Students view a short video about the BEAM Research Model and take notes on its four components. After a brief discussion of the model, students receive a detailed handout about BEAM for reference.
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- List the four parts of the BEAM Research Model with 2-3 features or purposes of each.
- Discuss how they might use the BEAM Research Model for their own research.
Relevant Threshold Concepts
- Research as inquiry.
- Searching as strategic exploration.
Suggestions for Use
- This activity should be helpful in classes where beginning researchers will be searching for various types of information sources and identifying how a given source fits into their research process.
- The BEAM Research Model, developed by Joseph Bizup at Columbia University (2008), offers students a method for determining an information source’s purpose, helping them organize their research efforts.
- Asking students to identify key features of the BEAM Research Model as they watch the video offers them an opportunity to engage more actively with the material and may put them in an inquiring mindset.
- Students should gain a basic understanding of the BEAM Research Model from the video and then receive a more in-depth guide (Handout 13A-2) to reference later.
Pre-Class Preparation
- Review the handouts for this activity.
- Review In-Class Procedure below.
- Watch the video “Using your sources: The BEAM Research Model” produced by the Portland State University Library (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I90ZRPxWd9Q).
- Read Chapter 13, Roles of Research Sources, of Choosing & Using Sources.
- Decide whether you want students to complete Handout 13A-1 and receive Handout 13A-2 on paper or electronically.
- If you decided on electronic handouts, put Handouts 13A-1 and 13A-2 in your learning management system.
- If you decided on paper copies, print Handouts 13A-1 (1 copy per student and 1 for yourself) and 13A-2 (1 copy per student) and Answer Key 13A-1 (1 copy for yourself).
- Consider assigning students to read after class Chapter 13, Roles of Research Sources, of Choosing & Using Sources.
- Prepare for introducing the session, using your own remarks or the Possible Script below, if it seems helpful.
In-Class Procedure
- If you’re having students use printed copies of Handout 13A-1 and 13A-2, pass them out or set them where students can pick them up as they come in.
- If you’re having students use an electronic Handout 13A-1, tell them how to find and open it.
- Introduce students to the activity, using the Possible Script below or your own remarks.
- Instruct students to complete Handout 13A-1 as they watch the video. Tell them that you will collect the completed handouts at the end of the activity.
- Project the video called “Using your sources: The BEAM Research Model” (about 3 minutes) at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I90ZRPxWd9Q .
- After the video, ask students to name what each letter in the acronym BEAM stands for and a few features or purposes of the sources associated with each.
- Ask students to share briefly how they might use the BEAM Research Model in a current or future research project.
- Collect Handout 13A-1 for assessment of student learning.
- Tell students to keep Handout 13A-2 to reference later.
Possible Script
Research is a process of inquiry in which you will use different kinds of information sources for different purposes. As a student, you will encounter a wide variety of information sources. You can think of searching for information sources as strategic exploration. You will be more effective and efficient in searching for and sorting through information sources if you have some strategies in place ahead of time. One such strategy is to use the BEAM Research Model developed at Columbia University by Joseph Bizup. The BEAM Research Model addresses what you can do with sources after you find them, which is not a bad thing to think about before you start searching for them.
We will now watch a short video that introduces the BEAM Research Model. As you watch, fill in the table on Handout 13A-1.
Relevant Choosing & Using Sources Chapters:
Chapter 13, Roles of Research Sources.
Credit: “Using your sources: The BEAM Research Model” produced by the Portland State University Library (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I90ZRPxWd9Q).
