Why to cite sources?

 

Elise Barbeau from EasyBib.com gives good reasons why citing sources is the essential component of every research project:

• Students differentiate their ideas from the thoughts of other authors.
• By providing the credits, students place their intellectual contributions in a broader context of the subject area.
• Having many citations from credible sources means that students have conducted a research on a well-known topic, and the readers can check facts and keep researching on the topic.
• Students won't be accused of academic dishonesty.
• Students add weight to their thoughts and ideas. By citing sources, they show that these ideas are based on reliable sources and win over the readers.
• By citing sources, students demonstrate their understanding of the ethical use of information.
• With reading every new source, students become better researchers and deeper learners. They know more about the subject of their research.
 (Adapted from Why citations matter: A Lesson in Preventing "Alternative Facts". http://www.easybib.com/guides/why-citations-matter/?utm_campaign).

3D printer in action

 

3D printers have been popular in the library. Students watch printers making objects with a great delight. Students from GAIA and coding class design their own articles and wait impatiently to see what comes out!

Sammy and her coing class watch the printer make a chess piece in green.

Three indispensable words for an A+ research

Andrea Boone (@Boonebraska)

When your teacher announces a research project you know what to do! You quickly open your laptop and Google, then copy information found online and paste it in your research paper.

It's very unsophisticated! However, let's pause for a minute and reflect on how the research process is different from a book report. 

A report is a review of what others have written or spoken about a topic. They may describe what they have observed, heard, done, or investigated, and present a  summary of arguments of other authors on the topic. A report is a description and communication of what others had said. You present a book report or make a lab report to describe what was read or steps were taken.

When you're assigned a research you are asked to answer a question or solve a problem. This task is deeper than just finding what others had said. You are expected to think and investigate on the subject to discover or revise facts and their applications to real life. It always requires fact-finding and their evaluation, examination, and analysis.

You then present the results of the research and your ideas in a structured research paper where you review the materials written about a topic, draw your own conclusions, and argue your point.

Knowing the difference between a report, research and learning how to present the results in writing is the first step toward making your research an A+ paper. Start it right!

Read for the Fun of It! Responses

Thank you for kindly providing us feedback through your participation in a "Read for the Fun of It" survey conducted during the Library Read Week. 

Since the survey addresses reading habits and preferences, your answers are very valuable to present our community as readers. 

Your responses summarized in the slideshow below present the diverse interests and tastes of the WBAIS community. 

One of the questions asked which writer you would most like to have dinner with. You replied that it would be fascinating to converse with modern classic and the world-wide acclaimed authors. 

The survey also showed that the library of the future will stock books in print, however, digital formats will prevail. In addition, there will be boundless areas for social interaction and creative activities.

We also learned that our first exposure to books was through our loved ones who read us aloud. 

Lastly, it was brought to light that reading in a quiet and cozy place, on a couch or in a garden, brings us the most pleasure and satisfaction.  

To see all the responses click here or look at the slideshow below.

Archaeological Site Beit Guvrin

At the end of October, 6th graders visited Beit Guvrin, a National Park in the south of Israel that encompasses Moresha, one of the important towns of ancient Israel known in Biblical times.

Students didn’t mind to make their hands dirty while digging two ancient caves of the past. This time, in the layers of the past, they found unique artifacts that surprised even professional archaeologists!

To understand the significance of hands-on experiences and the importance of excavated remains, students learned about archaeology before the field trip in their Humanities class with Mr. Goury and Ms. Brodsky. They examined how science helped understand human history and got an idea about how to see the culture through the material objects.

In groups, students composed  “trash bags”. They collected everyday objects that would help archaeologists of the future discern the life of nowadays. Students described the items as if they were the archaeologists, presented them in class, and brainstormed about what could be learned about the 21st century from these artifacts.

The engaging activity made students think of their responsibilities for the future, the importance of taking care and preserving the environment and leaving positive footprints.  Students practiced other essential skills. The work on the mini project encouraged kids to be insightful strategic researchers and effective collaborators. Being an effective communicator, able to listen  and understand, take turns and respect others are crucial in a profile of every individual.

Favorite Book of the year

At WBAIS, students make a tough choice: Which book out of nominated ten is the most favorite this year?
Based on 104 responses that we've got last Wednesday, the winners are:

Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows: Harry Potter #7 by J. K. Rowling is leading.

 

 Third place is shared between 

  

Vote for the book

The list of TEN TOP BOOKS is now displayed on a Middle School bulletin board.

Start reading from the list to get ready to vote during

Library Read Week "Read for the fun of it", that we celebrate on the week of October 30 - November 4, 2016.