Two information literacy skills pilot projects are being undertaken to encourage the development of independent learning skills, with pupils planning, managing and executing both the research and practical elements of their project.

1. Integrating information literacy
through independent learning
projects
Dr Rebecca Jones
Malvern St James, UK
Diversity Challenge Resilience: School Libraries in Action - The 12th Biennial School Library
Association of Queensland, the 39th International Association of School Librarianship Annual
Conference, incorporating the 14th International Forum on Research in School Librarianship,
Brisbane, QLD Australia, 27 September – 1 October 2010.

2. About me
• Malvern St James
• School Librarian
• Information Literacy Group, Cilip, UK
• Honours List, School Librarian of the Year 2010
• Interests:
– Learning to learn
– Curriculum integration of IL skills
– IL skill mapping
– IL skills in School Library practice

3. UK Curriculum & IL
• PTLS – Personal Thinking & Learning skills
• Every Child
• IB qualification
• EPQ – Extended Project Qualification
• General curriculum

4. Independent Learning Projects
• Transition stages
– Year 6
– Year 9
• Senior Management
• Heads of Subject
• Assessment Objectives
– Manage
– Use resources
– Develop & realise
– Review
– Communication

5. Yr 6 Independent Learning Project
• Two terms; Spring & Summer 2010
• I hour a week
• 2 members of staff
• 15 girls completed
• Reporting

6. Yr 6 Challenge process
• Free thinking
• Brainstorming & topic selection
• Project planning & Learning styles
• Planning practical element
• Doing the practical element
• Writing up
• Practising presentations
• Presentations & review

7. Yr 6 Topics
Cake art Cake making
Making a bag Interior design
Fitness Hockey
Climbing - Sport improvement
Mathematics Climbing - Phobia
Family Tree Sculpture
Jelly Dress design
Chocolate cake Horror story

8. Assessment
• Reports
• Assessment Objectives
• Presentation Evaluations
• Self evaluation

9. Yr 9 Independent Learning Week
• Organisation
• Booklet
• Information Skills sessions
– Whole group
– Smaller group session
– Individual group sessions
• Written elements
• Timetable

10. Yr 9 Timetable Example
DAY P1 P2 B P3 P4 P5 P6 L P7 P8 P9 P10
Mon Intro Intro Brainstorming Initial Research Refine Group Confirm Topic Decided and
Outline Brainstorm Recording topic Compute focus session focus recorded
The week & sharing your thoughts focus – rs with Recording Plan time Planning &
Planning ideas 1st ICT 4 Teacher your table brainstorming
Research
Group support sources ICT 3 completed
Compute
discussion rs (In Plagiarism Decide on practical
ICT 4 groups) ICT 4
ICT 4
Staff AHE LBA AHE LBA BFR MHD BFR LBA LBA BFR KBE KBE HCH MCR JPR
MHD BFR
Tues Group : How can Research Researc Research Research Research Group Plan & Write
Learning you use Email h ICT ICT Evaluate meeting: arrange up
styles your contacts Email clinic clinic your Presentati practical researc
learning Evaluate your contacts sources 3 on & h
style? sources 1 Evaluate options equipme-
Maths clinic your nt
sources
Geog, Music & RS
2
clinics
Staff WMO AHE MTE MMS PSM BWA VGO RHU MGR ALH MBA VHO ADI JMN MHD RHU

11. Yr 9 Independent Learning Week
• 11 groups
• Presentations
• Videos
• Learning styles
• Topics

12. Yr 9 Topics
•Modernising •Fashion 1960s & 1980s
Midsummer night’s •Impressive
dream - an extract experiments
•Breast cancer research •French fashion
•Cake: WW2 and now •Ancient and modern
•Ballet tourist guide
•Fashion through the •Nutrition
ages •Are men better than
women?

13. Yr 9 Grades
4
3
2
1
0
A* A (-) B C
Grades

14. Yr 9 Problems
• Topic focus
• Integrating research
• Designing a presentation
• Rehearsing

15. Yr 9 Evaluations
• “I have learned how to make
decisions...without being told what to do by
the teacher”
• “I like choosing my own topic, that way I didn’t
get bored and was always happy to be
working.”
• “if you plan what you’re going to do - the week
runs better.”
• “I enjoyed it as it was a chance to do something
completely different.”

16. Conclusion
• The concept of the challenge
• Yr 9 were focused and enthusiastic
• Topic Focus
• Using the research
• Yr 9 group work
• The presentation element
• Assessment
• Teacher responses

17. Future plans 2010/11 – Yr 6
• Yr 6 project 3 terms
• Topic selection
• Research
• Teaching staff
• Presentation preparation
• Reflection
• Learning styles

18. Future Plans – Yr 9
• Topic Focus and refinement
• Reduce the amount of ICT
• Timetable
• Reflection

19. Acknowledgements
Kate Pierce Fund, Cilip
Information Literacy Group
Malvern St James School, Malvern
Contact: Rebecca Jones
library@malvernstjames.co.uk