14th August 2017 – ‘Infowhelm’Information Literacy Have you ever been overwhelmed when searching for information online? You are not alone. This feeling is so common in today’s society that it has been given the term ‘Infowhelm’. To overcome these feelings and to prepare for the research tasks they face in school, students need to be equipped with techniques and digital skills to navigate online successfully and responsibly.
Information literacy can be defined as ‘the ability to use, organise, present and access information effectively for a given purpose or need’. At St Andrew’s, our information literacy programme incorporates explicit teaching of these skills during units of inquiry. Over the past few months I have worked closely with classroom teachers in middle and upper primary classrooms, encouraging students to critically evaluate sources, use effective online search techniques and be familiar with the research process. Something as simple as using a child friendly search engine, such as Kiddle or KidRex, can help students find websites appropriate for their age. If you would like to learn more about the research process or strategies to help your children when searching online, you can find more information under Information Literacy on the Junior School page of the College website. 31st July -Book Week 2017 – Escape to Everywhere
https://cbca.org.au/short-list-2017 – List of Shortlisted Books Each year across Australia, the Children’s Book Council brings children and books together celebrating Book Week (August 21st – 25th). Here at St Andrews, there is a definite buzz of excitement in the air, with students eagerly participating in a number of book week related activities. Our biggest event during this week will be our book character parade, scheduled for Friday morning with an 8:40am start. Parents and friends are most welcome to join us in the MPH for this very special event. This year, the theme for book week is Escape to Everywhere. The Junior School Library is currently being transformed this term, into a magical, colourful space, full of decorative displays that feature the shortlisted books and student artwork. Each class will be involved in decorating their door based on the theme or a shortlisted book. The winning classes will be announced at the book character parade and will receive a class ice-cream party. A Book fair will take place in the library during Weeks 8 and 9 where students have the opportunity to buy some of their favourite books and stationary items. This is a fantastic fundraising opportunity for the College and helps the library purchase more resources for students and teachers. The Junior School Library provides a welcoming environment and is a hub for exploration, learning and wonder. Please contact me anytime if you have any questions. My door is ‘always open’. Vikki Rees Teacher Librarian/ICT Coordinator (Junior Campus) |
