Information Literacy (Library)

In grades six, seven and eight, middle school students work with information in a variety of formats. Information literacy curriculum is not taught in isolation, but through a collaborative, project driven effort between the librarian and the middle school teachers. There are six essential questions that are used to help guide students through the ever-increasing complexity of an information dependent world:

• Why read?

• Why do I need information?

• What is the difference between information and knowledge?

• What are my rights and responsibilities as a consumer and producer of information?

• How does the world I live in affect the skills I need?

• Why and how do I use the library?

Instructional Technology

Standards Categories:

1. Creativity and Innovation
2. Communication and Collaboration
3. Research and Information Fluency
4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and Decision Making
5. Digital (Global) Citizenship
6. Technology Operations and Concepts

The numbers in parenthesis following each Learning Activity identify the standards most closely linked to the activity described.

Examples of Learning Activities in which students might engage during Grades 6-8:

• Use keyboards efficiently and effectively. (6)
• Describe and illustrate a content-related concept or process using a model, simulation, or concept-mapping software. (1, 2)
• Create original animations or videos documenting school, community or local events. (1, 2, 6)
• Gather data, examine patterns, and apply information for decision making using digital tools and resources. (1, 4)
• Participate in a cooperative learning project in an online learning community. (2)
• Evaluate digital resources to determine the credibility of the author and publisher and the timeliness and accuracy of the content. (3)
• Employ data-collection technology such as probes, handheld devices, and geographic mapping systems to gather, view, analyze, and report results for content-related problems. (3, 4, 6)
• Select and use the appropriate tools and digital resources to accomplish a variety of tasks and to solve problems. (3, 4, 6)
• Use collaborative electronic authoring tools to explore common curriculum content from multicultural perspectives with other learners. (2, 3, 4, 5)
• Integrate a variety of file types to create and illustrate a document or presentation. (1, 6)
• Apply knowledge of digital technology operations to analyze and solve current hardware and software problems. (4, 6)