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Young Researcher Fellowships
slv.vic.gov.au/young-researcher-fellowships
The Young Researcher Fellowships program provides the opportunity for a select group of Victorian students from the Mallee Cluster of schools to undertake research with the support of Library education staff and experts. Ten Fellows will be selected for the program.
This program is an initiative of State Library Victoria and supported by the Department of Education and Training, through the Strategic Partnerships Program.
The Young Researcher Fellowships program aims to:
• provide an authentic research opportunity for selected Victorian students, supported by the Library’s experts and Education team
• build the capacity of teachers working with gifted and talented students
• develop ongoing relationships between the Library, participating schools, students and teachers, and local cultural organisations.
Fellows will:
• participate in an engaging online learning program designed and facilitated by the Library’s Education team
• have exclusive opportunities to access the Library’s vast collection, expert staff and services
Program overview
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• have opportunities to connect and collaborate with local cultural organisations
• visit State Library Victoria twice during 2016
• research a topic they are passionate about and connect it to the Library’s collections
• publish their research and share with State Library Victoria and their local library.
Fellowships are designed for students who:
• will be in Grade 5 or 6 in 2016
• go to a Mallee Cluster school
• are gifted and/or talented (see FAQs on p.16).
Fellows will have an area of interest that they are passionate about pursuing, that they can further investigate within the Library’s collection.
The program timeline will be:
Applications open to students at 9am Monday 7 September 2015 and close 5pm Friday 6 November 2015. Successful applicants will participate in an introductory session with Library staff in November 2015. Fellows will commence research projects in Term 1, 2016 and complete these in Term 4, 2016.
Choosing a research project
The research project can be on any subject that is of interest to the student, from space to cooking to trucks. It should be possible to investigate the subject with the Library’s collection. The subject will also be able to be linked in some way to the North Western region of Victoria, where the Mallee Cluster of schools is located.
Students and teachers can find out more about what is in the State Library’s collection by exploring the website slv.vic.gov.au/search-discover. Try entering a subject in the search tab and see what comes up! Alternatively you can contact us by emailing [email protected] to check what types of collection items we might have to support a student’s area of interest.
While students must have an area of interest that connects to the Library’s collection to apply for the program, they do not have to have a specific research question in mind. This process will be worked through as part of the learning program.
The history of local explorers Katie is passionate about early explorers who travelled through her local area. She has read lots about these explorations and has visited memorials and sites of interest. She thinks the State Library has relevant maps, diaries and interesting items in its collection and she would like a chance to research a particular explorer and their journey in more depth. She would like to share what she learns with her classmates, and even other schools, so they can understand more about the history of the area.
Farm machinery over time
Tom is interested in inventing things and likes to draw and make gadgets. He wonders about how things are made, produced and sold. He has found some old machines in the shed at home and has tried to make improved versions of these. He would like to find out more about how farm machines have changed over time, and how they might continue to change in the future. He wants to be able to tell local farmers about what he has discovered.
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Example projects
State Library Victoria is the state’s premier reference and research library, providing a gateway to the world’s information. The Library was founded in 1854, and our collections reflect the cultural and social development of Victoria. They include over five million books, newspapers, artefacts, pictures, maps and digital resources. The Library also provides a range of information services, learning programs, events and exhibitions.
The Library’s Education team
The Education team provides:
• Professional development for teachers and teacher librarians focusing on the Library’s unique collection and research expertise, youth literature and digital storytelling.
• Research resources hosted on ergo.slv.vic.gov.au – a website designed for Victorian students and their teachers. Discover classroom activities, student learning guides and information on more than 750 digitised primary source material, including photographs, manuscripts, newspapers and drawings.
• Quality curriculum-linked student programs onsite, offsite and online.
About State Library Victoria
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About Young Researcher Fellowships
Effective researchers build on existing knowledge using curiosity and investigative rigour to make meaningful contributions to our world.
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Young Researcher Fellows will be guided to develop as independent, critical and reflective learners.
Fellows will be supported to:
• generate a rigorous research question about an area of interest
• apply research methods to locate and evaluate selected sources
• analyse and synthesise research findings
• use effective techniques and appropriate tools for presenting and sharing new knowledge
• apply new knowledge and skills in meaningful and transformative ways
• engage and reflect with peers, mentors and community members to enhance learning and relationships.
Fellows will be supported to know:
• in-depth information about their chosen field of research
• their own learning style and how to apply this to reach their potential.
Fellows will be supported to understand:
• the Library and other cultural organisations support research and lifelong learning
• effective researchers build on existing knowledge using curiosity and investigative rigour to make meaningful contributions to our world.
Teachers working with Young ResearcherFellows will be supported to:
• confidently navigate professional resources to inform gifted and talented education
• access new and existing networks to support gifted and talented education
• model the use of effective research skills with all students.
