Libraries R 4 Learning Project: Information Literacy Multimedia clips

Aberdeenshire Library and Information Service started filming last week on their Libraries R 4 Learning Project: Multimedia clips. As one of those approached, travelled north last week (2nd and 3rd February 2010) to do some filming. It was an interesting process writing the scripts for the introduction sections on Information Literacy, Information Literacy in schools and Information Literacy in the workplace and then filming them. A new experience for both myself and the film crew (Sue Cromar and one of the network librarians whose name I have forgotten – my apologises to her). I now have a great respect for news readers, it is not as easy as it looks.

During my two day visit I also had a meeting with some of the Aberdeenshire Library and Information Service staff – Primary School Librarian and Early Years / Young People in Schools Librarian plus one of Aberdeenshires Literacy Development Officers (Katherine who is an English teacher on secondment). We had an interesting session where I shared information on the information literacy work I’m involved with specifically the LTS Real and Relevant – Information and Critical Literacy Skills for the 21st Century Learner’ (Early and First Level) CPD Toolkit.

Katherine was amazed to hear that Aberdeenshire Library and Information Service is not just about books, they also have objects / educational tools – religious artefacts, puppets, costumes etc that teachers can use for lessons. As a teachers she is probably not alone in thinking that libraries are just about books. She was also not aware that tours of the service have been organised for probationer teachers and that several teachers have requested visits once they heard of the resources available from the probationer teachers. I made a note to myself to remember to include Library and Information Services as a resource for teachers in the Real and Relevant  CPD Toolkit.

Scottish Further Education Colleges Service Development and Self-Evaluation Framework

The Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) launched on 3 December 2009 a new service development and self-evaluation framework for library and information services in Scottish Further Education (FE) colleges, to replace the previously published toolkit Resources and Services to Support Learners

The framework includes a message of thanks to John and I from Charles Sweeney, Chair, SLIC Working Party on FE Libraries

Thanks are also due to Christine Irving and John Crawford of Glasgow Caledonian University’s Scottish Information Literacy Framework project who ably demonstrated to the Working Party the importance of information literacy as a core competence enabling independent learning in a vocational context.

The framework  has been produced in “consultation with colleagues from SFC, HMIe, JISC, the professional library community in colleges across Scotland and external expertise from Strathclyde University on quality library services”.  Included in the introduction are the following key statements

SLIC recognises that college library and information services are key strategic business assets, whose staff have a major contribution to make in supporting flexible, responsive, high quality learning and teaching programmes and in promoting learner engagement.

Together with changes to the strategic and policy context of further education Scotland has recently introduced the biggest education reform for a generation. The Curriculum for Excellence brings the key role of the library into sharp focus in supporting the development of successful learners and confident individuals. The library provides staff and students with the opportunity to exercise their entitlement to access information and develop comprehensive literacies in a supportive environment.

College library services offer:

  • Access to a wide range of information in a range of formats
  • Support for attainment across the college community
  • Support for the development of information literacy
  • Assistance with effective utilisation of ICT in learning and teaching
  • Knowledge and skills in promoting reading for enjoyment
  • Support for personal and social development and citizenship skills
  • The type of flexible learning environment which can encourage independent learning
  • Access to structured information skills programmes to develop critical thinking skills.

As a core curriculum support service, the quality of the library service  reflects the professionalism of the institution as a whole.

Hopefully library services and staff can use the above to support / demonstrated the work they do and their relevance to the college as a whole.

Within the different Elements of the framework Information literacy is specifically mentioned in the following: 

Element 2: Impact on learners and other users of college services 2.1; 2.2

Quality indicator and key prompt

An appropriate range and balance of learning resources and services is offered to support learners and curricular needs

In what ways do service staff work closely with curricular staff to embed and support the delivery of information literacy and research skills?

Suggested evidence sources

  • Information literacy embedded in learning and teaching strategy
  • Examples of integrated information resources in teaching packs
  • Cross-curricular information skills programmes
Element 5: Education, training and lifelong learning 5.1Quality indicator and key prompt

Element 8: Partnership and resources 8.2

The service participates in, and contributes to, programmes and services to meet the needs of all learners

Suggested evidence sources

Information literacy sessions and support

 

Information Literacy in Public Libraries – the lifelong learning agenda

At a recent event at the Mitchel Library, Glasgow I was asked about examples of public libraries offering information literacy courses. Although there is some activity in this area we tend not to hear about it so whilst the following is not taking place in Scotland but Wales (one of our Celtic cousins) I thought it was worth a mention.

