Activating the Brain: Guiding the Research Efforts of First Year Students

FEBRUARY 2012

Joe Eshleman, MLIS, Instruction LibrarianJohnson & Wales University Library, Charlotte, NC

Richard Moniz, MA, MLIS, EdD, Director of Library ServicesJohnson & Wales University Library, Charlotte, NCAdjunct Instructor, UNCG MLIS & Johnson & Wales University, History

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Session Objectives

Theory•Explore assumptions

instructors make about student’s ability to do

research•Consider the broader

cognitive benefits of skills associated with information

literacy

PracticeLearn about ways that

information literacy tools are being taught at one

universityShare ways that you are addressing these issues in

your classroom

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Exercise

What shortcomings do you believe freshmen have when it comes to

research?

What are you doing in your class to address

student research shortcomings?

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Cognitive benefits of Information Literacy

• Broad-based benefits from Information Literacy analogous to Whalen’s (2010) learning through

narratives

• Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development

• Wood, Bruner, and Ross’ Scaffolding

• Intuitive belief that having basic knowledge of Information Literacy skills is the first step towards critical

thinking and doing good research

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Association of College & Research Libraries Standards

“The information literate student evaluates information and its sources critically and incorporates selected

information into his or her knowledge base and value system.”

– Association of College & Research Libraries Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education

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New England Association of Schools & Colleges Standards

“The institution ensures that students use information resources and information technology as an integral part of

their education. The institution provides appropriate orientation and training for use of these resources, as well

as instruction and support in information literacy and information technology appropriate to the degree level

and field of study.”

- New England Association of Schools & Colleges Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (SACS equivalent)

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Information Literacy and English Composition

• Students retain more when Information Literacy sessions relate practical tools useful for their

assignments (Holliday, W., & Faggerheim, B. (2006). Integrating information literacy with a sequenced English

composition curriculum. Portal: Libraries and the Academy, 6(2): 169-184.)

• ENG1020 requires students to write basic research papers (many for the first time)

• Students require knowledge of research skills and resources to write their papers

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• Using concept maps – getting a topic

• Searching the library catalog

• Knowing what databases are available

• Knowing basic and advanced database search features such as citation help, limiting to scholarly journals, etc.

• Developing some basic library knowledge (or where to get it)

Caveat/Note: Use of a worksheet was optional (based on librarian’s preference). Librarians also adapted the

presentation somewhat based on style.

Session Content

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Research Design

• Pre-test and Post-test - Self Report

• Evidence of Learning – Worksheets and Online Test

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Results

•255 student participants included in the results (13 additional thrown out due to no pre-test and 7 due

to no post-test)

•3 librarians included in results (2 presenters and Jean Moats, Collection Management Librarian at

Johnson & Wales)

•9 English faculty

•16 classes

Best guess on results????

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Results – Statistics

Question/Statement (e.g. I know how to…) Pre-Test Survey

Post-Test

Survey

Use the concept map in CREDO reference to explore a topic

13% 97%

Search the library catalog 71% 99%

Know some of the library databases available for assignments

55% 99%

Know how to use database features 37% 98%

Know where to find basic information about the library

91% 100%

• Non-parametric test for nominal data from matched-pairs (pre-post) - McNemar’s Q Test

• All questions significant at p>.01

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Results – Online Test Scores

Class Title Session Date Day TimeStudents Present Location

Quia AVG

ENG 1020 Module l 9/12/2011 Monday 3:50 23 Library Lab 85ENG 1020 Module l 9/13/2011 Tuesday 8:00 21 AC 435 84

