Date: Fri 20-Nov-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: MICHEL

Quick Words:

schools-research-Booth-library

Full Text:

Learning The Fine Art Of Research

(with photo)

Have you ever needed to find out something, but didn't know where to turn?

Fourth graders throughout the district may now be able to help. They have been

studying library and Internet research skills in a cooperative program between

the Booth Library and the schools, arranged through the Spirit of Inquiry

staff.

Cheryl Calorus, one of the Spirit of Inquiry teachers, said that fourth grade

is the best time for this introduction, because the students do their first

research projects (on Australia and Japan) at this grade level.

The first station in the library the children visited taught them how to find

books and other materials using the electronic catalogs.

The second station gave children an overview of the reference section of the

library and even had them accessing microfiche. The students enjoyed browsing

reference materials, especially books on sports and games.

The third station taught the children how to search electronic databases, such

as journals, newspapers and magazines. Children had to answer questions such

as "How many articles did The New York Times publish about the New York

Yankees in 1997?"

At the fourth station, children were shown how to do an Internet search, and

how to identify a reliable source of information.

Alana Meloni, who works in the children's department at the library, led the

group on the Internet. She said that the children need to know that the

Internet is a research tool, but not one that is checked carefully, the way

books are checked over before they are published.

She said students need to ask who produced the site, when, and why, in order

to assess the accuracy of the information they find there.

She gave the students a list of reliable children's sites which offer

everything from help with homework to online museum exhibits.

Ms Caloras and Sally Harris, teachers with the Spirit of Inquiry Program, were

very appreciative of all the time and expertise provided by Mrs Meloni, Beryl

Harrison, Jae Douglas, Connie Urso and Mary Antey (all library employees).

They said that the library staff did a wonderful job presenting the material

to the children.

The Spirit of Inquiry program brings Discovery Program teachers, trained in

working with gifted students, into fourth grade classes each week.