Type of Presentation

Individual paper/presentation (20 minute presentation)

Target Audience

Higher Education

Location

Room 212

Proposal

SLU100 (Introduction to the University Experience) is a mandatory first-year course. It provides a framework of strategies to help students succeed in and out of the classroom. This course includes a library component that requires each class section to attend a library instruction session. Time and staff limitations, as well as a desire to include meaningful active learning experiences relating to Information Literacy, prompted a redesign of the instructional approach. The new instruction plan integrates the ACRL IL standards, McREL strategies, and active learning opportunities in order to create library instruction sessions that are based on practical as well as theoretical concepts. Prior to their scheduled library sessions, each section of SLU100 watches a series of three videos designed to introduce key library concepts. These videos include information on library layout and where specific materials can be found, an introduction to the library’s homepage and how to navigate the most frequently used links, an overview of searching in our library catalog, a brief demonstration of how to use ProQuest to identify scholarly articles, and a sample reference interview meant to acquaint students with the services offered at the reference desk. The videos run about 20 minutes in length, and students must complete video worksheets while they watch. SLU100 library sessions include a brief review of the video topics and a brief discussion of some helpful search techniques. The lecture portion of the session was designed to last around ten minutes; following this, students work in groups to complete a library activity that will help them become familiar with basic library resources and that will enable them to participate in a “Library Jeopardy” game.

Short Description

This program will discuss the applications and implementation issues arising from the development of a first-year IL instruction approach that integrates ACRL best practices in IL and the McREL (Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning) strategies for effective teaching. The combination of ACRL IL standards with the McREL strategies is an innovative approach to designing instruction sessions that take into account educational practices from both traditional library instruction scenarios and current trends in the field of education.

Keywords

First year experience, Association of College and Research Libraries Information Literacy Standards, McREL (Mid-continent research for education and learning) strategies for effective teaching, Academic libraries, Information literacy, Libraries and colleges, Library orientation for college students, College freshmen

Publication Type and Release Option

Presentation (Open Access)

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Oct 1st, 8:30 AM Oct 1st, 9:00 AM

Building a First-Year Information Literacy Experience: Integrating Best Practices in Education and ACRL Information Literacy Standards for Higher Education

Room 212

SLU100 (Introduction to the University Experience) is a mandatory first-year course. It provides a framework of strategies to help students succeed in and out of the classroom. This course includes a library component that requires each class section to attend a library instruction session. Time and staff limitations, as well as a desire to include meaningful active learning experiences relating to Information Literacy, prompted a redesign of the instructional approach. The new instruction plan integrates the ACRL IL standards, McREL strategies, and active learning opportunities in order to create library instruction sessions that are based on practical as well as theoretical concepts. Prior to their scheduled library sessions, each section of SLU100 watches a series of three videos designed to introduce key library concepts. These videos include information on library layout and where specific materials can be found, an introduction to the library’s homepage and how to navigate the most frequently used links, an overview of searching in our library catalog, a brief demonstration of how to use ProQuest to identify scholarly articles, and a sample reference interview meant to acquaint students with the services offered at the reference desk. The videos run about 20 minutes in length, and students must complete video worksheets while they watch. SLU100 library sessions include a brief review of the video topics and a brief discussion of some helpful search techniques. The lecture portion of the session was designed to last around ten minutes; following this, students work in groups to complete a library activity that will help them become familiar with basic library resources and that will enable them to participate in a “Library Jeopardy” game.