MIDDLE SCHOOL INFORMATION LITERACY SKILLS CURRICULUM

STANDARDS

Middle School Information Literacy Skills Curriculum Standards

To ensure that students and staffare effective users ofideas and information, instructional staffand library niedia specialists should collaborate to provide opporhrnities for students to acquire information literacy skills in the contoxt of meaningful leaming activities. The following curriculum provides guidelines for students and staffto meet the national standards set forth in Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning, (ALA. 1998). References to core subject SOLs are included in parentheses where applicable.

INF'ORMATION LITERACY
The student who is information literate:
1. Accesses
Indicators:

information efficiently and effectively

1. Recognizes the need for infomration

2. Recognizes that accurate and comprehensive information 3. Formulates questions based on information needs 4. Identilles a variety ofpotential sources ofinformation
To meet this standard. the student v,ill'.

is the basis for intelligent decision-making

5. Develops and uses successful strategies for locating information

Grade Six

'. ' ' ' '

title. subject. and keyrord searches effectively Recognize sections of the media center (e.g. fiction. non-fiction, ret-erence, etc.) Successfully use Dewey Decimal classilication system to identify general section and specific location of materials Identify and use the parts ofa book, including table ofcontents, index, title page, copyright page. headings, and guide words Retrieve and select relevant infomration lrom primary, print, and electronic reference sources. including dictionaries, encyclopedias, and periodical indexes (E 6.3, E 6.9, C/T 8.4) Use the Intentet for research including locating a IIRL. using a search engine, and adding and using bookmarks

IJse atttotrrated library catalog to perform ar,rthor.

Grade Seven

. . ' r

Use effective search strategies. including Boolean logic (AND, OR, NOT) (c/T 8.4) Accurately interpret citations li'om periodical indexes or other bibliographies Retrieve and select relevant information frorn primary, print. and electronic reference soulces, including encyclopedias. periodical indices. almanacs. atlases. thesauri, biographical and other resources on specialized topics (E 7.10. lI 7.10. C/T 8.4) IJse the Internet for research, including ethically copying and pasting to a word processing program (C/T 8.4)

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Grade Eieht

relerence sources' including from primary' print' and electronic Retrieve and select relevant information on specialized topics (c/T 8'4) uttur"r, u-g*prriJ"r'"td other resources e'cyclopedias, p"ri"d;;ilil;;;"

2. Evaluates information
Indicators'.

critically and competently

and. comprehensiveness
i

view' and opinion 2. Distinguish"' unlon! fact' point of

1. Determines accuracy' relevance'

:.

4'

Identiies inaccurate"and mislead i ng to t-he problem or question at hand Selects inro'nlliio'n-upp'opiiut"

nformation

To meet this standard, the student

will:

Grade Six

. . .

uses ofvarious sources ofinformation Determine the unique features and

Grade Seven
secondary sources @ 8 6) Differentiate between primary and and propaganda @ 7 6' fI6'10) among fict, point of view' opinion' Distinguishes

Grade Eight .Usethelnternetlbrresearchincludingevaluatingtlresourceofinformationintermsofauthority,accuracy' 8 4). ( organization, and relevance (CiT .. -^r^+:i,6 .+rp'crh< an' weakrlsses ofalternate sources of of alternate the relative strengths and weakrresses

Exercise criticd

information in

t"'*'

trrrnliig ,ii.li L .t|uate oii'"turacy' reliability' timeliness'

and access

3. Uses information accurately and creatively

Indicators-

2. Integrates new information thinking and problem-solving skills-' 3. Acquires ;;;;;;i"al inforiation and ideas in appropriate formats 4. Produces J;;;;;;;;;

i.

Orguni'"' information for practical application

will" To meet this standard, the student

Grade Six
.Cotlrprelrerrdar.arietyofreadirrgselectiorrsandrnillevaluatearrdsyntlresize presentations (E 6 5' 8 4)
information in written and oral

Grade Seven

(E' ? 6' C/T 8'4): Follow the Research Process effectively

Select and define a toPic

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Grade Eieht

Locate a varietY ofresources Read and take notes Organize information Synthesize information into a product Evaluate and revise Determine word etymologies using appropriate dictionaries (E 8 2)

'

(C/T 8.4' H 8 10) Integrate print, electronic. and Internet resources into a research project or presentation

INDEPENDENT LEARNING
The student who is an independent learner is information literete and:
4. Pursues information releted to personal interests
Indicators'.

1.

Seeks

infonnatiol related to various dimensions ofpersonal r,rell-being, such as career interests'

2.

community involvement, health matters, and recreational pursuits Designs, develops, and evaluates information products and soltttions related to personal interests

To meet this stqndard, the student will"

Grade Six

Develop intellectual curiosity through positive leaming experiences in the library media center

Grade Seven

interest Identify a variety ofalternate sources ofinformation to support research related to academic or personal

Grade Eieht

Become a life-long learner

5. Appreciates
Indicators-.

literature and other creative expressions of information

1. 2. 3.

