Using the North Ayrshire Information Literacy Toolkit (ILT) in Primary Schools: Exemplar of Good Practice
Background
The Information Literacy Toolkit (ILT) was based on a PhD framework of 5-14 information literacy skills and the Education Resource Service’s commitment to raising attainment in primary schools by ensuring all school libraries have: attractive environments; appropriate shelving; excellent resources and a library management system.
The ILT was piloted in six primary schools and two secondary schools before the launch to Literacy Co-ordinators in May 2005. Since then the Primary Education Resource Co-ordinators (Percs) have delivered the ILT to 30 primary schools.
Environmental Studies/ACfE
In some schools two or three worksheets were used at each stage for a specific purpose:
- Library FileMaker Pro Database
Example from P4 class: (Level B)
To allow pupils to use library database to find non-fiction books about their new topic Ancient Egypt.
Task A: Pupils used database to find the classification number for Ancient Egypt and located these books on the shelves.
Task B: All pupils completed the worksheet entitled ‘Three Facts’ and listed three facts. Some completed a similar worksheet where they had to note the page numbers of the contents/index page.
Example from P5 class: (Level B)
Introduction to fiction books and why they are arranged in alphabetical order.
Task A: Pupils completed the first section of ‘Put the following authors into alphabetical order’ sheet.
Example from P6 class: (Level C)
Introduction to the ERS website and how to navigate to the Pupil Pages and to the section on Victorians. The pupils enjoyed playing various games and quizzes on the Victorians topic and were reminded that information can be found and presented in a variety of ways.
Pre-Visit: Class asked to complete ‘I want to find out about’ sheet for their Space topic before library session.
Introduction to the library database to find books on Space and using the classification number, locate them on the shelves.
Task A: Group discussed what they knew about Space.
Task B: Pupils used the library database and classification number to locate books on Space in the library.
Task C: They were given an additional sheet ‘I found out about’ where they had to record their answers to their original questions by using the contents/index pages of the book.
- Alice Library Management System
Example from P4 class (Level B)
Introduction to fiction books and why they are arranged in alphabetical order.
Task A: The pupils wrote their own surnames on a card and physically put themselves in alphabetical order holding their card.
Task B: Pupils put two sets of 4 fiction books in order, one set with authors whose surnames started with a different letter and set two with authors whose surname started with the same letter, thus encouraging the pupils to look at putting names in order by the second and third letter.
Task C: Pupils used the Alice system to find their reading records and complete ‘Personal Reading Record’ worksheet.
Example from P4 class: (Level B)
Using the Alice system to find books for their topic Vikings and how to use the contents and index pages.
Task A: Pupils shown the Alice system and how to use it to find the classification number for their topic and to then find the books on the shelves.
Task B: Pupils completed ‘I have found a non-fiction book about…’ worksheet noting the classification number, contents and index pages.
Task C: Pupils chose another book for their topic and completed ‘…Here are three facts I learned from book’ worksheet.
Example from P6 class: (Level C)
To plan for research and to use the Alice system to find books for their Victorians topic.
Task A: Prior to library visit pupils noted 5 facts they knew about Victorians on their ‘Refining Planning’ worksheet.
Task B: Pupils discussed what they already knew about their topic.
Task C: Pupils, using the Alice system, located books on the shelves and attempted to complete the second part of the ‘Refining Planning’ worksheet by trying to verify the facts by finding appropriate quotes in the books.
Example from Primary 7 class (Level D)
Visit 1: To plan for research and to use the Alice system to find books for their Britain in the last 50 years topic and to make notes.
Task A: Prior to library visit pupils completed ‘Researching a Topic – Planning’ worksheet for their topic.
Task B: Pupils discussed what they knew, what they still needed to know and where they were going to find this information.
Task C: Pupils, using the Alice system, located books on the shelves and attempted to complete the ‘Researching a topic – Books’ worksheet.
Visit 2: Introduction to Mind Mapping
Task A: Pupils were introduced to the concept of Mind Mapping and shown an example of how to make a Mind Map using ‘Mind Mapping (unlock the potential of your brain)’ information sheet.
