A ninth grade student has recently completed a traditional research paper on her favorite author: Jane Austen. The student mentions to the school librarian (SL) that she would like to create a blog that helps her connect with other fans of the author. The student would like to e-mail a Jane Austen scholar to ask questions but is not sure about protocol for e-mailing an expert. The SL encourages the student to bring her research paper to the library to review the paper and works cited list. The SL suggests that the student expand the resources used for the research paper to include a bibliography of Austen's novels and books written about the author's work, along with links to graphics, video and audio clips from Austen's novels. The SL also suggests that the student may want to create a wiki, rather than a blog, to better share information. The SL then meets with the ninth grade team and proposes that a wiki would be a great way to follow up and share what students learn from their research papers as an addition to the research unit and offers to teach wiki design as an additional element to the project.
Overview:
A student wishes to share and expand upon information synthesized in an English I research assignment. In particular, the student wishes to exchange information with others interested in the same topic/author.
Final Product:
The student designs a wiki that includes a variety of resources and a component for exchanging information with visitors to the wiki.
Library Lesson:
The SL conducts informal, one-on-one instructional sessions and conferences with the student. These meetings focus on searches for additional resources, netiquette required for online exchanges and methods to build and sustain learning through social networks.