How information skills are taught in Wellington primary schools

Abstract

This study describes how information skills are being taught in a sample of 50 Wellington primary schools. A 22 item questionnaire was mailed out, asking: * what activities are used to teach information skills? * what teaching methods are used? * how does the library layout support skill learning? The findings show that most schools teach basic library and searching skills. Using action learning, most schools use a variety of methods to teach across the school. Skills are taught progressively and topics of study are selected based on the curriculum. They also show that teachers with a mix of library and teaching skills teach more advanced skills and use each other as a resource, more than other teachers do.