They learn to conduct on-line bibliographic searches of a wide range of databases. Students find and study several journal articles, eventually choosing one which they will present to the class. Their presentation to the class emphasizes how research described in the article was conducted. Thus, it makes the scientific method, which is the essence of the course, explicit for the student and the class. Students prepare a statement of what they intend to study based on their bibliographic research.
Students contact the authors of journal articles they have studied.
They ask for suggestions for future research that they might undertake. As their relationship with the scientist develops, they ask the scientist to serve as a mentor or to help them find an appropriate scientist mentor to assist them in carrying out a research project. Students then engage in an original piece of research under the guidance of their scientist mentor and their classroom research teacher. The classroom teacher meets with individuals and the research class on a regular basis. The students communicate with scientist mentors, wherever they are, using electronic mail capabilities.