Posing the Problem through Consensus
In the Collaborative Research Model, course participants are first actively engaged in the process of constructing knowledge through their pursuit of a question for research.
Coming to consensus over either a specific topic or some aspect of the topic that will be studied by the group is an important part of creating a learner-centered environment. This early discussion allows the teacher and students to share their ideas about what is a meaningful, worthy, and scholarly endeavor for student researchers in their learning community and to decide together what problem they will study.
Students participating in consensus decision-making around topic selection benefit from the discussion that takes place in making that decision. They also benefit in that they feel (from the start) a sense of “ownership” of their research project.
