Library and Information Science Commons^™

Research Guide Technologies, Meredith G. Farkas

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

Research guides (also known as subject guides, course guides, or pathfinders) provide targeted information on a particular topic to support student or faculty research in that area. Similar instructional tools have been around since before the birth of the web, but are now almost exclusively provided by libraries online as part of the library’s web presence. Research guide software enables librarians without web design skills to quickly and easily create and update web content. The technologies for creating research guides run the gamut from proprietary and open source software specifically designed for creating guides to open source and third-party-hosted applications …

Addressing Academic Integrity: Perspectives From Virginia Commonwealth University In Qatar, Nancy E. Fawley

Library Faculty Research

Understanding the cultural aspects that affect a student’s ability to appropriately use resources is important in developing outreach and instruction in multicultural settings. Differences in educational philosophies, students’ previous scholastic training and cultural differences in individual motivation are all factors that may affect a freshman’s ability to understand an American university’s idea of academic integrity and can inadvertently cause problems where independent work and critical thinking are required. At Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar (VCU Qatar), a branch campus of the American university in the Middle East, a special class on academic integrity and ethical behavior was integrated into the …

Selective And (Subtle) Marketing Of Library Instruction, Mark Aaron Polger, Karen Okamoto

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Building Bridges: Restructuring Online Library Tutorials To Span The Generation Gap And Meet The Needs Of Millennial Students, Dianna E. Sachs, Carrie C. Leatherman, Kathleen A. Langan

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2010

This session will discuss the learning characteristics of Millennial students, and how online library tutorials can produce successful information literacy learning outcomes for this unique generation. In 2009, we transformed "Searchpath", the 2003 PRIMO award-winning online library tutorial, into "ResearchPath," a dynamic audio, visual and kinesthetic experience with the Millennial user in mind. We will share the results of the research we conducted at Western Michigan University Libraries to measure the success of our intended learning outcomes, as well as the qualitative user feedback which we gathered. We will recommend strategies for others interested in developing online tutorials geared towards …

From Pre-Defined Topics To Research Questions: An Inquiry-Based Approach To Knowledge, Michelle T. Allen, Benjamin M. Oberdick

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2010

In this interactive presentation, MSU librarians will replicate a library instruction session for first-year students. Audience members will participate in a Cephalonian Method icebreaker activity and use clickers to demonstrate the different ways both techniques can be used in the classroom.

Participants will view a short (3-4 min.) video, develop critical questions, and construct keywords to begin finding answers. Instruction librarians will show how the answers are the basis of their thesis statements. Next, audience members will be divided into groups and directed to find information on the Web, the route a first-year student would naturally take. Then, groups will …

Bombard Them & They Will Come: Building Relationships Using A Multi-Pronged Approach To Engage Students, Lee Pasackow

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2010

Google, our formidable competitor, requires us to be creative, proactive and strategic in designing services that integrate information competency into the curriculum. Faculty collaboration, library classes, freshmen orientation, club events, off-site reference and case competitions; these are the venues where Goizueta Business Librarians engage with students down the path towards using information intelligently for decision making and problem solving.

At Goizueta, the most effective way to teach research skills is to collaborate with professors on group projects. What are the elements of a successful collaboration? Why are some professors open to collaboration and others are not?

Our keystone program, Business …

Granting Collaboration: Information Literacy For Faculty, Cotina Jones

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2010

The initiative to form a working partnership with faculty began when the librarians in O'Kelly Library became acutely aware that our students' were not able to effectively access, evaluate and use information. After devoting years to marketing library services, teaching classes and acquiring new resources, there was little response from the faculty or students.

We asked the question, "What has to happen for us to be able to infuse information literacy into the curriculum and make it important and meaningful?"

This presentation is intended to show C. G. O'Kelly Library's efforts to embed information literacy into the curriculum by educating …

Learning By Doing: Bridging Information Literacy Theory With Practice, Melissa Mallon

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2010

Addressing information literacy skills at the freshmen level can often result in frustration for everyone involved. Teaching the same content over and over becomes tedious for librarians and the sessions can seem irrelevant to freshmen. This presentation will detail how the presenter collaborated with the First Year Program coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown to revamp the program's library component into a set of online, self-paced information literacy modules tied to an assignment. The modules reach a large number of students without overwhelming librarians. Come see how scalable instruction can improve the freshmen library experience!

