher/librarian will assess
your work.
Lee FitzGerald, Loreto Kirribilli, April
29, 2013