InfoQuestWhat Is It?

How Does It Work?

presented by Kimberly Rose krose@fwps.org

All handouts may be obtained at: http://schools.fwps.org/star/library/classes/classhome.htm

InfoQuest: The Book InfoQuest: A new twist on

Information Literacy by Peggy Milam

Published by Linworth, 2002(ISBN: 1-58683-022-8)

Background:Information Overload

More new information has been produced in the last 30 years than in the last 5 millennia

More than one million books are published annually with an additional 100,000 printed by the U.S. Government alone

Over 3 billion web pages are available on the World Wide Web and the number is growing by 5 million new pages a day!

Inaccuracy is an additional problem caused by the sheer volume of data available

What is Information Literacy?

“Information literacy is the skills needed for information problem solving.”

American Library Association (ALA)

It has been declared the single most important skill for individuals entering the workplace

The “tool chest” for today’s students

To become effective users of information in many formats, students need frequent opportunities to become familiar with print resources (ie. books and periodicals), as well as nonprint resources (ie. electronic databases. CD’s, and the Internet)

Why is Information Literacy Important?

“Information literacy forms the basis for all lifelong learning. It is common to all disciplines, to all learning environments, and to all levels of education.”

Association of College and Research Libraries, 2000, p. 1.

Why is Information Literacy Important?

“…students were not overwhelmed by too much information. Instead, they were floating in a sea of information but did not know how to access more than a few drops…”

Judy Pitts, 1995, p. 181.

What are Information Literacy Skills?

1. Defining the need for information2. Initiating the search strategy3. Locating the resources4. Assessing and comprehending the

information5. Interpreting the information6. Communicating the information7. Evaluating the product and process

Benefits of Information Literacy for Students

Take an active part in their own learning Find the projects more motivating Show more sustained interest in activities Interact and learn from others with a variety of

interests and ability levels Have greater retention of material Develop critical thinking skills in selecting

appropriate resources Become skilled in lifelong learning habits Make rapid progress with less fear of failure

What is InfoQuest? A game of challenging research

questions that can be answered in the school library media center

Process-oriented Truly individualized learning May extend into personal interest Designed to work with children’s natural

curiosity and motivate them to learn more

What are the Benefits of InfoQuest?

Provides opportunities for active, resource-based learning

Introduces students to the thrill of being an information detective

Challenging, motivating, and exciting, even to younger students

Stimulates interest in a specific subject area or research question

Helps students distinguish between types of resources

More Benefits of InfoQuest Provides practice in critical thinking skills Assists students in documenting their research

findings Helps students to become successful and

independent researchers and thus be less tempted to plagiarize the another’s research

Empowers students with success!

Why InfoQuest Works Exceptionality

not the usual information literacy program

Expectations high for all levels

Equity suitable for everyone

Evidence designed to yield measurable results

S.T.A.I.R.S.(Steps To Achieving Independent

Research Skills)

Inquiring

Searching

Organizing

Sharing

PROBE-ing for information

rovide an information-rich environment

equire activities where students must seek information

ffer multiple opportunities to practice information-seeking

ring attention to a variety of information sources

ncourage the information seekers

How will it work? Question announcement on Monday

Email Staff Room Tables School website

Students come anytime to research – may turn in answers up until the end of school

Past questions On counter underneath tracking sheets On school website

How will students be rewarded?

Certificates Participation (not always correct

answers, but trying…)

Achievement of the next level of detective

Noted on poster hanging in the library Each question is marked so student knows

how close they are to the next level

Levels of Detectives

Gumshoe 0 correctInvestigator 1 correctInspector 6 correctSenior Inspector 11 correctAmateur Detective 16 correctDetective 21 correctMaster Detective 26 correctSuper Sleuth 30 correct

What do you want us to do?

Help me publicize the program to students

Suggest questions or curriculum areas for questions

Let your students participate!

What will YOU do? Work with teachers/students/parents to develop

questions

Monitor student researchers and maintain program and materials in library

Post questions and answers on website

Work with student announcers

Do the initial research to make sure we have the material to answer the question

When can students come to research?

3 students (maximum) may come down at a time Each student needs to have a pass

Usually between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. is safe (when Esther is working in the library)

What other benefits are there?

Build good Public Relations Bring in financial support Increase library use Enhance classroom curriculum

Ready?

Let’s get started!!!