This document outlines a learning contract menu for a research/inquiry project. It provides students with choices and requirements in several areas to improve their research skills and create a final learning product. Students must choose skills to target from the AASL standards, bookmarking and information dashboard tools, information management tools, learning reflections platforms, content creation tools, information sources, and a format for their final product. They must also choose an organization method. The goal is for students to master 10 total research standards and create a portfolio demonstrating their learning.

1. Name:_____________________________________________________ Date:_____________
Research/Inquiry Project Learning Contract Menu
Spring 2012, Lester and Hamilton
Skills You Want Choices Required (New Skills or Skills
to Identified by Majority of Class in
Target/Improve December 2011)
You will receive a copy of the AASL Standards for  Evaluate a website more effectively and
21st Century Learners. Aside from our baseline accurately
required skills listed below, you will choose  Evaluate all information sources using
 at least one standard from area 2 the CRAAP test (AASL Skills 1.1.5, 1.1.7,
 at least one standard from area 3 1.2.4)
 at least one standard from area 4  Accurately distinguish between a
 required: standards 1.1.1., 1.1.3, 1.1.5, website and a database resource
1.1.7, 1.2.4, 1.2.5, and 2.1.1  Develop interviewing skills
 Developing inquiry driven research
Between your choice selections and required questions (AASL Skills 1.1.1/ 1.1.3/
selections, you will document and share in your 1.2.5/2.1.1)
portfolio and learning journal how you are
mastering and progressing in these 10 total
standards.
Bookmarking Choices (you must choose at least one) Required
Tools
 Evernote Choose at least one of these bookmarking tools
 Scoop.it to use for this unit (this relates to AASL Skill
 Diigo 1.1.8)
Information Choices (you must choose at least one) Required
Dashboard
Management
PLE
 Symbaloo At least one of the choices (this relates to AASL
 Netvibes Skill 1.1.8 and 2.1.2)
You will take a screenshot of your PLE and send
the image to Ms. Hamilton to upload so that you
can embed it on your project portfolio page on
our class wiki.
Information Choices Required
Management
Tools
 NoodleTools At least one of the choices (this relates to AASL
 EasyBib Skill 1.3.3.)
Learning Choices Required
Reflections and
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2. Name:_____________________________________________________ Date:_____________
Work Progress
 Wordpress (preferred) One of the two choices
 Posterous
Your blog will be your “Thinking sandbox”
where you will do brief but meaningful
reflections on your progress, insights, successes,
and challenges with this project.
Content Choices Required
Creation Tools
 Wiki Two or more of these learning/content creation
 Prezi tools
 VoiceThread
 Animoto
 Google Docs
 Powerpoint
 Jing
Information Choices Required
Sources You
Want to Use or
Learn How to
Use More
Effectively
 ESBCOhost History Reference Center  Academic Search Complete
 Britannica (contemporary issues) or Gale Virtual
 Gale Opposing Viewpoints Reference Library
 Gale Discovering Collection  YouTube or Facts on File Video
 EBSCOhost Student Research Center  An interview with an expert
 Blog of an Expert
 Appropriate authoritative social media *All sources should be evaluated using the
information sources such as Twitter or CRAAP test—print and digital!
Facebook page (such as the Veterans
Administration)
 Appropriate RSS Feeds
 Advanced Google Searching
 SweetSearch
 Print Books
 Website
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3. Name:_____________________________________________________ Date:_____________
Final Learning Choices Required
Product
 Digital Text [Prezi, VoiceThread, Narrated One of the three choices
Video]
 Written Text [traditional research paper]
 Multigenre Text [traditional research
paper + multigenre learning artifacts]; may
be created online in Wikispaces or in
Microsoft Word
*Ms. Hamilton will provide samples for
you to browse to help you make your
choice.
Organization Choices Required
Method for
Your Final
Learning
Product
 Detailed mindmap One of the two choices
 Shaping sheet
EXTRA CREDIT: See Ms. Hamilton
Research Word Wall/“Research” Vocabulary of the Day
10th World Literature/Composition Honors
Lester and Hamilton, Spring 2012
As we try to improve our understanding and use of research vocabulary/terms, we are going to
crowdsource what we know and are learning about these terms as a group.
Each student will select a research term to define and investigate; the findings will be shared in two
ways:
1. You will create a visual to go on our bulletin board and a brief summary/definition/description that
will fit on a 4x6 notecard (you can get your own, or we can provide one for you through the library).
2. You will create a wiki page (Ms. Hamilton will set up the wiki—you just add and create your page
content) that includes:
A. a definition/overview (this could be text, a Prezi, or your own original PPT that you could upload to
Slideshare and embed)
B. any additional materials to help someone learn more (official tutorial videos on YouTube) or links
to credible articles/websites about the research term or tool.
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