The Lighthouse Diary #49: TRAILS 2023

At the beginning of the academic year, when we meet students for Foundation Days, they undergo an assessment of research and information literacy skills. The BA Library formally started this practice in the academic year 2018-2019. Six years on and we continue to ask questions. 

From these questions, we find and seek for answers that inform us of improving our library practice. 

It's about time to take TRAILS onto the next level - research!

 

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A post shared by Zarah Gagatiga (@zarahgeeh)

Teacher Librarian Collaboration: Gathering Information and Prewriting

This week in school, I had the wonderful opportunity to teach and collaborate with the Learning Support Teachers and the English/Literacy Skills teacher on using references, particularly the general encyclopedias (print and online).

This teaching experience is in connection to gathering information at the prewriting stage of the writing process. A review of the Subtopic Gathering Grid was an essential lesson on skills building as it helps funnel the breadth and depth of the available information.

Research Method and Research Methodology

Research Colloquium Series 1 On Research Questions, Thesis Statements and Selection of Sources

 The BA Library: Research Colloquium Series 1                           October 25, 2021 Monday 2PM

Where Mrs. Gagatiga speaks about the current research that she is working on, how she’s struggling with finding sources and connecting information relevant to answer the research question.

Objectives and Presentation Plan

1.      As a researcher, my aim is to share my research process particularly in selecting sources that will help me answer my RQ and analyze my thesis statement.

2.     My RQ: How did the roles and responsibilities of school librarians changed, affected and effected their professional practice during the pandemic?

3.     My Thesis Statement: The pandemic brought changes in the roles and responsibilities expected of school librarians thus, as valued partners in the teaching and learning experience, collaborative strategies and methods need to be in place for the learning during COVID to continue.

4.     Given the RQ and TS, Mrs. Gagatiga will present the key terms and concepts that will necessitate explanation, analysis and investigation.

5.     From these concepts and terminologies, she will identify resources and sources of information to develop the paper.

6.     She will then proceed to the timeline of her paper and presentation

What is a colloquium?

A colloquy is a conversation, and especially an important, high-level discussion. Colloquy and colloquium once meant the same thing, though today colloquium always refers to a conference. Because of its old "conversation" meaning, however, a colloquium is a type of conference with important question-and-answer periods.

What do we know about research in the context of the EE?

Perspective A: EE Guide by the IB

Perspective B: Subject specific requirements

Perspective C: Research in Action: what is happening out there? 😊

Mrs. Gagatiga’s paper: School Librarians Responding to Changes During the Pandemic

1.      Brief history of the paper/research

2.     Present the methodology done from the April webinar 2021

3.     Present the existing status of the paper

a.      RQ, Thesis Statement

b.     Key concepts and terms – present a concept map when possible

c.      Show resources and sources of information – working bibliography with annotations

d.     Present the timetable

Prepared by: Zarah G 😊

ePosters for Library Summer Program: Pedagogical Support on Research

 

Summer Library Program: Pedagogical Support for Research

The past couple of days was spent on research skills instruction and one-on-one consultations with our high school juniors. In a few days, we will end the Academic Year 2020-2021 but before things close, I sent out to our juniors (who are incoming seniors) a letter informing them of the library's summer program.

Dear Juniors,

As you journey further on in the EE and SP,  we, in the BA Library, will continue to support you. As your reading and research companions, we are opening library services during the summer. 

We can assist you on the following:

1. Borrowing of print books and resources through book drop and pickup delivery. Send Flynn an email for your book requests. His email address is library@beaconacademy.ph.

2. 30-40 min Zoom meeting with Ms. Zarah. We can talk and learn about the skills involved in research using your EE/SP topics as context and content. The skills to cover are:

-  selecting and evaluating sources and references - how to funnel topics, sub-topics vis-a-vis a variety of sources of information

-  discussions on citations and referencing following the MLA, APA standards

-  connecting the relevance of an annotated bibliography and gathered data when writing your first draft of the EE/SP

- others: using writing models and formatting, time management and self care

Schedule: Once a week, every Wednesday 9-11.30 AM beginning on June 16, 2021 - July 7, 2021

June 16 - Selecting and Evaluating Sources
June 23 - Citations and Referencing
June 30 - The Annotated Bibliography and Writing the First Draft
July 7 - Writing Models, time management and self care

This is the Zoom Link *****

Attached is a PPT presentation of the library's database and online subscriptions and a Quick Users Guide to the BA Library. 


Have a safe and enjoyable summer, Aristea!
 
