Julie Poole, Coordinator of Center Library Services Creating Effective and Interesting Library-Based Assignments

Julie Poole, Coordinator of Center Library Services

Discuss your wants/needs Why use library-based assignments? How to create effective library assignments Answer any questions you may have Outline / Agenda

Discuss your wants/needs

Why use library-based assignments?

How to create effective library assignments

Answer any questions you may have

Why Library-Related Assignments? http://www.flickr.com/photos/revjim/2157610777/

Enhance students’ critical thinking skills Teach students to evaluate information Encourage active participation in learning Utilize technology to enhance understanding of topic Why Library-Related Assignments?

Enhance students’ critical thinking skills

Teach students to evaluate information

Encourage active participation in learning

Utilize technology to enhance understanding of topic

Taking the frustration out of library assignments http://www.flickr.com/photos/dieselbug2007/369649914/

Principle of Least Effort Curiosity Relevance Perceived value of assignment Library anxiety Technology anxiety What motivates (or hinders) student research? Parker-Gibson, N. (2001, Spring2001). Library Assignments. College Teaching , 49 (2), 65. Retrieved August 7, 2009, from Academic Search Complete database.

Principle of Least Effort

Curiosity

Relevance

Perceived value of assignment

Library anxiety

Technology anxiety

Illustrate relevance – not just to course objectives but to life Consider students capabilities and available resources Show how information literacy can be a “marketable” skill in the workplace Provide clear, simple, written instructions to students (and to librarian if consulting with one) Connect with their personal interests Try completing the assignment yourself Creating Effective Library Assignments

Illustrate relevance – not just to course objectives but to life

Consider students capabilities and available resources

Show how information literacy can be a “marketable” skill in the workplace

Provide clear, simple, written instructions to students (and to librarian if consulting with one)

Connect with their personal interests

Try completing the assignment yourself

Effective assignments continued Allow students to explore their own interests Show that success is possible Why is the extra effort necessary? (why not use any random website as a resource?) Meet librarians (we don’t bite) and explain differences between public/academic libraries Show how technology saves time and effort

Allow students to explore their own interests

Show that success is possible

Why is the extra effort necessary? (why not use any random website as a resource?)

Meet librarians (we don’t bite) and explain differences between public/academic libraries

Show how technology saves time and effort

Resources http://flickr.com/photos/stephenliveshere/524595756/

Books eBooks (NetLibrary and eBrary) Databases (Magazines, Scholarly Journals, Newspapers, Multimedia, etc.) Websites Books/articles not @ Mercer InterLibrary Loan (ILL) **You need your Mercer ID Number (MUID) to access many of these resources** Types of Resources

Books

eBooks (NetLibrary and eBrary)

Databases (Magazines, Scholarly Journals, Newspapers, Multimedia, etc.)

Websites

Books/articles not @ Mercer

InterLibrary Loan (ILL)

**You need your Mercer ID Number (MUID) to access many of these resources**

Criminal Justice Periodicals Index PsycINFO Sociological Collection Academic Search Complete Computer Science Index Literary Reference Center JSTOR (interdisciplinary/archive) RefWorks (citation management) ABI/INFORM (Business) Consumer Health Complete … And hundreds more… Familiarize yourself with available resources…

Criminal Justice Periodicals Index

PsycINFO

Sociological Collection

Academic Search Complete

Computer Science Index

Literary Reference Center

JSTOR (interdisciplinary/archive)

RefWorks (citation management)

ABI/INFORM (Business)

Consumer Health Complete

… And hundreds more…

There are thousands of reputable websites with LOTS of great, often-updated information. Teach students to think critically and evaluate… Helpful websites… http://www.flickr.com/photos/striatic/2144933705/

There are thousands of reputable websites with LOTS of great, often-updated information. Teach students to think critically and evaluate…

Questions? Comments? http://flickr.com/photos/travelinlibrarian/223839049/

References Greenfield Community College. (nd). Creating Effective Library Assignments. Retrieved August 5, 2009, from http://www.gcc.mass.edu/library/faculty/assignments.html Norem, M. (nd). Library Assignments. Retrieved August 7, 2009, from http://oldnh.lonestar.edu/27606/ Parker-Gibson, N. (2001, Spring2001). Library Assignments. College Teaching, 49(2), 65. Retrieved August 7, 2009, from Academic Search Complete database. Wochna, L. (2009). Tips for Creating Library/Research Assignments. Retrieved August 5, 2009, from http://www.library.ohiou.edu/inst/creative.html

Greenfield Community College. (nd). Creating Effective Library Assignments. Retrieved August 5, 2009, from http://www.gcc.mass.edu/library/faculty/assignments.html

Norem, M. (nd). Library Assignments. Retrieved August 7, 2009, from http://oldnh.lonestar.edu/27606/

Parker-Gibson, N. (2001, Spring2001). Library Assignments. College Teaching, 49(2), 65. Retrieved August 7, 2009, from Academic Search Complete database.

Wochna, L. (2009). Tips for Creating Library/Research Assignments. Retrieved August 5, 2009, from http://www.library.ohiou.edu/inst/creative.html