Improving Student Outcomes through Information Literacy Competencies and
Online Library Services
Rubén García García, Ph.D.UPR - Medical Sciences Campus
Maria del Pilar Toral, Ph.D.University of Puerto Rico at Carolina
This presentation will describe how two campuses a public university: Increased students’ competencies in the
use of information technologies and resources
Provided training and support to faculty in integrating information technology, and
Increased online information literacy resources, among others.
AbstractAbstract
• Learn how two different university campuses worked together to provide needed support services and resources to faculty and students
• Train and support faculty in the integration of information literacy in the teaching/learning process
• Establish steps for the development and implementation of an online reference service
ObjectivesObjectives
• Two Title V Cooperative Grants (5 yrs. each) between the UPR at Carolina and UPR Medical Sciences Campus
• (2005-2010 - Grant #P031S050055) - ““Enhancement of the Teaching-Learning Process through Integration of Technology and Information Literacy””
(2006-2011 - Grant #P031S060003) “Improving Student Learning Outcomes through Extensive Assessment, Faculty Development, and Improvement of Library and Telecommunications Infrastructure”
• Director/Co-director: Dr. María del Pilar Toral (UPRC)
Director/Co-director: Dr. Rubén García (RCM)• Components: Four
Common Significant Problems• Libraries have fiscal constraints that limit their
development and capacity to acquire new databases, technologies, and online services.
• Faculty and students do not have online access to library resources, which prevents them from obtaining timely and adequate information for their courses and research.
• A critical need to provide information literacy skills to address students’ needs.
• Faculty evidence uneven levels of mastery in the incorporation of information literacy in the curricula.
Objectives and StrategiesObjectives and Strategies
1. Increase student’s proficiency in the use of library resources. Create 9 information literacy online
tutorials - available through libraries’ Web pages Workshop for librarians - Information
Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education
Committee - Determine tutorials’ criteria ** and priorities **
Objectives and StrategiesObjectives and Strategies (cont.) (cont.)
Create 9 information literacy tutorials (cont.)
Training - Interested librarians must submit a proposal and take a series of 5 workshops - offered at both campuses• Parts of a Tutorial • Edition of digital videos• Working with digital images• Captivate - part I and II
Objectives and StrategiesObjectives and Strategies (cont.) (cont.)
Basic, intermediate and advanced level tutorials - to acknowledge the development of the initial, intermediate and advanced levels of competencies according to the “Big 6”
Support staff:• Instructional Designer• Graphic artist
2. Increase student’s information literacy skills by embedding information literacy competencies in course syllabi (baseline=0) Training - faculty and librarians must take a
series of 3 workshops - offered at both campuses: Integrating information literacy skills in the course syllabus - Part 1, 2, 3
Objectives and StrategiesObjectives and Strategies (cont.) (cont.)
Faculty submits an information literacy plan and the course syllabus
Works with a librarian $$ 14 faculty have embedded information
literacy competencies in their course’s syllabi
Objectives and StrategiesObjectives and Strategies (cont.) (cont.)
3. Increase the availability of online library resources and services. Redesign of libraries’ Web pages according to
current standards Offer online reference desk - first in P.R. to offer
this service Survey to identify faculty and student
preferences Identified equipment, software, human
resources needed
Objectives and StrategiesObjectives and Strategies (cont.) (cont.)
Committee established virtual reference policy’s mission, vision, philosophy, and implementation strategy
Established the Online Reference Policy
Identified 24/7 QuestionPoint (virtual reference service - http://questionpoint.org/) and created the “profile” for each library - information on services offered and hours of operation (chat)
Objectives and StrategiesObjectives and Strategies (cont.) (cont.)
Hired two online reference librarians (UPRC and MSC) - Provide online service to faculty and students using email and chat. (Assistant librarians and other librarians also collaborate)
Provided orientation to students and faculty Published library’ FAQs on each library’s
Web page
Objectives and StrategiesObjectives and Strategies (cont.) (cont.)
Served: 1,984 Jan/07- Sept/09 (email and chat)
On March 2009 two other campuses of the UPR joined the consortium (Arecibo and Humacao).
Expected: entire UPR System will contribute - eventually services will be offered 24/7.
Objectives and StrategiesObjectives and Strategies (cont.) (cont.)
3. Increase the availability of online library resources and services (cont.)
Provide additional online full text electronic journals databases RefWorks - a Web-based bibliographic
management service (http://refworks.com/)• Workshops for students and faculty• References added: 30, 414 June/06 - June/09
SportDiscus - health education, disabled persons, rehabilitation, etc.• Used: 79,568 July/07 - March/09
Objectives and StrategiesObjectives and Strategies (cont.) (cont.)
3. Increase the availability of online library resources and services (cont.) Digitize reserve and audiovisual library
resources• Purchase equipment and servers• Hire an assistant librarian and an audiovisual
technician (other personnel also collaborate)• Determine specific policies and procedures
according to Copyright law
Objectives and StrategiesObjectives and Strategies (cont.) (cont.)
• Resources digitized, catalogued, indexed, and available online through Horizon system• Online reserve service - more than 1,500
documents available online – i.e. MSC, 73 professors; 88 courses; 1,147 documents
Objectives and StrategiesObjectives and Strategies (cont.) (cont.)
Digitalization of audiovisual materials• Established priorities - MSC’s original
and historic resources (2,095 videos)• Tests on network traffic and bandwidth• Original formats: VHS, slides, SVHS,
3/4”, 16mm, and 8 mm• 746 VHS A/V resources digitized
Objectives and StrategiesObjectives and Strategies (cont.) (cont.)
4. Increase and improve the technological and telecommunications infrastructure and resources Technological infrastructure necessary to
digitize library resources and to enhance the online services
Provide an Information Literacy Laboratory - 30 computers and a smartboard (UPRC’s library)
Objectives and StrategiesObjectives and Strategies (cont.) (cont.)
4. Increase and improve the technological and telecommunications infrastructure and resources (cont.) Provide computer rooms - 68 computers (UPR-MSC’s library) Main Lobby (6)
Objectives and StrategiesObjectives and Strategies (cont.) (cont.)
Computer Room (12)
Objectives and StrategiesObjectives and Strategies (cont.) (cont.)
Training Center (30 laptops)
Objectives and StrategiesObjectives and Strategies (cont.) (cont.)
Training Center 2 (20)
Objectives and StrategiesObjectives and Strategies (cont.) (cont.)
Funded by Title V
U.S. Department of Education
Grants P031S050055 and P031S060003
• Rubén García García, Ph.D.• UPR - Medical Sciences Campus• [email protected]
Maria del Pilar Toral, Ph.D.University of Puerto Rico at Carolina
Criteria for Tutorials
• Must follow the “Big 6” Model (ACRL’s Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education)
• Clear stated objectives• Pre and post tests• Links to external resources• Pertinent to students from both campuses• State approximate time for completion
• State the level of complexity - basic, intermediate, advanced (According to Middle States Commission on Higher Education - “Developing Research and Communication Skills - 2003”)
• In Spanish
• Clear instructions on how to complete the tutorial **
Criteria for Tutorials (cont.)
Tutorial Priorities
• APA• Preparing (writing) an academic paper• Defining a research idea• Evaluating information - online and written• Using the database interface - strengths and
limitations of different journal databases• How to take conference/research notes
• Preventing plagiarism• Internet search engines• Strategies for internet searching
(Boolean operators, etc.)• How to use Refworks **
Tutorial Priorities (cont.)
Top Related