Inquiry+Skills

The Rememberance Study requires students to extend well beyond the mechanical aspects of technology usage that make up the basic levels of elementary technology and media skills. Besides being able to negotiate the internet in both a guided and independent fashion to accumulate the information they will consider within their work. The following media process skills come together to create a recursive process of research through information accumulation, analysis, and transformation.

Middle School
 * locates and selects useful sources of information pertaining to their inquiry
 * will distinguish between fact and opinion in various forms
 * interprets what is heard and seen in order to discern quality information
 * carry out basic research until a conclusion/judgement can be achieved
 * produces original work within a media form of choice explaining what was learned and their ideas/opinions

High School
 * uses tolerance when considering information that does not align with one's personal beliefs/views
 * conducts a broad search of information based on the idea that inquiry is a recursive process requiring continuous evaluation of available information
 * considers various documents/media forms to gather information based on quality as determined through critical assessment of the information and provider
 * "critically examines and interprets media messages in a historical, social, and cultural context"

These skills are well met within the REACTS model of inquiry and this unit. Both the above skills and the REACTS model focus on assisting the student in achieving understanding of the content they find. Without understanding, inquiry is pointless. This understanding will allow students to develop opinions and understandings of their history and world that will create the ability for them to more fully participate within society and its future. (Callahan & Preddy, 2006)

Throughout this unit, students seek information that will help them better understand the Holocaust and the motive driving the actions of the involved parties. In both the guided and independent inquiries, students must discern quality information. In order to assist them in this effort, students should be exposed to propaganda techniques and critical reading skills prior to participation in this unit.