Teachers will be supported to know:
• the particular learning style, skills and needs of the selected student.
Teachers will be supported to understand:
• key learning requirements of gifted and talented students
• the Library and other cultural organisations can support research and learning
• how to access support for working with gifted and talented students.
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Roles and responsibilities
Young Researcher
Fellow
State Library Victoria• Education team
• Mentors
Mallee Cluster• Local Project Liaison
• Teacher
• Advisory Liaison
• Local cultural organisations (libraries, historical organisations)
The Young Researcher Fellowships program is a collaboration between State Library Victoria and the Mallee Cluster in north-western Victoria. Together they will support the Fellows in their learning program and research project.
State Library Victoria
Education team
• Facilitates program, including application and selection process, online learning program and mentor relationships
• Coordinates student meet-ups and visits to the Library
• Provides support to all project participants, including opportunities for reflection and evaluation.
Mentors
Provides guidance and inspiration for Fellows at scheduled times throughout the program.
Mallee School Cluster
Local Project Liaison
• Liaises between State Library and participants in region including Teachers and Fellows
• Collaborates with the State Library team to select applicants.
Teacher
• Identifies suitable student applicants and supports student application process
• Supports Fellow to engage with online learning program and as they progress through the research project.
Advisory Liaison
Teacher representative from the Mallee Cluster that advises State Library project team on matters relating to student learning and local learning environments.
Local cultural organisations (libraries,historical organisations)
The State Library project team will supportFellows to engage with local cultural organisations where relevant.
Young Researcher Fellow
• Commits to and completes research project
• Engages with peers, Education team and mentors during the learning program.
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Year 1: 2015
September
• State Library representative visits the Mallee Cluster for information sessions on Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 September
• Applications open on Monday 7 September.
November
• Applications close on Friday 6 November
• Selection process takes place
• Applicants notified of results by Friday 13 November
• Successful Fellows attend a local Meet and Greet with State Library representatives, Teachers and supporting staff.
Young Researcher Fellowships timeline
Year 2: 2016
Term 1
• Fellows and Teachers visit Melbourne (late March) to meet with State Library representatives.
Term 2
• Online learning modules begin for Fellows
• Regular and scheduled networking with the Library Education team, other Fellows, mentors and Teachers
• Individual research projects underway.
Term 3
• Continued regular and scheduled times for networking
• Fellows continue individual research
• Fellows complete draft of research findings for consultation and editing
• Final online learning module
• Fellows submit final draft.
Term 4
• Publication of research findings
• Fellows share and celebrate publication at State Library Victoria and in the Mallee Cluster.
Year 3: 2017
• Fellows, Teachers, Local Project Liaison, Advisory Liaison complete the program evaluation.
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Nomination process
How to nominate a student
Teachers can nominate students using the Nomination checklist for teachers (Form A). A student may self-select or a parent may nominate their child; however, teacher nomination forms must accompany all student applications.
Complete the following documents:
• Nomination checklist for teachers (Form A)
• Student application form (Form B)
• Parent/guardian support form (Form C).
Scan and email the documents to [email protected] with the subject line ‘Young Researcher Fellowships’.
The nominating teacher does not necessarily need to be the teacher who will support the student through the project in 2016, however, they should give contact details for another teacher who can fill this role.
Nomination timeline
Applications open to students at 9am Monday 7 September 2015 and close 5pm Friday 6 November 2015. The selection process for 2016 will be completed by Friday 13 November 2015.
A Library representative will visit the Mallee Cluster in late November 2015 to meet and congratulate the successful Fellows and their Teachers.
How are the projects selected?
Applications are reviewed and short-listed by Library staff according to:
• the nominated student meeting the criteria
• the extent to which the topic of interest connects with the Library’s collection
• the benefit of the research outcomes to the north-western region of Victoria and the Fellow
• the anticipated cohesiveness of the 2016 group of Fellows.
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FAQsWhat does ‘gifted’ or ‘talented’ mean?
In Victoria, the widely accepted definition of giftedness and talented is adopted from Françoys Gagné’s model (2004), where ‘giftedness’ is understood as outstanding potential and ‘talent’ as outstanding performance.
Gifted individuals possess outstanding natural intellectual, physical, creative or social abilities. It is estimated that up to 10% of the population can be categorised as gifted in different areas. While all gifted individuals have the potential to perform at a significantly higher level than their peers, their level of ability may be considered on a scale of mildly to extremely gifted.
Importantly, gifted children and young people may or may not be high achievers – while they may have outstanding potential they can be disengaged and therefore under-achieve.
The Nomination checklist for teachers (Form A) details behaviours and skills that a gifted learner might exhibit.
