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As important as the knowledge students must learn is the acquisition of skills to navigate in an increasingly information rich society. The process of information acquisition has taken on far more complex nuances as we involve students in experiences that require them to assess what information they know, what they need to know, where they can look for it, how much of it they need or want and how accurate the information is.
Middle School students spend one period per week in the school library and are guided in the following skills:
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Set up of libraries – classification of knowledge and systems (Dewey)
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Introduction to resources available through the Student Link page on the ISN website
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Sources: books, data bases, magazines, newspapers, journals (peer reviewed material/general interest or popular)
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What is a database? How is it designed? How does it work?
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Electronic resources: EBSCO – NEWSBANK- JSTOR – Internet – ezines
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Internet evaluation
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Search strategies and syntax
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Blogs / newsfeeds / wikis etc (“Web2” technologies)
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Citations, bibliography.
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT)
In Middle School, all students take a semester course each year that is designed to equip them with the necessary tools to navigate in the information-rich and advanced technological world we live in today. The skills they learn are crucial to their studies and are reinvested throughout the curriculum. Students are expected to be able to research with discernment and efficiency, select information and present it in a variety of formats. Middle School students have two lessons of ICT / computer literacy skills each week and the course aims to develop the students' computer skills so that they can make effective use of technology both in their academic and future professional lives.
Material used in these lessons will be drawn from the topics being taught at the same time in other school subjects. For example, analysis of results from science experiments provides opportunities to learn data processing skills on spreadsheets (calculation of averages, plotting of appropriate graphs and charts, etc.). Students use PowerPoint or Movie Maker to illustrate poems they have written in English or French classes and to produce trailers of books they have read and programs such as Inspirations to plan essays, projects and presentations.
Throughout all courses, students are evaluated on their abilities to make confident, creative and productive use of information technology. Assessment is continuous and students are expected to acquire mastery of a range of technical skills and techniques and show that they can apply these skills safely and responsibly in learning and everyday life.
Resources
We have a dedicated computer room, 2 pods of laptops (One for lower school, the other for Middle and High School) and computers in the library.
An increasing number of classrooms now have a ceiling projector to which a laptop, DVD player or VCR can be attached in order for teachers to use in lessons to enhance their teaching and pupils learning. For those classrooms that do not have ceiling projectors, portable projectors are available for teachers to use.
Finally, we are starting to introduce into the school interactive whiteboard technology, which in conjunction with the resources mentioned previously, also enhances teaching and pupil learning.
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