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Library’s Got Talent! New Library Instructors Discover Their Voices

Rebecca K. Miller University LibrariesChris Barb Virginia TechTracy M. Hall LOEX 2013

The Whole Team (2012-13)

Coordinators: Carolyn Meier, Rebecca Miller, and Lesley Moyo

New Instructors: Chris Barb, Tracy Gilmore, Monena Hall, Tracy Hall, Neal Henshaw, Paul Hover, Anne Lawrence, Jennifer Munson

Overview & Outcomes

Changes both inside and outside of the library challenge the traditional instructional model

Our solution involves seeking and molding talent from within other library departments

This new model is still evolving, and we will share our goals, lessons learned, and future plans

Virginia Tech University Libraries

Basic Instruction (2011-12)

Class type Total classes Population reached

ENGL 1105/6 116 2,023

Corps of Cadets 30 350

Undergraduate 203 2,789

Graduate 50 650

First Year Experience 32 490

Undergraduate Research Workshops

13 285

Faculty Workshops 17 166

Other 14 409

FYE Instruction (2011-12)

College/Department Students Reached

Biochemistry 120

Agriculture & Life Sciences 200

Building Construction 40

Architectue + Design 200

Engineering 300

Liberal Arts & Human Sciences 250

Natural Resources & Environment 68

Business 325

Physics 50

Psychology 80

Transfer/Science 140

University Studies 300

Internal: Library Reorganization

Internal:University Libraries

Strategic Plan

Emphases– Empower students to

develop the skills, literacies, experiences, and perceptions necessary to excel in an analytically savvy, multi-disciplinary, global workplace.

– Partner with faculty in the exploration and implementation of new pedagogies, technologies, and learning environments.

– Develop new methods, programs and applications for library-based instruction and engagement.

External Challenges

UCCLE

(Curriculum for Liberal Education)

First Year Experience

The Issue: Scalability

Are you seeing similar issues in your information literacy/instruction programs?

Our Solution

The Goals

Goals

Instruction proficiencies

Teaching/er identities

Format

Community of practice

The Process

Spring 2012: Library-wide call for new instructors

Summer 2012: Instruction leaders develop 12-week training program

Fall 2012: New instructors begin real-world preparation opportunities

Spring 2013: New instructors begin to teach and co-teach

Spring 2012: The Call

Summer 2012: The Training

Summer 2012: The Training

Week 1: Overview & instruction proficiencies

Week 2: Learner characteristics and learning preferences

Week 3: Learning theories

Week 4: Instructional design

Week 5: Teaching technologies & classroom tour

Week 6: Workshop day

Sample Week

6/19/2012: Learner characteristics and learning preferences

Beloit College. (2012). The Mindset List: 2012 List. Retrieved from http://www.beloit.edu/mindset/2012/

Bennett, S., Maton, K., and Kervin, L. (2008). The ‘digital natives’ debate: a critical review of the evidence. British Journal of Educational Technology, 39(5), 775-786. Available on Scholar.

ECAR. (2012). Students & Technology [Infographic]. Retrieved from http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ERS1103/EIG1103.pdf

Kennedy, G., Krause, K.L., Judd, T., Churchward, A., and Gray, K. (2006). First year students’ experiences with technology: are they really digital natives? Australasian Journal for Educational Technology, 24(1), 108-122. Available on Scholar.

Neighmond, P. (2011, August 29). Think you’re an auditory or a visual learner? Scientists say it’s unlikely. National Public Radio. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/08/29/139973743/think-youre-an-auditory-or-visual-learner-scientists-say-its-unlikely.

Fall 2012: The Preparation

FYE peer mentors

Observation

Reflection

Spring 2013: The Teaching

Weekly teaching schedule (observations)

Regular meetings

Reflections

Co-teaching

Additional Support

LEO (Libraries Exchange Observation) local group

Instruction Learning Community (reading group)

Instruction Clearinghouse & Library Instruction Toolkit (in the works)

Research & Scholarship

Thoughtfulness and reflection

Sharing our process and creating discussion Conference on Higher Education Pedagogy

(Blacksburg, VA) LOEX 2013 (Nashville, TN) WILU (Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada) IFLA (Singapore)

Are you doing or considering doing something similar at your library? What other thoughts

do you have?

Discussion

Preliminary Feedback & Assessment

Anecdotal feedback from new instructors

Reflections and student evaluations

13-item Qualtrics survey: Motivation Challenges Overall impact on individuals and the institution Feedback about future iterations of cohort and

continuing ed

Motivation

I wanted to improve my instruction and presentation skills and hoped that it would help me to advance in my career.

It is an interesting change, the contact with students is enjoyable.

Impact: Individuals

Rate your levels of confidence in your skills as a teacher before you began and after you completed the new instructor training program:

Impact: Individuals

As a result of participating in the program, have you gained any new professional interests or goals?

Impact: Institutional

How did the new instructor training program impact your “day job?”

It has given me an additional avenue to connect with students and faculty.

I get more comfortable dealing with the public speaking…

A stronger understanding of the discovery tools and databases we offer at VT.

Challenges

What was your biggest challenge as you prepared to teach or co-teach your first class?

Tailoring my instruction to the assignment.

“Stage fright” for the first class and interacting with the professors to develop the class plan.

Overthinking it.

Suggestions &Lessons Learned

More workshop (hands on) opportunities

More discussion of teaching tools and activities

Guidelines for pre-teaching observations

Faculty communication skills

Workshopping

2012: 1 workshop day

2013: 2 workshop days New instructors will prepare session based on

scenario Coordinators and cohort will offer feedback New instructors will modify session based on

feedback and present again

Teaching Tools & Activities

Observinghttps://sites.google.com/site/librariesexchange/home

Working with Faculty

Review samples of appropriate assignments

Focus on learning outcomes

Develop strategies for articulating outcomes and activities with faculty

Phase 2 &The Next Cohort

Cohort will continue to grow stronger (Phase 2) Four librarians and library staff have volunteered Training begins in June

Phase 2 for 2012-13 Cohort Training continues Cohort offered ideas for what they would like to

learn Interactions with 2013-14 Cohort

2012-13 Cohort: Phase 2

What topics are you interested in pursuing through continuing education and development opportunities?

Ways to keep students engaged with more active learning techniques

How to engage with faculty on pedagogy consultation

Distance learning and use multimedia

…Engage diverse groups…

Implications for 21st Century Instruction

What other questions do you have for us or comments you’d like to share with us?

Discussion and Questions

Thank You!

Rebecca K. Miller, millerrk@vt.edu

Chris Barb, clbarb@vt.edu

Tracy Hall, tracy72@vt.edu

www.lib.vt.edu

Image Credits

http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/s67/americas-got-talent/news/a385575/americas-got-talent-austin-auditions-recap.html

http://handsonhousewife.blogspot.com/2011/06/for-ms-baldwin.html

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-does-a-childrens-librarian-do.htm