:Bats (Y8)
Trend Task
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Approach: Station Level: Year 8
Focus: Information sources, search processing and reporting findings
Resources: Video recording on laptop computer, cartoon card
640KB
Questions / instructions:
pic1 pic2 pic3 pic4
[Video shows four still cartoons in sequence, identical to the cartoon card above;
voice-over same as text shown. Click to enlarge images]

This activity uses the computer.
Click on the button that says Bats.
The video will play.
Calvin has to do a project study about bats. He asks Hobbes to help him. Hobbes asks YOU! Hobbes wants a step-by-step list which tells:

• where he and Calvin can go for information
• what they should do to find information on bats
• what to do with the information when they find it.

Write a step-by-step list of what they should do. Write them in the order they should be done.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
   
   
% responses
2005 ('01)
Y8

mentioned initial thought about what information was going to be needed or useful

  
18 (8)
Sources mentioned:
computer (internet, computer encyclopaedia, etc)
  
70 (51)
 
encyclopaedia (book or not specified)
 
17 (16)
library
 
74 (87)
zoo, museum, information centre
 
11 (7)
experts (museum curator, zookeeper,biologist)
  
7 (8)
teacher, family, friends
 
21 (12)
fieldwork finding and looking at bats
 
3 (4)
Searching process and resources:
clear account of good searching procedures for more than one resource
 
1 (0)
 
clear account of good searching procedure for one resource
 
9 (14)
vague
 
15 (14)
none
 
75 (72)
Uses of information:
evaluating merit of information
 
11 (11)
 
after some information has been gathered, thinking about gaps still needing information
 
6 (1)
note taking
 
40 (31)
printing (computer) or photocopying
 
9 (8)
organising, structuring information
 
25 (13)
discarding less useful information
 
6 (6)
writing a report
 
45 (36)
editing the draft
 
12 (14)
getting feedback from others
 
2 (2)
producing a final copy (publishing)
 
37 (31)
presenting report orally
 
6 (4)
prettying up
 
22 (10)
Order of list made logical sense
 
53 (44)
Total score:
11–24
 
3 (0)
9–10
 
9 (7)
7–8
 
19 (12)
5–6
 
29 (24)
3–4
 
25 (37)
0–2
 
15 (20)

Commentary:
Year 8 students placed much greater emphasis on using internet or computer resources in 2005 than in 2001, with a smaller decline in emphasis on library use. Overall, performance was a little higher in 2005 than in 2001.

 
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