Building Stepping Stones : Introducing Information Literacy as Life Skills in Second Level Schools.

Fiona TuohyLibrary Assistant,Learning, Teaching & Research developmentMaynooth University, Fiona.Tuohy@nuim.ie Tel: 01 708 6908

Many students struggle taking the ‘leap’ from second level to third level

“To strengthen its engagement with all stakeholders through

sustained partnerships with enterprises,

communities, civil society and public bodies, to build

support for the mission of the university, to serve the needs of society, and to open new opportunities for research and learning.”

Maynooth University Strategic Plan 2012-2017

Designed a working outline including content for each session, lesson plans and a proposal to present to a school

…Deliver the programme to transition year students:

Four sessions in the classroom and a visit to the Library. Expose students to the skills and techniques of Information Literacy to support their self development, life-long learning and future transition to university and employment

The Proposal…

• 21 Classes

• 3 schools

• 3 Sessions

• 2 Library staff delivered

• 1 trip to the Library

Session 1: Preparing for your AssignmentSearching versus Researching; Building your search; Planning

“I learned new ways of researching today which I will use in the future”

Session 2: Accessing Resources & Social MediaSearching Public Library catalogues; Journal, books and newspapers;

Digital Footprints; Job screening with social media

“I learned a lot from talking about social media. I think people should talk about it more often”

Session 3: Using and Evaluating ResourcesAvoiding plagiarism; fake websites

“I thought I knew everything about the internet, but I don't so everything was new, thanks”

Success Factor: Know your audience

C Gijsbert van der Wal

Engaging with games: Combination of group and individual work; Current, relevant examples; Interaction, involvement and debate; Don’t get into right or wrong

Stand up if you have brown hair………

Changes needed to adapt to the classes

Evaluate the learning …..

Information Literate

Commitment to provide support material and give access to teachers

Visit to the Library

“Can't wait to go to the Library”

What we learnt…

…Working with the students didn’t just benefit the schools, it helped us appreciate

how students are learning, what resources they are using and what

level of difficulty is appropriate for new undergraduates

….It forced us to be more creative and

interactive in how we approach Information Literacy Instruction

Resources stretched – where can we go from here?

Advice…

…Talk to your institution when choosing a school…Get it sorted in September…Get support from the School Principle and Library Senior Management…Be creative and prepared to be challenged…Be prepared to find a time that suits the School

Leap of faith https://www.flickr.com/photos/neil_roger/6834488586/ Drawing with Pencils https://www.flickr.com/photos/flixel/5319938918/ いまここで https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikey-a-tucker/16455419480/ Numbers https://www.flickr.com/photos/andymag/10947544804 Google search and destroy https://www.flickr.com/photos/bouldair/3276690149/Social Media https://www.flickr.com/photos/jasonahowie/8583949219 Duplicate original https://www.flickr.com/photos/wwworks/6305470569/ Light Bulb http://www.flickr.com/photos/polifemus/561986434/ Cat Stretch https://www.flickr.com/photos/trishhamme/5189339423/ Direction https://www.flickr.com/photos/23am/236464145 Conversation http://www.flickr.com/photos/stijnnieuwendijk/3098445189/

Lorna Dodd: ANLTC 2015

Images