1. The librarian plays a vital role in developing a program to enhance student inquiry.
"Librarians and other teachers design a curriculum for active, authentic student learning" (Abilock, 1999). According to Wiggins and McTighe (1998) a information literate person is one who knows how to find and use information. Librarians have an abundance of resources and information that can be accessed for their students. Librarians often hold the key to information. Countless times have I called upon my librarian for assistance.
2. Collaboration between librarian and subject specialists are important.
Librarians know how to find resources, what is appropriate for students, and how to locate information the students will be able to understand. On the other hand subject specialists know exactly what students need to learn. They are aware of what is going on in our society and how they want projects to unfold. If the librarian and subject specialist work together they have a well-rounded approach in integrating technology and core-subjects (Abilock, 1999).
3. The process of completing a long term project is crucial. (Research design, process, outcomes, defining, focusing, planning, gathering, organizing, analyzing, Drawing conclusions, and evaluations)
If we as teachers expect our students to act like scientists, then we must give them scientist directions. Before we conduct experiements it is important to understand what we are researching. Students need to know what is expected of them. "The specialists guides them through the steps that are necessary to answer questions posed by a hypothesis." (Abilock, 1999). Once students have a set plan then they can gather, organize, and analyze information. Finally, students can draw conclusions.
References
Abilock, D. "The Building Blocks of Research." [http://www.nuevaschool.org/debbie/library/
research/il/infolit1.html]. 1999a.
Wiggins, G., and McTighe, J. Understanding by Design. Alexandria, Va.: Association for
Supervision and Curriculum Development, 1998.
3 comments:
It is good to hear that you and your librarian become partners many times through the school year.
In what ways do you contact your librarians for assistance?
I have needed several books throughout the school year for projects in various classes. She has helped me retrieve these books and we have discussed them as well. She has also assisted me with some technical problems such as Accelerated Reader, which is a new program for me.
The process is so important to teach to our students even with the help of librarians and specialists. We too often take for granted that students already know how to research, cite, synthesize and write. I have seen so many teachers frustrated when thier kids do not understand the skills that we often take for granted at the graduate level. I always tell myself, "This is thier first time in 7th grade, teach them what they need to know."
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