Toward learner-centred high school curriculum-based research: A case study

Abstract

In highlighting the importance of information literacy, this study focuses on bringing the notion of ‘voice’ to high school curriculum-based research. It hangs on the theory that when students learn to own their research by writing themselves into it after accessing, analysing, and interpreting related information, they become information literate. The inquiry group provided a working context within which the emergence of voice may be encouraged. This research is qualitative in nature and takes the form of a case study in which the lived experiences of six students, a history teacher, and a school librarian were examined. The application of an action research model saw the student participants completing their own research projects while employing the Big6 skills created by Eisenberg and Berkowitz (1990). The study combined the information search process from Library and Information Studies with social constructivist learning theories from Education. Researchers and scholars in Library and Information Studies and Education will find this study interesting and relevant. It will also add to the limited Caribbean literature on this topic and act as a guide for future curriculum planning and implementation by educational administrators and other key stakeholders.

Keywords

Big6 Skills curriculum-based research education information literacy inquiry groups lifelong learning voice

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Baldwin

(2001) Working together, learning together: Co-operative inquiry in the development of complex practice by teams of social workers. In: Reason

Bradbury

(eds) Handbook of Action Research. London: SAGE, pp. 287–293.

Barranoik

(2004) Meaningful research projects: Perspectives from high school students and their teachers. Unpublished PhD Dissertation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.

Carson

Connors

Ripley

. (1989) Creating Possibilities: An Action Research Handbook. Edmonton, AB: Faculty of Education, University of Alberta.

Eisenberg

Berkowitz

(1990) Information Problem-Solving: The Big Six Skills Approach to Library and Information Skills Instruction. Norwood, NJ: Ablex.

Jamaica Information Service (2013) Broadcasting commission continues media literacy project. Available at: http://jis.gov.jm/broadcasting-commission-continues-media-literacy-project/ (accessed 12 Jan 2014).

Jules

(2010) Rethinking Education in the Caribbean. Report, Caribbean Examination Council. Available at: http://www.cxc.org/node/7174 (accessed 14 April 2014).

Lance

(2001) Proof of the power: Quality library media programs affect academic achievement. Multimedia Schools 8(4): 14–16, 18, 20.

Lance

Loertscher

(2005) Powering Achievement: School Library Media Programs Make a Difference: The Evidence Mounts. 3rd edn. Salt Lake City, UT: Hi Willow Research.

Mansor

Norhiyah

(2011) Use of the school resource centre among Malaysian high school teachers. Library Philosophy and Practice. Available at: http://unllib.unl.edu/LPP/mansor-nor.htm (accessed 14 April 2014).

10.

Merriam

(1998) Qualitative Research and Case Study Applications in Education. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

11.

Miles

Huberman

(1994) Qualitative Data Analysis. London: SAGE.

12.

Pennell

Lance

(2000) Dick and Jane go to the head of the class. School Library Journal (April): 44-47. Available at: http://www.slj.com/2000/04/students/dick-and-jane-go-to-the-head-of-the-class/ (accessed 4 April 2014).

13.

Secker

(2011) A New Curriculum for Information Literacy: Transitional, Transferable, Transformational. Arcadia Project. Cambridge University Library. Available at: http://ccfil.pbworks.com/f/ANCIL_final.pdf (accessed 12 Jan 2014).

14.

Shane

(2011) Why is Information Literacy Important? Available at: http://www.philau.edu/infolit/why_students.htm (accessed 9 Jan 2013).

15.

Principles

Siegel D

and Methods in Educational Research: A web based course from the University of Connecticut. Available at: http://www.gifted.uconn.edu/siagle/research/qualitative/qualitativeinstructornotes.html (accessed 12 Jan 2014).

16.

Smith

Wilhelm

(2002) Reading Don’t Fix No Chevys: Literacy in the Lives of Young Men. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.

17.

The Gleaner (2014) Assessing CSEC Exam Results. Available at: Jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20120818/cleisure1.html (accessed 27 April 2014).

18.

Wilson

. (2011) Media and Information Literacy Curriculum for Teachers. Available at www.unesco.org (accessed 12 Jan 2014).

19.

Wolf

Brush

Saye

(2003) The Big Six information skills as a metacognitive scaffold: A case study. School Library Media Research 6. Available at www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslpubsandjournals/slmrb/slmrcontents/volume62003/bigsixinformation.htm. (accessed 12 Jan. 2014).