Library and Information Science Commons^™

Lost In Translation? International Students And Non-English Information Literacy, Ethan Pullman

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2006

The University of Pittsburgh has a substantial community of international students. The library has long been collaborating with the Office of International Students, which helps international students assimilate to university life, in order to provide them with information literacy training specific to their needs. Looking for innovation in addressing the changing needs of our users, librarians recently offered information literacy sessions in several languages to help alleviate stress experienced by international students due to their new environment and language skills so they can focus on addressing immediate research needs. Student demographics and availability of skilled librarians determine the choice of …

Zeroing In On A Moving Target: Strategies For Reaching Transient Teachers, Susan Avery, Emily Rogers

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2006

From community colleges to research universities to private colleges, part-time, graduate student, and adjunct instructors are increasingly the norm. Approximately 50% of all graduate teaching assistants have full teaching responsibility for one or more courses and 40% of faculty appointments are part-time. Among those with the greatest need for library instruction are first-year students, yet these populations that are often transient in nature teach many first-year classes. Reaching these moving targets via traditional means can be difficult, as they may not have campus offices or phones.

The University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign conducted a survey of those teaching …

Effective Methods For Incorporating Problem-Based Learning Into Library Instruction, Barbara Kenney, Susan Mcmullen

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2006

User-centered instruction that capitalizes on the computer competencies of Generation Y, while engaging them in team-based, active learning activities is the foundation of the Roger Williams University library instruction program. These sessions mirror new and evolving pedagogies designed to minimize the lecture and maximize student involvement in their own learning.

Citing examples from classroom experience, two instruction librarians will demonstrate how to create and effectively use problem or case-based classroom activities in required writing and speech classes in a mid-sized liberal arts university. The main points will be:

• Developing the pedagogy underlying the problem-based activities;
• Establishing the goals of each …

Dancing With Problem-Based Learning: The Perfect Partner, Celita Dearmond

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2006

Problem-based learning (PBL) is a pedagogy that requires critical thinking, problem solving, and information literacy skills. In short, PBL is a perfect partner for library instruction. But what is the best way to coordinate your efforts with those of faculty so that students get the maximum learning benefit? Look for the commonalities - the basic dance steps that everyone can follow.

Both PBL and information literacy share in common the five objectives from the ACRL Information Literacy Standards. These objectives and their specific outcomes point to what students should be able to do: determine the kind and quantity of …

Is Google God? How Do Students Look For Information Today?, Gerri Foudy, Travis Johnson, Neil Kaske, Dan Wendling

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2006

Librarians aim to foster an information-literate population. At the same time, we have been grappling with rapidly developing technologies and their impact on how we reach our users. In order to truly reach our audience, we first must know our audience. How does today's student decide where to look for information, in what format, and through which form of interaction? How do students evaluate the information they find? Gerri Foudy, Travis Johnson, and Neal Kaske, librarians at the University of Maryland, and Dan Wendling, a graduate student in the University's College of Information Studies Program, set out to learn about …

Convening An Emerging Technologies Working Group In An Academic Library, Debra Riley-Huff, Tami Albin, Erin Ellis

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2006

The Instructional Services Department at University of Kansas Libraries is a leader in combining technology literacy and information literacy into a cohesive skill set. Because emerging information technologies represent one of the fastest "moving targets" in the profession, librarians' understandings and utilization of these technologies to enhance library instruction requires intentional, concerted and coordinated effort.

How best to identify and recommend specific emerging technologies to library administration and other potential stakeholders? The presenters will discuss how to convene an emerging technologies working group, with consideration for participants' skill levels and interest areas, as well as the size of the group. …

What Does First-Person Shooter Have To Do With Libraries?, Ann Brown, Paola Ceccarini, Cathy Eisenhower

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2006

Is your tutorial getting old? Does it really suit an audience of mostly Millennials? Librarians know that Millennials learn, read, and even play differently than librarians do. Librarians at George Washington University's Gelman Library decided to bridge that gap by venturing beyond traditional point-click-read tutorials and jumping into gaming.