Linking Through Libguides: Collaborating With Faculty Through An Adaptable Teaching And Marketing Tool, Kimbel May, Anna Leyba Delgado

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2010

This presentation will demonstrate how LibGuides can be used as a winning teaching and marketing tool to promote collaboration between the library and academic departments that benefit from information literacy instruction. Two librarians with a diverse range of subject liaison responsibilities will illustrate how you can successfully market LibGuides across any and all disciplines and will present examples of LibGuides created as successful research guides and instruction tools.

Spanning The University To Improve Information Literacy E-Instruction, Lindsay Miller, Robert Withers, Eric Resnis

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2010

In Fall 2009, the interactive information literacy module "integrity Quickstart"(iQ) was introduced to first and second-year students at Miami University. iQ, which teaches information literacy and academic integrity concepts using the dynamic Flash-based presentation tool Prezi, is a companion to the existing eScholar, a more passive, in-depth tutorial.

iQ was created through a unique campus collaboration between the Libraries, University IT and Student Affairs. This session will recount the creation and implementation of iQ, everything from scripting and storyboarding to grant support and dealing with differences of opinion involved with any collaboration. We will discuss how iQ and eScholar work …

Politics & Information Literacy: A Problem-Based Learning Approach, Peg Cook, Mary Walsh

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2010

Problem-based Learning (PBL) is a student-centered instructional strategy in which students collaboratively solve problems and reflect on their experiences. PBL provides an innovative format for integrating Information Literacy into course assignments. A Problem-based Learning activity in a Political Science course at Elmhurst College gave a librarian and a political science professor an opportunity to collaborate on an assignment which integrates problem-based learning information literacy instruction, based on ACRL Political Science Research Competency Guidelines, into the course assignment. Our presentation will describe our process of collaboration in developing the resulting assignment and instruction sessions, as well as some preliminary assessment information.

Tune Up Your Instruction: Transform Discipline-Based Instruction Using Active Engagement, Andi Beckendorf

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2010

Making the transition from lecture-based instruction delivery to an active, learner-centered model provides an excellent opportunity to blend creative ideas and new teaching strategies. Music students at Luther College are introduced to research in the discipline through learner-centered activities. You will experience elements of the Cephalonian method - music, color, and active engagement - as you participate in a component of the question-card sequence of the lesson plan. The presenter will discuss how teaching style, learning styles and pedagogy have played a role in reimagining the sessions as a place for active engagement. In looking at a selection of learning …

From Lectures And Quizzes To Wikis And Blogs In The Library Classroom, Joan Petit, Amanda Click

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2010

Three years ago, the required library instruction class at the American University in Cairo was full of dull lectures, multiple choice quizzes, and a required paper that rarely inspired student learning. Librarians set out to update the class, first by moving content out of Blackboard and into a collaborative wiki and then later by eliminating the weekly quizzes in favor of student blogging. Despite some challenges, the students reported that the blogs were a highlight of the now-interesting class. Come hear about the stumbling blocks, near-disasters, and ultimate success of this new approach to student learning.

A Picture Is Worth 150 Words: Using Wordle To Assess Library Instruction, Rhonda K. Huisman, Kathleen A. Hanna

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2010

Tired of the "one minute paper" and other "quick and dirty" assessment tools? By using word clouds, students can demonstrate their grasp of library fundamentals and information literacy concepts in less than 10 minutes. Wordle [http://www.wordle.net] is an extremely user-friendly online tool that provides an active learning activity for students and allows librarians to rapidly evaluate what students recall from the instruction session. Use it for quick assessment of student comprehension of library jargon or compare the students' Wordle clouds with information literacy standards or the main points of your instruction. It's free, flexible, and looks great on a t-shirt.

Mobile Information Literacy Let's Use An App For That!, Stefanie Havelka, Alevtina Verbovetskaya

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Nformation Lteracy: Taking The ‘I’ Out Of Instruction, Suzanne W. Hinnefeld, Tiffany Mcgregor, Julie Zamostny, Erin Davis, Joe Eshleman

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2010

Do you spend too much time behind the podium during your instruction sessions? This presentation will provide opportunities for learning and discussion on four activities designed to move you out among your students.

You will learn how a courtroom-like environment with music, props, and costuming was created at Hood College for an ESL English class to guide students through the steps of brainstorming keywords, utilizing databases, and organizing information for an argument.

