Information Literacy through Guided Inquiry: Information Literacy through Guided Inquiry: Preparing Students for thePreparing Students for the

2121stst Century Century

Carol Collier KuhlthauCarol Collier KuhlthauRutgers UniversityRutgers University

Center for International Scholarship in School Libraries (CISSL)Center for International Scholarship in School Libraries (CISSL)

IASL 2006 Lisbon, PortugalIIASL 2006 Lisbon, PortugalI

Role of School LibrariesRole of School Libraries

School Libraries play an essential role in School Libraries play an essential role in preparing students for living and working preparing students for living and working in the 21in the 21stst century. century.

Are we ready?Are we ready?

Center for International Scholarship Center for International Scholarship in School Libraries (CISSL)in School Libraries (CISSL)

““School Libraries spark learning in School Libraries spark learning in information age schools.”information age schools.”

Research on the impact of school libraries Research on the impact of school libraries on student learning.on student learning.

Information LiteracyInformation Literacy

Information literacy is the ability toInformation literacy is the ability to access, evaluate and use information.access, evaluate and use information.

Inquiry LearningInquiry Learning

Raises standard of research assignments to Raises standard of research assignments to higher level by:higher level by:

Drawing on life experiencesDrawing on life experiences Learning from a wide range of sourcesLearning from a wide range of sources Forming deep understandingForming deep understanding Gaining sense of accomplishmentGaining sense of accomplishment Developing competence and expertiseDeveloping competence and expertise

Model of the Information Search ProcessModel of the Information Search Process

Tasks Initiation Selection Exploration Formulation Collection PresentationTasks Initiation Selection Exploration Formulation Collection Presentation--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------→→FeelingsFeelings uncertainly optimism confusion clarity uncertainly optimism confusion clarity sense of satisfaction or sense of satisfaction or(affective)(affective) frustration frustration direction/ disappointment direction/ disappointment

doubtdoubt confidence confidence

ThoughtsThoughts vague-------------------------------------vague-------------------------------------→→focusedfocused(cognitive)(cognitive) ----------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------→→

increased interestincreased interest

ActionsActions seeking relevant information---------------------------- seeking relevant information----------------------------→→seeking pertinent informationseeking pertinent information(physical)(physical) exploring exploring documenting documenting

Positive FeelingsPositive Feelings

Project stages

321

M ea n

2.6

2.4

2.2

2.0

1.8

1.6

1.4

.2

1.0

CONFIDENT

RELIEVED

OPTIMISTIC

SATISFIED

Negative FeelingsNegative Feelings

Project stages

321

Me

an

1.4

1.2

1.0

.8

.6

.4

.2

DISAPPOINTMENT

FRUSTRATION

CONFUSED

UNCERTAIN

ANXIOUS

Guided InquiryGuided Inquiry

Uncertainty is the beginning of learning.Uncertainty is the beginning of learning.

““The mind doesn’t take everything and put The mind doesn’t take everything and put it into order automatically…Understanding it into order automatically…Understanding that is the biggest help.”that is the biggest help.”

Zone of InterventionZone of Intervention

That area in which a student can do with That area in which a student can do with

advice and assistance what he or she advice and assistance what he or she

cannot do alone or can do only with great cannot do alone or can do only with great difficulty.difficulty.

Model of the Information Search ProcessModel of the Information Search Process

 

Tasks Initiation Selection Exploration Formulation Collection Presentation————————————————————————————————————————————→Feelings uncertainly optimism confusion/ clarity sense of satisfaction or(affective) frustration/ direction/ disappointment

doubt confidence

Thoughts vague———————————————→focused(cognitive) ————————————————→

increased interest

Actions seeking relevant information——————————-→seeking pertinent information(physical) exploring documenting

Transforming SchoolsTransforming Schools

The information age calls for transforming The information age calls for transforming schools to meet new challenges.schools to meet new challenges.

New Model:New Model: Collaborative learning environment led by Collaborative learning environment led by

instructional teaminstructional team Learning from a variety of sourcesLearning from a variety of sources Inquiry process for deep understanding Inquiry process for deep understanding

Guided InquiryGuided Inquiry

Guided Inquiry is planned, supervised and Guided Inquiry is planned, supervised and targeted intervention.targeted intervention.

Guided Inquiry is a dynamic way of Guided Inquiry is a dynamic way of developing information literacy and developing information literacy and enhancing the curriculum through the enhancing the curriculum through the school library.school library.

School Librarians meeting the School Librarians meeting the challenge of 21challenge of 21stst Century Schools Century Schools

Fully functioning school libraries with Fully functioning school libraries with qualified school librarians have an qualified school librarians have an essential role in meeting the challenge of essential role in meeting the challenge of developing human talent in countries developing human talent in countries around the world for the technological around the world for the technological global society.global society.

ReferencesReferences Donham, Jean, Kay Bishop, Carol Collier Kuhlthau and Donham, Jean, Kay Bishop, Carol Collier Kuhlthau and

Dianne Oberg Inquiry Based Learning: Lessons from Dianne Oberg Inquiry Based Learning: Lessons from Library Power, Linworth 2001.Library Power, Linworth 2001.

Harada, Violet and Joan Yoshina Inquiry Learning Harada, Violet and Joan Yoshina Inquiry Learning through Librarian-Teacher Partnerships Linworth, 2004.through Librarian-Teacher Partnerships Linworth, 2004.

Kuhlthau, Carol Collier Seeking Meaning Libraries Kuhlthau, Carol Collier Seeking Meaning Libraries Unlimited, 2004.Unlimited, 2004.

Kuhlthau, Carol, Leslie Maniotes, Ann Caspari Guided Kuhlthau, Carol, Leslie Maniotes, Ann Caspari Guided Inquiry, Libraries Unlimited, forthcoming. Inquiry, Libraries Unlimited, forthcoming.

Todd, Ross and Carol Kuhlthau Guided Inquiry see Todd, Ross and Carol Kuhlthau Guided Inquiry see CISSL website: http://cissl.scils.rutgers.edu/CISSL website: http://cissl.scils.rutgers.edu/