Information Literacy Commons^™

Learning Through Play, The Old School Way, Lucinda Rush

Libraries Faculty & Staff Presentations

Poster presentation at the Virginia Library Association Conference on October 23, 2014. This poster introduces new ideas for instructional design using game structures that students are already familiar with to teach information literacy concepts. It is well documented that millennials enjoy learning through collaboration with peers and self-exploration in a fast-paced, technology rich environment, and game-based instruction can be a great way to engage them in the classroom. While millennials are comfortable with technology and enjoy learning through video and web-based games, it is difficult for libraries with limited resources to compete with the expectations that students have based on …

“If You Build It, They Will Use: Creating And Sharing Open Educational Resources To Advance Information Literacy”, Philip Russell

Support services (Former ITT) - Conference Papers

Since 2010, the library at the Institute of Technology Tallaght (ITT Dublin) in South County Dublin, Republic of Ireland, has been developing a suite of interactive online information literacy tutorials covering research, referencing, plagiarism and core academic skills. These open educational resources (OERs) provide users with a vibrant, challenging learning environment and facilitate flexible, 24/7, independent learning. The learning objects are accessible via multiple delivery platforms and are available for reuse under Creative Commons licence via national and international teaching and learning repositories.

This paper outlines the development of these OERs and how the creation of these learning tools has …

Taking Active Learning To The Next Level: Increasing Student Engagement By Blending Face-To-Face Instruction And Digital Learning Objects, Lindsey Mclean, Elisa Acosta

Librarian Publications & Presentations

The instruction librarians at a four-year, private university developed a multi-year information literacy instruction program to meet recently implemented information literacy learning outcomes in the university’s new core curriculum. The sequential information literacy instruction program includes two required library interventions in the first year - a tutorial to introduce students to basic information literacy concepts and a face-to-face library instruction session to build on the concepts learned in the tutorial. This structured program has presented many opportunities for the librarians to experiment with and assess creative and innovative approaches to instruction. In this presentation we will discuss one such approach …

Technology And Power, Michael J. Paulus Jr.

SPU Works

No abstract provided.

Information Literacy Scaffolds In The 9-12 Classroom, Kelly Crisp Paynter

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Despite being dubbed the Digital Generation, information literacy skills do not come automatically to high school students. Teachers and library media specialists must work together to provide quality strategies and scaffolds that help students evaluate sources authentically. Whether modeling the digital search process, creating pathfinders to direct students toward authoritative sources, or initiating discussions with students about quality resources, the library media specialist can become a valuable instructional partner to the classroom teacher.

The presenter, who has served as a high school media specialist, will discuss specific lesson plans she has co-taught with classroom teachers (as time allows). Topics may …

The Information Literacy “Flipped Classroom” – A Lesson Planning Lab, Madeline Cohen, Alison Lehner-Quam, Robin Wright

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

This workshop will introduce participants to the “flipped classroom” and provide them with hands-on experience planning a library session that uses this new approach. In the flipped classroom, lectures are replaced with pre-class assignments, usually in the form of videos or online tutorials. Class time can then be used for active learning exercises that deepen students’ knowledge of the material.

Participants will be asked to complete a pre-assignment, which can be finished just prior to the session. Workshop leaders will begin by reviewing the flipped classroom and describing the flipped lessons they have used at their academic library (15 minutes). …

Developing A Credit-Bearing Information Literacy Course, Andrew Kearns, Lola Bradley

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Are you considering creating a credit-bearing information literacy course on your campus? Come join us and learn from our experience in creating LIBR 201, Strategies for Information Discovery, the University of South Carolina Upstate Library's first credit course. This interactive workshop will give you the chance to explore how you might create a course that is right for your campus while learning from our experiences. For each topic, we will briefly share how we developed as aspect of LIBR 201 before engaging in an activity that will help you to explore how this aspect of course development might be applied …

Accentuate The Positive, Eliminate The Punitive! - Re-Thinking Plagiarism In Information Literacy Instruction, Christina Chester-Fangman, Gina Garber, Elaine Berg

