Secondary Education InfoLit

title-4143978

2008-05-07T17:32:20+02:00

That's exactly what I've done, although I'm only doing one class for my lesson plan. Peachy!

Managed to get out of work early tomorrow so I'll be there just after 12.

See you soon!

Eilidh

Comments

title-4143757

2008-05-07T16:40:02+02:00

Yeah, I started to use references then realised I was probably doing stuff that would already be being mentioned. I have got CILIP referenced then just another small reference but looking at previous exaples of lesson plans it probably isn't too nessecary. We can match ours up tomorrow so they are more similar.

My format so far has been to explain the stage theoretically a little before describing the intentions of the test in the first half before using the second half to outline a lesson plan and show some test questions.

One thing to clarify, my lesson plan would be probably spread across one or two class sessions- did we decide how many classes it would run for or is it one class per age group. Or will it be a weekly class and our lesson plans are just examples to develop?

Comments

title-4143007

2008-05-07T13:36:32+02:00

The main sources I've used are CILIP's 'Information Literacy: a crucial role for schools' and the stikipad thing. I thought we were putting all references in the background section. I'll show you what I've got tomorrow, and we can work it out then.

Eilidh

Comments

References

2008-05-07T13:15:38+02:00

Eilidh,

If you are using references in the body of the essay then you will need to add them to a bibliography. If not, it might be an idea to to keep a note of the main sources you have used in constructing the lesson plan...

Also, it will make it easier tomorrow if there is bibliography with everyone's portion of the assignment, so it can be cut and pasted onto an 'final' bibliography.

Ali

I'll get in touch when I'm finished my meeting tomorrow.

Comments

title-4142910

2008-05-07T13:04:51+02:00

Also, (just because I'm feeling a bit blog-happy today), I haven't included any references in mine, I thought we were going to have only practical stuff in here?

Eilidh

Comments

title-4142884

2008-05-07T12:57:53+02:00

Sean - I'm doing a wee introduction to each phase, about 100 words a pop. Then my lesson plan, then two example test questions. I'll bring it tomorrow and we can match them up then. I'm supposed to be working til 2 but I've asked to get away for 12. I'll text everyone and let you know when I'll be there.

Eilidh

Comments

Tests

2008-05-07T12:05:16+02:00

Hi all!

Eilidh, i'm just writing mine up today, I think my formula is going to be a detailed description of the tests i'm doing with some references but then i'll put some example questions that i'll use below this to show the general framework of the tests as they may look to the kids just to add the 'credibility' that is asked for so that's a good idea by your good self I think. My tests will probably be quite scenario based in a similar way to the CILIP ones and i'll update you on these a little later when it is complete.

We will need a short introduction to this section outlining the fact we're doing the four stages unless you have covered that in your bit already. If not then we can do that on Thursday because it would only need to be around 100 words.

If in anyway it sounds like i'm going on a different track from you then phone/e-mail/blog and I can always change it a bit before tomorrow.

What time did we say we were meeting? I can be in for around 10 or 11.

Comments

title-4142328

2008-05-07T10:37:02+02:00

Just had a look at Carly's link -it's great!! You need to have a look at this as a test: http://library.csudh.edu/infocomp/quiz.html. Too advanced for schools I think, but I like the idea of a quiz.

Sean, do you think we could put examples of test questions in the lesson plans? If we could have it as a way of monitering progression, I think it would be a nice way of finishing each phase. Sorry to keep picking on you.

Eilidh

Comments

title-4142281

2008-05-07T10:24:23+02:00

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to tell you what I've got for the lesson plan:

Phase one: Library skills - involving an introduction of what the school library offers, a run-through of Dewey and cataloguing skills (how to use it). I thought I'd also start Ali's web skills idea here, with a guide to online reference sites (ie not wikipedia!!!!!).CILIP have defined the outcome of stage one as 'Accesses pictorial information with support' - handy. I've taken that to mean basic IL skills, but I thought an intro to the web should come as early as possible.

