guiding students through the research process pennsylvania school librarians association annual...

Guiding Students through the Research Process

Pennsylvania School Librarians Association Annual Conference 2012

Session D-1

Deborah P. Lowenburg, LibrarianPleasant Valley High School

Lowenburg.deb@pvbears.orgwww.pvbears.org/hslibrary

A Little Bit about PVHS…

Intensive Scheduling 2 semesters 4 period day, 90-minute blocks

Grades 10-12 1439 students Cyber School

129 students

A Little Bit about the Library… 29,000 Volumes 2500 Audio-visual materials 13 Licensed, web-based databases 65 Computers for student use Open after school Monday through Thursday

and Library Staffing…

1.5 Professional librarians 1 Technical assistant Student assistants Teacher coverage of the circulation desk for

two periods each day

Instructional Areas… 35-station computer lab 30-station computer area on library floor Projection system Vision™ classroom management software Interactive white board Table seating for two classes

Library Handbook

Policies and Procedures Source Evaluation Secondary vs. Primary Sources Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing Parenthetical Citations MLA Style Guide Research Process Searching Tips

The Gold Sheet has passwords for PVHS, WPCL, and POWER Library Databases

Pathfinders @ wikispaces.com

For all major projects…

Pathfinders provide:

Links to print and electronic resources

Powerpoint® tutorials with step-by-step instructions for

Searching

Printing

Citing

Scaffolding to allow students to work independently

Alignment with student Research Planners

OmniFile Select Tutorial

Multidisciplinary database provides

full text for nearly 2500 journals

from 1995 to the present

Choose OmniFile Select from the

POWER Library site

Place your search terms here and click Search

This search found 191 results

You may Narrow Results by Subject

Examine the Subject Headings and read the

Abstract for a summary of the article. Scroll down to go to the

next article.

Click on the Title for the detailed record.

Scroll down to skim read the HTML Full Text.

Citation information is located at the beginning of the

article

Here are tools to print, email, or save the HTML Full Text

Another option is the PDF Full Text format.

The PDF Full Text format gives you access to other

articles in the same periodical/journal.

The PDF Full Text format also includes original page numbers for parenthetical

citations.

Tools for printing and saving from the PDF Full Text

format

Research Planners for Major Projects Complement the Pathfinders

Pro/Con Issues Literary Analysis Career Project Graduation Project

Research Community Service

Research Planners Include:

Research Checklist Pre-searching organizers Online database search history charts Thesis/project organizers Annotated works cited generators Self-evaluation/reflection logs

Pro/Con Issues Term Paper Planner

Screen-shot directions for accessing the pathfinder

Research Checklist with classroom and library activities

Topic Browse Organizers

Tips for Searching the Library’s Online Catalog

Essential Question Brainstorming Tool

Essential Question Reflection Tool

Thesis Statement Generator and Supports Organizer

Construct Search Queries in Support of Thesis Statement

Database Search History Chart with Remote Access Instructions

Primary Research Ideas

Double-Sided Research Journal

Outlining Template

Prompts for Writing Annotations for the List of Works Cited

Student Self Evaluation and Reflection

Research Checklist for Teachers Developed with the secondary literacy coach Used as a pacing guide Includes classroom activities to prepare students for library

research periods Incorporates:

Reading Apprenticeship strategies Talk to the Text Think Aloud

Collins Writing Program prompts What makes a good research paper? Describe how the research process is going for you. What’s working

for you? What’s not working for you? How are you feeling about your progress?

Reflective Self-Evaluation

Guidance for the classroom teacher with links to resources

Available on the English Department Wiki

Library Schedule

All students must complete a major research project in English each year

English Department Research Schedule balances the number of classes throughout the semester

Provides: Space for other subject areas who need to use the library Equitable access to print resources Accountability to ensure all students receive library

instruction A manageable system for library staff

Library Research Request Form

Library Schedule

Each class is scheduled for a minimum of 4 library visits

Appointment slips keep everyone on schedule

What our teachers say… Provides comprehensive, credible, resources that are easy to

access Differentiated by design, allows students to take as much time as

they need to be successful with the research process Step-by-step approach helps both the teacher and students stay on

track! Makes keeping absent students up to date incredibly easy Eliminates a lot of stress and time away from the other students Forces students to take responsibility for their own learning Allows students who work outside of school to find answers to their

own questions Great for students who need a quick review Very important vehicle for ensuring digital citizenship through the

promotion of valid resources and accurate citations

What our students say… Made the library process much more streamlined and approachable. I’m not really tech savvy, so I’m not good with just floating around the

internet looking for legitimate sources.  They really make our lives easier!

The tutorials were very helpful, especially for citations!  It is also really convenient to access them at home.

What I like most about them is the screenshots.  The screenshots provided me with an exact image of what my page should look like.  I find it easier to follow directions that provide visuals, rather than just text.

The tutorials embedded right in the pathfinder walked me through every single step.  I give a lot of credit to the pathfinder for the “A” I got too!

If I did not have the assistance from the library pathfinders and tutorials, my literary criticism would only be half as good as it is now, if I would have completed it at all. ;-)

Why I like the pathfinders… Models a sound research process Guides students to the best sources Fosters independent learning Gives me time to work with students who need help Encourages proper citations Great for absentee students and cyber students Life-saver for technical aide working the circulation desk during

after-school hours Minimal requirements

Wikispaces account Powerpoint® Online storage space

Select Pathfinders

http://www.pvbears.org/hslibrary

Lowenburg.deb@pvbears.org

Select Topic

Companion Research Planner available in PDF

Questions?

Lowenburg.deb@pvbears.orgwww.pvbears.org/hslibrary