Research SkillsPresented by

Anni TokatlianTeacher-Librarian

Jasper Road Primary School

Adapted from Information Skills in the school: engaging learners in constructing knowledgehttp://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/schoollibraries/teachingideas/isp/docs/infoskills.pdf

Information Search Process(ISP)

Information Search Process

How parents can help?demonstrate and discuss how information is found and used in the

home

involve the student in information tasks and decision making which arise in the home

encourage the critical discussion of information encountered outside the school in terms of credibility, bias and other characteristics

promote the information process steps of the information skills process.

InformationSearchProcess

Defining What do I really want to find out?

Brainstorm Bubbl.us Mindmeister

Say back to a parent what the task is (“I need to find out about…”)

Identify key words in a question Keyword challenge

Identify and define key words of the task, using dictionary, encyclopaedia as necessary

Cluster key words Clusty.com Ask for Kids

Identify sub-topics which set directions for the task

Decide on the limits of the task

Locating Where can I find the information I need?

Outline own knowledge of the topic and decide whether more information is needed Wordle

Brainstorm alternative search words

Make up a search plan, charting sources and locations according to the information process

Be familiar with the Dewey Decimal Classification system (DDC)

Use library catalogues in school and public libraries to locate resources

Use electronic information e.g. websites, DVDs, online databases, CD-ROMs, webcasts, podcasts TaLe-Teaching and Learning Exchange

Find more than one source and format of information for the task e.g. Website, book, DVD

Searching the library catalogue

Types of searchesBoolean searching – and, or and not

Google – Advanced search

Askkids.com

Kidsclick

Kids' search tools

Study search

Boolify

Google – Advanced search

Ask for kids

Kidsclick

Kids’ search tools

Selecting What information do I really need to use?

Use Contents page and Index

Skim and scan using subheadings in books and sections of websites

Select the appropriate picture from a range of pictures

Find answers in more than one source to key questions of the task

Use more than one medium (e.g. DVD, audio, book, internet)

Develop a note-taking system, selected from a range of options, including electronic

Compare and evaluate information from different sources

Recognise fact, opinion, fiction, decide which is required

Note taking proformaFocus question or topic

Original text (cut and paste) or reference to original text

Notes in point form

Keywords

What is the climate like in Antarctica?climate weatherrainfall

snowtemperatureNote taking proforma

Note taking skills With thanks to Maggie Roche who developed these pages at this site (accessed 13th Sept. 2009)

Organising How can I use this information?

Answer the question “Why am I doing this?” (purpose)

Discard irrelevant information after reviewing purpose or task

Take key words/ideas and combine them into whole thoughts

Group related thoughts

Use tables, spreadsheets, databases, graphics as appropriate

Use information collected to develop own hypothesis or argument

Outline the structure of the completed task

Graphic organisers on the web

Presenting How can I present this information?

Brainstorm possible presentation forms e.g. PowerPoint, video, picture book, Podcast

Choose a presentation style most suited to purpose, audience and content of material

Draw a picture and label with key words which summarise findings, explain the picture to others

Include a bibliography listing the resources used Citation Machine

Assessing What did I learn from this?

Brainstorm “Steps that we took to do this task” and put them into sequence. Analyse the steps, using questions such as “How did we make up our answer?” “What could we do next time?”

Respond to the questions : “What was easy?”

“What was hard?”

“What did I learn?”

“What could we do next time?”

Consider information process and own performance of each step:

“I’m good at …”“I need to improve on …”“I can improve by …”“I learnt …”

Analyse strengths and weaknesses of argument/content.

Use a graphic organiser like KWL to assist with self-assessment

http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/pdf/kwl.pdf

Copyright issuesWhat is copyright?

When children plagiarise they are breaking the law

Kids and plagiarism - Sydney Morning Herald

When children plagiarise they are not learning anything except how to copy. Animals have been taught to do that

When children plagiarise it hinders the creation of new ideas

When children plagiarise they miss opportunities to develop their information gathering skills for the future

Further reading / exploringSchool libraries and information literacy - DET

Information skills in the school - from the above site

Click magazine – a technology guide for parents produced by the DET

Cool Web 2.0 tools for schools – online tools to assist and support information gathering needs

Dewey to the rescue – an online tour of the Dewey Decimal Classification system (DDC)