Presented by: EBSCO and School Library Journal Event Date and Time: Thursday, April 10, 2025 | 2:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM PT
How can school libraries foster student curiosity and engagement in research? At Saint Mary's Hall in San Antonio, National History Day (NHD) provides a powerful model. All freshmen spend the first quarter of their high school career developing their NHD entry, exploring historical events of their choosing and taking ownership of their learning. Join the webinar to learn how this initiative nurtures a dynamic learning community and supports student-driven inquiry.
We’ll also explore how library databases can play a key role in student research by offering intuitive browsing features that spark curiosity and help students discover topics they might not have considered. By incorporating choice and ownership into the research process, librarians can empower students to ask better questions, engage more deeply with their sources, and develop a lasting enthusiasm for learning.
After this session, you will be able to:
Understand the goals and impact of National History Day at Saint Mary’s Hall
Explain the role of student choice and ownership in fostering deeper engagement with research
Identify strategies for using topic browsing in library databases to spark student curiosity and exploration
Apply insights to create similar research-driven experiences in your own school library
Presenters:
Gerri Walls, MSLS, School Librarian & Instructional Technologist, Saint Mary’s Hall