Finding Information Activity 9 - Synthesis activity for learners

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Activity 9: Synthesis activity for learners

Activity design: 4 hrs
Group interaction: 1 hr
Class time: 3 hrs
Group interaction after class time: 30 mins

8 hrs 30 Mins

In this module, you have already chosen a topic of study, formulated questions about it, and found information to answer those questions. You have also created short Web Bytes that use specific sources of information to answer one or two questions.

The purpose of this activity is to draw the module to a close with a challenge for you to design an activity for your learners that requires synthesis, to challenge their thinking, requiring the use of several information sources. Your learners must do this activity and present their ideas to the class.

Before you do this activity, we recommend that you read Synthesis - Creating knowledge.

Synthesis activity for learners

Use your e-diary to make opening comments about this activity.

Using the topic and the information you have found, design an activity for learners that requires them to combine separate bits of information in order to create a new way of doing something. Use one or more of the key words from this list to describe what the learners will have to do:

create

design

compose

formulate

produce

construct

plan

predict

The activity should last for at least one lesson, but no more than three lessons.

Take two or three days to discuss this task with your colleagues at school and write e-mail to your group. Respond to your group as they write about their activities. Help each other to formulate interesting activities.
Give the activity to your learners to do. Let them choose how they want to present their ideas to you. They should:

include a problem or challenge related to a topic you have studied;
include separate bits of information about the topic, from different sources;
combine these different bits of information;
come up with a new idea for doing something which will solve the problem or respond to the challenge
include a bibliography.

Note: learners could use these criteria to assess their own or each others' work.

Once the learners have presented their ideas to you, share your experiences of the activity by writing e-mail to your group.

Use your e-diary to make closing comments about this activity.

We recommend that you read Taking it further.

Finding Information

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