At the begining of December 2009  John attended An Information Literacy Framework for Wales event  to share the project’s experience in Scotland. One of the speakers was Gareth Evans, Senior Manager – Libraries, Caerphilly County Borough Council and he has allowed us to share his presentation – Information Literacy – a public view and the accompanying documents:

Gareth’s contact details are EVANSG1@CAERPHILLY.GOV.UK

Literacy across learning in East Lothian

In East Lothian Anne Johnston, School Librarian / Field Officer at Dunbar Grammar School has been working with the Senior Librarian Young People’s Services, Agnes Guyon, from the public library service to look at information literacy for young people in East Lothian. They are hoping to

establish a consistent approach across all libraries – public branch libraries, primary school libraries and secondary school libraries.

To this end Anne is currently using the national information literacy framework to map skills for levels / ages and linking these to literacy outcomes and experiences. Their next step is to find out what is actually being delivered where. They realise they

can provide materials, training etc for primary and secondary schools and then it is up to individual schools.

In secondaries there are professional librarians who are already doing a lot of good work, as you know, who will be very happy to have a clear set of activities, curriculum links etc. We will be working together organising / providing materials, activities, suggestions. As Field Officer, I will be co-ordinating the secondary part. We are intending to include our links to QMU in this section.

We are using existing provision as the starting point for primary aged children too. The Young People’ s Services section of the library service is responsible for providing services to primary schools. They provide term loans of topic boxes to support investigations / projects and fiction boxes to each primary. They also help schools to maintain appropriate stock in their own school libraries and provide advice and professional support when requested. Agnes has also already met our NQTs this year. She and Susan Boylan, the Librarian Young People’s Services, gave a presentation to new teachers. Additionally, all branch libraries in East Lothian actively encourage classes from local primaries to take part in class visits on a regular basis. Activities during these visits are designed to develop information literacy skills as well as encourage children to visit their local libraries in their leisure time. We have already mapped these activites against CfE outcomes and experiences.

I’m sure that I will not be the only one who will be eager to see the outcomes of this work and will be catching up with Anne hopefully sometime in the near future. Anne’s contact details are ajohnston@dunbargrammar.elcschool.org.uk

Literacy Skills Project – Dundee College

Following a visit to Dundee College by Catherine Kearney, Sam Stirling, Learning Resources Manager at Dundee College contacted me about a Literacy Skills Project they are currently running for their Special Education Needs students at the College.

It is an amazing project which arose out of “a library service review which identified that they had limlited resources that were specifically aimed at Special Programme students. To ensure that they provided the necessary material to meet their special needs, a partnership project between the Library and Special programmes was established”.

The project has been running successfully for a few years and includes various external trips (Waterstones and DC Thomson) class based literacy sessions and project work. Last session the students created next year’s SEN Library Guide using Comic Life software.

The Comic Edition of the library and learning centres user guide 09/10 Dundee College is well worth a look and is an inspiration to us all along with the wider aims of this literacy skills project which has resulted in

The learners have taken ownership of the environment, as they have actively participated in the selection of the resources. Their voice has been heard and changes made that help develop their core skills and promote independent learning.

If you would like to find out some more about this project then I’m sure Sam Stirling s.stirling@dundeecollege.ac.uk would be happy to help.

Welcome to The National Information Literacy Framework (Scotland) Weblog

Following the successful piloting of the draft National Information Literacy Framework (Scotland) there emerged the need to transform the 68 page draft information literacy framework pdf  into a more flexible tool that enabled case studies / exemplars of good practice to be added. Work also needed to be done on:

The idea of using a weblog to facilitate the above emerged as experience with the project blog grew and the potential of what could be done with blogs apart from blogging. The static pages contain the framework details whilst the blog postings will facilitate the communication of any news, activities and developments plus enable interested parties to comment on any of the postings or on the framework pages.

This is very much a work in progress as there is a lot going on in the world of education and skills.

 

Our thanks go to:

EF_logo_4col

 

for funding to restructure the framework / add the exemplars of good practice/case studies

 

Eduserv_cmyk                                                 

 for provided funding for the draft framework and the piloting  exercise.
 
 
Christine & John