Ms. Zarah :-)

The Lighthouse Diary Entry #26: Cornerstones of Research

I am part of the team assigned for the supervision and mentoring of juniors who will begin the Extended Essay and Senior Project (EE/SP) this year. Much thought was spent on the planning of the kick-off and presentation to students since we are all experiencing the difficulties and challenges of learning during the pandemic. As a school who believes in Conceptual Learning and Constructivism, we take into consideration the contexts, experiences, interests and attitude of our learners. As teachers and educators, we are learners too. That is why, when we set out the launching of this years EE/SP journey, there is a spark of hope and a clearer vision on what we need to accomplish by February 2022. It is important that students complete the EE or the SP with joy and a sense of self worth. 

To prepare for this goal, my part is to lay the foundations for inquiry based on the Research Cycle (RC) as guide in the journey. The RC is also a technique to chunk a big writing project such as the EE/SP into its relevant parts. There are three important things happening during the inquiry phase which are, selecting a topic of interest - one that the student is really passionate about; activating prior knowledge which would entail brainstorming leading to the formulation of questions; and doing initial research or primary readings. In the end, a student shall be poised to craft a research questions as well as a plan to undergo his or her investigation.

Within this phase of inquiry, the library can lend valuable support and teaching sessions for individual students, small groups or big group sizes. Having set up a Research Skills Center on Google Site last year, I now have a platform for asynchronous activities and a space where students can choose a research skill to learn, to review or to strengthen. This was introduced to students like a menu they can choose from. 

Another strategy we used for thinking through the inquiry phase is the KWL Chart. This is more of a warm up session. The real thinking begins when the Inquiry Chart is introduced midway of the inquiry phase. The Inquiry Chart is an expanded KWL Chart where initial research and primary readings are recorded alongside the building of a working bibliography. It is a lot to take for a junior facing his or her first academic paper. It is for this reason that a team of mentors, guides and teachers are part of their journey.

Library and Research Skills Instruction: Bibliography and APA Citation Basics

 This month, I had two sessions of library and research skills instruction. 

The first one was with our Grade 10s who are gearing up for Personal Project. I gave a 30 minute talk on bibliography and how the library can help them in their inquiry and research needs. My talk focused more on converting a question, a goal of research and an inquiry into a language of answers.

The second one was with our Grade 9 students who have started working on varied research tasks across subject areas. I had a talk on APA Citation Basics with them during a 30 minute skills session in the Comparative Religions (CRe) or World Religions class. For this group, I focused my talk on the principles behind making a bibliography and the fundamentals of citations. 

Since CRe/World Religions is under the discipline of the social sciences, it is but natural that the World Religions teacher request for a session on APA Citations. Below is the infographic I made for the class.

Finding the Right Source

Miss, may I ask help in finding the right source?

This is a request I frequently get from some students, especially during research season. Before reminding them to use the OPVL assisting them on the use of the BA Library OPAC and research databases, I verify the following activities prior to locating sources of information in the library and online.

Did you understand and analyse the task or project?

Did you identify information you need to complete the task?

What important terms or words have you pulled out from the identified information? You can use them as key words for searching the BA Library OPAC, online databases and search engines like Goggle.

Are you familiar with primary and secondary sources?

If the answer to these questions are all in the affirmative, which rarely happens, we proceed to the OPAC and databases. Once a student finds a book, an article or an academic paper he proceeds with evaluation of the source, text and material. And then, citation becomes a concern. That would require another session. Another inquiry. Or, the student depends on a citation machine online.

Recently, I got bored with my pre-research interview and verification process. Searching EBSCOHost for ideas, I found a good material to further support me in library reference work and readers’ services. The Right Source is a short, easy to read article that may help me assist students in their research and inquiry. I recommend you read it too and download the file. Share it with another co-teacher and to your class as well.  

Is this the right source for me?

Not sure if this source is something you can cite in your research? Find your class assignment or research prompt and check the guidelines your teacher has outlined. Then, ask yourself the following questions about your source to see if it’s what you need:

• Primary or secondary? A primary source is an account from a specific time period. If you’re writing a paper about the medieval political system, the surviving pages of Magna Carta would be a primary source. A book written by a medieval studies scholar that describes the importance of Magna Carta would be a secondary source—this type of source provides analysis and context.
• Popular or academic? Popular sources are "popular" because they are meant for the general public. Newspapers and magazines are popular sources because they are easy to understand and widely available. Academic sources are more thoroughly reviewed than popular sources. They often undergo a peer review process, have multiple sections, and are generally much longer and more detailed.
• Neutral or biased? Examine the word choices made in your source to determine if it is objective or trying to get across a certain point of view. If it seems to be interpreting facts with a specific agenda or goal in mind, the source may have gone past a specific viewpoint to outright bias.
• Where did this source get its information? Look for a bibliography at the bottom of the work and see what sources were used. If they look credible and trustworthy, not only is your source likely a good one, but you now have a list of other reputable sources you can search for.

