Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Advancing Digital Skills For Problem Solving In Technology-Rich Environments, Jill Castek, Gloria Jacobs

Presentations and Publications

Digital and disciplinary literacies are not simply tools or cognitive behaviors. They have the potential to provide opportunities for students to better understand themselves, their communities, and their world. The presentation examines ways of conceptualizing and understanding digital literacies and disciplinary learning and consider implications for teacher education and community outreach efforts.

Examining Adult Learners’ Digital Problem Solving In Libraries Using A Learning Typology, Jill Castek, Amy Honisett

Presentations and Publications

In this presentation, we shared our emerging findings around what constitutes digital problem solving and the approaches and strategies digital problem solvers use.

Librarians As Campus Partners: Supporting Culturally Responsive And Inclusive Curriculum, Kimberly D. Pendell, Robert Schroeder

Library Faculty Publications and Presentations

Diversity and inclusion initiatives are expanding on campuses across the United States. These initiatives can take many forms, such as the hiring and retention of diverse faculty, student recruitment, and a thoughtful examination of pedagogy and course curriculum. As a librarian, you may be aware of these efforts, but perhaps not as directly involved as disciplinary faculty, particularly in regards to course curriculum development and redesign. How librarians can participate and support this work on our campuses is not always clear; however, we found fertile opportunities for librarian involvement and leadership.

Research Models, Primo [Psu Library Catalog], And The First Year Experience, Kimberly Willson-St. Clair

Library Faculty Publications and Presentations

Research can be daunting for freshman who are challenged to gather scholarly information beyond Google for their research projects. Applying and blending two research models, ASE (Analyze, Search, Evaluate) with BEAM (Background, Exhibit, Argument, and Method), students can think critically about their topics and strategically search PRIMO for relevant results. This approach addresses several ACRL Framework threshold concepts, especially research as strategic exploration and scholarship as conversation. In this presentation, I will show how effective Primo can be for first year experience students especially in regards to discovering keywords, understanding and organizing citations, finding relevant scholarly resources, and discovering other …

Revisiting Metacognition And Metaliteracy In The Acrl Framework, Diane M. Fulkerson, Susan Andriette Ariew, Trudi E. Jacobson

Communications in Information Literacy

In the early drafts of the Information Literacy Framework for Higher Education, metaliteracy and metacognition contributed several guiding principles in recognition of the fact that information literacy concepts need to reflect students' roles as creators and participants in research and scholarship. The authors contend that diminution of metaliteracy and metacognition occurred during later revisions of the Framework and thus diminished the document's usefulness as a teaching tool. This article highlights the value of metaliteracy and metacognition in order to support the argument that these concepts are critical to information literacy today, and that the language of these concepts should be …

In Bed With The Library: A Critical Exploration Of Embedded Librarianship At The City University Of New York, Nora Almeida, Julia Pollack

Communications in Information Literacy

This project considers the efficacy and scalability of embedded librarianship initiatives within the City University of New York (CUNY) library system and presents findings of an original research study conducted in 2015. Through an analysis of recent LIS literature on embedment, response data from a survey of librarians, and a selection of library position descriptions, this article examines the implications of embedment practices for librarians and libraries. By shedding light on the extent and context of embedment, the platforms used in virtual embedment scenarios, and obstacles that librarians presently face, this study aims to pinpoint strategies for embedded librarianship initiatives …

Creative Approaches To Information Literacy For Creative Arts Students, Leo Appleton, Gustavo Grandal Montero, Abigail Jones

Communications in Information Literacy

This paper discusses the information literacy requirements of art and design students, and how traditional approaches to information literacy education are not always appropriate for these particular students. The paper argues that different, creative, and innovative approaches to information literacy training need to be developed with the specific learning styles of this group of students in mind and that using a radical information literacy approach, incorporating the specific nature of the art and design information landscape, enables this. Using the University of the Arts London (UAL) as a specific art and design higher education institution, the paper shares three separate …

Using The Acrl Framework To Develop A Student-Centered Model For Program-Level Assessment, Rachel Wilder Gammons, Lindsay Taylor Inge

Communications in Information Literacy

Information literacy instruction presents a difficult balance between quantity and quality, particularly for large-scale general education courses. This paper discusses the overhaul of the freshman composition instruction program at the University of Maryland Libraries, focusing on the transition from survey assessments to a student-centered and mixed-methods approach using qualitative reflections, rubrics, and the evaluation of student artifacts. The article discusses the progression from a pilot assessment program using Twitter as a data collection model to the implementation of a robust and multi-layered assessment using both qualitative feedback from students and the evaluation of student artifacts. Each assessment includes detailed collection …

Guided Resource Inquiries: Integrating Archives Into Course Learning And Information Literacy Objectives, Ellen E. Jarosz, Stephen Kutay