As pedagogical techniques have evolved more and more to emphasize critical thinking and collaborative learning, the presenters determined that these valuable learning tools could be integrated into a gaming environment. This entailed reaching beyond the library to collaborate with a computer scientist and a graphic designer, and to consult with their …

Staying Au Courant: Resources For Instruction Librarians, Jana Varlejs

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2006

Most instruction librarians have favorite journals, professional associations, and electronic discussion lists that they rely on to stay current. The presenter will take a straw poll of the audience to see if there is a consensus, and discuss these choices in relation to competencies that an ideal instruction librarian might be expected to possess. The session will conclude with a review of a handout that will provide a wide-ranging list of the sources that an instruction librarian can draw on for professional development. The list will include not only sources specific to librarianship and learning, but also suggestions for keeping …

Connecting With Aim: The Search For A Virtual Reference Niche, Lucretia Mcculley, Olivia Reinauer

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2006

Launching virtual chat reference at the University of Richmond Libraries has been an interesting, multi-year challenge filled with "trial and error." After trying several different software programs and staffing options, librarians have finally selected AOL's Instant Messenger service. Learning about the world of virtual reference has truly been a "moving target" experience for them as software, professional philosophies, and user preferences have changed rapidly in recent years.

This presentation will describe the development of virtual reference and experimentation with different instant messaging software at the University of Richmond Libraries. A brief history that includes early collaborations with the computing services …

Hitting A Moving Target: Curriculum Mapping, Information Literacy And Academe, Kristen A. Bullard, Diana H. Holden

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2006

This session will define curriculum mapping: its history, techniques, and traditional applications. The presenters will share how the University of Tennessee (UT) Libraries uses curriculum mapping as a tool for departmental information literacy integration. UT Libraries is successful in integrating information literacy concepts and activities into many courses, with less success in science courses. Curriculum mapping gives the science librarians a place to start when approaching teaching faculty about library instruction.

The "Changing Needs of Our Users" theme is reflected in the ever-changing curriculum that departments offer. Librarians constantly try to keep up with these pedagogical changes. By systematically analyzing …

H-Itt Me With Your Best Shot: Real-Time Assessment Using A Classroom Response System, Debbi Renfrow

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2006

For the "traditional" college student today, technology has been an integral part of their life. They are not only comfortable with it but they expect it in everything they do. Librarians must look to new technologies as a way to engage and teach these students. In this session, participants will learn about the H-ITT classroom response system, an interactive electronic teaching system that can be applied to a library instruction setting. This system increases student participation by soliciting anonymous feedback throughout a library instruction session and immediately displaying the results graphically. This system actively engages students in the learning process, …

Our Transition Mission: Reaching Out To The High School Community, Ken Burhanna, Mary Lee Jensen, Barbara Schloman

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2006

For the past three years, librarians at Kent State University have worked with Ohio library media specialists and teachers to better understand how information literacy is incorporated into the K-12 curriculum. The outreach was undertaken with two objectives: 1) to more effectively work with high school students, and 2) to increase communication with high school educators so they can better prepare their students for college research. The presenters believe that collaborative initiatives launched by our Institute for Library Information Literacy Education (ILILE) and through a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant can serve as both models and resources for …

Grains Of Learning: Learning Objects & Library Instruction, Deborah Diller

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2006

This session will illustrate how new technologies assist instruction librarians in adding variety, interaction, and content into the information literacy curriculum. There will be a lively hour of exploration about a Grain of Learning and putting learning objects to work for students in the classroom setting, a correspondence course, and an online classroom. The classroom settings will focus on a teacher-led large group review, pretest, or small group activity and a learner-driven individual or partner review, pretest, or small group. The correspondence course looks at assignments and activities, and the online classroom includes a pretest, review, or assigned activity. Samples …

Online Knowledge Surveys As A Means Of Library Instruction Assessment, Steven Baumgart, Elizabeth Hassemer

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2006

In Fall 2005, the University of Wisconsin's Memorial Library began using an in-house, online survey product to gather feedback from students before, during, and after library instruction sessions. During several sessions, the survey product was used as a medium to complete hands-on exercises. More significantly, web-based surveys were used to administer a pre- and post-knowledge survey and performance evaluation, in order to gauge the level of impact on student learning. Knowledge surveys ask students to rate their readiness to be tested on a particular learning outcome without asking them to perform the task directly; the performance evaluations correlate the students' …

Assessment Builds Strong Programs Eight Ways! It's Good For You!, Tom Bickley, Kyzyl Fenno-Smith, Doug Highsmith, Steven Philibosian

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2006

A team of library faculty from California State University, East Bay (CSUEB), will present an assessment-as-learning case study of an eighteen-month project which used authentic assessment practices to review curricula and strengthen teaching and learning in an established information literacy program.

