Appendix D: Evaluation Example

Sample 2: Grade 9

Topic: Research Project

Foundations

It is expected that students will:

• enter information accurately using appropriate keyboarding techniques and software that allows for the storage, retrieval, and editing of material
• demonstrate the ability to use the Internet to access, capture, and store information

It is expected that students will:

• demonstrate the use of a variety of software and appropriate information technology tools to solve problems
• evaluate the suitability of information for use in specific contexts
• analyse electronically organized information for authenticity, bias, timeliness, and usefulness

It is expected that students will:

• select, use, and evaluate a variety of information technology tools for making presentations
• consider ethical and legal issues when presenting information
• develop an awareness that all media can be digitized for electronic presentation

• The students brainstormed a list of topics they had studied in curricular areas such as Science 9 (body systems), Social Studies 9 (Industrial Revolution), or Physical Education 9 (nutrition, anorexia, AIDS, steroids). One topic was chosen from this list.

• Students worked with partners to list five to seven questions about the topic that they would like answered. In a whole-class activity, students discussed the questions they had generated and compiled a list of their most frequently asked questions.

• Students worked in small groups to identify possible sources of information that could be found in the school (e.g., CD-ROMs, periodicals, encyclopedias, almanacs, media loans, human resources) and in the community (e.g., public library on-line catalogues, the Internet, museums, municipal offices, human resources). The students spent several lessons accessing several of the identified information sources. They practised using keywords to streamline their search from a broad topic to more narrow terms.

• Each group located, stored, and presented three pieces of information (e.g., articles, Internet files, videotapes, statistical reports, still images) to be analysed by the class for authenticity, bias, and timeliness. The class sorted their collected information into categories (e.g., books, periodicals, encyclopedias, CD-ROMs, videos) and explored the standards for correctly citing each source.

• Throughout all of the activities, students had frequent opportunities to share their work with others and receive feedback.

• Students were asked to choose a different topic and work individually to develop a research strategy for finding information to answer frequently asked questions. They were encouraged to survey their peers and use this information to refine the guiding questions for their research. Students had access to a variety of information technology tools and were able to choose the format for their end products (e.g., word-processed research paper, videotape, hypertext document, multimedia presentation).

• Evaluation criteria were developed co-operatively by the teacher and students.

Defining the Criteria

Research Strategy

To what extent is the student able to:

• plan a research strategy
• access several different sources
• use keywords to narrow the search
• store information electronically

To what extent does the student:

• choose information that answers guiding questions
• provide detailed information
• provide current information
• provide information that is free of bias or that identifies and compensates for bias

To what extent does the student:

• cite all sources
• use correct formats

To what extent is the student able to:

• use or integrate a variety of tools
• present information clearly and logically
• design an effective layout or use special effects to enhance impact

Research and Presentation Skills

The teacher used the following weighted scale to evaluate how effectively students were able to conduct research, choose appropriate information, cite sources, and present information using information technology tools.

Criteria	Weight	Comments
Research Strategy plans a research strategy accesses several different sources uses keywords to narrow search stores information electronically	15
Choosing Information answers guiding questions provides details uses current sources is free of bias, or bias is identified and compensated for	15
Citing References cites all sources uses proper formats	10
Presentation uses or integrates a variety of tools presents information clearly and logically uses an effective layout design or special effects to enhance impact	10

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