Variations on a Theme 1

This first theme has been a eye-opening task for me to take a critical look at my school library, its reference sources, my own teaching, and reference services. Do I even know what a reference work is? I honestly feel that I am still piecing together what that looks like in my collection. As I was selecting a resource for Assignment One I had to refer back to the glossary Riedling provides to make sure it was in the right category.

That being said, I think it has been a similar process to the one my elementary students face when they are first introduced to the process of research. Being overwhelmed by the wealth of information, number of options, and having to ask a question that you don't know the answer to, was me wading through research models. Then getting excited about settling on something to research, before plunging back into the confusion and frustration that Kuhlthau mentions as you dig deeper into your topic, was me coming to understand reference works for elementary students (Riedling, p. 11). Determining where and what they were in my own collection was narrowing the focus. It's the digging deeper that eventually helps to formulate your ideas and your final presentation, which is me moving forwards in this course.

I was looking for something that would be elementary friendly and would explain the process of research step by step. Hopefully something that would simplify the terminology but still provide a usable model that could be elaborated on later. The goal of this being to provide a good foundation in researching and using reference works for my students in the same way that Theme One has been setting a foundation for the course, getting everyone on the same page. This is the first video in the series I found that works well for elementary.


How to Write a Research Paper for Kids | Episode 1 | Brainstorming Topics. (2017, June 21). Retrieved January 26, 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5HM8GjQwP8

Riedling, Ann, Reference Skills for the school library media specialist: Tools and tips, (Third Edition). Linworth.

Comments

  1. Hi Emily!

    I enjoyed your post because I found it very relatable. The research process is difficult for any age group, and finding a way to teach students how to wade through the interminable resources is not always easy, especially for elementary students who have never had to do it before! The little video you found was helpful, and would be great for students to see before they begin their research.
    I also wondered about what a proper "reference work" was. I am quite new to this program and a lot of the vocabulary was lost on me!

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