Phase two: Web skills - Looking at the difference between sources, examples of different search engines and techniques (toying with mentioning Boolean, but maybe it's too complicated for this stage?). Again, CILIP have the outcome as 'accesses and reproduces basic information. Scans text for specific information. Employs key words'. I like the idea of a test, I'm thinking about including a basic search and seeing how many different answers are available. I'll decide by tomorrow anyway, but let me know what you think.

Sean, I've just left everything pretty basic but if you want the third phase to be more advanced than I've allowed for, or if you want me to mention something that you want to reiterate, again just let me know.

Hope you're all getting on ok - not long now!!!

Eilidh

Comments

And one more thing

2008-05-06T21:39:24+02:00

Thought this might be of use as well - sorry meant to add to previous post.

http://www.infolitglobal.info/

Enjoy!

Comments

UNESCO based random IL stuff

2008-05-06T21:35:11+02:00

UNESCO and stuff

UNESCO take the stand point that
"Information literacy empowers people in all walks of life to seek, evaluate, use and create information effectively to achieve their personal, social, occupational and educational goals. It is a basic human right in a digital world and promotes social inclusion in all nations" (UNESCO, 2008).

The interest UNESCO has for information literacy is part of an intergovermental programme which promotes the IFAP - Information for All Programme. This began in 2000 and has 3 priorities, one of which is information literacy.

From an investigation into some of the literature found through the UNESCO site I came across a document on 'Education in and for the Information Society'

http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/files/12846/10711586385education.pdf/education.pdf

This deals with ITC and inforamtion literacy - it's a bit long but the conclusions are worth a look especially the policy checklist.

There are also prgrammes run by UNESCO to train trainers in information literacy. They are all in exciting places so anyone who went would get to go to Canada. Alternatively I found a link for a programme at Cardiff University on Inforamtion Literacy Teaching. Thought it might be worth a quick look.

http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/insrv/educationandtraining/infolit/hilt/index.html

Comments

Embedding IL into the Curriculum

2008-05-05T10:37:04+02:00

Hello group,

Have a peek at the Webber article arguing against an IL qualification/certificate. There are some interesting and apposite bits and bobs about embedding IL into the curriculum of schools rather than one-off classes or stand-alone qualifications...

http://www.dis.shef.ac.uk/literacy/webber-ifla2003.pdf

My own segment of the assignment is coming along (but the nice weather is putting me off) and should be finished today. If anyone has any thoughts about content for 'Reasoning for teaching it in schools' then feel free to post them up. Currently the main themes are: ICT explosion means IL more important than ever before - Google Generation etc., IL helps students perform tasks well at (and outside) school, good preparation for work/higher education...

Ali

Comments

Some thoughts...

2008-05-02T11:38:47+02:00

My own reading has focused on the use of ICT in schools and how Information Literacy is increasingly important. I looked at: the Drumchapel project and Michael Lorenzen's article 'Land of Confusion' http://www.libraryinstruction.com/confusion.html . The overall theme is that the explosion of the web and computer use in schools (information overload) makes understanding where your source has come from (ie. bias, authority, opinion) and how you student should use it in a project/assignment become very important.

I think this ties in nicely with the untangling spaghetti and CILIP articles previously mentioned in Sean's earlier post.

Ali

Comments

title-4117591

2008-05-01T10:20:54+02:00

Hey hey, I've had similiar thoughts to Sean. I really like the CILIP report and I think the idea of four stages is a good one. I also really like the stikipad one that Susan found, it's laid out really well and it makes sense as a practical exercise. The Robert Gordon one destoys my soul. But I'll keep going and bring my notes with me tomorrow.

I just wanted to check, are we looking at teaching info lit to children, or at pushing it towards teachers who then push it towards kids? The RGU one is pretty heavy on teachers and their thoughts, which I'm thinking maybe isn't so relevant if we're not doing the questionnaire anymore.

