Critical thinking skills and the ability to acquire, evaluate, and manipulate information are vital. The media specialists have introduced an Information Literacy Curriculum. This curriculum includes 3 components. Evaluating sources Search strategies These information literacy skills are taught in sequence according to a plan developed by the media specialists jointly with classroom teachers. Students are encouraged to think of research in an organized manner.
Students spend one day in the media center with their English classes.
The media specialists use PowerPoint , a presentation software package, to inform 9th graders about media center services, hours, personnel and resources. A prize is given to the group which finishes first and everyone receives credit in their English class. Choosing Sources Knowing when to use Internet vs books vs CDs, knowing which online service to use, and understanding key words and databases are skills which every competent user of information has developed. The first English unit, Independence, is used to teach and reinforce these skills. Students come to the media center three days.