I've been using the citation information in DISCUS and a PC/TV
converterand/or LCD projector to teach citing. First I show
students how to use SIRS to find articles and then show them
where the "CITE" link is and the "SOURCE" link for each article.
In the end, I open the source of an article in the database,
and then open the citation examples in another window and scroll
to the MLA example given. I click and drag from the title bar
to put the format example right under the article information.
I used dry erase boards to have students walk through writing
the
citations with me. Another day, I'll give them an article to
find on
the computer themselves and have them cite it on paper. (They
have
trouble understanding that the format is what they are copying,
but
with the article information. However, I keep doing it from time
to time so they slowly begin to see the light.)
I bought 30 clipboards, a box of pencils and notebook paper to
keep
on hand in the library. If they can learn to use the format for
the
computer resource, the others will come easier later. It's
frustrating sometimes, but its great when the light comes on. It
will also be a great relief for English teachers up the line
from
elementary if students can come to them with an understanding of
this
basic copy-it-right skill. I've tried to keep the skill
curriculum
connected with a common theme so I'm not teaching isolated
skills.
I use a single topic to introduce DISCUS, research skills and
Internet skills. Since we have a Yorkshire Terrier library
mascot
this year, they have been using a dog WebQuest I've created to
investigate the best dog for them in their current living
situation.
I explain that in the end, a dog is not the only pet they can
research,
but it's a start for us to learn how to research. Unfortunately,
I only see each class 30 minutes a week (part of which is
checkout
time), so the project part of this is not as fluid as I'd like.
M.Young, Aiken Elementary
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