The Balanced Lesson A library lesson based on collaboration, diverse use of sources and higher-level learning.

MAIS Conference November, 2002 Rome, Italy Linda A. Vretos, Head Librarian Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Fairfax County, Virginia, USA

Workshop Goal Participants will consider ways to teach effective and efficient methods of inquiry, setting the stage for life-long learning.

Workshop Objectives 1. Study the “Bird Unit” 2. Review Information Power’s Planning Model and Target Indicators3. 3. View a Balanced Unit 4. Share Ideas

Consider the “Bird Unit” 1. Teacher introduces the topic of birds 2. Students read a textbook chapter about birds and answers questions 3. Teacher brings the class to the library to research a bird of choice 4. Teacher gives each student a worksheet of fact questions 5. Librarian introduces books where facts about birds can be found 6. Student finds the answers to their fact worksheet and copies them onto the worksheet 7. Students report back to the class about each bird

“Bird Unit,”continued Results of the “Bird Unit” - students learn to memorize facts and copy or paraphrase facts

“ Brainy Bird Unit” Results of a “Brainy Bird Unit” 1.Enhance the learning experience 2. Build librarian and teacher effectiveness 3. Increase student academic achievement

Ways to save the “Bird Unit” Talk to the teacher and suggest: 1. A set number of more than one type of source for bird facts 2. Teaming together to design the worksheet 3. Comparing and contrasting extracted data 4. Charting or graphing information 5. Projects ideas to integrate information 6. Question ideas that will make the research more real to the student

In the perfect A.L.A. world American Association of School Librarians created a Learning Task Force Subcommittee The Information Power; Building Partnerships for Learning

21st Century Rubric

COLLABORATION MEANS l Planning units together l Identifying materials for teachers l Teaching Information Literacy to learners l Providing in-service training l Providing motivational reading l Pushing digital information beyond the LMC

INFORMATION LITERACY TOPICS INCLUDE l Locating information l Finding information in print and electronic environments l Judging the quality of information located l Synthesizing ideas across information sources l Building creative presentations of findings

Freshman Research Unit TJHSST l Planning is done together l Librarian produces the unit packet l Librarian identifies and pulls books on Wetlands l Teacher and librarian teaches information literacy to learners l Librarian provides in-service training to the teachers - new databases l Librarians push digital information beyond the LMC, teaching the use of the network and the use of the proxy

SOURCES The Information Powered School, A.L.A., 2001 Powering Achievement: School Library Programs make a difference by Keith Curry Lance and David Loertscher, Hi Willow Research and Publishing, 2001

QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS How can you wean your faculty away from the “bird unit”? What strategies of planning will maximize the number of students affected by collaborative planning?

The End The Balanced Lesson