Q:
Why not have just computers and the Internet?
A:
Please consider some comments about this very issue:
If
libraries were only collections of materials, then we might—at first
glance—have something to worry about…. Everything
is not on the Net, especially not for free…even online,
there’s this thing called copyright…. Many students are not sure
how to cut a topic into finer slices, what search terms to use or how to dig
into the sites they find for the information they need…or when to look
in a book.
From: Minkel,
Walter. “Are Libraries Obsolete?” School Library
Journal, November, 1999, p. 29.
Keep in
mind that a true media program is not simply a collection of any kinds
of
materials—print or electronic. It is a vital combination of resources,
curriculum, activities and professional expertise that help
students acquire not just information, but the skills and judgment to make
good use of that information.
From:
Johnson, Doug. “Why Do We Need Libraries When We Have the Internet?”
Knowledge Quest, Sept./Oct., 1998.
A senior
member of the Florida legislature declared no further need for funding library
collections. He mistakenly believed that Harvard University had digitized
its entire collection and made it available for free on the web. Harvard
has not and could not do this. Why?
- Billions
to negotiate with copyright holders.
- Millions
more to open the bandwidth to open up the holdings to everyone via the web
- Millions
more to pay for the digitizing process.
In reality,
some libraries are digitizing unique or special or non-copyrighted materials,
but this does not amount to the creation of electronic libraries. Any item
which is copyrighted cannot be digitized except by the copyright holder—but
publishers will not likely find that digitizing is commercially feasible.
How much research-worthy information can be found on line? Current
estimates indicate the answer is only 2 percent.
From:
Miller, William. “Setting the Record Straight on Electronic Libraries”
Association of College and Research Libraries, Fall 1999.
Q:
What is Information Literacy?
A: Information
Literacy is the keystone of lifelong learning. Simply defined, it is the ability
to access and evaluate the continually expanding array of available information.
As such, each of the nine Information Literacy Standards supports and is part
and parcel of each of the academic disciplines. The nine standards are spelled
out on the AASL
(School Librarians) site.
These standards
can be closely compared to ISTE
(Tech Educators) standards. Each of these groups has issued standards
which address the need for students to become independent learners, competent
researchers and ethical users of information and technology.
Q:
Should I be concerned about my child's safety online?
A.
In a word, YES. Everyone should be alert. Some sites
which may help you our are listed below:
www.isafe.org-
Click on parents' section
www.safeteens.com
www.netsmartz.org/netparents.htm
Q:
What is plagiarism?
A.An excellent
definition of a plagiarism, with examples from original and paraphrased texts
is found at The University of Indiana's web site. Just scroll down to see
examples of plagiarized materials. Note that plagiarism includes using another's
ideas- not just his/her words. Some people think that changing a word or two
is sufficient to avoid plagiarism charges. NOT
TRUE!
Another
good example of questionable writing is posted at Doug Johnson’s web
site. He cites a parent’s question, posing the question of whether
or not plagiarism is involved. The best part is the posting of teacher responses
from around the country. See these at Is
It Plagiarism?
Something
to consider:
“…Who
is really being cheated when someone plagiarizes? Copying papers or even
parts
of papers short circuits a number of learning experiences and opportunities
for the development of skills: actually doing the work of the research
paper
rather than counterfeiting it gives the student not only knowledge of the
subject and insights into the world of information and controversy, but
improves
research skills, thinking and analyzing, writing, [all tested on the TAKS
assessments] planning and time management, and
even meticulousness (those picky citation styles actually help improve one's
attention to detail). All this is missed when the paper is faked, and it
is
these missed skills which will be of high value in the working world. A degree
[or diploma] will help students get a first job, but performance--using the
skills developed by doing just such assignments as research papers--will
be
required for promotion.”
From:
Harris, Robert. "Anti-Plagiarism Strategies for Research Sources."
VirtualSalt. 17 Nov. 1997. 8 January, 2003 http://www.virtualsalt.com/evalu8it.htm
Q:
What should students know before college?
A: Universities
and colleges around the state as well as the nation expect that students
will
have the ability to formulate a good research project, develop a good “question,”
do research considering other points-of-view, synthesize information learned
to answer the question, and present the answer. These “life skills”
are similar to those needed in business and personal life when one encounters
a problem and needs to solve it. (See link to Big6™ in the answer to
the next question.)
The University
of Texas at Austin has developed a nationally utilized tutorial, UTA-TILT,
which was designed to remediate entering freshmen who lack these skills.
Anyone
can try his/her skills on the tutorial by registering as a “guest.”
Q:
My student is not going to college. Why learn the research process?
A: See “something
to consider” under Plagiarism
and Information Ethics above.
A good discussion
of what business leaders and future employers expect of students appears on
The
Tech Skills web site. This article continues with discussing, very clearly,
the differences between computer/technology skills and information literacy.
The skills
needed in problem solving for a research question or for getting the best
information to make a personal life decision, such as where to get the
best
deal on a new car, or how to find the best mortgage, are the same. Research
questions and personal decisions are best made when the right information
is located, synthesized, and shared. See the comparisons of the use of
the
Big6™ for problem solving at Big6™in
School, Life and Work. Be sure to scroll down to the chart.