Talented individuals are those who demonstrate outstanding mastery of systematically developed knowledge and skills in one or more areas. They typically develop these competencies through practice and are usually highly motivated and persistent in their endeavours.
The selection process will give preference to students meeting the ‘gifted’ criteria and who have yet to reach their potential.
See DET’s Gifted and Talented webpage education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/teachingresources/diversity/pages/gifted.aspx for more information.
Who can nominate a student?
Any teacher can nominate a student who meets the criteria for this program. A student may also nominate themselves or a parent/guardian can nominate a student, but they must find a teacher who will support the nomination by completing the Nomination checklist for teachers and collate and send the application.
See Nomination process on p.14 for more information.
Does the teacher who nominated the student have to support them through the program?
No, the nominating teacher does not need to be the teacher who supports the Fellow through the program, however they must provide details of another teacher who can fill this role in 2016.
See Nomination process on p.14 for more information.
I’m a student who has applied – what happens if I’m successful?
If you are successful, you will be notified in mid-November and invited to meet Library representatives and other successful Fellows and their teachers at the end of November. You will be given all the information you need about the program. The research project and online learning program will begin in Term 1 2016 with a visit to State Library Victoria in Melbourne.
What if I’m unsuccessful?
If you are unsuccessful in your application we will let you know via an email to your nominating teacher in mid-November.
What if I need to pull out of the program?
If you are a Fellow and you need to pull out of the program for any reason, we encourage you to communicate with your teacher and the Library’s Education team about any issues that we may be able to help with. If your withdrawal from the program is unavoidable, we may ask you to complete an evaluation on the program as you withdraw.
If you are a teacher and you need to pull out of the program, we ask that you arrange another teacher to support the Fellow for the remaining time of the program.
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I’ve got a question or a problem – who can I contact?
Contact the classroom teacher or Local Project Liaison, David Griffin (5035 1270), or the Library’s Education team ([email protected] or 8664 7555).
What should my research project be about?
Your research project is about a topic that you are a passionate about. This could be ANYTHING as long as:
• you can further investigate the topic using the State Library’s collection
• the topic can be linked in some way to your community.
See Program overview p.3 for more information.
How much time will I spend on my research project?
In 2015, Fellows and their Teachers will spend an afternoon meeting other Fellows and State Library representatives at a local location.
In Term 1 2016, Fellows and their Teachers will spend two days in Melbourne, exploring the State Library Victoria collection and beginning the program.
During Term 2, Fellows will work through an online learning program: we anticipate this will take up to two hours per fortnight. In addition, Fellows may spend up to two hours per fortnight independently undertaking further research on the project.
During Term 3, Fellows will be supported to continue their research independently and draft their final research. This could take anywhere from one to five hours a week.
See Young Researcher Fellowships timeline on p.4 for more information.
Who covers the costs of the trip to Melbourne?
Accommodation, breakfast and dinner costs will be covered by the State Library.
Travel by bus to Melbourne will be covered by the Mallee Cluster.
Fellows and Teachers will cover their own costs for lunch, and any additional food and drink.
What do Fellows have to produce at the end of the project?
Fellows will be supported to produce their research in a way that can be published. This could include images, a written report, diagrams, creative writing or other types of text and image.
What is a mentor and what do I have to do with them?
Expert researchers from the State Library or other institutions will be assigned to Fellows as mentors. The mentor will both inspire and support Fellows during the research process. Mentors will be available at scheduled times to talk to Fellows, respond to questions, guide research or give feedback.
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Form A: Nomination checklist for teachers
Use this form to identify gifted students in your class. A nominated student should demonstrate five or more of the characteristics, most of the time. In addition, a nominated student should demonstrate a strong area of interest and knowledge.
Student’s name: ............................ ................................................................................... Year level: ................
Classroom teacher’s name: .................................................................................................................................
School: .....................................................................................................................................................................
Some of Characteristic Mostly the time Rarely
Uses advanced vocabulary Learns easily and quickly Makes links between ideas in unexpected/divergent ways Has a well-developed sense of humour Is often questioning Often takes on the role of the leader Completes tasks in an unusual way Is curious Is an independent learner Is highly creative Wants to right wrongs Is a risk taker, embraces challenges Can be a perfectionist Has unrealistic expectations Can be resistant to authority Shows a vast gap between quality level of oral and written work Shows superior comprehension and retention of concepts when interested Dislikes practice work or drill for memorisation and mastery Is often ambivalent about achievement Rejects challenges
Strong area of interest: .............................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................................
Nominating teacher: ...............................................................................................................................................
Email: ............................................................................................. Phone: .............................................................
Are you the person who will support this student in 2016, should their application be successful? Yes/No
If no, please include the name and contact details of a teacher who is willing to act in this role.
