Professional Reading Reviews Volume 29,
No. 2, December, 2001
With Ken Haycock
Information transformation: Teaching strategies for
authentic research, projects, and activities
Tricia Armstrong
Reviewed by Rose Dotten
rjd@uts.oise.utoronto.ca
This book presents another example of the Research process and extends it with
a variety of practical implementation strategies. It presents a step by step
process for teachers and teacher-librarians to implement the acquisition of
information handling skills. In one sense, it does not differ from the other
processes such as the BigSix or the OSLA K-12 Information Studies curriculum,
in that it also breaks the process into the key areas such as asking interesting
questions, searching widely, making good decisions based on information and
sharing new understandings. However, through the strategies outlined, it does
link all these concepts back to what the title proposes to do — Information
Transformation.
Included in the three broad areas — A. The Research Plan; B. The Search
for Information; and C. The Transformation of Information — are:
- Lesson plans;
- Blackline masters such as Web evaluation forms;
- Strategy spotting descriptions of a variety of relevant
strategies;
- Do it Differently – accommodation for multiple intelligences;
- Plug it in integration of technology and technology applications;
- Think it over – prompts for reflection and journal
writing;
- Take it further – lesson extensions;
In Part A, there is an excellent section on the value of questions that challenge
thinking, and encourage reflection, as a key component of the initial research
investigation. The sidebar comments and questions act as further guides to
the process for the beginning teacher or teacher-librarian.
Part B presents a section on Making Sense of Information that involves Observation,
Reading and Thinking Strategies. The strategies introduced and reinforced here
are important considerations that are often not articulated in such a clear
and immediately useful way. One of the Strategy Spotlights gives an excellent
overview of Interview Tips and Techniques that can be directly given to students
to review before they conduct an interview.
The sections on Evaluating Information, Giving and Receiving Feedback and Revising
are important components of Part C that assist students in becoming the thoughtful
and reflective learners that are ultimately our goals as educators.
While at first glance, this book presents templates that seem to be available
through many other sources both electronically and in print, there is a difference.
In each section, the Do it Differently, Plug It In, Take It Further and the
Student Self Assessment suggestions extend a particular focus in very useful
and relevant ways and in intrinsic critical thinking skills that add value
to this resource that go beyond others in the field. An excellent resource
for elementary schools and early grades in secondary schools. (Pembroke, 2000.
$18.95. 160 pp. 1-55138-122-2.)
Bottom Line: Take the research process further.
 Buy
online at Amazon.com
Introducing the Internet to young learners: Ready to-go
activities and lesson plans.
Reviewed by Michelle Dober
madober@yahoo.com
The well organized information is easily understood and presented without jorgon.
It includes a curriculum, Internet skills, and critical thinking matrix, a
subject index and a web site index. It is organized into five units that teach
the basics of the Internet, search strategies, the evaluation of web sites,
and safe and effective use of chat and e-mail services. Each unit includes
a topic overview, school and library integration, lesson plans and reproducible
activity sheets. The strongest feature is that it goes beyond describing the
anatomy of a URL and basic navigation skills and it actually teaches critical
thinking through the development of strategies for finding and evaluating information
on the Internet. One downfall is that many of its lesson plans involve accessing
specific web sites, and because of the ever-changing nature of the Internet,
these can quickly become outdated. (Neal-Schuman, 2001. 147 pp. $35.00. 1-55570494-2.)
Bottom Line: Beyond anatomy to critical thinking.
Buy
online at Amazon.com
Kids’ Guide to the Internet.
Dan Whitcombe
Reviewed by Michelle Dober
madober@yahoo.com
An introduction for kids and parents with large font and colouful illustrations
that will appeal to kides, plus a parental guidance section with safety tips
and information on buying computers. It has a table of contents, a glossary
of computer terminology, and a listing of ‘hot’ web sites divided
into categories. The book covers a wide range of educational topics, from homework
helpers to using search engines, and creating web sites, while some of the content
is strictly for entertainment such as accessing games online. One of the greatest
features is that it has a web site (www.KidsInternet.dk.com) that kids and
parents can visit and input their top ten web site. The weakest feature for
educators is that it is very simplistic in its coverage of the educational
topics. (Dorling Kindersley, 2000. 64 pp. $8.99. 0-7894-7331-3).
Bottom Line: A too easy introduction.
Buy
online at Amazon.com
The KidsClick! Web searching skills guide with CD-ROM.
