Library and Information Science Commons^™

Woodi Health Hub: Promoting Health Information Literacy To Students In The Atlanta University Center, Rosaline Y. Odom

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

“Health Literacy is defined as the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.” National initiatives call for improved health literacy as a means of addressing ongoing health disparities in the U.S. Low health literacy is linked to a poorer overall health status and higher risk of death among at-risk populations. Vulnerable populations include older adults, immigrant populations, minority populations and low income populations. College years are a time when young adults transition from parental control to independence and face new challenges, stressors and messages …

Information Literacy On-Demand: How To Create An Online Library Readiness Mini-Course, Rachel Hooper

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

What do many academic librarians want? Required information literacy classes! When do they want them? Now! This poster will show how a large university developed an on-demand library readiness mini-course online that has recently become a requirement for all undergraduate orientation classes, both in-person and online. Furthermore, the online mini-course has been adopted by numerous faculty in research-based courses across varied subject areas throughout the University. Through a collaboration between librarians and faculty, the mini-course teaches students research skills, how to find books and journal articles, how to use InterLibrary Loan, how to get library and research assistance, and more. …

Archives And Stem: The Perfect Formula For Immersive Cross-Disciplinary Instruction., Dawn N. Cannon-Rech, Autumn Johnson

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Reaching out to STEM Students beyond the one-shot requested instruction sessions is challenging. Creating faculty buy-in for non-traditional STEM instruction is doubly challenging. This poster will highlight a recent activity designed to draw STEM participation in utilizing a unique set of resources from the institution’s Archival Collections. Normally viewed as primarily relevant to history and humanities students, this collection provides the backbone for a fully immersive Escape Room Activity and exposure to primary sources normally not considered part of the normal STEM course work. The hands-on activity provides an opportunity for critical thinking, reflection, and teamwork. The poster will highlight …

Looking For Rdm Information? We Got A Libguide For That!, Bryan A. Briones

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Searching the Web for research data management (RDM) information could be an overwhelming activity for researchers of any stripe. Using LibGuides, our library alleviates this by creating a clearinghouse of RDM information. Creation of our LibGuide began in fall 2018. Using ideas from Oberlin Group colleges, our final product has an overview of RDM, data management planning guidelines, links to data repositories and funding agencies, recommended RDM training programs, legal considerations, a selection of data science conferences, and a portal to DMPTool, a web-based data management planning application. The research guide was promoted from our library’s administrative level to the …

Bring Yourself And Relevant Resources To Them: Becoming Embedded Online To Support Students In Your Liaison Area, Josette M. Kubicki

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

“Build it and they will come” is a common approach for academic libraries for providing research support to their community. Like many academic libraries, Reese Library at Augusta University creates online tools to guide students in information literacy development and research, such as library guides and video tutorials; and offers support services, “Ask a Librarian” service and “Contact Your Liaison Librarian”. Providing access through the library website, promoting them via marketing, library instruction, and orientation sessions, we hope that the students we inform peruse such tools and seek assistance when needed. Although some do, but many do not.

The …

The Effectiveness Of Library Instruction For Graduate/Professional Students: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Adelia B. Grabowsky, Liza J. Weisbrod

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Library instruction to improve information literacy (IL) is often considered essential only for undergraduates. However, students in graduate/professional programs do not always have the requisite skills needed for graduate level study and research, which suggests they may also benefit from library instruction targeted specifically to graduate students. This study used a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effectiveness of library instruction for increasing IL skills and/or knowledge among graduate and professional students. The authors searched seven databases to identify studies published in English between 2000 and 2019 that reported on library instruction for graduate or professional students, and objectively …

We’Re Both Your Librarian: A Course Collaboration Between An Academic Library And A Health Sciences Library, Stephanie Evers Ard

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

The University of South Alabama is in the process of merging its academic library and health sciences library, which have previously functioned as essentially separate entities. This ongoing process requires many changes, from budget and staff considerations, to revisiting the roles the librarians play in their respective academic communities. This last concern led to a collaboration between two librarians--the Assistant Director for Strategic Initiatives at the health sciences library and the Social Sciences and Student Engagement Librarian at the academic library--in response to a faculty request for an embedded librarian to support a fully-online graduate nursing class in scholarly writing. …

Creative Research Assignments: It Doesn’T Always Have To Be A Paper, Susan N. Moore

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

To teach and reinforce information literacy concepts, students need varied and repeated practice in applying critical thinking skills with research.This session introduces alternative and creative research assignment options supporting information literacy concepts, including assignment design best practices.

