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CAPSTONE PROCESS & REPRESENTATION

Investigate and Report

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Investigate and Report - Overview

This capstone option is an opportunity to build research and communications knowledge and competencies through an active exploration of a meaningful question, problem, desired career path, or issue.

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Following an inquiry process, students can employ disciplinary thinking to develop important skills, such as formulating driving questions, planning inquiries, gathering and analyzing information, and communicating findings.

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Process

The process is broken down into 5 areas:

  • Formulate an inquiry question to investigate

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  • Plan and investigate

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  • Analyze and interpret collected information and data

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  • Evaluate and conclude

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  • Report and communicate

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Step 1 - Formulate an inquiry question to investigate

  • Develop an essential question that addresses curiosity about a topic or issue of personal, local, or global interest

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Step 2 - Plan and investigate

  • Plan, select, and use appropriate investigation strategies to collect reliable information and data
    • e.g. academic research, fieldwork study, observation methods, interviewing an expert, etc

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  • Assess risks and address ethical, cultural, and/or environmental issues associated with proposed strategies

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  • Apply the concepts of validity and accuracy

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Step 3 - Analyze and interpret collected information and data

  • Seek, analyze, and describe patterns, trends, connections, and/or cause-and-effect relationships

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  • Construct visual support(s) to efficiently communicate information
    • E.g. tables, graphs, models, diagrams

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  • Use background knowledge and new understandings to draw conclusions that are consistent with evidence

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Step 4 - Evaluate and conclude

  • Describe what worked well and identify specific ways to improve future investigations
    • E.g. evaluate validity, limitations, and claims; draw conclusions about possible reasons for results; identify new questions to investigate

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  • Communicate social, ethical, and/or environmental implications and contributions form the investigation and other research

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  • Reflect on the inquiry process and results
    • E.g. identify surface assumptions, identify bias in work and/or in primary and secondary sources, share personal learning and growth, examine the iterative nature of the process

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Step 5 - Report and communicate

  • Report on findings, ideas, information, and implications of the investigation
    • E.g. formal report, science fair, oral presentation, website, video, etc.

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  • Share key personal learnings related to the investigation processes and to personal development as an inquirer