Resources Resource 1: Information literacy skills Information literacy skills include: framing your inquiry selecting and appropriate inquiry methods and processing strategies understanding question types understanding keyword strategies being aware of a range of sources understanding how to evaluate sources using scanning and skimming to select relevant resources recording details from the sources you will refer to or quote in your report using note-making strategies locating and checking the sources for your existing knowledge. Resource 2: Evaluating sources of information An example (abridged) of a suitable chart: Source Reliable/useable? yes/no/maybe Why? Why not? The Zoo (series 10) Greenstone Entertainment Yes Family focus, “good news” TV but also aims to be educational – shows how animals housed/cared for/how keepers trained/what programmes Auckland Zoo is part of with other zoos to breed the animals Maybe Single view or perspective because organisation (animal liberation) looks like it’s fighting for animal rights. Isn’t necessarily an expert view. Yes BBC a reliable organisation but is part of media – not always a balanced view, dealing with both sides of the issue. Angles slightly biased to create audience interest. “Panda, inc” by Lynne Warren in the National Geographic July 2006 Yes Lots of popular stuff (text about panda babies and cute pictures) but based on research. Describes American zoo programmes and huge cost/difficulties of international animal exchanges. Breeding programmes getting good results now. Good question about why some animals (pandas) become public favourites. No Emotive language (“Zoos are prisons for innocent animals”) shows clear signs of bias. Site doesn’t show whose site it is – associated content? Who might they be? The New Zealand Herald Yes Factual articles replacing Kashin Strong opinion pieces by writers, who are identified Bridget Vercoe (NZ mgr for World
Resource 4: Beginning to organise your information An example of an organiser that can be used for mapping positive or negative points and linking these to relevant sources. Positives What is the claim? Zoos help save animals at risk of dying out What is the evidence? Zoos make/share new discoveries about the animals. Breeding programmes with other zoos – NZ or other countries to make sure animals don’t get inbred. In NZ, zoos work with Dept of Conservation. NZ zoos support preservation programmes in other countries (contributing money and sending staff to take part). Zoos release animals back into the wild appropriate e.g. 55 Brothers Islands tuatara back to an island in Ck Strait. A safe place, when there might not be many safe places left in the wild. What are my sources? www.aucklandzoo.co.nz TV series “The Zoo” www.wellingtonzoo.com “Panda, inc” by Lynne Warren National Geographic July 2006 “Gorillas in the Mist” (film) What are the “buts”? Have zoo programmes really saved species? Zoos cost a huge amount of money (from govts or councils) and also have to do a lot of fundraising – e.g. “up close” or night time visits with animals – is this good for the animals? Could the money for zoos be spent on saving animals in the wild? What are my sources? “Zoos: Myth and Reality” by Rob Laidlaw at www.zoocheck.com/articlepdfs – 10,000 zoos worldwide, only 16 species self sustaining because of breeding programmes – thinks zoos use conservation as a buzz word. Bridget Vercoe (NZ mgr for World Society for the Protection of Animals) opinion in NZ Herald (19/8/2010) on the negatives of keeping/breeding large animals like elephants. www.visitzealandia.com – a predator fenced, urban sanctuary that people can visit and more tui, kaka now appearing in Wellington suburbs as well. http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation e.g. kakapo breeding programme on a predator (and tourist) free island. Negatives What is the claim? Zoo cages are cruel