[CALIBK12] Pathfinders?

[Paula Miller]

Hi Darla,
I have used Pathfinders for the first time this year and it has been a hugh succcess.  When a class comes to the library for their project research, I spend time explaining the Pathfinders to them and highlighting the library resources.  My Pathfinders include instructions on effective search techniques, suggestions on key word searches, selected recommended websites, reminders about bibliographies and plagerism, as well as a listing of project related books, periodicals, etc. which are in our library.  This has also been my first year of collaboration with my teachers and getting the information needed to complete the Pathfinders is NOT always easy.  But now that my teachers have experienced the results of Pathfinders, they love them and me for suppling them to their students.  They have observed the students staying on task and accomplishing a much deeper level of research.  
Because we never seem to have enough library time per class / student, the Pathfinders gives the students a jumpstart into their research.  I believe that by providing the Pathfinders, I am giving them a model of successful research techniques.  They are not provided Pathfinders for every project they are assigned, but if they can draw upon their experience of the projects in which they used Pathfinders they will be successful. 
Pathfinders give us, as Teacher-Librarians, a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with our classroom teachers.  It is also a great way to demonstrate our abilities to teach information literacy, while directing our students to information-rich resources.  My students and teachers were so grateful and impressed that word even got back to my administrators that I was the most wonderful Librarian they have ever had.
So, as you can see, the work envolved in developing Pathfinders has been well worth my efforts.  PR like this is hard to come by!
Paula Miller, M.L.I.S.
Library Media Teacher
Calvary Chapel High School
paula.miller at calvaryschools.org










----- Original Message ----
From: Magana. Darla <Darla.Magana at smes.org>
To: calibk12 at listproc.sjsu.edu
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 2:00:02 PM
Subject: [CALIBK12] Pathfinders?


I know there is hardly anyone on the list at this time, BUT maybe those that are out there might be up for a little theoretical discussion about the use of pathfinders in a school library.
 
Pathfinders are (generally speaking) lists of helpful resources on a given topic that are created by the librarian.  They can include websites, articles, print resources, etc.  The intent of a pathfinder is to help the user access helpful information.  
 
Here is my question…what is the role of the pathfinder in a school setting?  Since part of our job as Teacher Librarians is to educate students on HOW to access information shouldn’t we NOT be handing them a pathfinder which has it all there for them?    But on the other hand, we also have a role to provide access and delivery, which a Pathfinder certainly does.  What are your thoughts?—I’ve struggled with the balance of this all year.
 
Darla Magana
St. Margaret’s Episcopal School


      
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