Research Is The Process, Not The Product

I was relieved to read in Meaningful Learning with Technology that research is only a step toward a bigger end. I often see students "creating" a nonfiction piece by recopying the facts they have gleaned verbatim from another source. While I work hard to educate them about plagiarism, giving credit where it is due, and putting things in their own words, I realize this is only part of the battle. These projects where students research for the sake of researching, not only are devoid of student inquiry (teacher generated prefab questions) but also cognitive transfer. While the students may remember a few of their facts in the end, have they really internalized what this information means? Can they analyze and synthesize it or use it to create something new?

Whether these research projects and processes take place with print or digital mediums is irrelevant, the challenge to create a meaningful learning experience remains.