This presentation will attempt to communicate how varied and interesting assignments can reinforce information literacy concepts while engaging students in research. Suggestions for research assignments include using gamification techniques, alternate presentation styles such as Pecha Kucha, and additional techniques such as mind maps, infographics, podcasts, etc. will be discussed.

1. Attendees will be introduced to a variety of research-based assignments reinforcing information literacy …

The Common Zine: Responding To The Common Reader As A Community And Building Information Literacy Skills, Lauren S. Kehoe

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

To support NYU Read’s first ever common reading, librarians developed a program that invited the community to respond to Tara Westover’s Educated. In addition to hosting a film series, author talk, and engagement board in the atrium of the library, a collaborative zine program was developed where all members of the community were encouraged to submit their poetry, short stories, photos, riddles, collages, playlists, comics, or any variety of expression to be included in the zine (which will be archived and distributed to the community). Zines have become an increasingly popular source used in and collected by libraries. Several …

Stories From The Satellite Library: Lessons Learned From Launching A New Academic Branch Library, Heather Koopmans

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

This presentation will discuss the process and results of launching a new library branch facility and implementing related services and programs. Savannah State University was recently awarded a three-year Title III grant to increase research support to first- and second- year students by expanding services beyond the walls of the Asa H. Gordon Library. This Satellite Library initiative has enabled the launch of a new library location (called the Tiger’s Lair), the creation of a new librarian position, and an increase of library outreach and information literacy programs at residence halls, social spaces and other locations across campus. As many …

Did It Work?: The Effects Of Research Consultations On The Quality Of Sources Used In An Undergraduate Class., Jennifer Maddox, Leigh Stanfield

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Do individual research consultations with a librarian affect the quality of sources undergraduates cite in research papers? This presentation examines the results of a study conducted by librarians to assess that question. The hypothesis was that students who participate in research consultations show an improvement in the type and quality of sources cited in their research papers.

There is a large body of research on the use of citation analysis by librarians for various purposes. This study compared the quality of citations used by two sections of an upper level education class. The same instructor taught both sections during two …

Improving Information Literacy Through Embedding, Kelly M. Wilson, Rachel Hooper, Jay Brandes

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

How do you reach and assist students who are halfway around the world? How can we ensure they are receiving library training that increases their information literacy skills? Join us for this presentation and conversation about how one university used embedding to reach the “unreachable,” and then expanded to reach online domestic students, and eventually those on the home campus. What began as a project between two librarians on five online courses has now grown to include additional librarians and tripled the number of classes over a few months. We will discuss the reasoning behind embedding in the Canvas Learning …

The Double Diamond As Metaphor For The Research Process, Patricia Gimenez, Jennifer Johnson

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

This presentation introduces the U.K. Council of Design’s Double Diamond design framework as a metaphor for research and writing. Jennifer Johnson, Coordinator of Academic Writing, and Patricia Gimenez, Research and Instruction Librarian, both work with design students at the Savannah College of Art and Design, but see the tool as applicable to all disciplines. Together, they will introduce the theory behind the tool and discuss how it’s been used in the library instruction and workshops on literature reviews.

The Struggle Is Real: Helping First-Year And Transfer Students Develop Fundamental Research Skills, Renee Montgomery, Christina C. Wray

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Starting at a new University or College can be exciting and challenging. However, first-year and transfer students may struggle with fundamental research skills, which are not explicitly taught in the classroom. Libraries are in the perfect position to fill this gap. This workshop will explore how to develop an online research skill building series using the University of Central Florida’s experiences with their Research Tips Tuesdays program. The presenters will share how they identified student needs, built campus partnerships and utilized web conferencing software to meet students where they are and when they need it most. At the completion of …

Making Connections Between General Education Information Literacy Classes And Upper-Level Writing Courses: An Exploration Of Faculty And Student Perceptions, Lucinda Rush, D.E. Wittkower, Narketta Sparkman-Key

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

This presentation will describe a collaborative project between University faculty and a librarian that connected faculty who teach general education information literacy courses to those who teach upper-level writing intensive courses. The project provided an opportunity for these faculty to participate in a focus group discussion to explore how the courses are aligned and how information literacy courses can support and prepare students for upper-level writing courses. Following the focus group discussion the presenters provided an opportunity for writing and information literacy faculty to take action on what they learned from each other by participating in an assignment redesign workshop. …

