Fact-Finding Mission

Samuel Johnson, the famous English author, is reported to have said, "Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information upon it." A Fact Finding Mission is a high-interest, challenging, and student-centered method that guides learners to search the Internet for key information about a single topic guided by a carefully crafted set of questions. Students then synthesize this information by answering a single unifying question.

This type of lesson is an especially powerful Exploration activity that introduces students to the major ideas that surround a particular topic. As an advance organizer, a Fact Finding Mission bridges what the student already knows about a topic with new information that will later need to be organized and interpreted.

Implementation

During a Fact Finding Mission, the teacher's primary role is to monitor the students' work, ask probing questions, provide assistance when students become stymied, and solve technical problems. When the lesson concludes, the teacher leads the summary discussion.

1. Phase I - Before the Lesson the teacher selects the topic and the learning expectations targeted during this Fact Finding Mission.

2. Develop a Fact Finding Mission template that includes:

· A set of scaffolded questions for students to answer.

· Engaging, high quality, and age-appropriate websites that are sure to contain the information needed answer the questions.

· A single, unifying Big Question that integrates information from all other questions.

3. Designs and appropriate assessment.

· Select a strategy that provides useful evidence to monitor student performance and evaluates the effectiveness of the lesson.

· Since this type of lesson is often used as an Exploration activity, the assessment may often be used simply as a pre-assessment.

Classroom Management

1. Separate the class into work groups.

2. Phase II - During the Lesson the teacher monitors student performance, asks focusing questions, and offers technical assistance.

· Students complete all elements of the Fact Finding Mission and prepare to share their answers to the Big Question.

3. Phase III - Present Group Findings and Debrief

· Each group presents their response to the Big Question to the larger group and describes the experience of completing a Fact Finding Mission inquiry lesson.

· The teacher leads the class discussion and offers final observations.