beautyman - the road to information literacy: primary school children and their information seeking...
TRANSCRIPT
THE ROAD TO INFORMATION LITERACY: PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN AND THEIR INFORMATION SEEKING BEHAVIOUR.
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this research study
Aim ‐ To investigate the cognitive and affective characteristics of Key Stage 2 (KS2) children in the context of their information seeking behaviour.
To develop a framework and set of guidelines for developing and promoting Information Seeking Strategies (ISS) in KS2 children
OBJECTIVES
Establish the current ICT outcomes required from the e‐learning strategy as outlined by relevant government bodies
Establish the role of ISS in the government, LEA and school policies
Identify and evaluate the current methods for teaching ISS to KS2 children
Identify whether there were gaps in the children’s knowledge and understanding of information retrieval and use
Establish the level of teaching of ISS for KS2 children
BACKGROUND
The Macro environment – Every Child Matters“to protect children and ensure each child fulfils their potential”.
The Micro environment
The research participants
The local environment
Time in the field
METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH
The Methodological approach to the study
Interpretivist ethnography and grounded theoryWhy this approach was taken
Gathering data in the natural setting
Developing a rich picture
Iterative analysis provided conceptual bridges
LITERATURE
The iterative process of analysing themes meant it was necessary to keep returning to the literature. For example, the theme of uncertainty was identified – this lead to self‐efficacy
Investigating learning theory led to an examination of Kolb’s (1984) experiential cycle as well as Vygotsky’s (1978) Zone of Proximal development
EMERGING THEMES
Uncertainty
Self‐efficacy
Motivation
Choice
Need
Want
THE ROAD TO INFORMATION LITERACY
AT THE BEGINNING
TDIN – Teacher Defined Information Need
WALT and WILF
Differentiating
Scaffolding
Learning styles – Kolb (1984) and Vygotsky (1978)
Information Seeking ‐ Berkowitz and Eisenberg (1987)
UNCERTAINTY
“Uncertainty is the critical link between information and decision‐making” (Shannon and Weaver, 1949, p.224)
“uncertainty may have both affective and cognitive dimensions”. (Wilson et al, 2002, p.713)
Tactics adopted by the year 3 children
Tactics adopted by the year 4/5 children
SELF-EFFICACY
“children's self‐perceptions of their capabilities have an important effect on their subsequent achievements” (Schunk, 1981, p. 104)
MOTIVATION AND CHOICE
freedom of choice can be an important motivator by itself”. (Malone, 1981, p.365).
When the children were offered choices within their lessons they were generally more engaged with the lesson
NEED AND WANT
Needing information to fulfil and academic obligation
Wanting information to satisfy a personal interest
FINDINGS
ZONE OF OPTIMAL LEARNING
FOUR GUIDELINES
1. As far as is possible, children should be encouraged to define their own information need.
2. Information seeking skills and strategies should be embedded within topics
3. Children need to be taught to develop their critical thinking skills
4. Understanding should be demonstrated contextually
THANK YOU
Any Questions?
REFERENCES
Kolb, David. A (1984) Experiential learning : experience as the source of learning and development. London, Prentice‐Hall.
Vygotsky, L.S. (1978) Mind in Society: The development of higher Psychological Process. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press.