[CALIBK12] HIGH SCHOOL: Information Literacy Mini-Lessons

[Waddle, Victoria]

CALIB Mentors:

I have an interesting opportunity to promote school-wide information literacy—but the parameters are very limited, so I thought I’d see if any of you have tried something like this before.

I work in a comprehensive high school (9-12) that conducts “focus lessons” for 15 minutes a day, four days a week. In the past, I have created lessons on finding authoritative sources on the Internet and on filtering information. These proved hard to create because of the lesson format:

•       No longer than 15 minutes, including time for the teacher to review correct answers.
•       Self-directed: the teacher hands out the lessons and may or may not read them with the students. (Yes, this alters the quality of the lesson from classroom to classroom). Students read and answer questions about the reading.
•       At the end of 10-12 minutes, the teacher gives out the correct answers and may or may not discuss/explain these.
•       The students do NOT have computers available during the lesson, so they can’t look up websites to judge content, etc.

Now I have an opportunity to create two to four weeks worth of focus lessons (8-16) that discuss research skills in SPECIFIC CONTENT AREAS. So, for example, one week might discuss doing research for an unspecified social studies project. All the confinements above apply, with the addition of the fact that the lessons will not discuss a specific project.

Of course, this is in NO WAY a substitute for lessons in the library and more specific, guided instruction. But each department or content area in the school (outside of the library) is required to submit ideas for lessons. Each has a specific calendar of dates in which lessons will cover their subject area while discussing a variety of study skills and strategies. Although I am not required to produce any of these lessons, I may use a block of open dates, and I would hate to miss the opportunity given to me. It would appear that I feel library and information literacy skills don’t matter enough for me to bother. This is exactly what I don’t want!

So while the limitations on these lessons create a less than ideal situation, I realize there can be a big reward in having every student in the school thinking about information literacy at the same time. If you have any good ideas or samples of such lessons on science, social studies, English/language arts, math, the arts, or physical education, please let me know.

If I am fortunate enough to get answers, I will create a hit list—maybe others have such school-wide focus lessons and can use this as an opportunity for library advocacy.

Thanks so much! I am always grateful for your help!

Victoria Waddle
LMT, Colony High
Ontario, CA