Is a competent and self-motivated reader Derives meaning from information presented creatively in a variety of formats Develops creative products in a variety of formats

To meet this standqrd, the student will'.

All

Grades
Recognize features of and read a variety of genres of literature G' Appreciate reading as a source olentertainment and information

. '

6.4.8 6.6,87 .5,8 8.3)

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Develop the habit ofreading as a life-enriching

activif

6. strives for excellence in information-seeking and knowledge generation

Indicators:

l. 2-

olthe process and products ofpersonal inlbrmation seeking Devises strategies for revising. irnproving, and updating self-generated knowledge
Assesses the qLrality

To meet this standard, the student

will:

. r

Evaluate and revise his/her research process Recognize gaps in knowledge and apply appropriate strategies for

fiiling thern.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
The student who contributes positively to the learning community and to society is

in

formation literate anrl :

7. Recognizes the impoftance of information to a democratic society

Indicators:

1. 2.

Seeks information fi'om diverse sources. contexts. disciplines" and cultures Respects the principle of equitable access to information

To meet this standard, the ,student will-.

' ' r

Apply intbrmation literacy skills beyond school context to enrich the Research process and product Follow guidelines for the use ofmedia center. display appropriate behavior, and respect
Return materials on time and in good condition

other patrons

8. Practices ethical behavior in regard to information ancl information technology

Indicators:

1. 2. 3.

Respects the principles ofintellectual freedom Respects intellectr,ral property rights Uses infofluation technology responsibly

To meet this standard, the student

will:

All

Grades
Use resources ethically and legally Honor copyright larv Understand and avoid plagiarism by paraphrasing and rewriting information into his/her own rvords Flonor the Albemarle county policy for the acceftuble use of tJchnology

. . ' r

3l

Grade Seven

. r

encyclopedias" periodical articles, Create an accurate bibliography ofall resources used, including books, intorviews, television shows, videos, and web pages (E 7'10) personal Cite references accurately in text ofdocument or presentation

9. Participates effectively in groups to pursue and generate information

Indicators:

1. 2. 3. 4.

Shares knowledge and information with others Respects ideas alnd backgrounds ofothers and acknowledges their contributions information problems Collaborates with otherslboth in person and through technologies, to identify and to seek their solutions develop, and evaluate Collaborates with others, both in person and through technologies, to design, information products and solutions

To meet this standard, tlte student

will:

',

remote location Use telecommunications to gather research information from experts at a either local or long-distance" to produce a research project or presentation Collaborate with otheistudJnts,

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MIDDLE SCHOOL CURRICULUM MATRIX

Key: I = Inh'oduced E = Extended R = Revierved
taught thoroughlv' The skill or strategy is introduced and instiuctional &amples and applicatio* opportu'rities i. The skil1 or strategy "*t"ri"J,-tuit1, provided at a more dillicult level' is svsternatically reviewed aud maintaiued' The skill or strategy media curricular areas and supported bv the library The skill or stfategy i, progranl-and the library media specialist'

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TASK
INDEPENDENT LEARNING
4. PURSUES INFORMATION RELATED TO PERSONAL INTERESTS Develops intellectual curiosity through positive learning experiences in the library mrdtg J94!g Identilies a variety ofalternate sources ofinformation to support research related to academic or nersonal interest Becomes a life-long leamer

I
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5. APPRECIATES LITERATURE AND OTHER CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS OF INFORMATION

Recosnizes features ofand reads a variety ofgenres ofliterature Aooreciates readins as a sollrce of entertainment and information Develops the habit ofreading as a life-enriching activity 6. STRIVES FOR

I I I

E E E

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EXCELLENCE IN INFORMATION-SEEKING AND TSIOWLEDGE

S

GENERATION
Evaluates and revises his/her research process Recosnizes saDs in knowledge and applies appropriate strategies for

filling them

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SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 7. RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION T() A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY

Applies information literacy skills beyond school context to enrich the research process and oroduct Follows guidelines for the use ofrnedia center. displays appropriate behavior, and respects other
palrons Retums materials on tirne and iu good cortdition 8. PRACTICES R

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ETHICAL BEHAVIOR IN REGARD TO INFORMATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Uses resources ethicallv and legallv I
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Honors coovrisht law Understands and avoid plagiarisrn Honor the Albemarle County policy for the acceptable use of techtrologv. Creates an accurale bibliograplry ofall resources used. including books, et'rcyclopedias. periodical articles. personal interviews. television shows. videos, and web pages Cites references accuratelv in text of documetrt or presentatiot-t
9.

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PARTICIPATES EFFECTIVELY IN GROUPS TO PURSUE AND GENERATE INFORMATION

Uses telecommunications to gather research information tiom experts at a remote location Collaborates rvith other students. either local or long-distance. to produce a research project or nresentation
S S S S S

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