<p>I'm thinking of enrolling in a class called I-search next year (senior year). The description is pretty vague - student directed in-depth study of a focused area within a field of study.</p>
<p>Apparently it's some sort of broad project/study, but I was really hoping to get some more details on it. I'm curious to know what the class is like, and what assignments you're given (if you're given any at all). I'm really interested in this class, but I just feel like I should know more about it before I sign up. I'll be taking this at independent studies, so there isn't a specific teacher I can talk to, nor are there any students I know who I could ask. I'm sure the experience will be different at independent studies as opposed to a real classroom with multiple students, but the principles should stay the same. </p>
<p>If anyone has any personal experience with this class they could share, that would be awesome.</p>
<p>Not sure how helpful this is, but my son who is in a self- contained gifted program (in fifth grade)had an I-search project which he worked on for much of the second semester of the year. I-search appears to me to be a new type of structured research project. You choose a topic you’re interested in - my son’s was gun control legislation and it’s effects on crime. Other students chose things like youth concussions, making crayons and the economics of garbage. The parts of the research were divided up - writing about what you knew ahead of time and why you were interested in the project, info from an encyclopedia, info from a book, info from a journal article, info from an interview with an expert, and what you learned. They then presented their research to parents at a “research fair” where they created posters - a little like a science fair. I know that there are online sites describing the I-search idea and projects, which my son looked at when thinking about topics.</p>
<p>@jsrcmom - thank you! That description was very helpful. One more question though. Did the research topic have to be centered on a specific question or focused on an “issue” (legal or social conflict where you pick a side)? Or was it more broad than that (say, you could simply write a general research paper on cars for example)? </p>
<p>Thanks! </p>
<p>It sounds like “independent research” to me. We did have that at our school but you had to apply and get your proposal accepted. Not a formal class per se. Ask some members of your school - counselors or people that have taken it in the past</p>
<p>@shawnspencer - I would ask classmates, but at independent study, you don’t have any. Since you only go to the main center once a week for an hour (and for 95% of that time, you’re holed up in a cubicle), the chance of me bumping into an upperclassman taking the course is pretty slim. There also isn’t really any teacher who specializes in the class. Hence my confusion. </p>
<p>What do you mean exactly when you say the “independent research” program at your school wasn’t a formal class per se?</p>
<p>Thanks! </p>