Honoring The Il Frame Of Creation In The Honors Ba Thesis, Amy J. Harris, Kathy F. Kempa

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Approximately 75% of honors programs have thesis or capstone requirements (Savage & Cognard-Black, 2016). Seeing the need to provide structure, scaffolding and guidance for these undergraduates, librarians created a course, Introduction to the Honors Thesis, as a required course for 2^nd semester Juniors in the Honors Program. In the course the frames of “Searching as Strategic Exploration” and “Information Creation as a Process” are taught. Students then demonstrate these frames through writing reflection papers, “source annotation” papers, and writing a prospectus. This includes an Introduction and Literature review to provide a solid foundation for the Senior level course …

An Engaging, Hands-On Activity For Evaluating Sources Through Problem-Based Learning, Brooke J. Taxakis, Elizabeth Dobbins

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

How can we facilitate first-year student engagement with critical Framework concepts, especially in a one-shot class? In this workshop, we will introduce an active learning activity designed to teach source evaluation in a 50-minute class. The activity, which incorporates elements of problem-based learning and uses a flipped classroom approach, was added to our institution’s first-year experience course. Prompting students to consider a local issue, the activity requires students to evaluate sources represented as “source cards,” choose sources they would use in the context of the assignment, and justify their decisions. Motivated by the challenge and relevance of the activity, students …

Adapting Information Literacy Course Materials For International Students, Janine L. Carlock, Kelly Sippell

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

At Duquesne University, all first-year students take a 1-credit course called Research and Information Skills. This course familiarizes students with each of the topics in the ACRL framework and provides them with practice to promote their understanding of the topics as applied to the research process. Three years ago, our ESL program partnered with the library so that an ESL instructor would teach 1 or 2 sections populated by international students. These sections are smaller (15 students compared to 30 or more) and the material has been adapted to allow for more time for discussion of topics such as plagiarism …

A Warm Welcome: Restructuring Reference Services With New Library Faculty, Sara M. Whisnant, Evan Schmoll

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

East Tennessee State University, located in Johnson City, Tennessee, serves a growing number of students from various backgrounds. Sherrod Library serves as the main campus library and is located at the heart of campus. The library contains other services such as Information Technology Services, tutoring, and is the temporary home of numerous university support services. This past Fall, Sherrod repurposed a first-floor space to serve as walk-in reference. This new service model is staffed by two new faculty librarians, Evan Schmoll and Sara Maeve Whisnant, both with prior reference experience at other institutions.

Prior to Fall 2019, Sherrod Library did …

The Essential Role Of College And University Librarians In Supporting Transfer Student Success, Peggy Lee Nuhn, Karen F. Kaufmann

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Nationwide, the numbers of transfer students on college and university campuses are increasing; however, libraries have not fully recognized the unique needs of transfer students with respect to students' attainment of information literacy competencies. Students may come to our campus with no previous information literacy instruction, and even if they had a "library instruction" class, it does not mean they can apply that to a new institution with different and perhaps more complex resources, or they may be taking online classes. Neither can we treat transfer students as "First Time in College" students, because they are not. Transfer students frequently …

Students’ Perspectives On The Teaching And Learning Of Information Literacy And Library Skills (Ils), Annah Sephene Macha

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Information Literacy is one of the key factors in order for one to succeed at any university. The purpose of this study was to investigate the students’ perception towards the teaching and learning of Information and Library Literacy or skills ILS, at a regionally accredited university of Science and Technology in Central Botswana.

A sample size was a population of the study was going a total one hundred (100) students filled the questionnaire and ten (10) students’ and ten (10) staff members were involved in the same structured interviews. The methodology administered----All three librarians teaching TWAL students and a sample …

Conference Program 2020, Georgia International Conference On Information Literacy

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Conference Program

Fighting Fake News And Biases With Cognitive Psychology, Marlee Givens, Seth Porter, Karen Viars, Liz Holdsworth

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Fake news, faulty data, and questionable research outputs: how do we find the truth when so much information is uncertain? Part of this problem is cognitive biases in our decision-making process. The mind will create a durable narrative around knowns and ignore unknowns. Scholar Daniel Kahneman (2012) refers to this phenomenon as, "What you see is all there is" or WYSIATI. Another common heuristic, the "availability cascade," causes the mind to prefer immediate examples that come to mind over more reliable information that is less easily recalled. These biases limit the accuracy of the information that people understand, as well …

Library Instruction, Learning Outcomes And Assessment: A Compliance Strategy For Sacs Assessments., Kory A. Paulus

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Ethel K. Smith Library’s Reference and Instruction Librarians, Kory Paulus and Isaac Meadows began a venture to improve the library instruction assessment tools in Fall of 2017 under the guidance of their Library Director and Director of Institutional Effectiveness and SACS Liaison.

