Type of Presentation
Poster Session (45 minutes)
Target Audience
Higher Education
Proposal
Military intelligence, the process of gathering and evaluating information, parallels skills often taught in the library instruction classroom. Inspired by this connection, two librarians worked with an ROTC instructor to create a library orientation tailored to the interests and learning styles of Army ROTC Cadets that encouraged them to find and evaluate information about the library.
Before and during the class session, care was taken to model the structure of the session as if it was a mission the cadets were trying to execute. The ROTC instructor created an “Operations Order” (OPORD) that laid out the plan for the session and distributed the OPORD to the cadets. Librarians were introduced as “supporting forces” that would provide “intel” and lay out the concept of the operation cadets would be completing in class. After the cadets marched into the classroom they were assigned team leaders, and then trusted to work together to complete their mission within a set amount of time. This structure put cadets in charge of their own learning and inspired them to work diligently and creatively to complete their assignment during the allotted time. At the end of class, cadets shared “back briefs”, or short presentations, detailing the information they found about the library. The result was a challenging, lively class period full of questions, searching, and sharing of information.
Short Description
Two librarians worked with an ROTC instructor to create a library orientation tailored to the interests and learning styles of Army ROTC Cadets. Cadets were put in charge of their own learning, given “orders” and then trusted to complete their mission within a set amount of time. At the end of class, cadets shared “back briefs” detailing the information they found about the library. The result was a challenging, lively class period full of questions, searching, and sharing of information.
Publication Type and Release Option
Presentation (Open Access)
Recommended Citation
Farrell, Bridget S., "Operation Library Enlightenment: Library Instruction for ROTC Cadets" (2015). Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy. 86.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gaintlit/2015/2015/86
Included in
Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Information Literacy Commons, Military and Veterans Studies Commons
Operation Library Enlightenment: Library Instruction for ROTC Cadets
Military intelligence, the process of gathering and evaluating information, parallels skills often taught in the library instruction classroom. Inspired by this connection, two librarians worked with an ROTC instructor to create a library orientation tailored to the interests and learning styles of Army ROTC Cadets that encouraged them to find and evaluate information about the library.
Before and during the class session, care was taken to model the structure of the session as if it was a mission the cadets were trying to execute. The ROTC instructor created an “Operations Order” (OPORD) that laid out the plan for the session and distributed the OPORD to the cadets. Librarians were introduced as “supporting forces” that would provide “intel” and lay out the concept of the operation cadets would be completing in class. After the cadets marched into the classroom they were assigned team leaders, and then trusted to work together to complete their mission within a set amount of time. This structure put cadets in charge of their own learning and inspired them to work diligently and creatively to complete their assignment during the allotted time. At the end of class, cadets shared “back briefs”, or short presentations, detailing the information they found about the library. The result was a challenging, lively class period full of questions, searching, and sharing of information.
