AASL Standard 1.1: Efficient and Ethical Information-seeking Behavior
Candidates model strategies to locate, evaluate and use information for specific purposes. Candidates identify and address student interests and motivations. Candidates interact with the learning community to access, communicate and interpret intellectual content. Candidates adhere to and communicate legal and ethical policies.
researchunitpaper.docx | |
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big6.docx | |
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When starting the Library Media Cohort at Towson University, I was also beginning my journey as a media specialist at Hurlock Elementary School. Through the past four years I have been working with students on developing research skills. Before doing this I developed a Library Brochure to help educate the parents about the important library skills that the students will be mastering each year. It was important to have the parents aware of all the resources that were available through the school databases and the State of Maryland resources. When this was sent home many parents thanked me because they were not aware of the SAILOR site and this was helpful for them with some of their older children and for completing college courses. I felt it was necessary for parents to understand the research process before I taught it to their children.
When I first began teaching research I tried different models such as the “8 W’s of Information Inquiry”. This was a method that I used when I taught middle school but after taking ISTC 651 Information and Literacy Access I found that the best model that met the needs of my students and teaching style was the BIG 6. I then developed a Research Unit for grades 3rd through 5th. Working with the classroom teachers I developed research projects that helped them with their social studies and science curriculum. My artifacts are “The Big 6” which explains how this process occurs in the classroom and my actual research unit.
My students begin the Big 6 research in 3rd grade and complete it in 5th grade. By the time they enter the middle school they are well equipped with the skills needed for the middle school level. This multi-grade approach allows me to accommodate the differences in learning styles and review on the skills on all three grade levels. Through the Big 6 model students learn the research skills that are necessary to efficiently and effectively meet their information needs in school, future careers, and personal lives.
This unit begins in 3rd grade with students researching dinosaurs because it is part of their science curriculu. I complete the lesson during library time because the teachers do not have time to include this component during their instructional time. We begin by focusing on learning how to use the OPAC to find resources and different online databases. We also focus on how to evaluate sources and to understand the different text features found on websites. Students also create a Powerpoint as their final project. In 4th grade students research a famous person (biographies). During years passed I have geared this towards famous revolutionary war heroes because this is what they have been studying when I am able to teach this unit. During this unit I review on the different research skills. They also create a power point (to review) and learn how to use photo story to create a presentation. In fifth grade we add all the research components together by completing the research and then write a research paper using Microsoft Word that includes a bibliography and citations in the paper.
While working with students on completing these research goals I have found that it has been hard with the internet filtering. Our school system uses an internet filtering system that can be changed every day. I have found that when preparing lesson one day a site is available and the next day it could be blocked. This has been very hard when preparing to teach.
As a teacher I want my students to be thoughtful and caring but I feel that as a school we make too much of an attempt to control what they read, think, and care about. The World Wide Web is becoming one of the best ways to access current information and it is hard for students to do this when it is filtered. However, as a parent I can see the importance of the filter.
I plan to continue to use my library brochure and the research unit in future years but will always continue to enhance it. This year I plan to teach a unit on internet safety before the research unit because students need to learn the correct way to use the internet. As far as the library brochure this year will have the Core Standards which will be more of a focus on inquiry with research.
Examples of Student Work: http://education571.wikispaces.com/3rd+grade+PowerPoint