In order to provide scaffolding for online research, I set up a WebQuest, which can be found at:

http://mattwolf.pbwiki.com/

 This WebQuest contains two main pages.  The first is the project overview for students to refer to make sure they are completing the assignment correctly.  The second contains individual student pages sorted by initials.  These sites contain general websites for the students to conduct research (such as history.com) and also contains subject-specific websites.  These websites are the first tools students will use to conduct online research.

At the end of the class period, the students had compiled a significant amount of information on their various topics.  We reflected on what sites we used for our research and it appeared that, although the students used the WebQuest as a launch point, most searched on their own in Google for information.  I am glad the students utilized the WebQuest and that they felt comfortable venturing into their own searches.