Co-owners in Engaged Learning: Reimagining the Library-FYW Partnership as a Community of Practice
Patrick Rudd Coordinator of Instruction and Outreach, Elon University [email protected]
Paula PatchSenior Lecturer in English and Coordinator of College Writing,Elon University [email protected]
Road Map• Facts: Elon University, Belk Library, First-Year Writing
• Patrick’s story
• Paula’s story
• Our collaborative model
• What we’ve learned
• Looking ahead
• Community of practice
Elon University and Belk Library
High-Impact Educational Practices – Engaged Learning
• In 2016, Elon University was the only institution recognized as exemplary in all eight teaching and learning practices in the annual "Best Colleges" guide from U.S News and World Report. Ten high-impact practices at inform everything we do at Elon.
• First-Year Experiences • Internships/Co-ops • Senior Capstone • Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects • Learning Communities • Study Abroad • Service Learning • Writing in the Disciplines • Common intellectual experiences • Collaborative assignments and projects
Patrick’s story…• Fall 2012 new Dean & University Librarian Joan Ruelle• New Position - Coordinator of Library Instruction and Outreach• October 2012 – “Spreadsheets and Real Time Assessment” –
Shannon Simpson in CRLN• Spring 2013 – 1.0 • Fall 2013 – ENG 110 Workshops – Library literature• Summer 2015 – LJA with Andrea Baer -Threshold Concepts in
the Information Literacy Classroom: Translating the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy into Our Teaching Practices!
• Fall 2015 – 2.0 Flipped instruction and incorporating the Frames
Paula’s story…• Fall 2012: New coordinator of first-year writing—and
scholarly interests in information and digital literacy pedagogy
• Lower assessment results for information literacy, despite faculty development and other program interventions
• Low faculty interest in current iteration of library instruction• Fall 2013: New library liaison and opportunity to create new
instruction—and faculty development opportunities that incorporated library research and library faculty
• Increased emphasis on inquiry in FYW
The library research session forENG 110: The Elon model . . .
Research writing in ENG 110
Never Very Little Some Quite a bit Very often0.00%
5.00%
10.00%
15.00%
20.00%
25.00%
30.00%
35.00%
40.00%
45.00%
How often did you write papers, assignments, or activities that required research?
2010-112011-122012-13Fall 2014
What we’ve learned
2010-2011
2011-2012
2012-2013
2013-2014
2014-2015
3.4 3.45 3.5 3.55 3.6 3.65 3.7
3.59
3.49
3.49
3.59
3.67
Information Literacy
Faculty feedback“The hands-on aspect of the workshop is what is of most benefit. The selection of databases is often overwhelming to [first-year students], and the exercise helps them navigate the maze.”
“The activities forced them to practice what they had learned. Collaborative teaching—all three of us were circulating and answering questions.”
“The working time with coaching! That one-on-one ability to get support and to be pushed on their thinking as they were researching. I was surprised by how many said this was their first time seeing the VALUE of library databases (vs. Google or Google Scholar), even though maybe half of them had used JSTOR in high school.”
“What I liked best was the customized, scaffolded instruction and the Google Spreadsheet that allowed them to log their progress.”
“Students commented on their project evaluation how much this session helped them in the short- and long-term.”
“Maybe they should do some prep work before they get there? Not sure this is necessary, but might make the basics go quicker.”
Communities of Practice
Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly.
--Etienne Wenger
Characteristics of Communities of Practice
• The domain– Information literacy and student learning
• The community– The classroom– The conversation between faculty– The professional development
• The practice– Teaching for information literacy
Looking ahead…
