Information Competence: A Forum Series for High Schools

Project Rational | School Visits | First Forum | Second Forum | Third Forum | Handbook

With funding from the CSU Information Competence Initiative the Information Competence for High Schools (ICHS) project developed and implemented a series of forums for the North San Diego County High Schools that prepare students to attend our institutions. Participants in these forums included teams of administrators, teachers and librarians from our feeder schools. These forums presented the concepts of Information Competence, initiated a dialog between our feeder schools and ourselves, and presented expectations of student information skills and research behavior from the University and Community College perspective.

California State University San Marcos has a long-established relationship with the two community colleges in North San Diego County, Palomar College and MiraCosta College. The North County Higher Education Alliance (NCHEA) is a formal organization with an appointed board that meets regularly. It joins our institutions into a working group that actively implements cross-campus professional development workshops, support grant development, sponsors teleconferences, and provides a forum for discussion of issues affecting all campuses. The NCHEA libraries have a tradition of cooperation including regular meetings, cross-campus library privileges and collaboration on issues affecting members.

This project was conducted simultaneously by:

CSUSM         CSU Northridge           CSU Dominguez Hills

Project Rational

Understanding research is a critical concept for a successful student. Moreover it is essential for students coming to the university to grasp the fundamentals of a university library. Although many are familiar with their school or public libraries they are nonetheless intimidated by an academic library. As information professionals we are discouraged to see students labeled "remedial" because their research skills are deficient. We see capable students enter our classes and our libraries who have not been instructed in the complexities surrounding the research and the writing process. Rather than sending the problem away, we want to initiate a dialog with our colleagues in the high schools to address this problem. We propose a structure for conversation and for action, a discussion and a plan to be implemented and assessed.

For More Information Contact:

Gabriela Sonntag, Project Director
CSUSM
(760) 750-4356
gsg@mailhost1.csusm.edu

Page contact: Gabriela Sonntag
Last Edited:11/16/98