The Internet Conundrum: Teaching Web Research Through Collaborative, Creative Library Instruction
Type of Presentation
Individual paper/presentation (20 minute presentation)
Target Audience
Higher Education
Location
Room 1220B
Abstract
Wading through the massive amount of information and sources in our world can be overwhelming. The ability to effectively navigate information online is essential for students now, and in the future. The inability of many community college students to identify quality online sources is often evident and a cause for concern among instructors. This concern motivated a collaborative instructional effort between a composition instructor and coordinator of library instruction.
A two-shot information literacy instruction scenario was employed with four English 1010 sections. This allowed the librarian to dedicate an entire class session to web searching instruction with a subsequent session for instruction in library databases. Focusing on two learning outcomes, the web session was effectively split in to two segments: web search techniques and website evaluation. Each segment featured brief instruction coupled with an activity. Using minimal lecture in favor of an activity-based session, students were encouraged to actively participate in the learning experienced. Activities included a "search showdown" and a group website evaluation activity.
Although the lesson plan was designed for a full class session, individual activities may also be incorporated effectively in more traditional one-shot instruction scenarios. The impact of the sessions are meaningfully discussed from the perspective of instructing librarian, course instructor, and participating students.
Presentation Description
Wading through the massive amount of information and sources in our world can be overwhelming. The ability to effectively navigate information online is essential for students now, and in the future. A composition instructor and coordinator of library instruction will discuss their collaborative effort to improve the web literacy skills of community college students conducting research in English 1010 courses. Instructional activities engaging students with web searching and evaluation will be discussed.
Keywords
Web literacy, library instruction, collaboration, active learning
Publication Type and Release Option
Presentation (Open Access)
Recommended Citation
Richardson, Brittany and Page, Sarah, "The Internet Conundrum: Teaching Web Research Through Collaborative, Creative Library Instruction" (2014). Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy. 24.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gaintlit/2014/2014/24
The Internet Conundrum: Teaching Web Research Through Collaborative, Creative Library Instruction
Room 1220B
Wading through the massive amount of information and sources in our world can be overwhelming. The ability to effectively navigate information online is essential for students now, and in the future. The inability of many community college students to identify quality online sources is often evident and a cause for concern among instructors. This concern motivated a collaborative instructional effort between a composition instructor and coordinator of library instruction.
A two-shot information literacy instruction scenario was employed with four English 1010 sections. This allowed the librarian to dedicate an entire class session to web searching instruction with a subsequent session for instruction in library databases. Focusing on two learning outcomes, the web session was effectively split in to two segments: web search techniques and website evaluation. Each segment featured brief instruction coupled with an activity. Using minimal lecture in favor of an activity-based session, students were encouraged to actively participate in the learning experienced. Activities included a "search showdown" and a group website evaluation activity.
Although the lesson plan was designed for a full class session, individual activities may also be incorporated effectively in more traditional one-shot instruction scenarios. The impact of the sessions are meaningfully discussed from the perspective of instructing librarian, course instructor, and participating students.