The "right" source for you depends on the guidelines your teacher has set for the assignment. If your teacher has asked you to see how an event was covered in newspapers, then neutral, academic sources won’t be the right fit. All sources—whether they are primary or secondary, neutral or biased—can be useful; it all depends on the type of source you need. If you’re not sure what kind of a source you should be looking for, simply ask your teacher.

Content provided by EBSCO LearningExpress PrepSTEP^® for High Schools. http://infoliteracy.learningexpresshub.com/hs/is-this-the-right-source-for-me.html

Retrieved August 26, 2019

Lesson Plan for Library Orientation for Grades 9-12

The Beacon Academy Library Orientation Plan

Session objectives:

1. To welcome grade 9s to the library;
2. To present ways on how the library supports grade 10 students in the Personal Project;
3. To assess students’ knowledge of the library, citation and skills in locating and accessing information;
4. To discuss possible ways the library can be an avenue for CAS projects and Community Service.

Grade 9 Learning Experience:

1. The Library is…

• Write what you know or your idea of the library in a post-it.
• Post it on the whiteboard.
• TL will read the post-its.

     

      B. The Beacon Academy Library

• Distribute brochure to all students.
• Read the brochure and take note of important words or ideas that struck you.
• Turn to a partner and share your notes and ideas.
• Go back to your notes and your brochure. Think of one word or a phrase to describe the library. Stand up and write them on the cartolina.

      C. BA Library Themes: Empathy, Inclusion and Diversity

• Bulletin Board: Libraries are for everyone! Ang Aklatan ay para sa lahat!
• Reading Guidance Program: READING Without Walls Challenge
• 1. Read a book about a character who doesn’t look like you or live like you.
• 2. Read a book about a topic you don’t know much about.
• 3. Read a book in a format that you don’t normally read for fun. This might be a chapter book, a graphic novel, a book in verse, a picture book, or a hybrid book.

      D. In the library you can…

1. Read and borrow books for academic and leisure reading.
2. Study by yourself or with a group.
3. Learn about Academic Honesty and apply research skills taught in the classroom by your teachers.
4. Develop, build and make stuff for academic work, Personal Projects, IAs, Extended Essays and TOK essays, and CAS Projects.
5. Help grow its collection of books, ebooks, online resources and the like.

      E. Distribute library bookmarks and show online subscriptions, OPAC and BA Library Website.

Grade 10 Learning Experience

1. TL asks the question: How was the library of help or of assistance to you when you were in grade 9? Write your answers on post-its.
2. Students are to discuss their answers in pairs. After 3-5 mins, post-its are put on the whiteboard.
3. TL reads students post-its.

4. How can the BA Library help you in the Personal Project?

1. Search for sources and resources in your research. (OPAC, Online Databases)
2. Learn more about referencing, citations and the annotated bibliography. (Academic Honesty)
3. Apply research skills taught in the classroom by your teachers.
4. Schedule consultation or skills sessions with Mrs. Gagatiga. (per class, group or individual study time)
5. Access and read PP reports and samples. (for room use only)

5. TL introduces theme for the year: Libraries are for everyone! Ang Aklatan ay para sa lahat! Themes for this year is EMPATHY; INCLUSION and DIVERSITY.
6. TL introduces year long Reading Guidance Activity: READING Without Walls Challenge.
7. Show and access online subscriptions, OPAC and BA Library Website.

Grade 11 Learning Experience

1. Students play the BA LIBRARY BINGO.
2. Process the game and answers of students.
3. How can the BA Library help you in your IAs?

1. Search for sources and resources in your research. (OPAC, Online Databases)
2. Learn more about referencing, citations and the annotated bibliography. (Academic Honesty)
3. Apply research skills taught in the classroom by your teachers.
4. Schedule consultation or skills sessions with Mrs. Gagatiga. (per class, group or individual study time)
5. Access and read EE reports and samples. (for room use only)

4. TL introduces theme for the year: Libraries are for everyone! Ang Aklatan ay para sa lahat! Themes for this year is EMPATHY; INCLUSION and DIVERSITY.
5. TL introduces year long Reading Guidance Activity: READING Without Walls Challenge.
6. Show and access online subscriptions, OPAC and BA Library Website.

Grade 12 Learning Experiences

1. Present possible projects and activities for CAS and Community Service.

Context: Reading advocacy and book campaigns 

1. Set-up a pop-up library or library on wheels.
2. Help organize a classroom library for Loma Elementary School.
3. Create and illustrate stories under the Early Readers Project of the Beacon Academy.
4. Schedule a workshop or consultation session with Mrs. Gagatiga on reading aloud and storytelling.
5. Contribute to BA Library Spotlight, Drake Velasco’s website by writing reviews on books, apps, games and arts and culture events. 