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Too often, students feel that they are being accused of plagiarism before they have even started their first research assignment! Approaches to discussions of academic honesty (or dishonesty) frequently emphasize negative consequences over making the right choices from the start and do not take into consideration students’ understanding of the research process. At our own university, the majority of referrals to the Dean of Students regarding classroom behaviors were related to plagiarism. At Austin Peay State University, librarians involved in information literacy instruction wanted to address this issue, but in a positive manner. Panel attendees will learn how librarians completely …

Librarians As Information Trainers: Using Training Techniques To Improve Information Literacy Instruction, Olivia Reinauer

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Just as a trainer addresses the continuing education needs of employees in the workplace, librarians teach research skills needed to improve academic performance. Like trainers, librarians are frequently asked to meet specific learning objectives within the span of a single session, and they must navigate the challenge of meeting and motivating a new group of participants each time. There is a wealth of information available on designing and delivering training, yet a review of the library literature shows little evidence of direct adoption of these techniques for library instruction.

This presentation will outline best practices in training design, delivery, and …

Combining Efforts: A Subject Librarian And A Generalist Team Up For Research Instruction, Amy Trendler, Brenda Yates Habich

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Academic librarians often work with students in diverse subject areas who make use of a wide range of the library’s resources and services. In order to best serve user needs, it can be important to look for opportunities to work across the units of the library. In keeping with this approach, an Information Services Librarian in the university library and an Architecture Librarian in a branch library joined forces to offer what they thought was a one-time thesis session for graduate students in architecture and planning. It turned out to be the beginning a collaboration that would take them into …

Developing Partnerships: Be Nimble, Rebecca B. Engsberg

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Under the category of “PARTNERSHIPS between librarians and classroom teachers to teach students research skills,” I will share with attendees how to develop a new partnership (or change an existing one) with a faculty member based on a change in curriculum.

As the Liaison Librarian for the English Language Institute (ELI)—an intensive English language program for international students who are preparing to begin undergraduate or graduate studies in the US—I regularly taught the library component of ELI Research Skills classes.

Recently, however, the curriculum changed. Now, there is no longer a formal ELI class called "Research Skills." However, components of …

Design With Diversity In Mind: Online Information Literacy Instruction For Nontraditional Students, Holly Mabry, Natalie E. Bishop

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Web-based, online learning options through Blackboard, Moodle, Desire2Learn, and other learning management systems are increasingly popular for students and library patrons who are unable to attend traditional face-to-face courses on a college campus due to geographical, financial, or family obligations. Librarians are also retooling their information literacy courses to adapt to the rapidly evolving online learning environment. Just like in a physical classroom or library that provides assistive technology and interpreters, online information must be accessible for a variety of backgrounds and abilities. Inaccessible online courses that aren't developed with plain language, good color contrast, captions or alternative text formats, …

Partnerships For Outreach: Center For Student Learning And Library Study Skills And Information Literacy Program, Jolanda-Pieta Van Arnhem, Melissa Hortman

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

This poster session is a case study of the College of Charleston Libraries and Center for Student Learning partnership to design and deliver a series of complementary study skills and information literacy workshops during 2013-2014 academic year. Workshops in the “101” series were designed for the general undergraduate student population wanting more information on study skills. Workshops pairings in the “201” series were designed with information literacy topics geared toward upperclassman, graduate students, faculty, and staff interested in more advanced skills. Sessions were facilitated by campus instructors with unique insight, interesting experiences, or special knowledge and capability in workshop topics.The …

Beyond Library Resources: How To Implement Integrated Learning Across The Curriculum With Information Literacy Components Using Hybrid Delivery, Bernadette Maria Lopez-Fitzsimmons

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

As an academic librarian at Manhattan College, Riverdale, New York, I collaborate with teaching faculty and academic support centers on campus to provide holistic support to students. In the last year a cross collegial group including teaching faculty, library faculty and Instructional Designers has been created to explore ways in which to provide a “flexible structure” in curriculum across disciplines (e.g., Arts, Science, Engineering, Education, Information Literacy, etc.). Two instructional designers and a faculty member from the English Department lead the monthly in person workshops. After each workshop, scholarly and professional articles are posted in Moodle for all participants to …

