muchos mentores en iowa : the pedagogy of student to student mentoring in information literacy

Julia Bauder, Beth Bohstedt and Phillip JonesGrinnell College Libraries

LOEX National ConferenceLOEX National ConferenceFort Worth, TXFort Worth, TX May 7, 2011May 7, 2011

Is it appropriate for your campus?

◦ How do you teach information literacy? How could student mentors fit into your instruction program?

◦ Do you have a campus culture that is supportive of peer mentoring? What other programs on your campus employ students to teach other students?

If so, what initial steps would you need to take to implement it?

Selective, residential liberal arts college.

1600 undergraduate students.

Curricular emphasis on inquiry-based learning.

Locally customized version of the ACRL information literacy standards

Information literacy curriculum based on the customized standards

The information literacy and student mentoring programs were both cited by the award committee.

Model 1: Campus-wide, students teaching students

Model 2: Academic libraries, mentoring students into profession of librarianship

Grinnell’s programs are closer to Model 1 than Model 2.

Math Lab Science Learning Center Academic Advising Writing Lab Data Analysis and Social Inquiry Lab Intercultural Affairs

Acknowledge and support existing practice

Encourage consistency of service

Offer basic research advice at all public service desks, not just the reference desk

Students might be more comfortable learning from a peer?

Give librarians more time to do classroom-based instruction and research consultations

Expand late night and weekend service

Basic Information Service

◦ Provided at all public service desks

◦ Available whenever the library is open

Reference Assistant Program

◦ Provided at the reference desk

◦ Available 10:00pm to midnight Sunday - Thursday (and some afternoons)

All students working at the Libraries’ public service desks will:

◦ Be able to answer basic information questions

◦ Know when and how to refer a student for more in-depth help

Required materials / Required materials / EquipmentEquipmentAgenda Outline/Checklist

Computers (one per student is ideal)Laser pointer to highlight elements on the screenLink or file for the “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” game (prepared ahead of time)Candy

Introductions (5 minutes) Basic Website/Catalog (5-7 minutes) Research (12-15 minutes) Referrals (10-12 minutes) Review (12-15 minutes) Closing (2 minutes)

Total time: 45 minutes – 1 hour

Follow-up to BIS TrainingFollow-up to BIS Training

Send sample reference questions every few weeks

Talk to the students working the public desks to see how it’s going

Needed to create positions, aid recruitment

Help in development and promotion of the Libraries’ reference services

Attend and participate in weekly RA meetings and training sessions

Earn senior student rate of pay

3 RAs each semester, 4 positions for 2011-12

Social studies majors; a double major in art history & psychology

Varied academic concentrations: global development studies, linguistics

Foreign language skills: Spanish, French, Russian, Ukrainian, Hindi, and Nepali

Faculty recommendations Librarians invite applications

Library general applicant pool Sought after jobs: interested students apply

specifically for RA positions

Interview questions sent to applicants Ask for and check references

Complete Basic Information Service Training

RA training = 10 hours, early in semester, readings and discussion

Shadow a librarian and an RA

Regular training during weekly RA meetings

1.5 hour weekday afternoon shift

9:30 pm-12 am shift(s) Sunday - Thursday

1 hour RA meeting weekly

Remainder: flextime to work on projects

Facebook

Grinnell Plans

Posters in the dorms

Ads in the campus newspaper

Photo by Flickr user discovernaturewalk.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/discovernaturewalk/3066918873/

More about creepy treehouses:http://flexknowlogy.learningfield.org/2008/04/09/defining-creepy-tree-house/

*With some caveats.

Total questions by hour, October 2009 to March 2011

Recruit science students as RA applicants

Hiring fourth RA for 2011-12 academic year

Statement of Mentoring Philosophy

Shared peer mentoring general orientation across campus

Is it appropriate for your campus?

◦ How do you teach information literacy? How could student mentors fit into your instruction program?

◦ Do you have a campus culture that is supportive of peer mentoring? What other programs on your campus employ students to teach other students?

If so, what initial steps would you need to take to implement it?