Figure 1. Students' Confidence at the Start of the Assignment [Back to Top]
Figure 2. Student Views on the PLUS Booklet and Its Effect on Their Confidence [Back to Top]
Figure 3. Students' Positive Views on Brainstorming [Back to Top]
Figure 4. Students' Negative Views on Brainstorming and Concept Mapping [Back to Top]
Figure 5. Students' Views on Note Taking [Back to Top]
Figure 6. Students Reasons for Preferring to Use Web Sites [Back to Top]
Appendix A. The PLUS Model [Back to Top]
The blue arrows above show the linear progression which a student with highly developed information skills may make. The red arrows show the steps back which many students will have to make during the course of an assignment.
Appendix B. Student Questionnaire [Back to Top]
1. You were given advice on PLUS to help you do your Sound Technology assignment. How did you use this advice when you were doing your assignment?
2. Were you given enough advice to help you with your assignment?
Yes No (Please circle)
If you circled NO, what you would you have liked more help with?
3. How did you feel when you started your sound technology assignment? (Please circle ONE only)
a) I was very confident I could write a good assignment
b) I was quite confident I could write a good assignment
c) I wasn't sure if I could write a good assignment
d) I didn't think I'd be able to write a good assignment
4. When you used the PLUS booklet, did it (Please circle ONE only)
a) Make you feel more confident about doing a good assignment
b) Make you feel less confident about doing a good assignment
c) Have no effect on how you did the assignment
Please explain why you felt this way about the PLUS booklet.
5. When you did brainstorming, what did you like about it (list up to three things you liked)
a)
b)
c)
6. When you did brainstorming, what did you NOT like about it? (List up to 3 things you did not like)
a)
b)
c)
7. After your brainstorming, you did some preliminary reading round your topic and then you made a list of terms to use to skim and scan (keywords) for information on your topic. How did this help with your project. Please circle one or more
a) It helped me identify the right keywords to use to find information
b) It helped me find the right information sources
c) It helped me take notes
d) It helped me write my project
Please write other ways you thought your preliminary reading and keywords helped you in your work :
8. When you got into one of the books or websites you chose to look at, what did you do first? (Please circle one)
a) I read it all the way through
b) I skimmed through it to see what it was all about
c) I scanned it to see if it had any of the keywords I was looking for
d) I looked for photographs and illustrations
e) Other (please explain)
9. If you found something on a Web site or in a book that you didn't understand, what would you do? (Please circle one)
a) I'd read on to if there was a better explanation later on
b) I'd ignore it
c) I'd leave that site or try another website or book
d) I'd use a dictionary or encyclopaedia in the library
e) I'd … (Please write what you'd do in your own words)
10. How did you take notes from the books or Web sites you looked at? (Please circle one)
a) I wrote notes in my own words in my jotter
b) I wrote notes in my own words in Word/Notepad
c) I cut and pasted sections into Word/Notepad
d) Other (Please explain)
Please explain why your prefer to take notes in this way
11. When you wrote your assignment, roughly how much of your information came from Web sites you used and how much from books/journals in the school library or outside?
Books/journals _____%
Web sites _____%
12. How do you feel about using Web sites instead of books/journals (Please circle ONE)
a) I prefer to use websites
b) I prefer to use books/journals
c) I don't mind which ones I use
Please explain why you feel this way about using websites and books/journals.