TRAILS: How to Assess and Strengthen Students' Research Skills

1. TRAILS: How to Assess and Strengthen Students' Research Skills Summer Academy July 7, 2010 Patty Bynum & Linda Holden

2. Who are we? • Linda • English teacher -18 years • At J.L. Mann for 4 years • Has also taught at Bryson Middle, McCracken Jr. High (Spartanburg), Converse College • Patty • Media specialist-17 years • At J.L. Mann for 3 years • At League Academy for 12 years

3. What is TRAILS? • Acronym for: Tool for Real-time Assessment on Information Literacy Skills • http://www.trails-6.org • http://www.trails-9.org • A 30-question online test for sixth and ninth graders.

4. Asseses Students in 5 Categories • develop a topic • identify potential sources • develop and use search strategies • evaluate sources and information • recognize how to use information responsibly and ethically • In which ones are your students weakest?

5. Research Process (Debbie Barron) • Exploring a topic • Reading for general knowledge • Asking questions of those who know more • Creating questions • Narrowing (or broadening) the topic focus • Understanding the expected outcomes • Gathering information • Finding the best sources • Using and evaluating the sources • Organizing the information • Aligning to answer the research questions • Determining relevance • Communicating the findings • Creating and presenting the product

6. TRAILS Develop a topic Identify sources Search strategies Evaluate sources Use information ethically Debbie Barron/Greenville County Schools Explore a topic Create questions Gather information Organize information Communicate the findings How are these lists similar / not?

7. Go to: http://www.trails-9.org • Click on “How TRAILS Works” and “Sample Items.” • Read and answer some of the questions. • Take sample test.

8. What librarian does (process skills) How to change a topic into a research question How to find books (OPAC) How to search (DISCUS & Google) How to take notes How to evaluate websites How to cite sources Understanding plagiarism What teacher does (content) Subject matter taught in the classroom Background reading for prior knowledge Topics/keywords brainstormed How to take notes How to cite sources How did we get started at Mann?

9. Teachers Bring Classes to Library for TRAILS Test • Media specialist (or teacher) prepares class rosters with individual numbers for each student. • Reports are printed for entire class or individual students.

10. J. L. Mann High School - October 2009

11. Linda’s 4th Period Classfrom October ’09 to April ’10

12. United States South Carolina 17,814 students 503 students Develop topic 54% 51% Identify sources 67 62 Develop search 57 54 strategies Evaluate sources 43 41 Use responsibly 73 69 TRAILS Data 2008-09

13. Resources for Using TRAILS • Use online review questions from TRAILS website as a class activity • Look at “How TRAILS Works: Categories” and teach concepts and vocabulary to students • Lesson plans by each skill are posted under “Related Resources” Wiki for TRAILShttp://ilfortrails9.wikispaces.com