Short Description
The lesson plan template provides a detailed description on engaging students in a peer mind mapping activity that builds on their curiosities and critical thinking along with writing a provisional research question in a social science course. There is consideration for universal design, a library assignment, and reflective practice and writing. The learning outcomes are based on Research as Inquiry and Searching as Strategic Exploration. Attachments include worksheets.
Learning Outcomes
Research as Inquiry
Searching as Strategic Exploration
- You will develop a mind map of your topic and possible ideas of investigation.
- You will brainstorm a working research topic by determining the who, what, where, and when of your topic so to determine an appropriate scope of investigation;
- You will write an initial research question based on your mind map
Searching as Strategic Exploration
- You will identify a list of keywords specific to your topic in order to retrieve relevant resources including books, articles in a library database, and popular sources for your assignment.
- You will learn to design and refine search needs and search strategies as necessary and based on search results.
Relevant Links
Information Literacy Concepts
Discipline
Participation Type
Ability Level
Course Context (e.g. how it was implemented or integrated):
Workshop Context
- Social science course
- Mid or upper year
- 2 hour time allotted
- Background research assignment already completed
- Course has a research paper assignment in which students select topic (broad) from a list
- No more than 50-person class or if larger will need additional librarian support
- No PowerPoint slides per se and all workshop information is in the library guide.
Additional Instructor Resources (e.g. in-class activities, worksheets, supplements, etc.)
Suggestions
- Discuss with the instructor about scaffolding research paper assignment with a library assignment that is low stakes that follows the library workshop
- Otherwise, ensure there is time for the Reflection Exercise for students to complete at the end of the workshop.
- Room set-up: preferably round table set up, however can work in a traditional lecture room format
- Set up Padlet or other online mind mapping tool with topic and 5W framework. Post these in the LMS and/or the Library Guide for quick access.
- Bring paper and pen/markers (for students who want to engage via analog)
- Prepare a LibGuide (For example, GGRC26 Geographies of Environmental Governance Library Guide https://guides.library.utoronto.ca/ggrc26)
- If possible, ask the faculty to share or find via the LMS how many students are researching a topic.
- Set up a reflective exercise MS Form or paper format option (see example)
Assessment or Criteria for Success
The lesson plan document includes a Reflective Exercise (3-2-1) to do at the end of the workshop, and a Library Assignment.
Suggested Citation
Shujah, Sarah. "Peer mind mapping for research question development." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments). 2026. https://projectcora.org/lesson/peer-mind-mapping-research-question-development
Attachments
This content is available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States license.