Information Literacy as the Link in First-Year Learning Communities
Type of Presentation
Individual paper/presentation (20 minute presentation)
Target Audience
Higher Education
Location
Room 1220 A/B
Abstract
As part of the QEP at Armstrong State University, each first year student enrolls in a learning community which includes a First Year Seminar and a core course. Information literacy connects the two courses even though the core classes range from Biology to Theater. Information literacy skills are taught in the seminar, and then used and assessed by completing a researched project in the core course. This presentation will detail the challenges encountered and the innovative ways librarians and teaching faculty have found to use information literacy to link the courses. Instructors in core courses in varying disciplines have developed, assessed, and revised information literacy projects over the past 3 years as their understanding of first year students—and information literacy—has evolved. The discussion will focus on how the projects adapt to the limitations of first year students in the discipline while at the same time developing meaningful skills that can be built upon in subsequent major courses. The presenters will discuss the new level of collaboration between instructional and library faculty members. In addition, collection and assessment methods will be described and the primary program assessment rubric will be shared and discussed.
Presentation Description
Using information literacy to link two courses in first-year learning communities has resulted in some expected—and unexpected—results. Instructors in varying disciplines have developed, assessed, and revised information literacy projects over the past 3 years as their understanding of first year college students and information literacy has evolved.
Keywords
first-year, information literacy, assessment, QEP, learning communities
Publication Type and Release Option
Presentation (Open Access)
Recommended Citation
Garrison, Judith; Anderson, Greg; and Carpenter, Suzanne, "Information Literacy as the Link in First-Year Learning Communities" (2016). Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy. 70.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gaintlit/2016/2016/70
Information Literacy as the Link in First-Year Learning Communities
Room 1220 A/B
As part of the QEP at Armstrong State University, each first year student enrolls in a learning community which includes a First Year Seminar and a core course. Information literacy connects the two courses even though the core classes range from Biology to Theater. Information literacy skills are taught in the seminar, and then used and assessed by completing a researched project in the core course. This presentation will detail the challenges encountered and the innovative ways librarians and teaching faculty have found to use information literacy to link the courses. Instructors in core courses in varying disciplines have developed, assessed, and revised information literacy projects over the past 3 years as their understanding of first year students—and information literacy—has evolved. The discussion will focus on how the projects adapt to the limitations of first year students in the discipline while at the same time developing meaningful skills that can be built upon in subsequent major courses. The presenters will discuss the new level of collaboration between instructional and library faculty members. In addition, collection and assessment methods will be described and the primary program assessment rubric will be shared and discussed.
