If you told high school me to do a research project with perspectives from around the world--immediate groan. Wait… you tell me all this time Google has had the search tool for finding reliable information from around the globe? This would have saved me hours in college...
The Google tool, “site:[country abbreviation]”has so much value when researching a specific topic in biology. Simply Googling the topic will provide the latest and greatest from the US (most likely). But what if I want what to hear what others have to say, outside the US. Well, adding the “site:[country abbreviation]” allows me to see what’s happening from a different country’s perspective.
This can be a powerful tool for students to see how other countries are handling controversial practices and concepts in biology. It is part of the educator’s role to teach empathy. One way to do this is to view and understand a concept or an event from a perspective different from the students’.
Gen Zers are a passionate generation, especially when it comes to the state of the earth. I want to build upon their zeal and give them the tools to be informed and engaged citizens. One way I might do this is to have students choose a science related “hot-topic” and research it on a global level. Without the helpful Google tools, finding relevant information from different parts of the world could take a long time and lots of digging. With the “site:[country abbreviation]” tool, students will be able to quickly find reliable information.
Not only will students be able to use this tool to understand the view of science from a different country, this tool makes researching reliable information highly efficient. It has been my assumption that my future students will know how to find information quickly. This is true in one sense, they know how to navigate the internet. But it is not necessarily indicative of their ability to find information that is valid and well founded. When Googling “how to teach research skills to high school students,” 517,000,000 results popped up. Now, I am not saying all 517,000,000 results have direct relevance to the question, but it is obviously something teachers are asking. These skills need to be taught, and if educators aren’t embracing the new ways of finding information, then students will be left at a disadvantage in the world.
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