Improving Research Skills

This term the Nicholas Library has been closely collaborating with the English Faculty on the Extended Investigation Unit for Year 10 students.

It has been a pleasure to develop the research skills of our students with a view to long-term benefits for their senior years at School and future tertiary education.

Despite being digital citizens who have grown up in a time when access to information has been easier than in any previous era, it is surprising how many students still rely on Google searches for their primary or sole source of research materials.

As part of the new Year 10 Extended Investigation Unit, students have been:

• Introduced to the Library’s extensive collection of digital research databases;
• Guided through processes to become more critical and discerning users of information; and
• Opened to the world of academic writing, citation and referencing.

The positive feedback from students regarding their increased confidence in conducting research, and being able to locate information, affirms the value of developing sound skills ahead of VCE and their future academic learning.

Book Week

The Children’s Book Council of Australia Book Week 2021 was held from 24 to 27 August.

Each year this is an opportunity for libraries throughout Australia to celebrate and share our love of reading and storytelling.

Although COVID-19 forced the cancellation of many of our planned activities, the Nicholas Library was still able to run some online events including a Mix ‘n’ Match competition, where students enjoyed matching their teachers to a favourite book and a photo of their bookshelf. This competition provided opportunities for conversations about reading and also required a level of detective work on the part of the students. Congratulations go to Ava Colosimo (Year 10) and Angela Yu (Year 11) for placing equal first in this competition.

On Friday 27 August we celebrated with a Harry Potter Trivia Quiz. Enthusiastic Potter fans, amongst both staff and students, pitted their knowledge against one another in a lunchtime online quiz. Well done to Opal Scheele (Year 7) for winning first place with her impressive knowledge of J.K. Rowling’s much-loved books.