Preparing Thoughtful Leaders: Promoting Critical Thinking Through Authentic Learning Activities, Melissa N. Mallon

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Some of the most important characteristics employers look for in new hires is the ability to solve problems and critically examine information in diverse workplace environments, making critical thinking an important, transferable 21st century skill and a crucial component of lifelong learning. One of academic librarians’ most crucial roles is to challenge students to think beyond their individual circumstances while helping them develop the skills necessary to succeed in college and in their professional lives.

This presentation covers strategies for collaborating with faculty members to design research assignments that focus on critical thinking, including scaffolding and the development of rubrics. …

Building Community In The Library: Partnerships For Outreach, Jolanda-Pieta Van Arnhem, Melissa Hortman

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

During the 2013-2014 academic year the College of Charleston Library and Center for Student Learning partnered to design and deliver a series of complementary workshops in order to build community, increase workshop attendance, and provide outreach at the Library. This was the first time that the two organizations had teamed up to co-design, sponsor, and market a year long program of complementary information literacy and study skills offerings.

Workshops in the “101” series were designed for the general undergraduate student population wanting more information on study skills. Workshops pairings in the “201” series were designed with information literacy topics geared …

Using Rubrics To Assess Authentic Learning Products From One-Shot, Course-Integrated Library Instruction, Jennifer Stout, Laura Gariepy

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Librarians face numerous challenges when designing effective, sustainable assessment methods for student learning outcomes in one-shot, course-integrated library instruction sessions. In this presentation, we will share how librarians at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) use a rubric to assess students’ authentic learning products from one-shot instruction sessions for a research and writing course required for all undergraduate students. We will share how rubric-based assessment enhances student learning and explain how we use this type of assessment to demonstrate our information literacy program’s effectiveness.

University 200: Inquiry and the Craft of Argument is a sophomore-level writing and research course required for all …

The Proof Is In The Worksheets: Assessing Information Literacy Outcomes From Library Instruction In An Evolved Fye Program, Robin Johns Grant

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

In the past, Middle Georgia State College’s assessment of library instruction mainly consisted of post-instruction evaluations in which students answered questions about the class’s usefulness and gave comments. However, we wanted to be able to tie our library instruction sessions to learning outcomes based on ACRL Information Literacy Standards—not just student impressions of the class. For three years, the college had been conducting two library instruction sessions for each section of our new First Year Experience class, and we were using a standardized instruction outline and worksheet for each of those classes already. The FYE program, therefore, was the ideal …

When Will We Use This In Real Life?: Problem-Based Learning And Its Use In Effective Information Literacy Instruction, Bridget S. Farrell, Adelia B. Grabowsky

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Chances are that at some point in your career, you have heard a student ask, “When will we use this in real life?” For most instructors, those can be hard words to hear, especially after careful thought and planning has gone into developing a library session geared toward a class assignment or project. One way to decrease questions about real world applicability is to incorporate aspects of problem-based learning in library instruction. Problem-based learning (PBL) has been defined by Berkel and Schmidt as “an approach to professional education that stresses the use of real-life problems, encourages learners to discuss them, …

The Best Laid Plans Of Librarians And Faculty: Information Literacy Instruction In A General Education Literature Course, Difficulties And Successes, Kelly Diamond, Lisa Weihman

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Members of this panel (a librarian and faculty member) began collaborating to create information literacy sessions for English 272: Modernist Literature. Assuming that students enrolled would be English majors or similar, we created sessions and assignments focused on higher-order research skills, such as working with and analyzing primary sources.

However, this section of English 272 fulfilled a General Education Curriculum (GEC) requirement. At our institution, students take 43 credit hours to fulfill GEC requirements, courses from a broad range of disciplines. Unfortunately, many students enroll in GEC courses for which they are under-prepared, have no personal interest, and are not …