Name: ........................................................................................................................................................................
Email: ............................................................................................. Phone: .............................................................
Scan this form and email with Form B and Form C to [email protected]. Applications close Friday 6 November 5pm.
Form B: Student application form
Congratulations! You’ve been nominated for the 2016 State Library Victoria Young Researcher Fellowship. Your teacher thinks you have an incredible passion for a particular topic and a great brain for thinking. The Fellowship program will give you the opportunity to put your brain to work – researching, learning and publishing your ideas – with our help. To make your mark in the world and add your research to one of the biggest and best libraries in the world, apply to be a Young Researcher Fellow at State Library Victoria!
What will being a Fellow involve?
• Two free visits to Melbourne and State Library Victoria
• Learning from the Library’s teachers, collection experts and publishers
• Participating in an online learning program and research project
• Meeting people like you who also have a passion for learning
• Learning more about your area of interest
• Publishing your research
• Making a public presentation about your research.
What you need to do to apply
• Answer the following questions about yourself and your passion
• Get a parent or guardian to sign Form C, saying that they understand that you have applied and that they support your application
• Give the completed documents to the teacher who nominated you, who will send them to us at the Library.
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Form B: Student application form
Name: .................................................................................................................................. Age: .........................
Classroom teacher’s name: .............................................................................................. Year level: ................
School: .....................................................................................................................................................................
One thing we simply must know about you
What do other people find interesting or like about you?
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How do you learn best?
Tell us about the way you like to learn in 50 words or less. Do you prefer to learn by yourself? With others? By reading? By looking at diagrams or pictures? Using the internet? From a teacher, parent or friend? A little bit at a time or all at once?
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A little about your topic of special interest
In up to 200 words, tell us what topic you absolutely love learning about. How did you learn so much about this topic? Why would you like the opportunity to research this topic with State Library Victoria? How do you think researching your topic could benefit your community?
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If you need some help
If you have any questions, or would like further information contact [email protected].
The small but necessary print:
If you send us a great application, you may be invited to an interview (via online video call). If your application is successful, we will require additional written permission from your parent/guardian for you to participate in this program. The successful 2016 Young Researcher Fellows will be announced at the end of November 2015.
Complete this form and return it to your classroom teacher – they will scan it and email it with Form A and Form C to [email protected]. Applications close Friday 6 November 5pm.
Form C: Parent/guardian support letter
Dear Parent,
State Library Victoria is pleased to announce the opening of applications for the Young Researcher Fellowships program for gifted and talented students. Your child has been identified by their teacher as a suitable candidate. We would like to invite them to apply for a Fellowship.
This Young Researcher Fellowships program allows up to ten Victorian students from a selected area – this year the Mallee Cluster of schools – to undertake research with the support of Library education staff and experts. The program is supported by the Department of Education and Training.
Selected students will engage in a learning program that involves:
• a Meet and Greet session in the Mallee Cluster with other selected student Fellows, their Teachers and State Library Victoria representatives in November 2015
• exclusive opportunities to visit and access the Library’s vast collection, expert staff and services in Term 1 2016
• learning essential research skills through participation in an online learning program designed and facilitated by the Library’s Education team in Term 2 2016
• researching an area of passion and relating this to the Library’s collections
• engaging in a community of like-minded peers
• publishing and sharing research with peers, local community and State Library Victoria in Term 4 2016.
To apply, your child will be required to submit Form B with some background information about themselves.
Being involved in the project will require successful Fellows to:
• travel to and stay in Melbourne with other Fellows and Teachers in 2016
• participate in a closed online learning space with State Library staff and other Fellows
• use time at school and after school to participate in the program.
Please sign and return this letter to your child’s teacher to acknowledge you understand what this program involves.
The successful Young Researcher Fellows will require additional parent or guardian support and permission to participate. Permission forms will be distributed to successful Fellows in November.
For more information, please contact your child’s teacher or Kate Mildenhall, Project Officer at State Library Victoria: [email protected]
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I support my child ..............................................................................’s application to the Young Researcher Fellowships program, and understand what is involved in the application process and the general program requirements.
Parent/guardian name: .........................................................................................................................................
Signature: ....................................................................................................... Date: .............................................
Complete this form and return it to your classroom teacher – they will scan it and email it with Form A and Form B to [email protected]. Applications close Friday 6 November 5pm.
Further informationContacts
Young Researcher Fellowships Program Kate Mildenhall8664 7555Email: [email protected]
Local Project Liaison David GriffinManangatang P-12 College 5035 1270
ResourcesState Library Victoria website slv.vic.gov.au
ergo websiteergo.slv.vic.gov.au
DET Gifted and Talented websiteeducation.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/teachingresources/diversity/pages/gifted.aspx
