My notes are below, or for a recording of the entire webinar watch the video:
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVk1iNiNfmA[/youtube]
The webinar stressed moving library instruction away from focusing on the research finding aspects of research and toward the resource process. One tip I particularly liked was: when redesigning an assignment, decide why you’re doing the redesign and keep that reason in the forefront of you mind while working.
Suggestions for updating library instruction included:
- Move away from step-by-step instructions – keep step-by-step instruction for some tutorials or handouts but avoid it in library instruction, instead allow the student to explore different ways of searching while in class. There are several different ways into many resources from the library webpage, see how the students answer your question.
- Use several different examples and resources – don’t use a particular resource every time you teach, some students will attend multiple library workshops and this reduces the possibility of the student disengaging during the lesson.
- Try using new tools in the classroom – learn one new database, tool or piece of technology per quarter and try to introduce it into your teaching.
Examples of interactive instruction ideas for a 1-shot session:
Click-bait sources: break the class into groups. Give each group 1 section of an article (Silly example here). Have them track down the sources for the article or something that would support that section’s claim. Have the group decide what in their section is meant to be informative or humorous. Have them share what they found with the class
Try a scavenger hunt – send students out to explore a section of the library for 15 minutes then report back on what they found. (Also gives the librarian time to talk to the faculty member.)
Ice breaker idea:
“Snowball fight:” Have students write 1 assumption about the library on a piece of paper. Then have them ball up the papers and throw them at the front of the room. The librarian then pulls a few of the questions to answer as an introduction to what libraries/librarians actually do.
Note: the presenter suggested that you encourage the students to throw the papers at the librarian and the ones that are head shots are the ones selected. I’m not that brave, I think I’d end up in a class full of sharpshooters with great aim.
Open Google Doc of traditional library instruction tasks/questions and crowd sourced answers from participants: goo.gl/NgEw8y
Contact the presenter @EnglemanMelissa and look for others sharing ideas with #BetterIL.
Mary-Michelle Moore
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