CSUEB library faculty have taught a required information literacy credit course for first-year students for the past seven years. Their project provided an opportunity to learn about and apply authentic assessment across sections of the course; the project was designed to address multiple needs, including an accreditation imperative, curricular renewal, faculty development, and improved student learning. Assessment-as-learning techniques, including …

Creativity & Personalization: Freshman Orientation For The Millenial Generation, Ann Wheeler, Pam Harris

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2006

The millennial generation presents new challenges for today�s librarians. Born between 1980 and 2000, this is the largest generation in U.S. history and will be entering colleges in record numbers over the next ten years. Library literature identifies the Millennials as a specific user group with distinguishing characteristics; they are self-assured, optimistic, well-educated, collaborative, and open-minded. They rely on friendships, and can share their opinions instantaneously with a vast social network via new technologies. Millennials expect customization in their learning environments and have high expectations for today�s academic libraries.

Freshman orientation is the first impression of the academic library for …

Exploring The Librarian's Role In Promoting Academic Integrity On Campus, Candice Benjes-Small, Eric Ackerman, Kevin Tapp

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2006

ACRL Information Literacy Competency Standards outcomes include students identifying issues related to intellectual property and copyright, and using a citation style accurately to document sources. But is teaching these outcomes the responsibility of professors or instruction librarians?

At Radford University, the librarians recognized that students were struggling with academic integrity issues, including plagiarism, paraphrasing, and citing sources properly. The librarians quickly developed programs to fill in gaps on campus. They hold brown bag lunches for faculty and student workshops on topics such as plagiarism, reading citations, and formatting references according to APA Style. Recently, they were asked to teach …

Impacts Of Mobile Computing And Communication On Library Instruction, Sarah Bosarge, Karen Estlund

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2006

In his latest book, futurist Howard Rheingold defines the "smartmob," a new paradigm in social computing in which "people ... cooperate in ways never before possible because they carry devices that possess both communication and computing capabilities." The presenters set out to explore the implications of this paradigm for information literacy learning and instruction. They will present the findings of a pilot study conducted to investigate the use of mobile computing and communication technologies by undergraduates at the University of Utah. Technologies explored include handheld wireless devices, mobile audio devices, new cell phone features, and Internet communication software such as …

Let The Games Begin! Changing Our Instruction To Reach Millenials!, Bee Gallegos, Karen Grondin, Tammy Allgood, Marisa Duarte, Aaron Rostad

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2006

In fall 2001, Arizona State University at the West campus admitted its inaugural freshmen class. Previously, only upper-division and selected masters degree programs were offered. Librarians created a menu of information skills outcomes and a plan for delivering a common library curriculum to first year-students. The Information Skills Outcomes serve as a framework for teaching, learning and assessment. The first-year library instruction program is targeted, sequenced, and learner-centered, accommodating the different learning styles of Millennials. Instruction is presented in a series of short, focused mini-lessons interspersed with activities that keep students engaged, interested and stimulated. Student acceptance and enthusiasm for …

A Tutorial With A Twist: How Plagiarism Advances Library Instruction, Mark D. Jacobs, Sandra R. Hussey

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2006

Plagiarism and other academic integrity violations might be viewed as yet another issue of concern to the whole university, but the responsibility of no one department or unit. For Georgetown University librarians it proved to be an opportunity to combine forces with others on campus to reach students in a new way. The presenters will report on a collaborative, campus-wide effort to introduce key academic integrity issues by teaching all new students library research skills, and acquainting them with other relevant academic support services. The librarians faced several challenges in creating the tutorial including presenting complex ethical issues clearly, limiting …

Assessing The Foundation: Incorporating Association Of College And Research Libraries Information Literacy Competency Standards Into The Curriculum, Gayla Byerly, Annie Downey

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2006

Following guidelines in the ACRL Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education, librarians at the University of North Texas (UNT) have dedicated themselves to integrating library instruction into the curriculum, with the goal of establishing the roots of information literacy at the freshman level. They believe they are laying the foundation for life-long learning by teaching within the curriculum, setting the stage for student-centered learning, and providing technology competency. But are they?

To ensure that they are meeting this goal, the librarians have developed a strategy of assessment that includes pre-testing, post-testing, and "post post-testing" students using an in-house- designed, …

Who Put That Column Into The Middle Of The Room? Designing Functional, Flexible, And Forgiving Spaces For Library Instruction, Paul Glassman

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2006

What is the right space for library instruction? How do we propose a project of that magnitude? What happens if the architect doesn't listen to us? Can we do this on our own, without an architect? Do we want fixed seating? What type of equipment is needed? What should the capacity be? These and other questions will be addressed in this practical session for any participant with an interest in or need to create dedicated instructional spaces within or near a library. With the increasing demand for electronic classrooms and the measurable benefits smart classrooms have in effective information literacy …

