Phase 3: Use

This phase consists of four steps. In the first step, Note-taking your child will learn how to take notes on the sources they determined were appropriate to use. They will then synthesize the information that they found from their various sources and organize that information into a cohesive outline that answers their Big Question. Your child will learn how to treat the information they find in an ethical manner by quoting, paraphrasing and documenting the bibliographic information in the MLA citation style in a final product that creatively communicates their new understanding about a Big Question.

The Steps

In the third phase, your child will synthesize relevant information from their sources in an attempt to answer their Big Question, learn how to ethically deal with sources, and create their final product. This phase features the following 4 steps in guided mode:

9
Note Taking
Read each source for understanding, take notes on relevant information, paraphrase or quote important facts
10
Synthesize
Interpret information, link information to prior knowledge, organize ideas using visual organizers, and form conclusions about the Big Question
11
Acknowledge
Establish a final list of sources to be used in the final product (bibliography)
12
Produce
Communicate the newfound knowledge through the creation of a final product

Parent Tips

Ask your child to reflect on Phase 2. Ask your child "Were there any steps that you did not understand or that you would like to revisit?" What was one aspect of this phase that you enjoyed? What did you learn?" Suggest entering this reflection into the Reflection feature of IS-21.
When your child is reading each source, encourage them to pause and evaluate whether what they have read makes sense and ask them to point out a big idea.

Promote the use of paraphrasing as it is a wonderful way to monitor your child's understanding of what they have read, or suggest re-reading selective parts of text and making inferences beyond the explicit text.
Review the original schedule with your child and decide if it should be revised.
Remind your child about the original Task, especially when creating the final product.

9 Note Taking

To read the selected source for deeper understanding and extract the important points.

Objective of this step:
- To comprehend the information presented about a Little Question and extract important facts
- To summarize the information obtained in an appropriate form (summary, paraphrase or quotation)
Overview

Your child reads the source carefully and creates notes from the source. The important aspect of this step is for your child to understand the information, and be able to summarize it in a useful format. Also, your child may also want to quote or paraphrase some text from the sources.
Parent Tips
- Help your child organize each of the sources they wish to use and suggest printing out the online sources.
- Focus on one source at a time and ask your child "What is one important fact that you have learned from this source? How does this answer the Little Question?" "Have you also read this fact (or opinion) in another source?" "How does this point relate to another Little Question?"
- Remind your child that direct quotations require an exact copy of the original, enclosed in quotations marks. For some citation styles a page reference is also needed.

Step 9: Note Taking Description | Overview | Parent Tips

10 Synthesize

Objective of this step:
1. To interpret and synthesize information that is used to answer the Little Questions.
2. To organize ideas, and form conclusions about the Big Question.
3. To link prior knowledge to this new understanding.
Overview

Your child will learn how to reach a conclusion about the Big Question through the organization, comparison and synthesis of facts related to its component parts. This new understanding is linked to your child's prior knowledge about the topic to look for connections and/or inconsistencies.
Parent Tips
- Remind your child to review their prior knowledge about the Big Question and look for links with what they have learned.
- Help you child determine the relationship between the Key Ideas (or sub-topics) by grouping similar points and arranging arguments in a logical fashion.
- If your child is having trouble organizing what they have learned within the Outline, try using the visual organizers provided within IS-21.
- If your child is unable to answer the Big Question, suggest locating additional sources of information.

Step 10: Synthesize Description | Overview | Parent Tips

11 Acknowledge

To learn how to establish final list of sources to be used in the final product (bibliography)

Objective of this step:
1. To review the working bibliography and select only those sources that were useful.
2. To determine if there are gaps in understanding.
3. To create a final list (or bibliography) according to a particular punctuation style.
Overview

Your child will review his/her list of sources to create a final bibliography that will be used in the creation of the final product. S/he will also determine if there are gaps in their understanding, resulting in the need to do further research.
Parent Tips
- Discuss the concept of ownership of property and how ones feels when they've been robbed.
- Remind your child that all quotes and paraphrasing of words AND ideas from others, along with the inclusion of any material (i.e. photographs, graphs, tables etc.) requires acknowledgement in the final Bibliography.
- Review the Bibliography with your child and ask how each source will be used in the final product.
- Ensure that each source has enough information listed such that one could locate the item.
- Ensure the URL (web page address) for each Internet source, links directly to the web page where the information was found.

Step 11: Acknowledge Description | Overview | Parent Tips

12 Produce

Objective of this step:
1. To understand the needs of different audiences.
2. To learn how to use a particular format (written, multimedia, oral) of communication effectively.
3. To learn the value of preparing drafts and/or rehearsing prior to presenting work.
Overview

Your child will create the final product using the information obtained in the previous steps. Depending on the nature of the task, your child will create a product in one or more multi-media tools.

If your child is also using ePEARL, s/he may use the built in text editor or recorder to store, review and reflect on multiple versions of written or oral work. They may also share this work with a classmate and get their feedback!
Parent Tips
- Encourage your child to use a creative approach when conveying what they have learned by suggesting different ways of presenting information (i.e., skit, drawing, video, mural, role playing etc.)
- Help your child understand and use the information presented in graphs, diagrams and photographs within their relevant sources.
- Discuss how to relate to their target audience through the use of language (i.e., use of humour, formality, etc.)
- Offer to review drafts of written work or a watch a rehearsal of their presentation.
- Celebrate your child's accomplishment in completing this Task!

Step 12: Produce Description | Overview | Parent Tips

Phase 3: Use

The Steps

Note Taking

Synthesize

Acknowledge

Produce

Parent Tips

9 Note Taking

Objective of this step:

Overview

Parent Tips

10 Synthesize

Objective of this step:

Overview

Parent Tips

11 Acknowledge

Objective of this step:

Overview

Parent Tips

12 Produce

Objective of this step:

Overview

Parent Tips