teaching today’s students what we learned……
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Undergraduate Research Project
University of Rochester River Campus Libraries
Teaching Today’s StudentsWhat we learned……
Vicki BurnsRush Rhees Library
University of Rochester
Undergraduate Research Project
University of Rochester River Campus Libraries
What do undergraduates REALLY do when they write research papers?
http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlpubs/downloadables/Foster-Gibbons_cmpd.pdf
Undergraduate Research Project
University of Rochester River Campus Libraries
• Faculty Work Practice Project
• What about undergrads?– Project Team– Leadership Group– Three study teams
Reference
Library facilities
Web Site
Undergraduate Research Project
University of Rochester River Campus Libraries
• Research begun Fall 2004
• Led by Anthropologist Nancy Fried Foster
• Used ethnographic research techniques
• Pre-study: faculty interviews
• Objectives broadened to gain broad insight into student lives
• More than 100 students participated
• More than 1/3 of library staff involved
Undergraduate Research Project
University of Rochester River Campus Libraries
Faculty commented more extensively on the problems of writing and critical thinking than on those related to locating appropriate sources
Undergraduate Research Project
University of Rochester River Campus Libraries
Methodologies used– Retrospective interviews– Photo Surveys– Mapping diaries– Reference desk survey– Interviews in student union– Design workshops for web page– Design Charettes– Late night dorm visits
Retrospective Interview
Design Charrette
Mahogany bookshelves,
Old style lampsNice cozy feel
Computer Loungewith 802.11g WiFi
With Nintendo WiFi Connection
Movies and video games on big
projection screen
Gleason LibraryDedicated Nov 2007
Something you couldn’t live without
Photo Survey
Carlson Library Rush Rhees Library
Reference Desk Survey
Interviews in Union“To participate, you
must:• Be an undergraduateAND• Working on a paper
that requires you to find books and/or articles
OR• Working on a project
that requires you to find data”
Mapping Diary
Late Night Dorm Visits
Design workshop for web page
Undergraduate Research Project
University of Rochester River Campus Libraries
Staff participation Development of interview and workshop
procedures Video recorded and transcribing of interviews Co-viewing interviews Interviewed faculty and students Developed new programs: Night Owl
librarians, Orientation Breakfast
Whoooo’s working late?
Night Owl Librarians
Help with assignments and papers
Sunday – WednesdayMarch 26 - 29 and April 2 – 5
until 11 PM
Call: 275-4478 Rush Rhees Reference
275-4465 Carlson Library Reference
IM: askURlibrary
Undergraduate Research Project
University of Rochester River Campus Libraries
Retrospective Interviews Most had had a library instruction session Expected to do well Found articles and books fairly easily, simply
changed topics if did not find enough Consulted with parents Found developing a thesis, organizing, and
writing difficult Several had consulted a librarian
Undergraduate Research Project
University of Rochester River Campus Libraries
Reference Desk Interviews Students did not come to desk “cold” All had tried to find information on his/her own Most students knew names of databases and
had used 1-2 of the them All students reported reference assistance
had helped them Save time Learned about resources, the library, and how to
search
Undergraduate Research Project
University of Rochester River Campus Libraries
Dissatisfaction with the technique Interviewed students immediately after
assistance Librarians uncomfortable with asking
questions and often to busy to adequately follow-up at the desk
Undergraduate Research Project
University of Rochester River Campus Libraries
Survey in the student union Felt they had enough time to do paper All expected to do well Found it difficult to narrow topic and organize
paper Most asked professor or TA for assistance Many expected to have prof review draft Some uncertain about what a librarian could
do for them
Undergraduate Research Project
University of Rochester River Campus Libraries
In summary, we found students: Confident about their ability to find
information Heavy users of libraries’ catalog and
databases Do not take the first hits from a Google
search Divide their research and writing into
chunks
Undergraduate Research Project
University of Rochester River Campus Libraries
• Often mention databases by name but also heard about the “libraries’ search engine”
• Look for a simple interface; for them it is a “point and click” world
• Confident of their ability to find what they needed; often if they did not find information they assume it did not exist and chose a different topic
Undergraduate Research Project
University of Rochester River Campus Libraries
Those who came to the desk Had tried and failed to find what they
needed Some consulted regularly with librarian Most had met librarian in class or an
earlier consultation
Undergraduate Research Project
University of Rochester River Campus Libraries
For reference/subject librarians some sobering results:
Lack of clarity about role of librarian or even what library staff had come to their class
Equate librarians with books See faculty or teaching assistants as subject
experts Consulted with a librarian on faculty
recommendation
Undergraduate Research Project
University of Rochester River Campus Libraries
Brief look at library instruction at UR No formal information literacy program Integrated into courses with assignments
requiring library research Library instruction in just about all first year
writing classes Mixed success in other classes, depends
on assignments, subject librarians, and interested faculty
Undergraduate Research Project
University of Rochester River Campus Libraries
• So what have we done???
Undergraduate Research Project
University of Rochester River Campus Libraries
• Strength our subject librarian/department liaison program For some, faculty interviews opened
communication Embedded Librarians Course Pages Include faculty in decisions when feasible Offer more options to faculty
Undergraduate Research Project
University of Rochester River Campus Libraries
Collaboration with College Writing Center Built on a strong foundation of good will Reflects the synergy between research and
writing Development of librarian tutors Working with the writing fellows Conducting research and presenting Increased presence in the pedagogy training
of instructors
Undergraduate Research Project
University of Rochester River Campus Libraries
Critical Evaluation of teaching methods Meetings to focus on teaching Led by Suzanne Bell, ACRL, Institute for
Information Literacy: “The Intentional Teacher: renewal through informed reflection.” (2006)
Review and trade teaching techniques; develop unique materials
Undergraduate Research Project
University of Rochester River Campus Libraries
Emphasis Develop clear goals with instructor Less lecturing and fewer demos; active
involvement of students Refine and limit amount of information
presented Get the students started; make certain they
know how to get further assistance Creative ways to teach the basics
Undergraduate Research Project
University of Rochester River Campus Libraries
Developed theme “every class has a librarian”
Course pages Parents Breakfast Scare Fair Appointments/ business cards at desk
Undergraduate Research Project
University of Rochester River Campus Libraries
Would we do it all again?
Would we change what we did?
Has it made a difference in our libraries?
Undergraduate Research Project
University of Rochester River Campus Libraries
Slides available at:
http://docushare.lib.rochester.edu/docushare/dsweb/View/Collection-2795
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