Communications in Information Literacy

At California State University, Northridge (CSUN), many students lack the skills needed to locate, analyze, and apply essential contexts associated with primary sources. Using these sources requires critical inquiry, which is a fundamental theme in pedagogy, the California State University system's Core Competencies, and the Association of College and Research Libraries Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education. The authors piloted a Guided Resource Inquiry (GRI) tool that enables teaching faculty and librarians to create course assignments integrating online primary sources. These assignments deliver relevant information literacy tutorials to students using a single interface. With the GRI students better understood …

Embracing Challenges In Times Of Change: A Survey Of The Readiness Of Academic Librarians In New Jersey For Transition To The Acrl Framework, Leslin H. Charles

Communications in Information Literacy

Many academic librarians in the state of New Jersey (NJ) have successfully integrated information literacy (IL) into the curriculum using the ACRL IL Competency Standards for Higher Education (Standards). These Standards formed the underpinnings of IL curriculum mapping and assessment plans, and have been adopted by administrators in higher education institutions across the state. The advent of the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education (Framework) prompted the author to survey IL coordinators to investigate how their institutions are embracing the opportunities presented by the challenge of looking at IL through this new lens. This paper presents a snapshot …

Frame Works: Using Metaphor In Theory And Practice In Information Literacy, Wendy Holliday

Communications in Information Literacy

The ACRL Framework for Information Literacy in Higher Education generated a large amount of discourse during its development and adoption. All of this discourse is rich in metaphoric language that can be used as a tool for critical reflection on teaching and learning, information literacy, and the nature and role of theory in the practice of teaching librarians. This article explores the metaphoric entailments of the Framework as a way to deepen our understandings and practices of information literacy.

Book Review: Emerging Strategies For Supporting Student Learning, Renae Newhouse

Communications in Information Literacy

No abstract provided.

Book Review: Information Literacy: Research And Collaboration Across The Disciplines, Carrie Forbes

Communications in Information Literacy

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Book Review: Teaching Information Literacy Reframed: 50+ Framework-Based Exercises For Creating Information Literate-Learners, Tish Hayes

Communications in Information Literacy

No abstract provided.

Asking Questions In The Classroom: An Exploration Of Tools And Techniques Used In The Library Instruction Classroom, Sara Maurice Whitver, Leo S. Lo

Communications in Information Literacy

This study explores the tools and techniques used within the library instruction classroom to facilitate a conversation about teaching practices. Researchers focused on the questioning methods employed by librarians, specifically the number of questions asked by librarians and students. This study was comprised of classroom observations of a team of librarians working towards standardized learning outcomes; members of the team had the freedom to independently develop lesson plans and choose teaching approaches for each class. Observations measured the frequency of questions asked of and answered by librarians and students in library instruction sessions via oral discussion, worksheets, and polling. Researchers …

Reorienting An Information Literacy Program Toward Social Justice: Mapping The Core Values Of Librarianship To The Acrl Framework, Lua Gregory, Shana Higgins

Communications in Information Literacy

Since the publication of the Association of College and Research Libraries' (ACRL) Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education librarians have grappled with the purposes, impact, and meaning of this teaching document for their daily instructional practice, for curriculum development, and for institutional and programmatic assessment goals. A strength of the Framework is its emphasis on context, an emphasis aligned with the goals of critical pedagogy and one that acknowledges investment in specific community needs. This article reflects on an attempt to contextualize the Framework for an information literacy program concerned with social justice and student agency by connecting it …

Connecting Information Literacy And Social Justice: Why And How, Laura Saunders

Communications in Information Literacy

Libraries have a long, though not uncomplicated, history with social justice and social advocacy. The new ACRL Framework for Information Literacy, which is more conceptual and flexible than the original Standards, offers an opportunity for librarians to approach teaching and learning from a social justice perspective. Indeed, the Framework integrates social justice and anti-oppression into some of its frames. This essay will examine the reasons for approaching information literacy from a social justice perspective and will analyze the opportunities and limitations of the new Framework with regard to social justice issues. It concludes with a proposal for a new frame, …

From Digital Literacies To Digital Problem Solving: Expanding Technology-Rich Learning Opportunities For Adults, Tyler Frank, Jill Castek

Presentations and Publications

A window into an adult basic education (ABE) class shows several learners typing essays on laptops. Suddenly one student throws her hands up in the air loudly exclaiming, “I didn’t do anything! The computer just erased everything! It wasn’t me, it was the computer!” This scenario is all too familiar with new-to-computer users. Over time, this learner has developed more confidence and digital literacies, and has since passed the Language Arts GED test. However the technology skills needed in the workplace and in daily life go beyond those needed for test taking. Yet computers in adult education classrooms are most …

Research Into Action: Skills Assessment And Training To Support A Digital Equity Action Plan, Cindy Gibbon, Jill Castek

Presentations and Publications

This presentation focuses on digital problem solving skills in libraries.

Digital Equity In Libraries: Understanding The Problem Solving Skills Of Adults, Jill Castek, Gloria Jacobs, Cindy Gibbon

Presentations and Publications

Webinar introduces the purpose of the project as it relates to the collaboration between the library and researchers. The webinar also shares where the project is at with data collection and what it means.

