www.arl.orgassociation of research libraries noteworthy teaching, learning, and space initiatives in...

www.arl.orgAssociation of Research Libraries

Noteworthy Teaching, Learning, and Space Initiatives in ARL Libraries

Early Findings from a 2008 Survey

Crit Stuart, ARL Program Director for Research, Teaching, and Learning


Purpose of the Survey

Comprehensively record innovations and noteworthy experiments in:

1. teaching efforts

2. virtual resource development, and

3. productivity spaces …

to portray to the community.


Purpose of the Survey

New and noteworthy: “fresh direction or previously untried at your library

but promising” and “significant, and perhaps modeled on and modified

from another library’s efforts.”

Identifying:– scalable models– trends– assessment efforts– goals / aspirations / influences


Responses to Survey


Responses to SurveyPart 1: “Information literacy /

instruction”


Information literacy & instruction“Themes”

Campus collaborations:– education technologists– CETL / CITL – information technology– writing programs – academic assessment office– freshman experience– academic departments & colleges– library special collections



Targeted at:– engage-able classes

– freshmen

– comprehensively across undergraduate cycle

– graduate students (limited)

– faculty (limited)



Framed as either:

• “formal” -- aspects of a course / curriculum

• “informal” (virtual) -- serendipitous engagement / as needed



Enabling technologies:– podcasts– Camtasia– videos– wikis, blogs– Second Life, Face Book– “quick bites” … trend to create resources that

don’t bore or lose audience– “ready made” resources that can be tailored



Embracing new competencies:– research methodologies

• undergraduate• graduate (limited)

– oral presentations– writing proficiency– new forms of scholarship– multimedia– data / GIS– ethics / personal accountability



Staffing experiments:– shift to new pedagogies to increase learning:

• less “talking head”• student peer tutoring• team teaching with academic faculty

– ambitious learning outcomes: • critical thinking• research methodologies• fluencies• knowledge creation

– ramped-up pedagogical skills and technology training for instruction librarians


Information literacy & instruction

TRENDS


Information literacy & instruction“Trends”

Topic: videos and podcasts to assist searching catalog and databases.– short duration– “help at hand” when stuck– useful for large lectures– familiar media– basic-to-deep coverage of a topic, skill, or

resource



Topic: Camtasia – embedded guides and instruction in course

management systems (screen capture, with voice-over, video, text options).

– often partner with academic faculty and TAs– appears at critical points in the course==> early use of pre- and post-assessments

to determine efficacy; monitoring “hits” of resources



Topic: personal librarian• follows a class throughout 4 years; or • focuses on freshmen in basic writing course; or• “parents’ librarian”

– timely postings – to promote library use through a personal

assistant; heighten awareness



Topic: Popularizing Special Collections• digitize collections for Website

• example of grads pairing w/ undergrads to conduct research

• stimulates critical thinking on a topic using primary materials

• sometimes creates new knowledge



Topic: Popularizing Special Collections (specific example)Library prepares elaborate digital resources of intriguing collections for a course.– primary source materials (manuscripts and oral

histories)– recordings; newspaper troves; photographs– bibliographies of books, articles, and other

resources on the topic==> to stimulate deep & critical thinking on a topic ==> to expose Special Collection resources


Information literacy & instruction“Trendss”

Topic: Popularizing Special Collections (specific example)Librarians and academic faculty use previously un-

researched 19th C. letters to introduce research methods. Experiment began w/ honors class.

– undergrads paired with mentoring grads– students research context for the letters and

discuss their significance; gain subject expertise– expanding to more undergraduate programs



Topic: Research and information competencies– working with freshman via composition courses– pacing info literacy throughout 4-year curricula,

with increasingly sophisticated elements– $$ to recruit academic faculty to come onboard– scaled to department, college, or campus (but

challenged by large classes)



Topic: Academic integrity– targets freshmen, entire undergraduate

body, even grad students– addresses plagiarism, copyright, open

access, compliance with university policy– embedded in freshman seminar as a

segment– module persists on library Web page



Topic: Wikis. . . frequently linked to specific courses – resources, tutorials – training & workshop information– exercises– subject specific portals– links to blogs on latest resources, current

awareness, and new tools– provides a contemporary venue for learning



Topic: Digital collections promotion and use– promoting digital repositories (leased, purchased,

locally-created) to faculty for incorporation into class presentations

– greatly accelerated use of digital stores



Topic: Multimedia training for faculty– providing faculty with skills to critique new media– capturing & editing skills– serving courses with strong media components– influencing course outcomes / outputs



Topic: Library instruction built on research problems– instructor as facilitator– students tasked to “think, pair, share” (peer-to-

peer instruction)– requiring librarians to be adept in learning

pedagogies; to engage with academic faculty; and to become involved with curricula committees



Topic: librarian supports student e-journals– librarian liaison to editors & writers– helps them choose scholarly resources,

and to write “with appropriate style”– copy-edits articles– creates Web page with links to style

guides and other resources



Topic: Faculty emersion event– collaboration between library & other units– weeklong series at end of year– hands-on skills building for faculty and

instructors (multimedia, podcasting, social networking in CMS, Microsoft Office, etc.)

