Collaborative Library Research Projects: Inquiry That Stimulates the Senses »

JOHN D. VOLKMAN has been the Library Media Teacher at Reedley High School in California since 2002. He received his MA in Library Science from San Jose State University in 1976 and has been a Library Media Teacher at Fresno area high schools since then. His first book was Cruising Through Research; Library Skills for Young Adults (Libraries Unlimited, 1998).

One of the most important roles of today's Library Media Specialist is collaborating with teachers to design instruction. Out of his many years of experience in collaborating with teachers in a large public high school, the author describes this collaboration process and presents lessons in various disciplines to spark student inquiry. These reproducible lessons are immediately usable and will serve as prototypes for developing other lessons.

Research tells us that students learn in a variety of ways (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, etc.); one of the purposes of the book is to use the learning station approach to provide opportunities for students to learn via listening, viewing, reading, and touching. Grades 7-12.

One of the most important roles of today's Library Media Specialist is collaborating with teachers to design instruction. Out of his many years of experience in collaborating with teachers in a large public high school, the author offers this book to describe this collaboration process and presents lessons in various disciplines that can be used to spark student inquiry. These reproducible lessons are immediately usable and will serve as prototypes for developing other lessons.

Research tells us that students learn in a variety of ways (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, etc.); one of the purposes of the book is to use the learning station approach to provide opportunities for students to learn via listening, viewing, reading, and touching. Students also learn best when they can interact with the material and each other, and are stimulated by the activities. Therefore, the units contain a variety of learning methods such as listening tomusic and oral history, using computers for research and interaction, watching videos, reading books, and discussing articles with classmates. There are also a variety of suggested end products using different media. Grades 7-12.

VOYA

This book provides helpful advice in an area central to the mission of school media specialists everywhere-collaboration with teachers. In clear, jargon-free language, Volkman lays out an argument for using his style of collaborative research units. Using multiple methods and media helps students learn material more effectively. Volkman shows examples of research units he has used incorporating various media and methods in stations that can be set up in the media center. A variety of subjects are included in the examples. Units on history, literature, science, and other topics are covered. Planning, preparation, and station construction methods are discussed concisely. Lists of required materials and specifically suggested titles are included with each unit. Assignment instructions to the student are also included and may be used wholly or adapted to suit the needs of similar courses. Smaller research projects including simple reports and poster creation are included in the latter part of the book. Appendixes include bibliography and works cited instructions and a group of sheets for organizing various types of source materials. Volkman's accessible writing provides a well-thought-out, no-nonsense book that will be useful to the novice or experienced school media specialist in junior high and high school settings. Whether attempting to build a working relationship with teachers or merely looking for a fresh direction from which to approach collaboration, these units will be useful for school media specialists at any experience level. Reviewer: James Gahagan

Acknowledgments

Collaborating With Teachers to Promote Student Research

World War II Station Unit

Holocaust Stations

To Kill a Mockingbird Stations

Animal Farm Stations

Shakespeare Stations

How to Develop and Implement Collaborative Research Units

Drugs, Alcohol, and Smoking Research

Evil Characters in History Research Paper

Edgar Allan Poe Poster and Report

Children of The River Poster and Report

Decades: Of Mice and Men, The Human Comedy, and We Didn't Start the Fire

Constellations and the Zodiac Poster and Report

Rocks and Minerals Poster and Report

Biography of Hispanic-American Persons Brochure

Greek Heritage Essay/Poster and Newspaper

Shoebox Float Project: The Nations of the World Report