Ban Those Bird Units! 15 Models For Teaching and Learning in Information-rich and Technology-rich Environments

David V. Loertscher, Carol Koechlin, and Sandi Zwaan; Hi Willow Research and Publishing; 2004; ISBN 978-1-933170-11-4

Bird Units are fill-in-the-blank library assignments, or reports; the result of which is copying or outright plagiarism. This book provides ways to ban such low-level activities and replace them with exciting learning experiences and link the library and technology into achievement. Models, sample units, forms, and links to popular educational practices such as Understanding by Design are provided. The models work K-12 and across all disciplines. They work when teachers are interested in going beyond the textbook and the lecture. They work extremely well in differentiated instruction and in classrooms where the students cannot understand the textbook. The models show how to integrate information literacy and technology into learning topics based on state standards. The book is a companion work to Build Your Own Information Literate School. It's a guide for teachers as much as it is for librarians and technology specialists. Great for plannig collaborative units and doing professional development with teachers.