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Developing Students' Critical Thinking with Gale In Context

In an era marked by the rapid dissemination of information—often unreliable—educators face a significant challenge in equipping students with the necessary skills to navigate this complex landscape. The Boise School District in Idaho is taking substantial steps to achieve this by integrating Gale In Context, a dynamic suite of online databases, into its curriculum. This initiative aims to foster critical thinking and information literacy among students, preparing them for the demands of the 21st century.

A Focus on Information Literacy

With the internet inundated with a variety of misleading or inaccurate information, understanding how to discern fact from fiction has become an essential skill. The resources provided by Gale In Context are designed to help Boise High School students hone their analytical capabilities when it comes to assessing the information they encounter online. Natasha Rush, a qualified librarian at Boise High School, emphasizes the significance of critical thinking: "We have a goal at Boise School District to create future-ready students so they can find good information and use critical thinking skills to be productive members of society."

The integration of Gale databases into classrooms allows students to access current, relevant, and authoritative content, making research both effective and versatile. Rush collaborates closely with English Language Arts and social studies teachers to ensure that all instructional staff are equipped to utilize Gale's resources, thus creating an enriched learning environment for students across various disciplines.

Tools for Enhanced Learning

Gale In Context stands out due to its versatile features tailored to meet educational needs, including:

• - Curated, Grade-Appropriate Content: Age-appropriate materials that ensure reliability and relevance across subjects.
• - Built-in Scaffolding: Tools that assist students in quickly scanning and evaluating sources.
• - Citation Tools: Easily formatted citations that streamline the research process, compatible with citation services like EasyBib or NoodleTools.
• - Integration with Google and Microsoft: Seamless access to collaboration tools that foster sharing and storing information efficiently.
• - Topic Browse Searching: Designed for intuitive searching, this feature enables students to analyze diverse sources effortlessly, allowing for comparison and critical analysis of different information.

These tools not only help students learn to engage with their subjects at a deeper level but also nurture skills that are vital in evaluating the credibility of various sources.

Encouraging Civic Engagement

Located near the State Capitol, Boise High's students are particularly engaged with governmental issues. "My kids are passionate about the issues affecting them and have a strong desire to be active citizens," Rush says. However, this desire is often met with the challenge of navigating an online environment saturated with misinformation. Gale In Context acts as a guiding framework for students, or "training wheels" as Rush describes it, allowing them to cross-verify information from social media with credible sources from the Gale databases.

This skill—to assess the source of information critically—is emphasized as an essential competency that influences not just students' academic success but their societal participation as well. Rush notes the long-term importance of teaching students responsible information handling skills: "The amount of information they have access to is only going to increase, and teaching them how to handle that responsibly is of the utmost importance."

A Community Embracing Change

The Boise School District has seen a positive reception of Gale In Context among educators who recognize its pivotal role in classroom success. Erin Downey, a district librarian, highlights the need for access to credible and organized resources: "It's crucial to ensure teachers and students have access to a variety of supplemental materials that are credible and traced to reputable sources."

Gale In Context has built a legacy of supporting academic achievement and cultivating future-ready skills through its engaging format and easy access to a wealth of information. A recent study revealed that 91 percent of educators observed a marked improvement in their students' research skills following exposure to Gale's databases, suggesting a clear impact on their academic work and personal development.

Conclusion

As the Boise School District continues to embrace this innovative approach to teaching, it sets a clear example of how education can evolve in response to the information age's challenges. By leveraging Gale In Context, the district not only enriches the educational experience but also prepares students to thrive in a complex world that demands high levels of information literacy and critical thinking abilities.