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.
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