3.1 Read: About The Future

Introduction

In this unit you will have the opportunity to pursue or develop a specific interest around a general topic. You will become a "content expert" on the subject and share it with others.

Along the way you will practice skills and learn how to access resources to do so successfully.

After you have created your collection of content, you will then develop your own project while taking part in an inquiry-based research process.

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Get ready to learn by thinking about this:

What does the future look like?  What is your role in your future?  What is your role in the future of the planet?  Where do you fit in? 

This is your general question that you will explore and focus.

Overview of lessons:

1. Topic generation and search skills

2. Refine your search

3. Evaluate and curate information

3.1 Topic Development

"The Future" is an enormous topic and needs to be narrowed down. First you are going to explore some ideas before you choose a topic on which you will become a "content expert".

Open your learning guide for unit 3 and follow the directions below to complete Assignment 3.1:  Topic Exploration.

1. Google It: Often our first action is to put our question into Google. For specific research there are better options, but for exploring a topic give it a whirl. Type in the question "What Does the Future Look Like?"

a. Google will make predictions as you type (called autocomplete). Follow this link to learn about AUTOCOMPLETE and answer the questions in your learning guide for Part A.

b. Choose two topics that turned up in autocomplete.  Write these down on your worksheet for Part B.  Notice if yours were the same as the one above or not.

c. Use the description in the snippet below the search result to determine if the item is worth opening to find narrower topics to explore. Pick four websites, paste the URL and browse the site to list narrower topics that interest you.  Write these down on your worksheet for Part C. Below is an example:

Note: When you open the website you (like the example) you may decide to just skim the content or listen or read more in-depth depending on what interests you.

d. Sometimes it helps to think in categories to generate ideas. For example, from the topics above two categories to further explore could be transportation and health.  

Use the Jasmine Directory which is organized in topics to click on topics and subtopics and browse results to create a list of 5 new categories you haven't mentioned.  Write these down on your worksheet for Part D.

e.  There are many websites built for content curation which are a good place to go for topics and sub-topics in an area. Try one of these sites: Type in the word future OR use one of your more general topics from above like "future of planet" or  "future of human body" etc. more general topic like and make a list of 5 lists that interest you.   Write these down on your worksheet for Part E.

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Pinterest  Note: account required

Scoop-It

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After all this you should hopefully have a good idea for a topic that is neither to broad or too specific, and that has something to do with what the future will look like and what will be your role.

If so you are ready to become a content curator!

3.2 What is content curation?

Before you become a content curator for your chosen topic, you need to learn more about content creation.

Reading Strategy Note: While this article is lengthy, it is a good overview of content curation. Don't let the length overwhelm you.  Use your active reading skills. Before you read know what information you are searching for. Scan the article for key words, and then once you have found them read more carefully. You will not be expected to summarize the article so don't worry about remembering everything, it is just meant as an introduction.

Article

More on Content Curation

Here is a visual  to help you further understand content creation:

(via Digital C4)

Now carry on to the the book module titled Reading Project Unit 3 to start your own content curation project!