Learning 2 Learn: Information Literacy embedded in the S1 Curriculum
Category: #LibrariesAreEssential - Scotland's Stories, Branches and Groups, SLG Scotland
SLG Scotland regularly showcase an activity or project that furthers one of the strategic aims of Vibrant Libraries, Thriving Schools (VLTS): A National Strategy for School Libraries 2018 – 2023. Here, Learning Community Librarian Gillian Gillespie tells us more about how she has embedded information literacy into the S1 curriculum.
Name
Gillian Gillespie
School
Greenwood Academy, North Ayrshire
Title
Learning 2 Learn: Information Literacy embedded in the S1 curriculum
Furthering Strategic Aim:
- Curriculum, Learner Journey & Developing the Young Workforce
- Information, Digital Literacy & Digital Creativity
- Health & Wellbeing
The Initiative
Greenwood Academy deliver a course for S1 pupils called Learning 2 Learn. The original course was developed many years ago by the previous school librarian and one of the Guidance team to tackle literacy and raise attainment, giving pupils the information skills they need to be successful in school. Over time this evolved and it has been integrated into the S1 timetable and curriculum. When I moved to Greenwood Academy, the previous librarian had retired several years ago and had been replaced by a part time library assistant. After my move to the school 3 years ago the school were very keen for me to deliver Learning 2 Learn and for it to be updated to keep pace with current trends.
Senior management are very supportive of Learning 2 Learn, and it is embedded in the S1 timetable every year. It is delivered 1 period a week to all 250 S1 pupils by me, in partnership with the class Guidance teacher, and pupils have the class on their timetable as a subject with the library listed as their classroom. S1 pupils also have a library period for changing books as part of English, leaving the Learning 2 Learn periods free to focus on Literacy and Information skills.
The Learning 2 Learn course begins with a 4 week library induction that allows pupils to get to know the library and learn basic library skills. As we use Accelerated Reader in Greenwood Academy, all of the assessment and introduction to this also takes place in Learning 2 Learn and we have a focus on the importance of reading and make use of the AR myOn ebooks. They then move to the classroom with their teacher and cover information skills topics including: skim scan and read in detail, note taking, internet searching and lateral thinking. In term 3 pupils return to the library for 8 weeks to work on a research project. This allows us to cover the planning process (TAP & PLUS), plagiarism, bibliographies, assessing websites and to practice their note taking, while researching a health and wellbeing topic and producing a poster. The skills that pupils learn are used throughout their school careers. In term 4 we return to a focus on reading and look again at reading for pleasure, exploring different genres and non-fiction books.
Impact
This is a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate the skills that librarians have and can share with our young people, teaching them core skills that they can use throughout their school career and take with them to further education. The teachers involved value the course content and the skills that the pupils gain and have all commented on how they really enjoy using the library as a learning space. It also allows me to really get to know all of the pupils and work closely with them and learn more about their literacy needs and their interests. This helps contribute towards the library being one of the pupils’ favourite spaces in the school.
