Digital/Analog/DigitalJonathan O. Cain

Reference & Instruction LibrarianWexler Library

Hunter College (CUNY)

Timeline of Events

Developed the Research

Journal

Introduced it to Professor Veronica

Gregg

Incorporated into class syllabus

Students attend Library

Instruction Session

Students are Introduced to

Research Journal

Students Submit

Assignments

Students follow up

with me via e-mail and BB

Introduce Blog with notes and

Screencast

THE RESEARCH JOURNALThe Research Journal

So, what is it?Inspired by PubMed functionality

It’s designed to help students become savvy database researchers

It is open and flexible

Easily tracks research progress

Produces a tangible document to prove research process

Produces a referential document to show Professor or Librarian in consultation

THE ASSIGNMENTThe Assignment

• Students were assigned to Library Instruction Session with me.

• Students were introduced to the Library resource (CUNY+ & Databases)

• Particular emphasis was placed on navigating Databases (JSTOR)

• Students were introduced to the Research Journal and its key concepts

The Library Visit

THE POWER OF BLACKBOARDThe Power of Blackboard

Why Blackboard ?Blackboard Blog

• Time for Library Instruction is limited

• Wanted to be present for research support

• Added to BB for class as Course Builder

• Plan was to answer emails, and post big questions to blog

• Developed into a more discreet project

It became apparent:students needed a little more help, so we created…

SCREENCASTSScreencasts

Screencasts

• Worked with Prof. Veronica Gregg (Africana& Puerto Rican/Latino Studies) to construct a search

• Search targeted very particular articles• Illustrated more advanced facet searching• Created a step by step instructional • Posted to Blackboard• Highly utilized by students

The 2nd AttemptAfter the intervention with Blackboard screencasts

Next StepsStudents now have a far better grasp on constructing stronger searches.

These skills are to be transferred into the next project.

This project is designed to: “help students gather, assess, and use evidence and secondary sources in their own academic writing. It is a particularly useful step as it lays the groundwork for the research paper at the end of the semester. Pay particular attention to the process involved.”-(AFPRL 236, Second Paper)

?

QUESTIONS

jca0033@cuny.hunter.edu