Promoting Information Literacy by Scaffolding Student Research Skills

Image from: https://www.unicef.org/globalinsight/documents/digital-literacy-children-10-things-know

The “reflection activity” in the second week of our course asked; “Do you see the need to promote an "Information Skills Framework" in your school? If so, how might you accomplish this?” and it got me thinking on the topic of information skills and information literacy (which I assume was the point😉)

As classroom teachers, we frequently collaborate in our respective departments to ensure that scaffolding is occurring between grade levels, and that we are building their skills from year to year in that subject area. 

But what about research skills? How do we ensure our students are leaving high school with the ability to access reliable sources, construct arguments based on found data, and cite their findings properly?

This is where a Teacher Librarian comes in.

Image from: https://www.coe.int/en/web/digital-citizenship-education/media-and-information-literacy

Our LIBE 467 course asks; “how do reference materials and the accompanying services support the development of these information skills?” What skills enable a student to become information-literate?  

It makes sense to begin planning your support as TL by initially setting goals. Plan out your lessons by keeping the end result in mind. What abilities and skills do you want your students to obtain?

In Achieving Information Literacy, an "information literate citizen:

• Works independently and collaboratively to solve problems;
• Analyzes information critically in all its formats and in all media contexts;
• Applies information strategically to solve personal and social problems;
• Makes decisions based on accurate and current information;
• Uses information and communication technologies;
• Respects information sources and diverse perspectives;
• Honours intellectual property and privacy rights;
• Appreciates the aesthetic qualities of various creative and scientific expressions;
• Communicates effectively and expressively using a variety of information and media formats.”  (Achieving Information Literacy: Standards for School Library Programs in Canada, p. 5)

Do you agree with this checklist? In what ways can we teach these skills and support our students to become independent, information literate, confident researchers?

Image from: https://blog.pressreader.com/libraries-institutions/media-literacy

I really like this initiative on Media and Information Literate Citizens through UNESCO. Their site explains how "Media and information literacy covers competencies that enable people to critically and effectively engage with information, other forms of content, the institutions that facilitate information and diverse types of content, and the discerning use of digital technologies. Capacities in these areas are indispensable for all citizens regardless of their ages or backgrounds." (unesco.org) 

The video discusses the worldwide importance of raising and educating information literate citizens who can discern bias and think critically:

Video source: Media and Information Literate Citizens: Think Critically, Click Wisely!

Click to view, or use this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjYhmTC3lrc

In our SLLC, which is part of a grade 8-12 secondary school, we begin in grade 8 with mini research projects throughout all the music, science and social studies classes. The classes are booked into the SLLC for lessons on:

 1. how to locate databases and curated collections of websites and online sources

2. decided if a source is reliable or unreliable

3. plagiarism – what it is and how to avoid it by a) paraphrasing b) properly citing your source c) in-text citations (we might leave the in-text citations for grade 9)

4. using our school NoodleTools account to construct APA or MLA works cited documents

5. reflecting on the research process

We are hoping this starts our students on a path towards information literacy, and that these skills will provide an initial platform from which to scaffold into more in-depth conversations and assignments as they progress from grade 8 to 12. (For example, once they start understanding the basics of a reliable source, we can then look at the concept of bias in grades 9 and 10.)

What are some of the ways you promote and teach information literacy in your SLLC?

 Elementary Teacher Librarians - what information literacy are your grade 7s involved in – are we missing a step between grade 7 and grade 8? What could we add at my school?

Thanks for reading and sharing your ideas! 🤍Kat

 RESOURCES + LINKS:

Achieving Information Literacy, pgs. 3-7, (http://accessola2.com/SLIC-Site/slic/ail110217.pdf)

BCTLA, The Points of Inquiry (https://bctla.ca/resources/point-of-inquiry/)

Canadian Library Association. (2014). Leading Learning: Standards of Practice for School Library Learning Commons in Canada. http://apsds.org/wp-content/uploads/Standards-of-Practice-for-SchoolLibrary-Learning-Commons-in-Canada-2014.pdf

Canadian School Libraries (2020). Leading learning: Standards of practice for school library learning commons in Canada. Accessed at: http://llsop.canadianschoollibraries.ca

English Language Arts 12: BC’s New Curriculum. Province of British Columbia. 2020. English Language Arts 12 | Building Student Success - B.C. Curriculum (gov.bc.ca)

Future Ready Schools. (2020). Empowering leadership for school librarians through innovative professional practice. Retrieved from Future Ready Schools: https://futureready.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/FRS_Librarians_Framework_download-2020.pdf

Riedling, A. M., & Houston, C. (2019). Reference skills for the school librarian: Tools and tips. Libraries Unlimited, an imprint of ABC CLIO, LLC.

Silverstein, J. (2005). Just Curious: Children's Use of Digital Reference for Unimposed Queries and Its Importance in Informal Education. Library Trends 54(2), 228-244.

UNESCO. Media and Information Literate Citizens: Think Critically, Click Wisely! (December 2022), https://www.unesco.org/en/media-information-literacy/about