Information Skills & Study Skills

The Library Resource Centre personnel provide support for an extensive information skills program that falls into the following groups:

1. Year 9 Orientation Program.
2. VCE Current Information Research.
3. Referencing Guidelines Technique [VCE, Years 9-10 through research assignments].
4. Research Projects Program.

The Library website is used extensively to assist students in research as a tool for refining searches, current issues research, referencing help, and to provide pathfinders for using all resources within the Resource Centre. Students are able to access this site from other locations in the College and also from home.

• Making a Difference CD-ROM

• Researching Together

• An interactive guide to the research process

Year Nine Library and Information Skills Orientation:

The orientation program for year 9 classes occurs at the beginning of the school year. This program aims to consolidate what the students have learned during their school experience, and also to introduce them to the school's network, intranet, email, printing and other resources available to them via the Library. 

Each Year 9 group visit the library for at least two lessons as part of their timetabled History classes at the school.

At this time, students are provided with their individual login and password details, allowing them to access all the online resources via the school network. Many of these resources are also available to students at home via the Internet. 

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VCE Current Information Research:

Towards the end of the school year the Library provides Current Information Research lessons for Unit 1 & 2 VCE students (Year 11). Classes are provided with orientation lessons aimed at teaching students to use both on-line and print indexes. There is particular emphasis on the skills needed for their English classes initially, but this extends to research in Chemistry, Biology, History, Information Technology, Physics, Psychology, Human Development and Society, and Geography. 

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Information Skills and Research Projects:

Information skills are taught in conjunction with research projects in all subject areas. The library staff work closely with class groups from all year levels providing guidance in locating and extracting relevant information from various sources. Emphasis is placed on accessing a variety of information sources, both print and on-line, to complete research assignments and there is a huge demand for services.

Each research project is supported by:

• Providing guidelines and tips via the library web site and to groups in deciding on topics and locating resources when beginning the projects.
• Introductory lessons and assistance in identifying authority on the Internet, and citing relevant sources using the Referencing Guide
• Assistance in using the on-line encyclopaedias, computer network, and graphics software.
• Creating 'Resource Boxes' which contain relevant books and magazine articles.

We have targeted specific research assignments to teach searching techniques on the Internet, referencing techniques, identifying authority in sources, and utilising technology in note taking and drafting. The library also works with teachers in developing assignment design that requires greater depth of thinking on issues, making decisions and developing problem solving skills and in developing a technology and information skills checklist of skills for students from Year 9 to 10.

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