Researching+with+NetTrekker

Information Literacy Lesson Plan Hillary Jackson MLI 5050

Pre-Assessment: I will meet with the fourth grade teachers to see how much they have talked about in class about researching. I will also ask what topic they are researching. I will ask students how much they already know about using the computer and pair them up so a more advanced computer user is with a less advanced student. I will ask the teachers if they have talked with their classes about plagiarism.

Standard/Goal:
 * Writing:
 * Develops questions to guide research.
 * Locates and uses varied sources.
 * Uses media center, electronic, and human resources.
 * Technology:
 * Uses various online subscription databases and directories.
 * Recognizes the availability of online help and other documentation.

Instructional Objectives: A- The learner will use NetTrekker to locate information for a specific topic. B- Students will analyze websites to locate pertinent information about a specific topic. C- Students will begin the research process in the library and continue with the writing of the research paper in the classroom. D- To receive an A, students will need to find at least 1 valid resource that supports their topic. They must summarize the key points of the article into their own written paragraph. I expect ¾ of the class to get an A, ¼ to find 1 source without writing a good summary.

Materials: Teacher-computer, printer, paper Students-computers, topic idea, paper, pencil

Set Introduction: Ask students to raise their hands if they have used the Internet to find anything new before. Have them keep their hands up if they used a search engine like Google or another common search engine. I will tell them that today they will be finding all of the information they need for their research papers on the computer but not on Google. Instructional Sequence:
 * 1) Introduction above.
 * 2) Explain that they will be working in partners to find information since we don’t have enough computers. They will initially be learning how NetTrekker works and then they will each have a turn to find information about their topic. One student will find an article while the other assists. When the first student finds their information they will need permission to print and then they will go to the tables to summarize the article into their own words. At that time, the second student will locate their information. The less advanced computer user will search first with the help of the more advanced computer user.
 * 3) Call out students who are paired together and have them come to a computer where I have opened NetTrekker.
 * 4) Verbally walk through finding information on NetTrekker and its features. Have students search for “Presidents of the United States” as an example search, and walk through the search to show them the features.
 * 5) Give them the rest of the class to find their sources. Walk around the class and assist students as needed.
 * 6) When there is ten minutes left in class have the students come back to the tables and share with their partner what they found. Have them only use their notes and summaries and tell them they are not allowed to look at their article. This will help them summarize the information without relying on the source.

Closure: When there is five minutes left in class have the group stop sharing. Ask them to raise their hand if they found an article and successfully summarized it. Have them share if they thought it was easier or harder than Google. Have them verbally reflect on what they learned.

Adaptation: More difficult students will be sitting closer to the teacher. I will begin assisting these students before going on to other students. Students who have been identified as having writing problems will be allowed to just take notes and write the paragraph at a later time.

Assessment: The class discussion at the end of class will be one measure of learning. I will also collect the summaries with the attached article. I will check for plagiarism.