        2. TL introduces theme for the year: Libraries are for everyone! Ang Aklatan ay para sa lahat! Themes for this year is EMPATHY; INCLUSION and DIVERSITY.

        3. TL introduces year long Reading Guidance Activity: READING Without Walls Challenge.

Library Sessions at the Start of the Academic Year 2019-2020

I am preparing for next week's library orientation and research session with our Griffins. The teacher in me is excited to go back to school, officially, and meet new and returning students. Another part of me is missing vacation already. Such is life.

I will be sharing the presentation I use for library orientation next week. While there are common ideas and library concepts I will be discussing, I have prepared specific activities for each grade level. In the Beacon Academy, our small class size affords us a very personal and differentiated approach to instruction. Read this link on Library Orientation 2018 as the activities I put together last year will be used as spring board to this year's session.

What I am excited to work on this year is the Reading Without Walls Program with the Student Council. This has been our reading campaign since 2017. Read about Gene Luen Yang's Reading Without Walls Campaign that we adapted in the Academy. Here is a link to a post about the campaign and how we operationalized the it. Involving student leaders in the campaign may prove to be helpful as the program will be promoted among peers.

Lastly, as I am to meet the grade 9s on Monday, August 5 for our Foundation Week activities, I will be giving an introductory session on research.

Looking through my files, I will also be using worksheets on media and information literacy which I have made and implemented with previous grades 9 and 10 students. Links to the worksheets are here: The Old Bike and Hitler's Ghost.

Keep up and visit the blog this week as I will post how things went during the sessions.

The Lighthouse Diary Entry 2: Desires, Passions and the World's Greatest Need

No PPT slides. It was trad. But it worked!

Unlce Iroh, one of my favorite characters in the hit cartoon show, The Avatar, the Last Airbender, quotes in one episode, "Follow your passion and life will reward you!" It sounds so simple yet so true. For when we know what we are truly passionate about and when we pursue it, life gives back a hundred fold. I suppose this is a natural law of the universe for it calls to each and everyone to do good. However, knowing one's passion is another quest in the journey of living a meaningful life. And yes, how one pursues this passion is another story.

Two weeks ago, on a Friday, the weekend before the Academy opened its doors to its Griffins, new and returning, the faculty was fortunate to have Mr. Robert "Bobbit" Suntay for an inspirational talk. Mr. Suntay is one of the members of the Board of Trustees and it is not often that we see him on campus. He would visit, once in a while for BOT purposes and that's it. So, his brief but engaging talk was a welcome surprise to many. Like Uncle Iroh, he talked about one's search for happiness, the heart's truest desire, the journey of finding it and what happens when this inner desire is affirmed and actualized. Happiness is achieved because, this deepest desire meets the world's greatest need.

Aren't we all a part of a bigger something? Don't we all need to belong in some greater scheme? Even the traditional introvert searches for an endeavor that would make him whole.

That Friday, my materials for Library Orientation were all prepared. Our bulletin boards have been set up, usernames and passwords of our online subscriptions have been updated, and brochures and library bookmarks were all sorted out. My assistant, Flynn, and I were ready for the opening of of Academic Year 2017-2018. However, Mr. Suntay's talk left a dent in my heart and in my mind that over the weekend, I reviewed my plans and changed it entirely.

I thought of going for what I am truly passionate about. Books. Reading. Media and Information Literacy. Working with Students. Helping teachers. Bridging gaps. Going the extra mile even when it hurts. These are the things that matter to me. And these were the things I shared with our Griffins last Monday, July 31st, the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola. The birth date of Harry Potter, the boy who lived.

Four classes on MIL last week! YAY!

It was the first time I got a round of applause from the seniors (probably because there is no Book Quota this year?). The juniors tried their best to behave and to listen given the number of new students in the batch. The year 10s jumped in the task given to them right away. No qualms. They were ready to engage despite themselves. And the year 9s, what a frisky bunch!

During the in-service, HOS (head of school) reminded us of our thrust for this academic year. Back to teaching. I think, with Mr. Suntay's sharing of his life journey, I need to go back to my passions that has kept me all these years working in a school alongside teachers and school leaders and helping students find their own path. Operations and administrative work will always be important. Then again, the head and the hand will not function well if the heart isn't in it.

It was an amazing first week. There will be peaks and valleys but I hold on to my passions because, I am positive, as I have seen it happen before, these will all turn into my life's mission.

So, Life, let's do this!