Collaborating with the LibraryTeaching Talk | October 12, 2015
Your Librarians
Learning Services
Julia Feerrar [email protected] for: ENGL 1105, 1106, 1204
Jennifer [email protected] for: upper-level classes, research consultations, purchasing books
Special Collections
Marc [email protected]
Kira [email protected]
Today we will explore...
How do first year students experience research?
What challenges do they often face?
How can you collaborate with the library to address student needs?
What kinds of support are available for your students and for you?
How do first year students experience research?
“[In high school] teachers give you an idea they want you to find, they point you in that direction, they give you links...In college, there are so few constraints in terms of topics—pick something that interests YOU and that has something to do with what we have been talking about in class, and that forces you to figure out what you are really interested in. For me, thinking about what I'm interested in is really scary…”
Project Information Literacy Research Report “Learning the Ropes”
Changes from High School to College
Changes from High School to College
More resources: library collection multiplies
More complexity: research now involves combining and using new and different resources
Higher standards: students need to select quality sources and evaluate for credibility
More agency: assignments require independent choices and intellectual exploration
Project Information Literacy Research Report “Learning the Ropes”
Conflicting Feelings
“overwhelming and exciting”
“overwhelming and amazing”
“scary and exciting”
“stressful and competitive”
Project Information Literacy Research Report “Learning the Ropes”
“It’s that anxiety when you type in words and none of the words match the results”
Project Information Literacy Research Report “Learning the Ropes”
“I’ve been thrown into a sea of journal articles”
Project Information Literacy Research Report “Learning the Ropes”
“I need help finding scholarly articles”
“I’ll have to stretch it to make five sources probably”
Project Information Literacy Research Report “Learning the Ropes”
“I have such a hard time not believing that what they [PhDs] are saying is 100% accurate.”
Project Information Literacy Research Report “Learning the Ropes”
“How do I know what quote to use?...I’m just kind of picking from here and picking from there for this paper”
Project Information Literacy Research Report “Learning the Ropes”
Research as finding stuff
Writing as using that stuff...for what?
out
& research entering a conversation
Shared Goals for Student Learning
Rhetorical Knowledge
Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing
Processes
Knowledge of Conventions
How can you collaborate with the library?
Workshops in Our Classrooms or Yours
Consider…
Timing & sequencingApplication to your
assignment(s)Planning more than
two weeks in advance
Workshop Logistics
Request instruction via the Library Instruction Request Form: https://www.lib.vt.edu/forms/reserve.html
Receive email from Julia confirming your class and connecting you with a librarian
Discuss assignment, workshop goals, and teaching strategies with your librarian collaborator
Sequencing Your Lesson Plans: Example 1
Class A:Introduce your assignmentWhat makes a ‘good’ research topic?Topic brainstorming
Class B (Library Workshop):Refine topicDevelop keywordsExplore in Summon
Class C:Evaluate informationIdentify key arguments and points
Sequencing Your Lesson Plans: Example 2
Class A:Introduce your assignmentTopic brainstormingWatch video on searching in Summon
Class B (Library Workshop):Discuss characteristics of a scholarly sourceRefine topicDevelop keywordsExplore in Summon
Class C: (Library Workshop Part 2):Evaluate informationUnderstand citations
Special Collections Workshops
Marc BrodskyPublic Services and Reference [email protected]
Kira Dietz Acquisitions and Processing [email protected]
Your Assignments and Syllabus
Set intermediate deadlines
Consider your language
Work with us!
Further Help for Students
Drop-in sessions and consults
LibGuide resource pages