Enhancing the quality and impact of Library Workshops

Vanessa Hill Feb 2015

The winner takes it all

Knowing me, knowing you

• Issues

• Collaboration

• Inspiration

• Solutions

• Impact

SOS• Not embedded• Inconsistent provision• Repetitive• Bad timing• Information skills• Teaching methods

Librarians and teaching

• Relevance• Too much• Tools based• Didactic• Uninspiring• Subject• Teaching skills

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vicchi/4079403111/

Gimme, Gimme, Gimme•Answers•Facts•References•Reporting back•Easy option•Fear

Librarians reinforce this!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nottsexminer/6270679714/

ArrivalTeaching qualifications:

• PGCertHE @ MDX• Teaching Fellowships• FHEA• TESOL

Benefits:• Equivalent• Learning together• Language• Respect• Understanding

Björn Again• Less is more

• Cloning

• Discussion

• Learning by doing

• Learners, not the taught

• Gameshttp://advedupsyfall09.wikispaces.com/Sara+Woodard

The name of the game• Fun

• Quick

• Simple

• Easy

• Need or objective

Adapted from Susan Boyle, Lilac 2011

I have a dreamMove from

“ …lifting and transporting textual substance from one location, the library, to another, their teacher’s briefcases.”

To“…searching, analyzing, evaluating, synthesizing,

selecting, rejecting…”

Kleine 1987

Super Troupers

• School plan

• Mapping

• Structure

• Menu

Greatest Hits

• Thinking about resources

• Keywords

• Searching

• Evaluation

Example of coursework marking criteria

10% Introduction

15% Overview

30% Critical analysis

15% Discussion

10% Conclusion

10% Referencing

10% Quality etc

Maximum marks for a well referenced and accurate description of [subject] using suitable references

Maximum of 10 marks for a list of references which is both relevant, and correctly given in Harvard style

Maximum of 10 marks for quality, style of writing and presentation

Thinking about resources

BooksWhat are they:

A written or printed work of fiction or fact.

May be electronic.

Good for:

Clear overview.

Not so good for:

Up to date information.

JournalWhat are they:

A regular publication containing articles on a particular academic subject.

Presents new research.

Good for:

Latest research, critically reviewed by experts.

Not so good for:

Broad overview of a subject.

Web pageWhat are they:

An information resource which can be easily created by anyone on any topic.

Electronic.

Good for:

Very up to date information.

Not so good for:

Accurate and reliable information.

NewspaperWhat are they:

A regular publication containing current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising.

May be electronic.

Good for:

Daily information.

Not so good for:

Balanced and well researched information.

Popular (trade) journalWhat are they:

A regular publication containing new products plus information for a business sector.

Good for:

Latest product news.

Not so good for:

Detailed and objective reports.

Find out moreMyUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary > Library Subject Guides

http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/EIS

Thinking about keywords

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rossjamesparker/89414788/

The real thing

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sidelong/300188454/

Your first piece of coursework for CCM2426 will be based on the Cornish Villages 4G trial.

• Keywords

• Alternative keywords

• More specific keywords

• Related subjects

Finding resourcesmyUniHub > My Study > My Library > Summon

Select Summon and search for information for your project

Google vs Summon

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ennuiislife/3450743002/

Google • Familiar and easy to use

• Finds too much information

• Fast results

• Access from any computer

• Access to some books and journals

• Designed to sell you things

• Search results sponsored

• Searches for info from any source

• Pay for academic information

Summon• Easy to use

• Finds lots of academic info

• Fast results

• Access from any computer

• Access to lots of books and journals

• Designed to find you information

• Search results by relevance

• Searches quality resources

• Free access to full text

Evaluating information

Evaluating informationImagine you are writing an essay on ‘Network Security’.

Have a look at the 4 items that you have been given and consider the following:

• Which items are the most relevant to your essay?• Which items would be no use?• Which item has the most academic authority?• Which items might have bias?• Which item is the most current?

• Authority• Relevance• Intent• Objectivity• Currency

Evaluating information

How are books arranged in the library?

004.19 PRE

Books are arranged…..

Com

putin

g

Des

ign

Des

ign

Des

ign

Ani

mal

s

Ani

mal

s

Ani

mal

s

Com

putin

g

Com

putin

g

His

tory

His

tory

History

004.19 ABE 004.19 CR0 004.19 PRE

Take a chance on me

Marks Attendees Non-attendees

Commonest mark 65% 50%

Highest mark 90% 75%

Lowest mark 40% 40%

Bibliography commonest mark

7/10 5/10

• Survey of CCM2426 students

• 66 attendees, 22 non-attendees

“If you put me to the test, if you let me try………”

Search tools used Attendees Non-attendeesGoogle 68% 63%

Wikipedia 38% 27%

Summon 68% 40%

Library catalogue 30% 59%

Evaluation criteria Attendees Non-attendeesCurrent 89% 59%

Relevant 76% 59%

Academic authority 67% 41%

Easy to read 24% 45%

On and on and on

• Develop activities

• Improve attendance

• Revalidation

• Moodle

• DProf

The winner takes it all• Successful collaboration

• Changes have worked

• Teaching is more fun

• Impact…

...Library training gets you better marks!

When all is said and done• Boyle, S. (2011) Using games to enhance information literacy

sessions, Presented at LILAC 2011. http://www.slideshare.net/infolit_group/boyle-using-games-to-enchance-information-literacy

• Kleine, M. (1987), What is it we do when we write articles like this one-Or how can we get students to join us?, Writing Instructor 6, 151.

• Markless, S., (2010), Teaching information literacy in HE: What? Where? How?, presented at CILIP, London, 9/12/10. [Notes taken at the event.]

http://bit.ly/GamesMDX

http://www.flickr.com/photos/naturalturn/3264726560/

Mamma Mia it’s……………

Vanessa Hillv.hill@mdx.ac.uk