AERO - Ways To Gather Information

Student generated questions should be recorded so all students can view them. Questions can be recorded using different strategies.

One strategy is to record questions on butcher paper. Another strategy is to record the questions on sentence strips and then insert the question into a pocket chart. An advantage in using a pocket chart is that questions can be added, rearranged, grouped and used for other purposes during subsequent stages of an investigation. Using a pocket chart can be particularly effective with younger learners.

Using electronic graphic organizer software and a projector or scan converter can be a highly effective strategy for gathering, sorting and sharing information during the life of an investigation.

As questions are formulated, added and refined an activity takes place in which students learn about ways to research a question.

A mnemonic technique to teach learners different ways to research a question is AERO.
A E R O defines the different ways to gather information about a question. An A, E, R, O or combination is placed after the question indicating how the learner might research the question. Further dialog with learners and teams reflect which ways will be selected and how to access, collect and record the information that will be gathered.

A learner can gather information by..

EXPERIMENTING and developing a design for an experiment.

READING OR VIEWING reference materials such as an atlas, encyclopedia, World Book CD ROM, video etc.

OBSERVING using their senses (sight, taste, hearing, touch) and then drawing, writing, counting, measuring and/or sharing.