Jerry Kuntz
Reviewed by Michelle Dober
madober@yahoo.com
The basic skills needed to successfully retrieve information using online search
engines for grades three to eight. Broken down into ten skills sets including
alphabetizing, subject hierarchies, symbolic classification, keyword searching
and evaluating and citing sites., has reproducible activity sheets and an appendix
on evaluating kids’ web search tools. The strongest feature is that it
comes complete with a CD-ROM including all the activity sheets that can easily
be adapted to meet students needs or to match content being covered in the
curriculum. While it does specifically market KidsClick! (which is not surprising
given that the book’s author, Jerry Kuntz, manages the KidsClick! Search
service), it addresses an important need and provides practical exercises to
help students develop online searching skills. The greatest downfall is that
it attempts to cover too many complex topics over a wide age range in only
123 pages. It is at a reading and comprehension level more geared towards middle
and secondary students and it also includes jargon, which is difficult to avoid
given the nature of the topic. (Neal-Schuman, 2001. 123 pp. $45.00. 1-55570-396-8.
Neal-Schuman NetGuide series).
Bottom Line: Good and adaptable for online searching skills.
Buy
online at Amazon.com
Student cheating and plagiarism in the Internet era:
A wake-up call
Ann Lathrop and Kathleen Foss
Reviewed by Marjorie Pappas
mpappas@pop.mis.net
Interested in learning about student cheating and plagiarism? This is definitely
one of those “everything you always wanted to know but were afraid to
ask” books. Today’s technologically savvy students use many types
of technology including hand-held computers, watches, programmable calculators,
and pagers. The book includes detailed sections for parents and teachers that
focus on preventive measures. The best defense is information about cheating
strategies and teacher intervention. The troubling conclusion from research
suggests the number of students who cheat is growing rapidly and the vast majority
of students do not believe cheating is wrong. Academic integrity policies are
discussed in detail along with acceptable use policies and action plans. The
authors point out that many students engage in plagiarism innocently. As students
grow older they shift to copying paragraphs from various general works, changing
a few words to make it seem more like their work. Lathrop and Foss make an
effective case for changing the type of assignments from broad topic papers
to more focused and authentic projects. They stress the importance of assessing
process and product to make buying papers more difficult. The book includes
numerous “Copy Me” pages that can be used for in-service sessions.
(Libraries Unlimited, 2000. $30.00. 255 pp. 1-56308-841-X).
Bottom Line: Cheat the cheaters with this must buy!
Buy
online at Amazon.com
Worth a Look
Booktalking that works
Jennifer Bromann
Designed to help convert reluctant readers in Grades
7-12, offers practical guidance on what teens want, how to
choose the right books and avoid the wrong ones, booktalking
basics and tips on writing booktalks. Includes 50 prepared
booktalks covering 10 genres, and suggested resources. Indexed
by subject, title and author, and by genre/theme.
(Neal-Schuman, 2001. 155 pp. $35.00. 1-55570-403-4)
Booktalks plus: Motivating teens to read
Lucy Schall
Schall, a book reviewer for VOYA, examines more than
100 quality titles for Grades 7-12. All are published between
1996 and 1999 and explore the issues teens find relevant.
For each title there is a description, booktalk, suggested
activities and a list of related titles. Indexed by author/title
and by subject. (Libraries Unlimited, 2001. 268 pp. $35.00.
1-56308-817-7)
Buying books, 2nd edition
Audrey Eaglen
Updated and expanded, this edition is divided in two
parts: book publishing and acquisitions. The first section
discusses the publishing industry, types of books, the publishing
process and costs of publishing. Part 2 covers vendor selection,
print and electronic bibliographic tools, acquisitions and
automation, buying from bookstores (physical and virtual)
and new trends such as outsourcing, the future of book publishing
and implications for libraries. Includes glossary, annotated
bibliography and subject index. (Neal-Schuman, 2000. 169
pp. $45.00. 1-55570-371-2.)
Characters with character: Using children’s literature
in character education
Diane Findlay
Organized by 10 values, such as responsibility, respect
and friendship. Each section explains what the value means
and how it is used, an annotated bibliography, suggested
activities and reproducible worksheets to help Grades K-5
understand the concepts. (Upstart Books, 2001. 88 pp. $16.95.
1-57950-064-1.)
Copyright in cyberspace: Questions and answers for librarians
Gretchen Hoffman
Explains online copyright law for librarians in the United
States. Covers fair use and other exemptions, World Wide
Web content liability, hyperlinks, downloading, public performance
of Internet audio and video, interlibrary loans and other
forms of resource sharing. Discusses recent legislation,
trademark law, using words and symbols on web sites and how
to get permission to use copyrighted material. Includes resource
lists and index. (Neal-Schuman, 2001. 264 pp. $55.00. 1-55570-410-7.)
Creating the full-service homework center in your library
Cindy Mediavilla
Practical advice on planning and establishing an effective
space to improve students’ school performance and self-esteem.
Includes sections on resource development, funding partnerships,
supplies, hours and evaluation. Aimed at the public library,
it can be adapted for school resource centers. Includes bibliography
and index. (American Library Association, 2001. 142 pp. $32.00.
0-8389-0800-4.)