See you tomorrow, have we got a time yet?

Eilidh

Comments

My thoughts......

2008-04-30T14:24:23+02:00

Just thought I’d kick this blogging off with my thoughts on the readings we had collected on Friday.

SEED

In the Untangling Spaghetti? Case study they place a lot of emphasis on reviewing various previous studies and see the fact that what they were doing was to be a development and evolvement of these important studies. The first statement they mention is the ALA one but then provide references to various articles to show that the key to teaching secondary school pupils information literacy is understanding that the children have a complex mix of skills, knowledge and attitudes.

The report discussed the fact that ICT skills play a bigger role now that the New Opportunities Fund led to computers being equally available to all. It points out however that due to the huge range of skills in a school and IL that is taught must take into account all levels and abilities. It looks at the work of McKenzie (2003) who said that any IL programme should be based on asking how? Why? And which? Rather than what?.

The study ultimately said the key factors in setting up an IL programme was

 Type of task set and questions posed;
 Perceptions and shared understanding by mediators and students of what a task entails;
 The approach used in mediation;
 Prior knowledge, skills and understanding (subject and information-related).

The research team then point out that the steps are to establish a group of students, assess any ‘risks’ or potential problems that teaching within that group of students may cause, highly detailed notes, constant analysis and development, meetings before and after every class and then complex data sets used to analyse data.
I think this account can be used by us to provide a framework for how we would justify types of questions chosen and also the part about highly detailed notes and constant development meetings during the programme are all things that should be included in our programme. Obviously a lot of it would have to be put in hypothetically but would relevant.

CILIP

CILIP meanwhile provide a case study that shows techniques for carrying out and info lit programme that they have researched and tested and that we could develop. They point out that whatever is done must be done with the aim of a simple framework and that this is for the teachers needs as much as anything so that they can understand how to teach such a complex yet paradoxically simple topic.

The case study suggests that skills must be clearly defined and that lessons must be memorable if they are to stick so an emphasis must be placed on creativity. They point to the fact that different ages must be taught in different manners but attention must be paid to the fact that age is not defining and an older student may be a slower learner than a younger one. They there fore advise looking at it in terms of four stages with stage one being basic info lit skills of identifying pictorial evidence with help and stage four being skills such as independent ideas and varied search strategies.

The study points out that different subject will require different types of programmes but gives a good framework for this. They advise that older students will be better with larger sets of resources of information and that independent thought and critical thinking should be encouraged along with dealing with misinformation. Younger students meanwhile were better targeted with tasks associated with compare and contrasting given information and practicing recording and questioning skills.

Probably, a lot here we can develop certainly in terms of targeting age groups with different skill sets as this will be a major part of any programme for secondary school unless we were to only target set age groups for information literacy?

ROBERT GORDON

I’ve had a general look through this report and as people were already saying this would provide a good basis for what we want to do. The ideas of teacher’s dialogues and thoughts being looked at first and the whole style of systematic data analysis and development provides a perfect example of something we could look at for inspiration and use some of the techniques from whilst also developing our own. The report also shows a lot of the techniques mentioned above such as the constant development meetings taking place. At the very least it gives us a decent example of the style of report we would hope to produce. Definitely something we can look at on Friday?

Anyway, these are just my thoughts so feel free to rubbish them, develop them or whatever, can discuss more on Friday.

Comments

title-4092932

2008-04-25T12:45:39+02:00

initial test

Comments

Hello

2008-04-25T12:28:13+02:00

First post!

Comments

Welcome to our Blog!

2008-04-25T12:27:05+02:00

Hello and welcome to our Information Literacy blog.

We aim to develop an information literacy programme for a group assignment for our Information Literacy class as part of the PgDip/Msc Information and Library Studies at Strathclyde University.

I hope you enjoy posting and charting the progress of the assignment over the next couple of weeks.

Alistair

Comments