THE NATIONAL STUDENT RESEARCH CENTER
(NOTE: This file contains information about the use of high
technology as an integral part of the student research and
publication process)
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Technology
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TABLE OF CONTENT
I. High Technology
II. Electronic School District
III. National Database Of Student Research
IV. Electronic And Printed Journals of Student Research
V. Electronic Libraries
VI. Mentor Network and Academic Assistance
VII. Use of Internet and World Wide Web
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I. High Technology:
The Student Research Center approach to instruction encourages
students to use high technology (ie; computer, C-D Rom and
laser disk players, modem, telecomputing network, etc.) in
reviewing the literature and electronic databases, conducting
their research, analyzing their data, drawing random samples,
designing charts and graphs depicting the data collected,
writing and editing their scientific papers and abstracts, and
publishing their scientific journal.
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II. Electronic School District:
The NSRC's telecomputing network on America OnLine and Internet
facilitates an international Electronic School District where
students from distant schools have the opportunity to
participate in cooperative student research teams and inter-
school research projects, exchange scientific data, query a
support team of professionals about their topics of study, and
send research abstracts to the NSRC for publication in its
printed and electronic journals and databases of student
research.
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III. The National Database of Student Research:
The national database of student research contains one-page
abstracts of all student research projects published in the
printed and electronic journals of student research. Research
abstracts are stored in the database in small files which can
be easily searched and retrieved by reviewing the Table of
Contents attached to each. The Table of Contents lists the
titles of the student research abstracts contained in the file.
Files are catalogued into the database in chronological order.
The subject area in which the research took place is also
noted. For example:
E-Journal Vol. 1, No. 2 Nov., 1992
NSRC Math Database Vol. 1, No. 3 Jan., 1993
NSRC Science Database Vol. 2, No. 5 April, 1994
NSRC Language Arts Database Vol. 3, No. 4 Sept., 1993
NSRC Social Studies Database Vol. 1, No. 1 Aug., 1992
NSRC Consumerism Database Vol. 3, No. 4 March, 1994
Students and teachers can browse through the listing of
published abstracts and download files of interest. The
abstracts contained therein can be used in several different
ways. Teachers will find the abstracts to be a wonderful
classroom resource for student use. Students can "piggy back"
on the abstracts and replicate the research projects described.
The abstracts may serve to stimulate original student ideas
regarding topics of study. The abstracts provide excellent
models for a sound scientific methodology. Students can also
cite a published abstract as a reference in the Review of
Literature section of their own research projects.
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IV. Electronic and Printed Journals of Student Research:
The National Student Research Center's scientific journal of
student research in the printed format, The Student Researcher,
is published quarterly. It is distributed to students and
schools which participate in the research and publication
process. The Center has published 27 editions of The Student
Researcher which have contained over 1,000 abstracts of student
research projects. The Center has circulated thousands of copies
of The Student Researcher to students, teachers, schools, and
libraries in the St. Tammany Parish School System, the State of
Louisiana, the nation, and around the world since its inception
in 1988. The journal is permanently catalogued into the
reference section of all school libraries in the St. Tammany
Parish School System and elsewhere.
The National Student Research Center also publishes an
electronic journal of student research, The E-Journal of
Student Research. The electronic journal is published
quarterly. Each issue of the electronic journal contains
abstracts of exemplary student research from around the
country. Current and past issues of the electronic journal are
housed in the NSRC's Electronic Libraries.
The NSRC's The E-Journal of Student Research is the
first of its kind in K-12 education.
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V. Electronic Libraries:
Electronic journals and databases of student research are
maintained in the NSRC's Electronic Libraries and are freely
available to teachers and students for search and retrieval of
information at three different locations.
The e-journals and databases are housed in the NSRC's
Electronic Library located on America Online's Electronic
School House (KEYWORD: ESH). Once in the Electronic School
House, highlight NATIONAL STUDENT RESEARCH CENTER on the main
menu for access to the E-Library. Users can then highlight
e-journals or databases to get descriptions in order to review
titles of research abstracts before downloading. Be sure to
select MORE at the bottom of the screen to view the menu in
its entirety.
The Electronic Library is also located in the NSRC's HomePage
on the World Wide Web and can be accessed at the following
URL's:
http://youth.net/nsrc/nsrc.html
The NSRC's HomePage contains links to numerous WWW sites which
can help student researchers with their projects from start to
finish.
Students interested in submitting an abstract for possible
publication in the scientific journals or inclusion in the
national database may do so via the NSRC's Electronic School
District. All submissions will be acknowledged by the editor.
Submit abstracts for publication to one of the following e-mail
address:
America OnLine: NSRC MMS
Internet: nsrcmms@aol.com
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VI. Mentor Network and Academic Assistance:
Student researchers have immediate contact via the National
Student Research Center's Electronic School District with a
network of teachers, scientists, and professionals who will
serve as adult mentors offering information and guidance
related to student research efforts.
Student Research Centers which subscribe to America OnLine have
access to the Academic Assistance Center (KEYWORD: Homework).
Teachers provide responses to student researcher inquiries
within 48 hours and can meet online with students for real-time
conferences about research topics.
Student researchers may find many additional sources for
mentorship at the WWW sites recommended on the NSRC's HomePage
located at URL:
http://youth.net/nsrc/webs.html
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VII. Use of Internet and World Wide Web:
In addition to the above uses, the Internet and World Wide Web are
also used extensively to gather information about student research
topics from Web sites, electronic databases, and other students
around the world. This is especially true during the review of
literature about the topic of investigation and during the
distribution of surveys related to topics of investigation. Student
researchers literally have access to a world of information for
search and retrieval, and a world of students who can (and do!)
respond to their survey questionnaires.
John I. Swang, Ph.D.
Teacher/Director
National Student Research Center
Mandeville Middle School
2525 Soult St.
Mandeville, Louisiana 70448
U.S.A.
Tele: 1-504-626-5980
Tele: 1-504-626-8778
FAX: 1-504-626-1640
America OnLine: NSRC MMS
Internet: nsrcmms@aol.com
This e-publication is made possible through grants provided by
the United States Department of Education, South Central Bell
Telephone, American Petroleum Institute, Intertel Foundation,
Springhouse Publishing Corporation, Graham Resources, Inc.,
Central Louisiana Electric Company, Louisiana State Department
of Education, National Science Foundation, Mandeville Middle
School Parent Teacher Association, Northern Life Insurance
Company, Gustau Ohaus Company, and Chevron Oil Company. The
National Student Research Center thanks these organizations
for their generous support of education.
© 1998 John I. Swang, Ph.D.