The Asian Literacy Conference: A Proposal for Themed Panel

 Themed Panel: Research and Academic Writing, Information Literacy Skills, Literacy Skills Assessment, Library and Research Skills Instruction

Proponent: Zarah C. Gagatiga, Teacher Librarian, The Beacon Academy

The Pioneer: The Research Skills Hub of the Beacon Academy Library

The Diploma Program (DP) of the International Baccalaureate has three capstone projects requiring students to apply skills in research and academic writing. These are the Extended Essay (EE), the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) Essay and the Creativity Action and Service (CAS) project. Known as the DP Core, it is an exercise on creativity and critical thinking. The Beacon Academy (BA) Library, being an academic department facilitating research and reference programs conducts a yearly assessment of students’ research skills. 

Using TRAILS, Tools for Real Time Assessment of Information Literacy Skills by the Kent State University (KSU), the BA Library adapted and adopted TRAILS to identify and determine strengths and areas of improvement of students’ research and information literacy skills. TRAILS have six areas or skills for assessment which are: (1) narrowing and broadening topics of research, (2) selecting and locating appropriate sources of information, (3) evaluating sources, (4) identifying and following research steps, methods and processes, and (5) documentation, referencing and citing of sources.  

The results of the assessment inform the Teacher Librarian in crafting Reference and Research programs and services that meet the needs of the DP students; creating Information Literacy Skills modules that builds and enhances research and writing skills. The programs, services and modules are on a Google Site known as The Pioneer, the Research Skills Hub of the Beacon Academy Library.