Supporting Students to become Knowledge Constructors

In an effort to help my students become better knowledge constructors in alignment with the ISTE Standards for Students, I would start with talking about how they use the internet. Asking where they naturally gravitate to and what their common practices are to determine what they already know and what we still need to cover. This would allow me to talk about reputable sources and fake news. I feel this video is a great option for a variety of age ranges as it models a realistic situation and shares strategies and dispels myths.

Depending on the level of students I would use one of the following tools from Kathy Schrock's Critical Evaluations for the correct level as well as review steps that teachers can take to evaluate sites for their students. To use to help model and give them more guidance and use a site like Save the Tree Octopus and use Schrock’s evaluation sheet to determine it’s validity. I would also send this take away with students to help them remember what to look for when evaluating sites before using them as a resource.  Click on the bookmark example on the right to access a set of 5 in a PDF format from Kathy Schrock and Kami Simonis.



Then my focus would move to effective and appropriate searching using tools like advanced search feature in Google as well as how to use Wikipedia appropriately to start the research process. I created this presentation to use with students that I tied in appropriate and efficient/effective searching techniques with copyright guidelines and citation. I shared multiple ways to search for appropriate images with advanced search features in Google a s well as using the Explore Tool in the Google Apps. I included a minimal citation but will update this for 2017-18 when I share it with teachers and students this year.


I would encourage my students to use Diigo to save their resources when researching to help build a repository of content that they can use to multiply their searching efforts in the future. I love Diigo… I would recommend to everyone and I know I have only scratched the surface of what all you can do with it in the classroom. I found these very user-friendly, simplified directions that show on how to install the Diigo Extension and use it similar to the way I use it and instruct others.

Finally, the last step that I would take in helping my students to become better knowledge constructors is also where the magic happens. This is where creativity can take over once the content is squared away. I would instruct my students to choose a tool to “show what you know”. I would make a choice board similar to this and have students choose one or more of these tools to use to share the content they have curated as well as their bibliography.

Get your own copy of my adapted "Show what you know" Choice Board

I feel this approach would help offer students "voice and choice" as well as giving them the freedom to be creative.  This would empower students to take ownership of their learning and help to engage all.  Activities like this help to make instruction and content memorable for all.