1. for students by students as a a search strategy! Pathfinders:

2. What is a pathfinder? Around for since the 70s to help library users navigate resources Establishes a plan of action--clears a path through the forest Now Web-based and even more necessary! Sharable 24/7 --for the good of all Web-users and information seekers! Scalable—makes teachers’ and librarians’ advice vastly available Models selection, evaluation, strategies, and balance!

3. And that’s where they belong! Pathfinders go online!

4. Why should teacher-librarians and teachers create Pathfinders? Model selection Scaffold good research strategy Customized for groups Promote teacher-librarians as information professionals Inspire new collaborations Alleviate confusion for the end-user Powerfully represent the school/district

5. Why create them for students? So they won’t miss the really good stuff! --Promote a wide and balanced range of relevant resources Multiple formats / Displays range of information choices Self-efficacy may discourage exploration Can students discern quality? Move students from reliance on free Web or their favorite search engine Implicitly metacognitive— –Reflect on the process –Reflect on searching strategies

6. More on why...  Eliminates frustration  Ensures (encourages?) quality products  Can be incorporated into rubric  Focuses research and maximizes student use of time to higher-level tasks  Fits students’ need for independence

7. Springfield’s Curricular Pathfinders Pathfinder Menu Social Issues Pathfinder Pathfinder for Literary Research Pathfinder for Physics Current Events Primary Sources

8. Teachers need pathfinders too! Educational Research

9. Best Practice! Pathfinder ModelsPathfinder Models and Examples –Multnomah Homework Center - Social IssuesMultnomah Homework Center - Social Issues –Internet Public Library- PathfindersInternet Public Library- Pathfinders Author Pathfinder IPL –Camden County Library SystemCamden County Library System –50 States Pathfinder50 States Pathfinder –Lewis and Clark PathfinderLewis and Clark Pathfinder –Black HistoryBlack History –John SteinbeckJohn Steinbeck –Indianapolis Marion County Public LibraryIndianapolis Marion County Public Library –EconomicsEconomics

10. On Designing Pathfinders Designing Pathfinders for Children and Young Adults Designing Pathfinders for Children and Young Adults (Annette Lamb) Wenatchee’s Pathfinder for Creating Pathfinders Vandergrift’s Pathfinder

11. Pathfinders by students ! A thoughtful alternative to the traditional paper!

12. Why should students create pathfinders? Inspires thoughtful, comprehensive research Annotation Selection—only the best Broad spectrum of resources Evaluation Entry point to the oral defense

13. Pathfinder Template Adapt for your own climate!

14. Pathfinders by Students Student Examples: Quest: http://www.springfield.k12.pa.us/shs/quest/ pathfinders.htm Naval Commanders In the works: AP Novels Artists and Movements

15. As a searching tool! Because more libraries are creating online pathfinders, using “pathfinder” as a keyword is likely to pull up some expert advice!

16. Sample Searches  Cancer  Women’s Studies  Gun Control  Iraq  Poetry

17. Contact: Joyce Valenza joyce_valenza@sdst.org Want more information?