What’s new in the Library

1. The library is an extension of the classroom

2. Information Literacy (or “Fluency”) leads to “deep” learning

3. Library resources can be used to support course objectives

Integrating Information Literacy to Improve Assignments

Jim McCloskey

Wilmington UniversityLibrary Director

“What can we do in class to help students learn outside of class?”

Ken Bain What the best college teachers do

Corridors of Conversation

We’re in this together:• Students• Instructors• Librarians

“Students didn’t learn how to read scholarly papers in grade school but they usually get little training beyond that level on how to read.”

Ken Bain What the best college teachers do

Deep Learning

1. Indication of sustained influence (“I can think through problems, arguments, evidence”)

2. Relate concepts & information to previous experience & learning

Natural Critical Learning Environment

Natural = students encounter the skills, habits, attitudes, & information they are trying to learn embedded in questions & tasks they find fascinating – authentic tasks that arouse curiosity

Natural Critical Learning Environment

Critical = students learn to think critically, to reason from evidence, to examine the quality of their reasoning, to make improvements while thinking, to ask probing/insightful questions about the thinking of others.

Scaffolding

We strive to provide a… “safe space in which to construct ideas”.

1. Intriguing, important and even beautiful problems to solve2. Opportunities to collaborate with other learners to grapple with

problems3. Work that is considered fairly & honestly4. Opportunities to try, fail, receive feedback separate from any

judgment on efforts

Help Students learn outside of class

“You have to be confused before you can reach a new level of understanding anything.”

Dudley Herschbach, Harvard Chemist

Information Literacy is

the ability to “recognize when information is needed” and “locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.”

“…a survival skill in the Information Age.”

ALA Presidential Committee on Information Literacy. Final Report. 1989

An information literate person is able to:

Determine the extent of information needed

Access needed information efficiently Evaluate information critically Use information to accomplish a purpose Use information ethically and legally

ACRL

Information Literacy includes:

Information-Seeking Skills Finding information Evaluating information Using information ethically Emphasis on critical discernment

Information Technology Skills Word processing Presentation software Spreadsheet software Database software

How do students become information literate?

“A well-designed resource-based

assignment is an excellent teaching tool. Effective assignments develop students’ research and information skills, critical thinking abilities, and subject knowledge.”

Terry Mech, Ed.D.

Information Literacy at WU

Basic skills integrated into English 101 Use of Library resources into course-related

assignments Information-Seeking Skills Assignment

Discipline-specific skills in the major Course-related assignments Instruction by liaison librarian Handouts, web pages, exercises

Information Literacy integrated into a required course:

o Nurs 305– Research Methods (S. Sharbaugh)

o Soc 331(J. Bishop)

o Bus Comm 320 (L. Fuller)

o Engl 102, 365 (N. Lebright)

o All English 101 sections

o Each course offers students an online Library Exercise

o Offers multiple attempts

o Minimum score of 80%

o Automated Grading

o Library Support

What course are you teaching?

Elective Introduction to the major Later course Capstone

Sample Assignments

Evaluate each of the following as an information literacy

assignment.

Term Paper

Write a 15-page paper about a topic of your choice.

Due: May 10

Term Paper (version 2)

Write a 15-page term paper on belt buckles.

Due: April 30

Conduct the research for a term paper. Do everything except write it.

At various stages, students submit:1. topic clearly defined2. annotated bibliography of useful sources3. outline of paper4. thesis statement5. opening paragraph and summary

Research Log Assignment: Keep a record of library research

including: databases consulted, keywords or headings searched (noting both successes and failures). Instructors can provide format so students understand how to structure their approach.

Purpose: Provides a good introduction to how information is organized in library db’s. Focuses on the importance of terminology. A good follow up would be a class discussion with a librarian about search techniques.

Compare Internet and Database Searches

Assignment: Provide a precise statement of the search topic. Run the search using a search engine (Yahoo, Google) and also on a Library database. Present some representation of the search results and compare the findings.

Purpose: Demonstrates the differences between these search tools in respect to content and search strategy.

Library Treasure Hunt

Find Library resources providing background information on the following:

Who was Paolo Lazzaroni? What year was the Emergency-Anti-terrorist

Law passed in Sweden? What is the Stern Gang? What happened at Entebbe? Who were the Tupamero guerillas? Describe 3 famous hijacking incidents.

Using Library Sources Assignment

Find a peer reviewed scholarly journal article on some aspect of infant development.

Do not use a web search engine. You must use a scholarly journal available through the library either in print or electronic. Use APA format indicating which library database used.

Affirmative Action Assignment

Read two articles on affirmative action available through the Library Database “Opposing Viewpoints”. Explain why some writers believe it should be abolished and others believe it to be useful. Evaluate both perspectives and give your own opinion in a 5-page paper.

Interdisciplinary Research Assignment

Research the topic child abuse prevention from the perspective of three different disciplines.

Find a scholarly journal article written by a psychologist (PsycINFO) a sociologist (Soc Index) a nurse (CINAHL)

Identify each author’s credentials. Compare and contrast the three different perspectives in

a 3-page paper. Use APA style to cite sources.

Learn to Use the Library Assignment

Your assignment is to attend a library instruction workshop to learn how to use library resources.

This will be useful when you have research assignments in your courses.

Environmental Issue Assignment Week 1: Choose an environmental issue you care

about. (Skim through Access Science Encyclopedia for ideas). Submit to instructor for approval.

Week 2: Research the issue and find: 2 Magazine articles (Academic Search Premier database) 2 Scholarly journal articles (Sage Journals Online) An advocacy web site (Google – limit to .org)Turn in a list of references in APA style.

Week 3: Develop a pamphlet on the issue addressing: A description of the problem or issue Why the general public should care A possible solution Recommended actionIncorporate some points you learned from your research.

Critical Evaluation: Focused Book Review Assignment

The Satanic Gases : Clearing the Air about Global Warming (2000) by Patrick Michaels and Robert Balling is a controversial book.

Find and read 4 substantial reviews of this book (500 words or more).

At least 2 must be from scientific journals. Look in Books in Print, Academic Search Premier, Choice

Reviews Online

Compare and contrast the reviews, and identify the credentials of each reviewer.

Juvenile Capital PunishmentYour assignment is to investigate capital

punishment of juvenile offenders and write an 8-page objective analysis.

Include in your analysis global, national, and state practices and laws editorial opinions from around the world court opinions arguments pro and con on this issue in terms of:

• Psychological development of juveniles (use primary research reports)

• Deterrence• Punishment

Blueprint for Successful Assignments

1. Have clear objectives2. Make it realistic3. Have students generate a product4. Make it challenging—Something to be proud of!5. Provide clear instructions6. Give lots of guidance and feedback7. Make it a heavily weighted & graded assignment

Avoid these common problems

Students forbidden to use anything from the Internet, when in fact many scholarly resources are only available online in library db’s.

An entire class looking for one piece of information or researching the same specific topic; especially difficult when printed materials are involved.

Students required to use printed materials the library does not own (or does own, but not in sufficient quantity), or online sources they are not licensed to access.

Students assigned excessively vague or general topics, e.g., "women in America," without guidance on narrowing a topic.

Students given obscure trivia questions and told to find the answers.

New Library Resources

•Opposing Viewpoints•Sage Journals Online•360 Link