– reviewing T & L technology



Topic: Faculty & grad CMS supportTutorials and resource materials for faculty

and graduate students to– enrich course management sites

– create pedagogically appropriate assignments.

==> librarians as education technologists



Topic: Graduate student competencies

Information competency seminars for graduate students covering: – research methodologies

– print & digital resources

– in-depth hands-on training

– exposure to data mining tools



Topic: Interdisciplinary initiative

Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences targets student research competencies by engaging academic faculty, writing specialists, librarians, data specialists.– understand interdisciplinary creation of knowledge– develop critical thinking, writing, self-reflection– frequent meetings among developers in a

“community of practice”

==> in order to produce “original knowledge”



Topic: Celebrating creativity– prize for best undergraduate research paper– “Digital Information Literacy” contest created

by students, sponsored by library– screens highlighting student & faculty works– monthly lectures from outstanding faculty



Topic: Parents of freshmen

Several flavors, including …– brief, hands-on workshop for parents– remember this lecture … “When your son or

daughter turns to you for help, send them to us.”


Response to SurveyPart 2: “Physical spaces & programming”


Physical spaces & programming“Themes”

Targets: – undergraduates– grad students (emerging trend)– faculty (emerging trend)

==> SPEC kit in 2009 on graduate and faculty spaces



Collaborations:– IT, ET– CETL / CITL– food services– tutoring / mentoring / help sessions– writing– advising & counseling– faculty==> creating the “one stop shop”



Enabling technologies:– individual and group computers– multimedia capacities– touch screens, large display capacities– team software – myriad devices to loan– variously scaled printing, format conversion==> sandboxing, testing new tools and software,

experimentation



Ambiance:– influenced by customer expectation & input– dynamic and quiet zones– malleable settings; ergo-smart furnishings– multi-purposed spaces (co-controlled by users)– emphasis on light, art, displays, current

awareness, “celebrating who we are”– persistence of good food & drink– ability to meet & greet; see & be seen



Changes to the organization:– consolidation of service points– emergence of new positions– rise of assessment, metrics, on-going analysis– collaborations outside the library– formalized connections with clients & partners– sandboxing / experimentation / flux– reconsideration of primary vs. secondary real estate– preoccupation with user success & learning outcomes


Physical spaces & programming“Ideals”

Topic: Faculty & grad commons– influenced by success with student commons– combining previously scattered faculty-support

services in one site– sometimes with full production facilities; growing

focus on learning object creation, sandboxes to test latest equipment & software

– training in basic and multimedia software; enhancing pedagogy, writing, media fluencies; creating of knowledge & new publishing forms



Topic: Faculty / grad commons– training in: CMS, digital & multimedia, new

pedagogy, info lit constructs tied to course learning outcomes

– quiet spaces as well as mixing grounds– exhibits, presentations, special events – kitchens for catering & special functions



Topic: Student commons:– supporting rich suites of technologies– partnerships with essential student support

services – 24 hour mixing grounds reflecting student life,

celebrating their creativity, hosting “cool” events, portraying both hard work and down time

– gradually informed by ongoing assessment (but difficulty assessing learning outcomes)


Physical spaces & programming“Influencing space design”

Most cited in the survey:

8-10 institutions are currently influencing new spaces and programming. Most cited in the survey were:

1. GT

2. Emory (Cox Hall & Woodruff classrooms)

3. others in southeast: UNC & NC State


Physical spaces & programming

EXAMPLES


Physical spaces & programming“Faculty / grad examples”

Ohio University faculty commons– Convenes 3 key offices for faculty development

• Center for Academic Technology• Center for Teaching Excellence• Center for Writing Excellence• Media Production• Library collection development • Smart conference rooms• Multimedia; audio / video editing• Casual meeting / mixing space & hosting events



University of Washington Health Sciences --Graduate & professional student commons– Classrooms w/ multimedia & networked resources, support in

pedagogy and technology use– drop-in computer lab w/ support for complex presentations– equipment and software requested by students



Columbia -- Baker LibraryDigital Social Sciences Center– collaborative stations to support study & research

in social sciences– core of subject specialists w/ support in research

& technology– presentation practice



Columbia -- Baker Library -- Digital Humanities Ctr (2009)– identification of & access to all formats of resources in

humanities– assistance with & training in extraction of data– creation of new digital content (transformation and original

production)– editing & mark-up of digital content– mining & analysis: close study, annotation, analysis of digital– incorporating digital objects into writing & other scholarship– assembling & managing personal info collections– collaboration on instruction and research activities– assist with new forms of publishing



