It is a foolish waste of technology, money and information power to assign information gathering, topical research projects such as the following . . . Find out about China, Connecticut, Acid Rain, Mozart, Lincoln, Emily Dickinson, etc. Student research should focus upon essential questions . . . For further reading about essential questions and the Research Cycle , check out these articles from previous issues of From Now On . When students are busy making up their own minds, the role of the teacher shifts.
Support is customized and individualized.
Posing problems of emerging relevance to students. Seeking and valuing students' points of view. Adapting curriculum to address students' suppositions. Assessing student learning in the context of teaching. The Brooks offer a list of behaviors which makes a wonderful self-assessment tool for teachers thinking about their constructivist behaviors.