ENG 1020 Module l 9/20/2011 Tuesday 1:45 20 Library Lab 84ENG 1020 Module l 9/26/2011 Monday 11:40 14 Library Lab 86ENG 1020 Module l 9/26/2011 Monday 1:45 18 AC 434 78ENG 1020 Module l 9/28/2011 Wednesday 8:00 21 Library Lab 76ENG 1020 Module l 9/28/2011 Wednesday 11:40 22 Library Lab 92ENG 1020 Module l 9/29/2011 Thursday 9:35 15 Library Lab 83ENG 1020 Module l 10/4/2011 Tuesday 1:45 20 Library Lab 82ENG 1020 Module l 10/4/2011 Tuesday 5:55 15 Library Lab 87ENG 1020 Module l 10/11/2011 Tuesday 3:50 13 Library Lab 69ENG 1020 Module l 10/11/2011 Tuesday 11:40 17 Library Lab 77ENG 1020 Module l 10/12/2011 Wednesday 9:35 15 Library Lab 88ENG 1020 Module l 10/18/2011 Tuesday 5:55 16 Library Lab 68ENG 1020 Module l 10/18/2011 Tuesday 8:00 13 Library Lab 83ENG 1020 Module l 10/18/2011 Tuesday 11:40 24 Library Lab 80ENG 1020 Module l 10/31/2011 Monday 1:45 18 Library Lab 76ENG 1020 Module l 10/31/2011 Monday 5:55 13 Library Lab 78ENG 1020 Module l 11/1/2011 Tuesday 3:50 19 Library Lab 80 Overall Average 81

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Results – Worksheet ExamplesWhat did you search on?

Ethical consumption

What are three other topics that came up related to it?

1.Sustainable consumption2.Corporate social responsibility3.Energy, society, and environment

How could you narrow the results of your search?

•Change the publication date•Choose a particular source type•Search with more keywords

What other information is available on the library home page?

•Librarians and their contact information•MLA citation guide•You can chat online with someone or you can ask a librarian questions

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Take Aways

Consider a separate research component assignment (apart from the full paper)

Consider working with librarians and tailor an Information Literacy instruction class with the assignment or the

research paper

Consider using a research worksheet (supplied in packet)

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Student Feedback - How will the class benefit your future ability to find quality information sources in your academic and daily life?

It will benefit me in the future because I

don't have to constantly Google

search things and it's a faster way to

research, in my opinion

It helped my research become easier. I do not have to really

worry about the sources being credible, being

that the library has already done that

for me.

I personally can look up the book instead of asking the front desk and it will help me with my

citations.

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Reflection

Questions?

Other Ideas/Thoughts? Thank you.

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References/Suggested Readings

Association of College & Research Libraries. (2000). Information literacy competency standards for higher education, Retrieved September 8, 2011, from http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/standards/informationliteracycompetency.cfm. Burkhardt, J., MacDonald, M. C., and Rathemacher, A. J. (2010). Teaching information literacy: 50 standards-based exercises for college students. Chicago: ALA. Galvin, J. (2006). Information literacy and integrative learning. College & Undergraduate Libraries, 13(3): 25-51. Holliday, W., & Faggerheim, B. (2006). Integrating information literacy with a sequenced English composition curriculum. Portal: Libraries and the Academy, 6(2): 169-184. Killia, L. (2009). New textual formats: Reading online is re-wiring the human brain and changing how we process information. Dalhousie Journal of Interdisciplinary Management, 5: 1-13. Moniz, R., Fine, J., & Bliss, L. (2008). The effectiveness of direct-instruction and student-centered teaching methods on students' functional understanding of plagiarism. College & Undergraduate Libraries, 15(3): 255-279. Moniz, R., Eshleman, J., Mooney, B., Jewell, D., & Tran, C. (2010). The impact of information literacy-related instruction in the science classroom: Clickers versus nonclickers. College & Undergraduate Libraries, 17(4), 349-364. Posley, K. (2011). Training the trainers: Teaching clinician educators to provide information literacy skills feedback, Journal of Medical Association, 99(3): 258-261. Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes. MA, Harvard University Press.

Whalen. L. (2010). The neuroscience of teaching narratives: Facilitating social and emotional development. BRAIN: Broad Research in Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience, 1(2): 143-147.

Wood, D., Bruner, J. S. and Ross, G. (1976). “The Role of Tutoring in Problem Solving,” Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 17: 89–100.