Singapore Sunshine Day 3: IBAP Workshop for Librarians 2

The sessions on the second day of the International Baccalaureate Asia Pacific (IBAP) workshop were all about Inquiry, Approaches to Teaching amd Learning (ATL) the DP Core namely Theory of Knowledge (TOK) Extended Essay (EE), and Community Action Service (CAS), and a visit to the libraries of the Canadian International School. Iman Ragab, our workshop leader, connected the ATLs and the DP Core to library services and functions that cater and support the DP curriculum. We read a lot of IB documents, discussed current library practises in our schools that support the DP, unpacked the EE criteria and accessed MyIB, the IB portal for all authorised schools and IB applicant schools.

During the session in accessing documents in MyIB, we were made to skim and scan pertinent documents to the ATLs and the DP Core. I had a review of my role as EE Coordinator this year. I told my workshop leader how, as a librarian coordinating the EE, I would get derailed from the expected roles I am meant to play. 80% of my efforts go to administration and procedural functions. To this, my workshop leader gave me an empathetic smile in recognition of my frustration.

I mean to do something about this sooner or later. There has to be a balance between running a program and teaching skills so students can meet the requirements and standards of the program. 

The day ended with a visit to the CIS libraries which lifted my spirits. The smell of books reminded me of the Children’s Media Center of the International School Manila. Ah, memory of my childhood! 

The librarians who welcomed us, were warm and friendly. Lisa Miller, the Library Coordinator shared valuable experiences in teaching research skills. What I found common to their experience with ours is the ladder approach to skills instruction. In each grade level beginning in 7th grade, a research skill is put into focus for instruction. For example, search strategies are taught alongside extracting information, concepts and content from sources as applied to tasks in different subjects. In 8th grade till 9th, focus on skills like evaluation of sources, in-text citations, knowing the right sources to use in a research paper, following a process of inquiry are mapped until the DP. The expected output from students in the EE is 4,000 word essay with a focused research question and evidences to back it up. Imagine the skills a 17 year old would need to learn and apply at the same time. The key is to prepare them early and nip the problem in the bud.

The Bulletin Board at the Canadian International School promotes the Extended Essay a a journey.

Research is a big concept that involves global and unitary skills. To teach it, a knowledge of its parts and the micro skills of research helps the teacher or the librarian make students understand them better. Teachers must recognize the support librarians can offer them and librarians must listen to teachers and students to be able to provide this support in very complicated and cognitive tasks.