I recently had a great experience that supports print:
One of our super history teachers had created a unit on castles that
used a web quest type format. It was a well thought out project and
the students were getting guidance on how to find information on the
sites they were directed to use via this abridged webquest.
Unfortunately only her "A" day kids could get access to the library
during the week that she wanted to do this. So I gathered a cart load
of books [I have LOTS on castles!] and we decided that her 'B" Day
kids would use the books first, and then come use the computers later.
The"A" day students came into the library and did well with the
webquest. They were on task and got some notes. They still spent an
inordinate amount of time 'noodling' around but overall they were
successful with what they did get. The next time they were to come
into the library, I asked the teacher if she wanted me to get ready
for them and she said that she was so impressed with the higher
quality notes that her "B" day students were getting from the print
materials, that she was not going to continue with the web quest.
She's re-writing her plan to use only the books next time. They found
more information, liked the pictures better and seemed to have a
better sense of the 'big picture' using the books.
One thing that has happened through the years at my school is the
agreement by many teachers to have kids use print materials FIRST.
After they have taken acceptable notes, created a 'keyword' list that
they'll use for searching on the web [based on their encyclopedia
research], then they can use the web. Whenever I am told of a
project that is coming, I usually put a hot list together and some
teachers only let kids go to those website, others let them go
wherever they want, but always point out my hot list. The teachers
who use this process have been much happier with the quality of their
student notes. [I also suggested that no notes be allowed that have
full sentences in them . If they use full sentences, they must put
them in quotes and copy the page number from where they got them. -
that's encouraged the teachers a lot!].
Getting 'in' on the project helps a lot. Most teachers have enjoyed
the fruits of a print search first.
Connie Williams
On Mar 30, 2006, at 5:14 AM, Donna Knott-Fac/Staff wrote:
> It scares me to hear younger/newer librarians say that their
> print materials don't get used as much as their online
> resources. That's because they don't push students to do so.
> It's still quite often faster to find information in a book than
> online because search engines and even databases don't have the
> capability (yet) to be intuitive...to know what the searcher is
> really looking for. Looking up the same information in an index
> is very straightforward and quick. The upper school librarian
> and I have gotten the teachers in both our divisions to make it
> a requirement that students use at least one print resource for
> their projects (in middle school, I require 2). Faster, easier,
> cheaper doesn't mean high quality. In fact, if a student uses
> mostly Internet resources, the teachers can usually tell because
> the information is not as accurate. There are also increased
> instances of plagiarism, because it's so easy to copy/paste
> information from online sources. I'm all for accurate,
> authoritative, unbiased materials any day and it's not because
> I'm an old, stodgy librarian who doesn't like computers. I'm a
> computer geek and as bad as the kids sometimes about going to
> the computer to look something up, really quickly, but the idea
> that libraries need fewer print materials and more online ones
> is not acceptable, at least until the online environment can
> provide safe, high-quality, easy-to-find information.
>
> As far as the fiction issue goes, I will never want to curl up
> with a good computer and I hate paperback books. They get
> really ratty looking very quickly, whereas hard cover books are
> built to last much longer.
>
> I do agree that more focus is needed on teaching students how to
> determine what sites/information is "good" and how to do the
> best search possible. The internet is here to stay and I love
> it but it has a plethora of problems that need to be dealt with
> before it's as good an information provider as books are.
> Hopefully, I will not live to see the day when libraries have
> only electronic sources available!
>
>
> Thanks,
> Donna Knott
> Middle School Librarian
> The Lovett School
> dknott@lovett.org
Connie Hamner Williams
Library Media Teacher
National Board Certified
Kenilworth Junior High
800 Riesling Road
Petaluma, CA 94954
707-778-4719
chwms@mac.com
www.teacherweb.com/ca/kjhs/homepage
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