Repackaging Research: Rigor and Relevance for 21st-Century Learners

Nadine Loza
Jaeger, P. (2014). Repackaging Research: rigor and relevance for 21^st-century learners. School Library Monthly (1)31 pp. 5-7.

Summary: Jaeger begins her article with a quote from Zora Neale Hurston, “Research is formalized curiosity. It is poling and prying with a purpose.”  Jaeger is Coordinator of Libraries in Washington state.  Her article calls upon teacher librarians to take the wise words of Hurston to heart.  She advocates that teacher librarians take the lead at their school to “just say no” to research packets that do not require deep, rigorous thinking.  Jaeger tells her librarians and classroom teachers, “if your assignment is answerable on Google, it is void of higher-lever learning”.  To prove her point, she discusses key standards in the Common Core that compels teachers to create research projects that provide students with rigorous questioning and deeper learning.

Evaluation: Jaeger call to teacher librarians is valid and necessary.  Both teachers and teacher librarians should turn to the Common Core standards to revise their lessons.  The new standards call on teachers to create lesson that fully engage students in their learning.  Today’s students are rooted in technology and social media.  Educators must adapt to what students know.  The Common Core standards are a good starting place to help educators understand what will be required for our students to be college and career ready.