Using the book entitled “Classroom Assessment Techniques for Librarians” published by ACRL as a proven example set of learning outcomes, the librarians customized these outcomes to meet the institutional needs.

An essential motive for this initiative was to obtain quantitative data to pair with learning outcomes to ensure bibliographics instruction’s alignment with both SACSCOC and Wingate University’s core …

Books And The Big Screen: The Book Is Always Better, Sheri A. Brown, Samantha Ertenberg

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

What happens when an English professor and a librarian share their love of books and reading? A campus book club is born. Many students associate reading with what happens in the classroom or studying towards a specific goal. They don’t see the power of reading for enjoyment, entertainment, and pleasure. Stephen Krushen, in The Power of Reading, defines free voluntary reading (FVR), as “reading because you want to: no book reports, no questions at the end of the chapter. In FVR you don’t have to finish the book if you don’t like it. FVR is the kind of reading …

Scalable Scaffolding For Information Literacy Instruction: A Tale Of Two Frameworks Collaboratively Applied, Jessy Polzer, Sylvia Tiala

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Novice researchers experience significant cognitive load to perform research tasks. Entrenched in linear research processes, beginning students struggle to move beyond shallow engagement with information. Teaching research and information literacy skills based on past paradigms are inadequate given the immersive nature and lightning-fast development of the information eco-system. The ACRL Framework for Information Literacy (2015) articulates what was previously implicit – the threshold concepts underpinning a flexible and nuanced information consumer ready for engaged professionalism and citizenship. In practice, we are still wrestling to design and scaffold dynamic yet digestible learning experiences while also satisfying bloated instructional mandates. Searching for …

Deep Thoughts: Incorporating A Self-Reflection Prompt For Improved Instructional Practice, Malia Willey, Brian Sullivan, Liz Thompson, Alyssa Valcourt

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

This interactive workshop introduces reflective practice through the use of self-reflection prompts by information literacy instructors. Activities will be interwoven throughout the workshop to allow participants to develop and document their own strategies. We will begin by providing an overview of the benefits of reflective teaching (5 minutes). The facilitators will briefly explain their institutional context and their participation in a departmental initiative to foster intentional teaching (5 minutes). To better understand the perspectives of the participants, the audience will engage in a poll indicating their type of institution and their role. Participants will take a moment to record the …

Disciplinary Literacy And Information Literacy: Parallels And Paradigms, Ginni Fair

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Current literature on the teaching of reading and writing in the context of a content area has transitioned from “content area literacy” to “disciplinary literacy.” Content-Area literacy focuses on students’ ability to use reading and writing in order to learn the subject matter in a content area classroom. It emphasizes reading strategies that are generalizable for reading informational texts across multiple content areas. Disciplinary literacy, on the other hand “emphasizes the unique tools that the experts in a discipline use to participate in the work of that discipline” (Shanahan & Shanahan, 2008).

Often, educators differentiate between “learning to read/write” and …

You Deserve The Truth: Helping Students Understand The Causes And Consequences Of Fake News, Ngaire I. Smith, Heather Cyre

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Can dandelions cure cancer? Is Bill Murray running for President? Was a pizza place in New Jersey running a human trafficking ring? In this age of digital and social media it may be difficult for students to differentiate between authoritative information and fake news.

After a brief presentation on the history of fake news and its prevalence in social media, workshop participants (acting as an early college seminar class) will watch a video about the PizzaGate incident and discuss the phenomenon of fake news, why people create it, and why people share it. Next the class will develop a fake …

Analogy As Pedagogy: Using What Students Already Know In Library Instruction, Maggie Helen Murphy

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Science teachers often employ analogies to help students understand new ideas and complicated processes. Orgill and Bodner (2004) write that “effective analogies can clarify thinking... and give students ways to visualize abstract concepts” (p. 15). Students are much more attentive in science class when instructors speak “a language that is more familiar and accessible” by using analogies and other similar rhetorical strategies (Lemke, 1990, p. 136).

Brandt (1996) wrote about developing a library instruction activity for “teaching the internet” to college students through analogy in the early days of the web: “It does not focus on the technical details of …