Practical Tips for Student Teachers using the library:(source: yalesecondarylibrary)A. Planning: 1. Discuss with the teacher-librarian how your objectives and the resources in the library mesh, otherwise the students may not be able to succeed.
2. If you would like to incorporate information skills into your assignment, please check our Library Information Centre for instructional materials. Alternatively, ask a teacher-librarian to present those skills to your class prior or during your visit to the library.
2. If information technology is an important part of the assignment, be sure to reserve computers / hardware in advance with the teacher-librarian. 3. If technology is an important focus, have a contingency plan ready in case the computer gods do not smile on you. 4. Make sure that objectives and evaluation are clearly spelled out prior to starting. 5. Allow slightly less time rather than too much time to complete the information gathering. If you are not sure whether to allow 2 or 3 periods, it is probably best to book three but tell the students they will have two. If you then find that students sincerely need some extra time you can provide it. 6. In planning the assignment, try to figure out a way for students to somehow process the information they acquire into a different form or format to discourage the type of student who will do a little creative cutting and pasting from the internet, type their name on it, and hand it in. B. Management:1. On-task behavior is the key to success. 2. Active monitoring by the teacher is the best way to keep students on-task. 3. Have your students sit in one area of the library for easier monitoring 4. Allow no more than 6 students per table. 5. Have a seating plan for the library just as you would for your classroom. 6. If the situation warrants it, set performance targets[i.e." by the end of this class you should have accomplished.... "]
7. Again, if the situation warrants it, set up a simple rubric and allot a mark for on-task behavior and for production. Sample rubrics are available in the Library office.
8. If you are having more than one class do the same assignment, set up some clear guidelines for how the resources are to be managed i.e. at what point can resources be signed out, how many, etc. C. Miscellaneous:
1. Don't allow students to go on holiday with excuses like "I plan to do this on my computer tonight at home" or "I left the work I did on this yesterday at home" 2. Keep a sharp eye out for the students who will mindlessly navigate the internet forever "looking for information" when what they are really trying to do is to avoid doing anything really productive.
3. Pick up pamphlets with passwords if you want your students to access library databases from home.
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