A librarian from Goshen College will offer recommendations on planning a large-scale, themed, open-house; a timeline for completion; assessment of student learning; and post-event evaluation.

The Coordinator of …

Books And Websites, E-Journals Or Print: If The Source Fits, Use It, Todd J. Wiebe

Faculty Publications

Despite the ever-growing range of media types, formats, and information-access options, students are often instructed to only use specific sources in their research. They are sometimes even given strict guidelines, prescribing how many of each they need to, or may, cite. It is important not to lead students to believe there is a formula for the ideal works cited for all research topics. In contrast, students should learn to think critically about the content and appropriateness of each potential source rather than choosing it only because it is a book, a journal article, a Website, etc. This article argues that …

The Irish ‘Working Group On Information Literacy’ E Edging Towards A National Policy, Terry O'Brien, Philip Russell

Support services (Former ITT) - Articles

The authors of this paper provide an overview of the activities of the Irish Working Group on Information Literacy (WGIL) and its role in advancing a national policy for information literacy in the Republic of Ireland. The study focuses on the work of the group during its lifetime including the various activities, marketing and advocacy initiatives and some of the challenges and issues the group faced, in particular, the diversity of the Irish library and information sector and the lack of an integrated approach for information literacy development. The study presents the findings of the report produced by WGIL entitled …

Developing Reusable Learning Objects At Itt Dublin Via The Irish National Digital Learning Repository, Philip Russell, Gerry Ryder, Gillian Kerins

Support services (Former ITT) - Other Resources

During a two year period commencing from June 2010 until the present, a suite of online reusable learning objects (RLOs) have been created at ITT Dublin library covering a range of information literacy competencies.

This poster will outline the development of RLOs at ITT Dublin and how these resources have been shared, reused and repurposed to enhance information literacy progression. The article will focus on best practices and lessons learned during the design, development, and implementation process including the pedagogical approach, application of the software and the collaborative working arrangements that the digital learning resources have helped to foster.

Framing A Strategy: Exploring Faculty Attitudes Toward Library Instruction And Technology Preferences To Enhance Information Literacy, Maria A. Perez-Stable, Patricia Fravel Vander Meer, Dianna E. Sachs

University Libraries Faculty & Staff Publications

Higher education librarians and faculty members alike are faced with an ever expanding palette of technologies available for instructional use. Efforts between these two groups to collaborate in information literacy programs can greatly benefit from the incorporation of some of these new technologies. This article presents the results of a survey of 118 faculty members at Western Michigan University; conducted in 2011, it had three aims: (1) to gauge current faculty perceptions about library research instruction; (2) to determine how faculty are using technology in instruction; and (3) to examine faculty insights regarding the integration of different technological formats into …

The Librarian And The Designer: Working Together To Create A Showcase For Contemporary Learning, Tomalee Doan

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

Many institutions of higher education are designing spaces that reflect the established correlation between learning spaces and student achievement, mastery, and retention (Hunley & Schaller, 2006). In this case study of a renovation of an 18,327 square foot business library space into a dynamic learning environment, Melinda McGee, the Interior Designer for the project, and Tomalee Doan, the Associate Professor and Head Librarian of the business library, share the experience of their successful partnership that required a creative and an in-depth collaboration with each other and with several other stakeholders not usually found in an academic setting. Their goal is …

Information Literacy Beyond The Library: Organizations To Watch, Sharon A. Weiner

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

The need for an information-literate society is increasingly apparent to educators, employers, policy makers, and other leaders. Colleges and undergraduate libraries are well positioned to collaborate with a variety of constituencies on addressing this need. Academic librarians can benefit from an awareness of reports, conferences, and newsletters of organizations outside of libraries that recognize the importance of effectively finding, using, and communicating information. This column describes four organizations. By examining the Websites and subscribing to the online updates for each, librarians can have current information about topics that relate to information literacy and incorporate it into their libraries’ information literacy …

Get In The Game: Developing An Information Literacy Classroom Game, Maura A. Smale

Publications and Research

Much current research in the field of games-based learning demonstrates that games can be successfully incorporated into educational contexts to increase student engage-ment, motivation, and learning. Academic librarians are also using games as an innova-tive instructional strategy to strengthen students’ research skills and their understanding of information literacy concepts. This article discusses the development and implemen-tation of Quality Counts, a classroom information literacy game designed to teach un-dergraduate students how to evaluate Internet sources. After a brief overview of the game’s development and rules, the article describes the process of playing Quality Counts in several classes and presents the results …