University of Western Ontario Teaching Support Centre (w/ library info lit coordinator, CITL, IT)– new pedagogy assistance

– showcase classrooms

– implementing University-wide priority of info literacy w/ heavy inclusion of librarians in curriculum development



UNC Collaboratory– managed by instructional design & technology

librarian; supplemented by graduate assistants– assists faculty and instructors with CMS– unites students and faculty on digitization and

Web development projects

UNC Digital Media Lab– audio and video editing assistance– film production– online tutorials and personal classes


Physical spaces & programming“Undergrad, grad, faculty examples”

U Penn Weigle Information CommonsLibrary & School of Arts & Sciences; with support from Communications, Writing, CETL– focus on group learning– heavy emphasis on multimedia, for individuals

and entire classes– exceptional training tracks for faculty &

for students– support for research, project management,

writing, presentation, “entire creative process”– faculty training in new pedagogies & fluencies


Physical spaces & programming“Undergrad examples”

University of MinnesotaSMART Learning commons -- many campus units

involved– peer assistance in gateway courses & skills (math,

sciences, stats, economics, writing, library research)– agile response to emerging, high-impact courses– expert peers conduct group study experiences– (coming) peer assistance with research techniques– technology & skills development workshops



USC Leavy Library– given over to undergraduates as their ground– IT help with podcast studios and video conf’ing– librarian specialists in undergraduate projects– basic productivity, statistical, multimedia support;

walk-in center for personal computer assistance– group & individual study spaces– current events / hot topics area for papers– great indoor / outdoor ambiance



Cornell Mann Library– for “high-energy” group work– interactive, smart screens with team technology– mobile technology workstation carts– moveable furniture– privacy screens, tackboards, easels– separate area for quiet, grad student retreat– showcase for artwork and multimedia coursework,

supporting annual student expo fair

==> designed by students & faculty of Communications and Design & Environ Analysis Departments



University of Tennessee commonsLibrary & OIT partner w/ Writing Center, Stat Lab, tutoring &

faculty-lead study groups • multimedia, media conversion, & faculty digitizing• full suite of library services• group presentation & presentation practice rooms• CMS support• one-stop IT support for trouble-shooting and

computer repair• mobile and fixed furnishings• room converts to faculty lounge and reception area



University of Guelph Learning Commons

A learning support model centered on “peer helper” programs, with trained students helping others through writing assistance, study workshops, learning sessions, and technology training.


Responses to Survey

Part 3 “Virtual resources / spaces”


Virtual Resources“Themes”

Topic: Library presence in CMSStrong movement in this direction, where

we see elaboration of information resources to complement a course, citation management tools, reference sources, IM / email contact w/ subject librarian, basic research methodology in the discipline, course reserves links



Topic: Off-the-shelf virtual guides– Libguides.com (most frequently cited)– templates for easy customization & faster

implementation– move away from homegrown print and

virtual guides



Topic: Blogs

• for library resources & services

• for campuses, with library a collaborator in setting up & promoting

• a tool to foster community, provide deeper engagement in curriculum

• requires serious commitment by blogger



Topic: Wikis

• emerging as robust, rich, and interactive alternative to pathfinders and subject guides

• potential for student comments, contributions … “community platform”



Topic: Supporting faculty in digital resource creation

• inducements may include: technology support, grants, pedagogical support

• to achieve: data visualization, object creation, new scholarship, experimentation

• predicated on: support for new forms of research, innovative resource or improved ‘traditional’ resource, relevance to curriculum



Topic: Enhancing the search experience (Endeca, Lens, etc.)

• customized subsets of library resources by discipline / subject … or targeted to specific audiences

• tag clouds, relevancy indicators, resource reviews• convenient links to ordering via ILL or consortial

holdings, chat, etc.• enhanced searching of image databases



Topic: inhabiting virtual spaces• Facebook w/ descriptions & links to lib• Second Life … info assistance; conducting

classes w/ academic faculty; sandbox / brainstorm space for student projects

• for announcements, info resources, research help … going where students are



Topic: Prototyping physical library spaces in virtual environments

• portraying renovations in Second Life or other virtual spaces

• inviting revisions / alternative models



Topic: suffusing virtual space w/ resources & data sets

• digitizing rare resources, creating / supplying data sets … for new knowledge creation & to substantiate analysis with data visualization

• collecting licensed and community-created GIS data, with tools for exploration & conducting research

www.arl.orgassociation of research libraries noteworthy teaching, learning, and space initiatives in...

Documents

research libraries purpose

research libraries responses

survey slide

learning slide

resource slide

needed slide

tailored slide

faculty limited slide