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Pathfinders: for students by students as a a search strategy! What is a pathfinder? Around for since the 70s to help library users navigate resources Establishes a plan of action--clears a path through the forest Now Web-based and even more necessary!
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Pathfinders: for studentsby students as a a search strategy!
What is a pathfinder? • Around for since the 70s to help library users navigate resources • Establishes a plan of action--clears a path through the forest • Now Web-based and even more necessary! • Sharable 24/7 --for the good of all Web-users and information seekers! • Scalable—makes teachers’ and librarians’ advice vastly available • Models selection, evaluation, strategies, and balance!
Pathfinders go online! And that’s where they belong!
Why should teacher-librariansand teachers create Pathfinders? • Model selection • Scaffold good research strategy • Customized for groups • Promote teacher-librarians as information professionals • Inspire new collaborations • Alleviate confusion for the end-user • Powerfully represent the school/district
Why create them for students? • So they won’t miss the really good stuff! --Promote a wide and balanced range of relevant resources • Multiple formats / Displays range of information choices • Self-efficacy may discourage exploration • Can students discern quality? • Move students from reliance on free Web or their favorite search engine • Implicitly metacognitive— • Reflect on the process • Reflect on searching strategies
More on why . . . • Eliminates frustration • Ensures (encourages?) quality products • Can be incorporated into rubric • Focuses research and maximizes student use of time to higher-level tasks • Fits students’ need for independence
Springfield’s Curricular Pathfinders • Pathfinder Menu • Social Issues Pathfinder • Pathfinder for Literary Research • Pathfinder for Physics Current Events • Primary Sources
Teachers need pathfinders too! • Educational Research
Best Practice! • Pathfinder Models and Examples • Multnomah Homework Center - Social Issues • Internet Public Library- Pathfinders • Author Pathfinder IPL • Camden County Library System • 50 States Pathfinder • Lewis and Clark Pathfinder • Black History • John Steinbeck • Indianapolis Marion County Public Library • Economics
On Designing Pathfinders • Designing Pathfinders for Children and Young Adults (Annette Lamb) • Wenatchee’s Pathfinder for Creating Pathfinders • Vandergrift’s Pathfinder
Pathfinders by students! A thoughtful alternative to the traditional paper!
Why should students create pathfinders? • Inspires thoughtful, comprehensive research • Annotation • Selection—only the best • Broad spectrum of resources • Evaluation • Entry point to the oral defense
Pathfinder Template Adapt for your own climate!
Pathfinders by Students • Student Examples: Quest: http://www.springfield.k12.pa.us/shs/quest/pathfinders.htm Naval Commanders In the works: AP Novels Artists and Movements
As a searching tool! • Because more libraries are creating online pathfinders, using “pathfinder” as a keyword is likely to pull up some expert advice!
Sample Searches • Cancer • Women’s Studies • Gun Control • Iraq • Poetry
Want more information? Contact: Joyce Valenza joyce_valenza@sdst.org