Is The Loop Really Closed?: The Assessment And Reassessment Of Communications 101 Learning Outcomes, Carrie A. Gaxiola

Library Faculty Presentations

Conclusion: The students received good grades from Phase I library instruction, however did they really learn what we targeted? We could not really say for sure. This case study reveals that an appropriate method and instruments are imperative for retrieving valid data. This case also displays the importance of collaboration and teamwork. Communication was always open between all members of the team as well as with the library instruction department. We were able to forge a great relationship with the Communication Studies Director– the libraries’ liaison and the Communication Studies Director authored a textbook chapter together about the library for …

Notes From The Field: 10 Short Lessons On One-Shot Instruction, Megan Oakleaf, Steven Hoover, Beth S. Woodard, Jennifer Corbin, Randy Hensley, Diana K. Wakimoto, Christopher V, Hollister, Debra Gilchrist, Michelle Millet, Patricia A. Iannuzzi

Library Faculty Research

Librarians teach. It might not be what we planned to do when we entered the profession, or it may have been our secret hope all along. Either way, we teach. We teach users of all types, including students, faculty, and our co-workers. We teach in multiple venues including classrooms, reference desks, face-to-face, and online. While the variety of teaching audiences and environments are endless, one teaching scenario remains quintessential: the one-shot library instruction session. No one knows better than librarians the limitations of this format, yet it remains central to our teaching efforts.

"Research Papers Have Always Seemed Very Daunting" : Information Literacy Narratives And The Student Research Experience., Robert Detmering, Anna Marie Johnson

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Taking an interdisciplinary approach that draws on narrative theory, composition scholarship, and investigations into the affective dimensions of the research process, this article discusses stories written by college students about their experiences locating, evaluating, and using information in the context of academic research. These narratives provide insight into how students conceptualize the research process and perceive their often tenuous roles as researchers. A textual analysis of a selection of student narratives is included, demonstrating how narrative not only enhances our understanding of the research experience but also enables students to raise larger questions about authenticity and power in the classroom.

Creating A Sustainable Partnership : Information Literacy Instruction For An Honors Program First-Year Orientation., Anna Marie Johnson

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

The information literacy literature contains many articles highlighting new instruction initiatives but few articles documenting sustainable ones. This article examines the literature on library partnerships in general and Honors Programs specifically and reports on the evolution of an ongoing fifteen year partnership between the University of Louisville Honors Program and the Ekstrom Library. It then discusses the development of this partnership and the changes in the information literacy program engendered by this partnership. It ends by defining some of the elements that made the partnership sustainable, ones that could potentially be transferred to other such partnerships.

Information Literacy Developments @ Itt Dublin, Philip Russell

Support services (Former ITT) - Other Resources

Provides an overview of information literacy activity at ITT Dublin; the approaches taken including blended and online learning and some of the issues and challenges involved in delivering information literacy training. There is also a discussion on use of new technologies to enhance information literacy progression.

Treading New Paths: How Creative Collaboration Transformed Teaching The Research Process To Usc Upstate’S First-Year Students, Andrew Kearns

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2009

What are the special needs of first-year students in learning the research process? How will students come to see information literacy as a process rather than a set of discrete skills? What research and information literacy skills need to be intentionally taught in the classroom and library instruction sessions? How do we as librarians make sure that our instruction session fits organically into the course of which it is ostensibly a part? At USC Upstate, we have addressed these questions through creation of our First-Year Information Literacy Program in three first-year courses, involving creative collaboration between the library, the University …

Wikipedia, Ipods, And Chickens : An Active Learning Exercise To Teach Evaluation Of Information., Latisha Reynolds, Anna Marie Johnson

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Librarians at the University of Louisville developed an evaluation of information exercise that is completely interactive. Students learn evaluation skills by participating in a small-group exercise, after which, the groups teach their classmates what they have learned.

Each small-group is assigned a different publication to evaluate such as a book, a website, a scholarly article, magazine or newspaper. They also have questions to answer in order to evaluate each source. After they evaluate the sources, each group chooses a student to present the information in front of the class.

The librarian acts as a facilitator to guide the students and …