my teacher said "just use the internet": instructional library outreach to middle school...

CLA 11/1/09 5:00 p.m. Margaret Keys, Sacramento State University and American River College

“My Teacher Said Just Use the Internet”

Why Middle School Students Need Instructional Outreach

and How to Deliver It


Part One: Why Do Outreach?

California School Libraries are understaffed and understocked. Library media technicians or school librarians

may not have time to teach research skills. Information needs of middle school students

sometimes exceed resources of school libraries.

Outreach benefits your library.


California Public School Libraries:51st in the Nation CA school teacher librarian to student ratio: 1:5,124

National average: 1:916 CA averages 18 books per student, K-12.

Top 25% of schools in nation average 26 per student. CA books’ average copyright date: 1993. Only 24% of schools report having a certified teacher

librarian on campus at least part time—mostly in the high schools. Many employ classified staff instead.

Source: CA Dept. of Ed. “Statistics About California School Libraries”


Students Build Skills Over Time

Students don’t arrive at college “library savvy.” College success is higher when high schools have

librarians (Smalley, 2004). Even before high school, students begin doing

research that requires more resources than some middle school libraries can provide.

High achievers particularly are expected to gather, analyze, and even synthesize information.

In the absence of school librarians and access to adequate library resources, students turn to the Internet, developing basic search techniques but inadequate evaluation skills.


Case in Point:

Crystal links to Ancient China Crystalinks.comPersonal Web site ranking

high on Google results list for “Ancient China” search.

Site also has link to psychic readings, casting doubt on quality and veracity of site’s information.


Types of Assignments Requiring Research AVID: Students research universities and careers. Social Studies: Students need information for

speeches, papers, posters, projects. English: Students need background information for

literature, including author bios; descriptions of historical periods, social movements, or cultures for context; and even court cases.

Science: Present biographical posters, including scientists’ contributions; locate instructions for building water-fueled rockets or other experiments; write essay and create poster on ecological problem

Foreign Language: reports on aspects of culture and on country in which language is spoken; recipes


Sample Assignments

Please see packet for these handouts. Middle School Assignments\

ChinaProject_Butler.pdf Middle School Assignments\

ResearchProjectDirectionsButler.pdf Middle School Assignments\Decorative

Character.doc Middle School Assignments\Phys Sci Bio

Poster.doc


How Do Teens Conduct Research?

I asked three small groups of middle and high school students how they would find information to meet the requirements of a mock assignment. Here is what they said:


Interim Solution: Outreach

Promotes our collections and services. Builds bridges to the community. Increases patronage. Promotes summer reading programs. Teaches people how to use the library. Introduces visitors to the physical building. Supports literacy with all of the above.


Instructional Outreach

Lays foundation for college library use. Contributes to the development of lifelong

information literacy by teaching basic research skills and Web site evaluation.

Demonstrates databases. Emphasizes how to use the library. Can be delivered inside your library or on

campus at a middle or high school.


Part Two: How to Deliver It

Churchill Middle School Outreach Personal & Professional Motivation

Parent Public Librarian, Youth Services Academic Librarian, Instruction

Catalyst: 8th Grade Science Assignment (See handout in Packet.)


Churchill Outreach Nuts & Bolts

Alert Colleagues to Visitors Goals and Learning Outcomes Summary of Presentation (lesson plan) Student Handouts


Preparing Colleagues

Notify all by email of impending visitors. Set aside potentially high-use items for a

week or weekend. Let staff know location. Post students’ assignment at Reference

Desk. Thank all colleagues profusely for supporting

the young researchers and their parents with patience and encouragement.


Churchill Outreach Goals & SLOs

Students will understand their privileges as community library users. be able to use the catalog to locate books. be able to use Academic Search Premier to locate

articles. understand requirements of their assignment as it

pertains to the library. Students/families will be feel welcome to utilize

college libraries and will be able to locate them. Students will be aware of public library resources and

how to access them.


Outreach Presentation

My Lesson Plan Their handout What I would change:

Arrange earlier to facilitate computers in class so students can at least search catalog.

Focus on one library of teacher’s choice. Use simpler handout. Assess before presentation and at end of

research project to evaluate outreach’s impact.


Part Three: Design Your Outreach

Standards Locating a Target Audience Contact Person Sample Assignments Break-out Groups


Cover the Standards

Variety of resources When to use which resources How to formulate questions and, from those,

search terms. How to access resources. How to evaluate resources. This can be done fairly quickly when

presentation is based on an assignment.


People & Places

What schools in your area need outreach? Are the students in need of this teaching moment? Do they need your library? Consider special programs

Technology-based High Achieving AVID Take a moment to jot down 1 or 2 schools.

Find a Contact Person Teacher or counselor Librarian Personal contact


Real-life Assignments (in Packet)

View Decorative Character Assignment Discuss and brainstorm as a group.

View China/Japan Project Assignment Discuss and brainstorm lesson plan in small

groups. What kinds of resources? Any specific titles? What search terms would you show students? Any reinforcing activities or games?

Collect and Share


Bibliography

California Department of Education. (2008). Statistics about California school libraries. Retrieved June 8, 2009, from http://www.cde.ca.gov/CI/cr/lb/schoollibrstats08.asp

Smalley, T.N. (2004). College success: High school librarians make the difference. The Journal of Academic Leadership 30 (3): 193-8. doi:10.1016/j.acalib.2004.02.008

California Library Association. (2004). Standards and guidelines for strong school libraries. California School Library Association: Sacramento, CA.

my teacher said "just use the internet": instructional library outreach to middle school...

Education

california school libraries

middle school students

high school

lesson plan

college success

search terms

school librarians

small groups