Jouornal Reflection #6

Stucker, H. (2005). Digital 'natives' are growing restless. School Library Journal, 51(6), B9-B10. 


Summary
     Digital Natives are getting bored.  They are learning in an environment that is not conducive to how they naturally learn on their own.  Learning straight from books is not the only option anymore.  However, even though students are experts at searching for and retrieving the data, they still have no idea how to properly evaluate the information for proper use.  "Joyce Valenza, media specialist at Springfield Township High School in Pennsylvania, said that Internet proficiency often gives students a deceptive sense of self-sufficiency, and the challenge for educators is to figure out how to respect that self-sufficiency yet "intrude in a graceful way"."
     Having online resources through the library at all times is a way for them to self-evaluate once they find what they are looking for.  This way they can ask the important questions in regards to their article or website they want to use in their report.  The library needs to prepare the students to use these tools effectively, so they just won't head to a website and add information from it without really thinking about the point.  
     Don Knezek, CEO of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), states that "Our ultimate outcome for students is that they live, learn, and work successfully by becoming information-seekers, analyzers, and evaluators, that they become problem-solvers and decision-makers...,"   This needs to be done by all, but librarians need to step up to the responsibility and make sure that students are proper researchers and then evaluators of the research as well.


Reflection
     Finding the balance to let students feel powerful and smart enough to find the information that they want, but then assisting them in evaluating them for proper use can be tricky; I run into this problem all the time, but it is crucial to do this lesson, constantly!  This is not just about articles and websites for information.  I am always teaching my students on how to evaluate what program is the best to present your information or what is the best way share the information.  To try something different, but to make sure that it works for the idea and to look at it with a skeptical eye is the same important skill.