Teaching For Digital Equity: Examining Digital Problem Solving In A Public Library, Jill Castek, Gloria Jacobs

Presentations and Publications

Presentation focuses on emerging findings around what constitutes digital problem solving and the approaches and strategies digital problem solvers use.

Examining Digital Problem Solving Skills In Libraries To Promote Digital Equity, Gloria Jacobs, Jill Castek

Presentations and Publications

This presentation was part of the digital skills and inequality session and focuses digital problem solving and the approaches and strategies digital problem solvers use.

Understanding Our Patrons’ Needs In Order To Thrive Together In A Digital Environment, Amy Honisett, Cindy Gibbon

Presentations and Publications

Data from the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) shows that adults in the US are less skilled in digital problem solving than in many other countries. As more of our communication, creation and learning moves online, how do we help our patrons thrive in a new environment, and how do we transform our training and resources so the library thrives, too?

We used a digital problem solving assessment tool from PIAAC to find out if our patrons’ skills matched up with national data, and we mapped the digital skills we assessed to common library tasks. Results …

Developing Sustainable Partnerships To Advance Digital Equity, Jill Castek, Cindy Gibbon, Gloria Jacobs

Presentations and Publications

In the early 2000s, inequities surrounding affordable Internet access brought the digital divide into public consciousness. Over time, practitioners and researchers working to address this divide have revealed a persistent, wider gap that includes inequities in social support networks (DiMaggio & Hargittai, 2001). Jenkins et al. (2006) identified a participation gap in using and interacting with digital tools. Evolving conversations have produced a broader conceptualization of the issues through the lens of digital inclusion and digital equity (Siefer, 2016). Those on the wrong side of the digital divide need digital literacy training, access to technical support, and the applications and …

Measuring Library Impacts Through First Year Course Assessment, Holly Luetkenhaus, Erin Hvizdak, Corey Johnson, Nicholas Schiller

Communications in Information Literacy

This study shows the value of library instruction in the building of first-year students’ information literacy skills and it illustrates librarians as partners in leading student learning outcome assessment. Using research papers from a required first-year course, raters from units across the institution evaluated student information literacy (IL) skill development. Students performed at a “Proficient First Year” level for most information literacy skill areas. The authors found there was a significant correlation between IL skill development and participation in one or more library instruction sessions. For this reason, the authors posit that liaison librarians are in a stronger and more …

Forging Ahead, Christopher V. Hollister

Communications in Information Literacy

Editorial for Volume 11, Issue 2.

Setting Them Up For Success: Assessing A Pre-Research Assignment For First-Year International Students, Susan Avery

Communications in Information Literacy

As the international student population continues to grow, librarians must adjust their instruction to meet the needs of students who are adapting to a new country, culture, and language. This study assesses first-year international students as they engage in the research process through the completion of concept maps that precede database searches. Librarians assessed concept maps of international students completed prior to information literacy instruction to better understand the difficulties they experienced defining research topics and identifying keywords and alternatives. The results of this assessment provide a deeper understanding of the challenges first-year international students face with creating search strategies. …

Sotl In The Lis Classroom: Helping Future Academic Librarians Become More Engaged Teachers, Lindsay Mcniff, Lauren Hays

Communications in Information Literacy

In this paper, we share background and key considerations of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), and propose introducing library and information science (LIS) students to SoTL as a way to acquaint them with the higher education teaching profession. Throughout the article, we employ reflection as the primary consideration and support structure that frames the benefits of SoTL for instructional growth. Four critical stages of SoTL training, first suggested by Gale and Golde (2004), are recommended for LIS students: Exposure, Encounter, Engagement, and Extension. As instruction responsibilities and opportunities continue to expand in academic librarianship, teaching about SoTL using …

The Reconquista Student: Critical Information Literacy, Civics, And Confronting Student Intolerance, Jonathan T. Cope

Communications in Information Literacy

Given the increasing power and prominence of political figures in the United States who openly espouse xenophobic, misogynistic, white nationalist positions it is only natural to anticipate encountering students who express these views in our libraries and classrooms. In this essay I use the methods of normative political theory to explore the following question: What are a set of consistent philosophical positions that Critical Information Literacy (CIL) could take that would allow it to respond to intolerance in a way that furthers its stated goals? CIL can draw upon the large body of literature on civic education in the United …

Transformative? Integrative? Troublesome? Undergraduate Student Reflections On Information Literacy Threshold Concepts, Rachel E. Scott

Communications in Information Literacy

In this exploratory study the authors ask students enrolled in a credit-bearing undergraduate research methods course to rank and evaluate the troublesome, transformative, and integrative nature of the six frames currently comprising the Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education. The results indicate that students have valid insights into threshold concept-based instruction, but may confuse the application with the theory. If practitioners are to embrace not only the frames, but also the spirit of the Framework, we must directly involve students in our teaching and research practices.