The Reference Information Skills Game

This simple new approach to teaching information skills takes students beyond mere fact-finding to designing and recording search strategies. Structured as a game-with search maps, award badges, and search strategy suggestions-the activities help students acquire and sharpen reference, information retrieval, and problem-solving skills on a daily basis. As they explore print materials and audiovisual, computer, and human sources, they also build their background knowledge in a variety of subjects. Credit is given for process (search strategy) as well as for product (fact-finding). With these activities, school librarians and teachers collaborate as a teaching team to meet goals for improved reference skills. Adaptable to any size and format of library, media center, or classroom, the game has been successfully used at middle and high school levels in both libraries and classrooms. A classified subject index, bibliography of sources, and alphabetical index ease the process of curriculum integration.