The Lighthouse Diary Entry #15: Creativity Action and Service in the School Library

One CAS (Creativity Action and Service) activity I have been brewing in my head since way back when, is a knowledge sharing project that our students can do for the library. After several meetings and consultations, plus, the IBAP Librarians Workshop I attended last month in Singapore, I finally had a concrete project, the Help Us Build the BA Library Project.

The project has two aspects: 1) skills building in referencing and citations; and 2) resource sharing. For Diploma Program students, they are invited to sign up in a bibliography writing project. See the poster.

Consultations with the CAS coordinator proved helpful and support from the Dean of Students came in 100%. Our next step is to inform the student body of the CAS project and get the endorsement of the Student Council. Visit the blog as I monitor this project and share with you updates.

IB School Librarians Reaching Out: Developing and Supporting the IB Programs

Sometime in July, I received this query from an IB School Librarian about developing the collection of the library and supporting the Diploma Program.

I would request you to guide me regarding the resources for my IB Library and my role in the extended essay.

Below was my response.

You can start by reading the EE Guide. There is a page in the guide dedicated to the Role of Librarians in the EE. As to developing the IB Library’s collection, you can begin by reviewing the DP Curriculum and the course offerings in your school. I do not acquire and manage textbooks, but develop a collection of books, e-resources that supports and supplements the courses we offer. I am also keen on growing a Teacher’s Resource Collection and manage a Google site of our library. 

Have you attended an online workshop or onsite workshop on the EE and library development? Having access to MyIB also helps. Outside IB, there are groups in social media composed of IB School Librarians. They are in Facebook, Twitter and even in Instagram. 

There is so much to learn in the IB and it’s an exciting place to be. Support and a professional learning network are readily available. 

Good luck!

Approaches to Teaching & Learning Day 2013

It was a big day in school last Friday as the learning community came together to spend half a day for strengthening research skills. Each grade level had work to do. Grade nine had sessions on citations; grade ten firmed up this set skill in context to their Personal Project; grade eleven journeyed through the first phase of the research cycle as they prepare for the Extended Essay; and the grade twelve worked on their Internal Assessments and TOK essays.

Research is a cyclical process; a journey to take.

 I had a session with the grade nines on library resources and spent most of the morning with the grade elevens as the team headed by the Diploma Program Coordinator, English Teacher, Environmental Sciences Teacher, Psychology Teacher, Business Management Teacher and myself intensively conducted sessions on questioning, crafting hypothesis or thesis statement and use of information sources. The grade elevens in particular were very receptive. Aware that the Extended Essay is a make or break requirement to earn a DP diploma, there was effort on their end to focus on the activities.

Students worked in groups in determining research questions, crafting hypothesis and identifying sources to answer the research question. Use of the school library and outside resources were included in the session.

As I told them at the start of the session, research is a cyclical process; a journey that will lead them to many surprises and discoveries. We are but at the start of the journey.

What's on your research backpack?