Sometimes you start searching to find out something, only to find yourself reading another page and no longer remember what you wanted to know in the first place. There is a lot of information on the internet, so if you don't decide on your purpose first, it's easy to be swayed. There are many chances to run into information outside school too, especially while doing research, preparing presentations, or watching videos and social media.
Search creates more paths before it gives you an answer.
If you search, you will find many pages, videos, and images. This is convenient, but it also means that you have to decide for yourself which ones to watch and how far to read. If your purpose is vague, it's easy to end up with research that doesn't stick in your head even after you've read it.
Write down what you want to know in one sentence
For example, "Researching the Sengoku period" is too broad, but if you want to "I want to know why castles were important," you will have a clear direction to research. When the purpose is written in one sentence, it becomes easier to distinguish between the necessary information and the information that is not. The ability to research is determined by the clarity of purpose rather than the speed of search.
The next time you search, before opening the search field, try writing in one sentence, "I want to know this today."
At Digital Kodomo BASE, we value thinking before researching. Children who can express what they want to know in their own words will find it easier to advance their learning on their own.