Too Much Information!!!
Information overload is what students are faced with in the 21st century. Thankfully with the help of a teacher-librarian and reference services in the School Library Learning Commons, the teacher-librarian can assist the student in how to best word a query search using a search engine. It is important to think about key-wording when using a search engine as it will yield low recall and high precision of information if worded correctly. Teacher-librarians are an indispensable link between students and vast amounts of information.
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| image courtesy of http://upslis.info |
My favorite websites used to teach students how to evaluate a website for being a "trustworthy" source of information are: "All About Explorers" and "The Pacific Tree Octopus". These websites really help show students that you can't believe everything you read on the internet and how to be critical questioners and thinkers of the information they are viewing on the internet. The following video by Common Sense Media, outlines a great lesson plan for teaching students how to evaluate websites for trustworthiness, and bias.
Common Sense Education. Published on Oct.23,2014.
To Use Wikipedia or Not to Use Wikipedia???
That is the Question!
This is a question I still struggle with. Is Wikipedia a worthy reference for students doing research? The big concern of course is that anyone can be an author of Wikipedia and the information retrieved may be written by a person that is not knowledgeable on the subject. The advantage is that it is quick, easy to use, students love it, and generally the information is close to correct as there are millions of authors that are continually editing and updating the information. After much thought, my current stance is that Wikipedia does deserve a place in the Library Learning Commons as a starting point for research. With the guidance of a teacher-librarian the student can then be directed through the research process to other sources with proven authority such as periodical databases, online references, and digital libraries.
As educators, one of our main goals is to help students become fluent in critical inquiry skills. The "Points of Inquiry Model" for research is a type of research model where active learning takes place with students "asking questions" and helps students to develop the skills to solve problems and think critically, which is essential for the 21st century workplace. I find the component of reflection a really valuable aspect of the inquiry process as it allows for deeper understanding of the topic and learning as well as thinking about what went well and what didn't for next time.
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| image courtesy of the B.C. Teacher-Librarian Association |
If we think about inquiry based learning, we think of igniting students curiosity and asking good questions. Using the "Point of Inquiry Model", teacher librarians help students take their "questions" and find the best reference sources of information to answer those questions. The following video is a great example of "Points of Inquiry" research in action in a classroom
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| image courtesy of teachthought.com |
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| courtesy of yanglish.wordpress.com |
Blogging is not my strength, so I am highly impressed and challenged by your blog post. I am trying to educate myself on internet safety and trustworthiness, so that I could communicate the awareness and concerns related to internet use. The websites you share and the Common Sense Media video were helpful teaching tools for me as a learner. I agree with you on the Wikipedia debate. It has merit as a starting place and is so accessible and comfortable for students. The 10 Reasons to use Inquiry Based Learning poster would be a valuable reference in the classroom and for parents as well. It is designed for interest and yet communicates the value of inquiry based learning for all individuals. Your thoughts and links are pointed and engaging. Thanks for inspiring me to work on my blogging skills as well.
ReplyDeleteI loved your comic on 'too much information!' it is so true. Today students are faced with an overwhelming amount of information available constantly at their fingertips. We need to ensure we help them navigate websites and know what to look for to make sure the sites they use are credible. I also enjoy The Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus and All About Explorers, I have also used Dog Island and circulate between the three so that students are not already aware of hoax sites that have been used in the past.
ReplyDeleteHi Denise,
ReplyDeleteNice posting, clean and elegant. I found you are very to the point and the links complete your article well.
About Wikipedia, I stand at about the same place: a good starter. I use it all the time and we can't avoid it either.
"Information Overload", yes exactly, and how to help students analyse and put it all together; for the instructional part.
What about the other part of the TL: choosing books and cataloguing? It is very long and demand some output and curriculum knowledge?
Cheers
Hi Denise,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post! It was very engaging. I agree, there is an information overload for students! I also found your writing about Wikipedia very interesting. The idea of Wikipedia as a starting point is a great way to put it. I like how you then moved onto the points of inquiry which can lead to the deeper research.
Thanks for sharing!