Dictionary for school library media specialists: A practical
and comprehensive guide
Mary McCain and Martha Merrill
Comprehensive and up-to-date guide defining more than
375 basic and technological terms, including phrases and
acronyms. Designed for use in the K-12 school library, listed
terms come from library science, counselling, educational
administration, educational technology, computer science
and other school-related fields. (Libraries Unlimited, 2001.
219 pp. $40.00. 1-56308-696-4.)
Government online: One-click access to 3,400 federal
and state web sites
Edited by John Maxymuk
Organized into 13 subject areas, from science and technology
to education. Web sites are compiled by subject specialists,
and include a subject overview, descriptions of key federal
web sites and a list of useful pages within each site. A
list of major state web sites concludes each section. Indexed
by web site title/subject. Includes CD-ROM. (Neal-Schuman,
2001. 323 pp. $75.00. 1-55570-416-6.)
Hobbies through children’s books and activities
Nancy Jurenka
Thirty hobbies and interests are featured, each with
a recommended picture book, activities, glossary, recommended
non-fiction resources and information about societies, associations
and other resources. Aimed at Grades 3-6, this resource seeks
to encourage reading by connecting books to their interests
and talents. Topics covered vary from birdwatching and stamp
collecting to dancing and puzzles. Includes activities and
author/title/subject index. (Teacher Ideas Press, 2001. 169
pp. $28.00. 1-56308-773-1.)
Legacy of Robert M. Gagne
Edited by Rita Richey
Explores Gagne’s instructional design theories and
their influence in both school and non-school settings. Writings
by Gagne and his colleagues are organized into three sections:
an exploration of Gagne’s ideas, the pervasiveness of
those ideas on instructional theory and design and how they
will influence future design of instructional technology.
Include biography, bibliography and separate indexes by subject
and author. (ERIC Clearinghouse on Information & Technology,
2000. 322 pp. $20.00. 0-937597-49-X.)
Newbery Companion: Booktalk and related materials for
Newbery Medal and Honor books, 2nd edition
John Gillespie and Corinne Naden
Updates the 1996 edition. Arranged chronologically from
1922, entries for each year’s winner feature author
information, a plot summary, description of themes and subjects,
suggestions for stimulating interest through booktalks, a
list of related titles with description and a bibliography
of titles discussing the book and author. Following each
entry, plot summaries and themes are given for that year’s
Honor books. Includes bibliography about the Newbery Award
and indexed by subject, author and title. (Libraries Unlimited,
2001. 465 pp. $56.00. 1-56308-813-4.)
Norma Fox Mazer: A writer’s world
Arthea Reed
Book-length study of Mazer, author of nearly 30 novels
as well as short stories and articles. Begins with a chronology
of Mazer’s life and works and a biographical essay examining
influences on her writing. Essays on different novels and
groups of novels follow, each fully referenced. Includes
bibliography and index. (Scarecrow, 2001. 140 pp. $29.50.
0-8108-3814-1.)
Now what do I do? Things they never taught in library
school – A book of case studies
Amy Job and Marykay Schnare
Case studies falling outside traditional areas of study
are presented to provide guidance on topics from medical
emergencies, pests and crushes to professional development
and planning a move. Each of the 50-plus cases is explored
with questions that can be used in practice or in workshops.
Arranged by topic. Includes bibliography and index. (Scarecrow,
2001. 195 pp. $24.95. 0-8108-3991-1.)
Parent’s guide to storytelling: How to make up new
stories and retell old favorites, 2nd edition
Margaret MacDonald
Helpful hints for storytelling, such as when to lower
your voice, suggested refrains for the audience and using
fingerplays. Chapters cover storytelling for youngest listeners;
bedtime, expandable and endless tales; easy folktales; scary
stories; jokes as stories; family stories; and creating your
own stories. Includes resource list and index. (August House,
2001. 118 pp. $21.95. 0-87483-619-0.)
Readers’ advisory guide to genre fiction
Joyce Saricks
Genre definition, characteristics, appeal elements, key
authors and subgenres provided for each of 15 genres. Each
genre includes a section on expanding readers’ horizons,
suggesting authors to take them beyond their preferred genre.
Some coverage for middle school readers, but focus is on
high school to adult. Index interfiles authors, editors,
titles, subjects and series. (American Library Association,
2001. 460 pp. $38.00. 0-8389-0803-9)
Science to go: Fact and fiction learning packs
Judy Sauerteig
Pairs age-appropriate fiction and non-fiction with activity
sheets to create learning packs, which can be taken home, used
in a classroom or in the school resource center. Each grade
level from Grades K-3 features 15 topics explored through books
with a common science-based theme, from animals and puddles
for Kindergarten readers to outer space and waterways for Grade
3 students. Includes author/title/subject index. (Libraries
Unlimited, 2001. 186 pp. $30.00. 1-56308-844-4) |
