HIT: Teaching Web Searching Skills 2

[Cecily Pilzer <cecily@BEARTRACK.COM>]

Web searching continued:

Jan 30th <At what grade are your students introduced to the World Wide Web>
4th graders at my school are given the most instruction and time on Internet.
However, I occasionally show 2nd and 3rd graders an author site in conjunction
with an author study or other literary event. <In what grade are they
introduced to the basic skills for navigating the Web?> I teach 4th graders how
to go to a site that I have bookmarked as a favorite, how to move within the
site using "the elevator" forward and back arrows, what's click able,
terminology such as favorite and address, how to handle error messages.
<Finally who does the teaching, the tech teachers or the librarians?> I do the
teaching mentioned above, some other instruction occurs in classrooms where the
teacher is comfortable and anxious to use the Web.

Jan 30th  This our first year on line with the students. All the teachers have
computers in their rooms and we have a Title I lab with 12 computers connected
to the net. All the teachers have introduced their students to the web although
not all of the students have direct access. The lab instructor works with a
whole class on projects with the teacher using the web.  Our Internet policy
gives parents the right to deny their child access if they wish. As far as I
know no parent has done that here. I am the librarian but the access I have is
not for student use at this time. I teach other reference alternatives and the
computer catalog. We are K-5 school with an enrollment of 450.

Jan 30th  In our school district, teachers are required to take an Internet
course where we(librarians) teach search techniques and how to build a lesson
plan that integrates the Internet as a tool. They learn to make a quick web
page with the URLS on them and then the child isn't surfing but going where
they need to go for information. We have a district policy that a teacher
cannot use the Internet with students unless they have taken the course and
have an AUP signed by the student. Surfing isn't allowed. The school periods
aren't long enough for students to surf and the teacher must give URLs to keep
students on track of what they are searching for and worksheets to record
information. I don't see why you couldn't do this in the fourth grade.

Jan 30th  I am both the tech person and the librarian for my school, so that
solves the "who teaches it" problem. I start my students informally at third
grade. At this stage we usually do a group search to answer a question about a
single topic. For instance, right now they are writing a review book for their
magnet unit. After they have written down all they can remember about the unit
we will look at a site about magnets to stretch the learning. Usually, I find a
site ahead of time and we just go there.  Fourth grade starts regular searches.
They are given a topic by their classroom teacher and I take them through the
steps of doing a simple report. They use 1 encyclopedia and 2 Internet sites.
They do the search (after being taught), but may not go to the site until it is
approved. We are set up on a Proxy Server to make this easier. This process
continues through 6th grade (our highest). The sixth graders do the same
general thing but it more depth. They have to have an encyclopedia and one
other print source. They also must have a bibliography, etc. They do more
searching and finding their own material. All grades must have a site approved
before going to it. I keep a list of previously approved sites that they can
use as well. The fourth grade can use the list for all their sites, the fifth
grade must find one new site, the sixth grade must find 2 new sites. This helps
with the list. It also helps to keep old connections off the list. All classes
also have to fill out a site critique as well. It is geared to the grade level.
What I'm trying to accomplish is to be sure they understand what they find in a
search. That they can choose the best hits to check out. That they can come up
with alternate search words if the first doesn't work. They can decide on a the
accuracy and usefulness of a site. If they can do all this by the end of 6th
grade I feel I've done my job.

Cecily Pilzer
Media Specialist
Georgetown Day School Lower/Middle
4530 MacArthur Blvd, NW., Washington, DC 20007
cecily@beartrack.com     cpilzer@gds.org

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