Task B: Pupils made a Mind Map of their own bedrooms.
Task C: Pupils shown an example of how to apply Mind Mapping techniques to their topic.
Task D: Pupils made a Mind Map for their topic using ‘Make your own Mind Map’ worksheet.
- Using the Education Resource Service Website and Yahooligans!
Example from Primary 6 class (Level D)
Visit 1: Discussion of the pupils’ use of Internet; explanation of suffixes in web addresses; introduction to ERS website for Rights of the Child topic using the ‘How to use the Education Resource Service Website’ handout.
Task A: Pupils completed ‘Researching a Topic – Planning’ worksheet on what they knew about their topic; three questions they still had about their topic and where they would find this information.
Task B: Using the ERS website the pupils made notes using the ‘Researching a Topic – ERS site’ worksheet ensuring they noted the author, title and URL (address) of the websites they had used.
Visit 2: Introduction to the Yahooligans! Search engine; how to use search terms and the evaluation of a website.
Task A: Using the ‘How to use a Search Engine to find information on the Internet’ Handout the pupils attempted searches for World War II.
Task B: Using their own search terms for their Rights of the Child topic pupils made notes on their ‘Researching a Topic – Search Engine’ worksheet ensuring they noted the author, title and URL (address) of the websites they had used.
Task C: Pupils selected one website and attempted to evaluate it using the ‘Evaluating Websites’ worksheet.
Example from Primary 7 class (Level D)
Discussion of the pupils’ use of Internet; explanation of suffixes in web addresses (Deciphering Internet Addresses Handout); introduction to ERS website for Famous Scots topic using the ‘How to use the Education Resource Service Website’ handout.
Task A: Pupils completed ‘Researching a Topic – Planning’ worksheet on what they knew about their topic; three questions they still had about their topic and where they would find this information.
Task B: Using the ERS website the pupils made notes using the ‘Researching a Topic – ERS site’ worksheet ensuring they noted the author, title and URL (address) of the websites they had used.
Other schools had a longer ILT course e.g. 5-7 weeks, which included the following worksheets:
Level A: One fact; Three facts.
Level B: Alternative Keywords and Keyword & chapter references.
Level C: Flowchart Organisation; Kidspiration Graphic Organisers; Graphic Planner.
Carnegie/Royal Mail Awards
Percs have worked with small groups of pupils for the last three years in shadowing the Carnegie Awards and the Royal Mail Awards. Again worksheets were adapted to suit.
Examples: Levels C and D
Remember Criteria Comparison of Books Preference/Recommendation
Justify Opinion of the text Book Promotion Blurb Marks out of Forty
Character development Magazine Book Review Oral Book Review Interview
Comparison of Books
War Detectives
This 2005 Big Lottery funded project involved 10 schools in North Ayrshire investigating different aspects of World War II. Groups of children from each school worked together to research their topic and devise interview questions for war veterans. Each child was given a pack of adapted worksheets from the ILT, which included:
Level C: Notetaking Template
Level D: Group Researching; Planning Template; Record of Research Activity; Researching a Topic: Planning.
Supported Study
The Regeneration Outcome Agreement (ROA) has funded the post of a Supported Study Development Officer within North Ayrshire. In 2006/2007 1,876 P6 pupils attended from 67 classes throughout North Ayrshire to their local library to do research in conjunction with the BBC’s Breathing Places. They used specially adapted worksheets from the ILT to complete their book and Internet research on Conservation and Pollution.
Author Visits
Many schools in North Ayrshire have authors visiting their schools to talk about writing and their work. Many schools make use of some of the fiction worksheets from the ILT:
Level A: Draw a Picture of book
Level D: Author Interview Plan; Author Interview Questions; Author Promotion; Author report; Author Research.
PowerPoint presentation – Information Literacy in North Ayrshire: from theory into practice
Contact: Alison McAllister (AMcAllister@north-ayrshire.gov.uk), Primary Education Resource Co-ordinator
North Ayrshire Council
February 2008