Discerning Truth Through Research

Imagine researching through thousands of scrolls at the library of Alexandria or the task Noah had in preserving antediluvian records on the ark! Learning to collect, organize and retrieve information is a life skill.

In the book Glut: Mastering Information Through the Ages, Alex Wright explores how mankind has always tried to organize and make sense of an increasing volume of information. Our world is inundated with information, but that is not an excuse for students to lazily select the first bit of info they find. 

The leaders of the next generation do not need to be smart (full of knowledge), instead they must be wise (able to discern truth). I heard a college professor commenting on the Robin William's movie, Dead Poets Society that the main character taught his students how to think, but he didn't give them something to think about. Don't be afraid to use the Bible and religious texts as source materials in every research project.

Our students should be busy researching because they are looking for solutions to real problems in their lives. In fact, they already do this as demonstrated in this video from Extra Credit, as teachers we need to cultivate that skill so students can apply it to other areas.

ISTE Standard: Knowledge Constructor
Students critically curate a variety of resources using digital tools to construct knowledge, produce creative artifacts and make meaningful learning experiences for themselves and others.

• plan and employ effective research strategies to locate information and other resources for their intellectual or creative pursuits. 
• evaluate the accuracy, perspective, credibility and relevance of information, media, data or other resources.
• curate information from digital resources using a variety of tools and methods to create collections of artifacts that demonstrate meaningful connections or conclusions.
• build knowledge by actively exploring real-world issues and problems, developing ideas and theories and pursuing answers and solutions.

How to Cite the Bible in MLA Format

According to Purdue OWL​, italicize “The Bible” and follow it with the version you are using. Remember that your in-text (parenthetical citation) should include the name of the specific edition of the Bible, followed by an abbreviation of the book, the chapter and verse(s). (See Citing the Bible at In-Text Citations: The Basics.)

The Bible. Authorized King James Version, Oxford UP, 1998.
The Bible. The New Oxford Annotated Version, 3rd ed., Oxford UP, 2001.
The New Jerusalem Bible. Edited by Susan Jones, Doubleday, 1985.