Preface, Theresa Valko

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2006

The 34rd annual LOEX conference, along with its incredible lineup of presentations, offered attendees some changes to the regular program of events. The most significant of these was the trial run of student poster presentations. We started small, with just six students participating, and found that we had not only offered students the valuable opportunity to be involved at the conference level, but we had also provided veteran librarians with a direct view of what is going on in library schools around the country. And with instruction in a constant state of forward movement, it was interesting to see how …

Letting Go & Starting Over: The Transformation Of An Information Literacy Tutorial, Nikki Busch, Steven Frye, Abigail Loomis

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2006

In 1995, an interactive, multimedia tutorial called CLUE was developed to assist in teaching basic information literacy skills to University of Wisconsin-Madison students enrolled in a general education course that is required for graduation. CLUE has been updated periodically over the years and by 2003, as the result of formal assessment, discussion among instruction librarians, and a review of Web statistics, it became clear that major revisions were needed.

The presenters will share how this process of revision became a process of transformation. They will look at the pedagogical, technological, and administrative issues that emerged. They will also explore how …

Finding Your Inner Gamer: Adapting Instruction For Digital Natives, Robin Ewing, Justine Martin

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2006

This presentation investigates the rapidly growing appeal of digital gaming among students and what they learn while playing these games. While 65% of college students are gamers, creating digital games for library instruction may not be realistic. Yet by understanding the educational benefits and alluring aspects of video games, librarians can incorporate techniques into instruction that engage students. The presenters will detail the elements that play an important role in player engagement--goals/rules, challenges, control, fantasy--as well as the educational components that can be incorporated into and benefit library instruction. The presenters will also enumerate gamer demographics.

One benefit of digital …

How They Learn/How You Teach: Building Library Instruction Sessions For Multiple Learners, Jeff Newman, Pia Russell

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2006

This session will introduce participants to a variety of cognitive and learning styles and help identify practical strategies for appealing to the broadest range of student learning. Particular attention will be given to the challenges inherent to teaching hands-on workshops in wired classrooms. Strategies for coping with these challenges will be introduced and then discussed in small groups.

Progressive educational reform movements that emphasize student-centered learning encourage librarians to challenge some of their instructional assumptions. Librarians are increasingly realizing both the importance of their teaching role and the imperative of undertaking a critical re-evaluation of their instructional practices. Simply providing …

The Begetting Of Information Literacy Tutorials: Third-Wave Tutorials For The Ipod Generation, Meg Atwater-Singer, Susan Metcalf

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2006

Two southern Indiana instruction librarians will share their collaborative efforts to incorporate some of the latest technologies in the creation of online tutorials for their users. The tools and technologies to be discussed will range from free to expensive, low tech to high tech, and easy-to-use to relatively complex. The first part of the presentation will include a brief discussion of Camtasia and Flash, but focus primarily on Macromedia's Breeze Presenter software, which works in conjunction with Microsoft PowerPoint. The content and design of Pennsylvania State University's tutorial, The Information Cycle, will be used to measure the success …

Creating Avenues: Partnerships In A Changing Environment, Katherine Jenkins, Judith Pula

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2006

Frostburg State University's Information Literacy Programs have been directly impacted by the mandates of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and the Maryland Higher Education Commission. The primary goal for librarians is to assess students' levels of learning as a result of instruction. We, at Lewis J. Ort Library, have created several assessment tools; however, there is more work to be done. First, a team of librarians will develop standard rubrics to assess information literacy as a result of instruction in English 101 classes. The second task is to implement a cyclical assessment process. Finally, assessment will be introduced …

Using Scenarios To Teach Undergraduates About Copyright, Fair Use, And Plagiarism, Susan Ariew, Heather Runyan

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2006

The millennial generation is immersed in an Internet culture that embraces and endorses illegal downloading and file sharing. Staff writer Ron Barnett, from the Greensboro News, reports that one billion copyrighted songs are downloaded each month in violation of copyright. Because it is more likely that you will get hit by a bus than be sued by a record or video company, young people engage in these illegal activities daily.

How, then, are we to teach them about academic integrity and information ethics when the culture tells them that if you do not get caught it is okay to do …

Myspace And Facebook: Reaching Our Students With Their Technology Of Choice, Yvonne Nalani Meulemans, Melanie Chu

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2006

How college students use the incredibly popular Myspace and Facebook directly relates to two conference themes: "Keeping up with Change" and "Working with New Technologies and Environments." Myspace and Facebook are fairly new web portals and services that have been embraced by Millennials and Generation Y. How can libraries and librarians utilize these technologies? This talk will begin with a brief introduction to features of these technologies, such as easy creation of personalized web sites, photo sharing, messaging capabilities, search functions, and most importantly, customizable campus-specific links. Differences and similarities among these technologies will be discussed as a way of …