A couple of weeks ago four high school students made a presentation to a group of parents about the different research programs at Herricks High School. The parent group was the Gemini Parents Association but the comments made by the students would have been relevant to any group of Herricks parents.

The four students talked about their experiences in math, science and social studies research programs. (There will be an independent study program in English as well starting next year.) They talked about how much fun they had had doing the research as well as how much they had learned. It is unfortunate that we did not record their comments. They were articulate, thoughtful and enthusiastic - a great advertisement for both Herricks students and Herricks research programs.

Their thoughts on several issues are worth repeating. (I have paraphrased their comments as best I can remember them.)

What attracted you to do a research program?

Parental interest, older sibling, something which had attracted their interest, friends who asked them to become part of a group.

How did you balance your course work with your research project?

Time management is important but when working with friends, we combine activities, for example, a pancake breakfast on the weekend before we sit together to work on the project.

Did you work alone or in a group?

Alone on some projects but in a group for others. Working with friends was deemed fun and very helpful. It also seemed that they had learned how to work more effectively with others.

How did they find other group members?

Sometimes it was personal friends, sometimes students with similar interests, sometimes groups suggested by a teacher such as Richard Quan.

"When did you get involved in doing a research project?"

It varied; mostly middle school and high school but some of the elementary school projects caught our interest on how to work in groups.

Was the research topic something they were familiar with?

Sometimes yes, but it could also be something they knew relatively little about - for example, Jackie Robinson or the political impact of popular songs during the Vietnam War.

What about prizes and awards?

Very nice when you win something, but not necessary. The research process is fun and valuable on its own.

Can all students benefit?

Definitely.

Does a student have to enter a contest?

No. They can be fun but they are not necessary.

Was there carry over into other classes?

Yes. Learning how to do research helps one develop strategies for attacking problems, dealing with the frustrations and figuring out how to move forward. It also helps put classroom issues in a broader context.