Integrating Inquiry: Student Centered Approaches for Inspiring Lifelong Learning

Integrating Inquiry: Student-Centered Approaches for Inspiring Lifelong Learning Carolyn Meier, Rebecca K. Miller, Margaret Merrill, Heather Moorefield-Lang, and Lesley Moyo University Libraries, Virginia Tech February 3, 2011 3 rd Annual Conference on Higher Education Pedagogy

VT Libraries & the First Year Experience Inquiry : to explore and use information appropriately and effectively Information Literacy : is a set of abilities requiring individuals to "recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information."

Information Literacy & Librarians
ACRL’s Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education , established in 2000
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/standards/informationliteracycompetency.cfm
Provides librarians with guidelines and an assessment framework to develop interactions that help students become engaged with the research process
Librarians possess the professional expertise and training to help design courses, assignments, and activities that focus on “inquiry” or “information literacy” skills - a “natural fit” for FYE, and other, curriculums

Recent Research
Addresses problems that our students experience while learning these skills, both for school assignments and in their personal life:
Starting research (selecting a topic, using vocabulary)
Evaluating resources
Utilizing web 2.0 tools and other electronic resources
Understanding legal and ethical implications of information use

Integrating Inquiry
Can occur with librarian support within a range of subject areas and collaborative options
Depending on the course and its schedule, librarians at Virginia Tech have developed three loose levels of integration, with Level 1 representing the most shallow level of support and Level 3 representing the most robust level of support
Examples of inquiry integration that occurred on each of these levels include…

Level 1 Integration
No face to face interaction
Often technology based
Can commonly lead to face to face instruction
This level of delivery can come in a variety of forms

Library Webpage www.lib.vt.edu

Libguides: Online Library Guides www.lib.vt.edu/help/index.html

Screencasts: Online Tutorials and Pre-Recorded Webinars http://www.lib.vt.edu/help/screencasts/misc/library-homepage.html

Library Guide: Everything You Need in One Easy Booklet
Great introduction to everything in the library:
Introduction to research process
Online access
Call number system
Library maps
Database introductions
Subject Librarian information
More…
Distributed at various events
http://www.lib.vt.edu/help/portal/guidebook.pdf

Handouts: Easy to Deliver, Easy to Use
Can be tailored for individual classes
Created for electronic or print use
Students can take with them to navigate research on their own
Can be used in group, one on one, or in class settings

E-portfolio: Can be Integrated into Online Classroom Performance Systems https://scholar.vt.edu/portal/tool/00277955-cc50-4c34-a45d-909e356b8964/viewPresentation.osp?1=1&id=FBFEC7CE2D893DE0C64622C99F9CD672

Webinars: Online Real-time Instruction Available on Request

Level 2 Integration
Supporting your inquiry assignment with research skills
Meet with your students several times during the semester
Guided practice – especially valuable as it applies to the student’s topic

: Concept Table Concepts Wildlife Management Kenya/National Parks Specific Species Other factors Keywords OR Synonyms OR Related Terms Or Subject Headings Conservation Endangered Species Ecology Biodiversity Programs Breeding Programs Genetic Diversity Disease Control Wildlife Refuge Nairobi N. P. Masai N.R. Protected areas Reserves Game Parks Zoos Lions Giraffes Elephants Zebras Hyenas Gazelle Plains zebra Mountain Zebra Gravy’s zebra Poaching Black market Illegal trade Big game hunters Trophy hunter

http://www.lib.vt.edu/help/portal/guidebook.pdf

Teaching Citations
Beaver, P. D. (1984). ‘‘Appalachian cultural adaptations: An overview.’’ In P. D. Beaver and B. P. Purrington (eds.), Cultural Adaptation to Mountain Environments (pp. 73–93). Athens: University of Georgia Press.

Level 3 Integration
The Embedded Librarian
Active collaboration/partnership with faculty
Integration of inquiry into course syllabus
Inquiry learning objectives identified and addressed
Specific skills students need to learn
Inquiry learning objectives support course objectives
Inquiry skills assessment rubrics part of project rubrics
Inquiry skills instruction tailored to specific course needs
wide variety of Inquiry instruction and support strategies

Level 3 Integration
Subject Librarian in the classroom
As a co-instructor
As a contributing voice to the conversation
Subject librarian recognized as an authoritative voice
Subject librarian becomes part of the student’s academic support network
Rapid response to class generated Inquiry needs
Rapid Reconnaissance Research workshop
Predatory Reading workshop
Mini-Inquiry skill-building interventions
5 minutes on finding a specific type of information for a student project, e.g. news reports on an event for class discussion

Part of an Assessment Rubric Project Learning Outcomes — Rate your process/product relative to these criteria 1 to 10 scale
1. Responsibility for Process: Timely information collection, action, and reporting
Did you participate fully to learn more about information searching/evaluating?
If confused, did you seek help from peers/instructors before getting frustrated?
Did you read the guidelines thoroughly, recognizing them as a source of support?
2. Responsibility for Product: Motivated to actively improve the product
Are you actively improving your product?
Have you fixed all mechanical errors such as spelling or grammar or sought help?
Is the format and language you used consistent with the guidelines?
Does your filename follow the guidelines EXACTLY?
3. Project Focus: Engaged with project goals/objectives to find information
Can you differentiate between thesis and hypothesis statements?
Can you construct a search statement using Boolean search operators?
Can you locate/access scholarly articles using Academic Search Complete?
Can you locate/access popular articles using Academic Search Complete?
Can you locate reliable websites using Clusty.com?
Can you evaluate information resource reliability using a few basic tests?
Can you differentiate between various types of Internet-available information?
Can you extract and describe relevant information pertinent to your thesis?
Can you organize information into an annotated bibliography?
Can you state how this project supports your professional skill development?
1 to 20 scale
4. Unity: Paper reports sources using conventions for information searching
Does your title accurately describe content and purpose of the paper?
Is your paper organized using conventions for an annotated bibliography?
Is your research statement clearly stated and appropriately located?
Does each section contain the appropriate content for that section ’ s sub-heading?

Faculty Resources for Integrating Inquiry
Using Virginia Tech ePortfolio technology, we have developed a resource for faculty members that provides support for teaching inquiry skills within the research process
The site includes suggestions for learning objectives, assignments, activities, and librarian-faculty collaboration to help students gain confidence and succeed in the research process
This presentation is embedded in this site, serving as a sort of e-handout

Publicly available: http://doiop.com/integrating_inquiry

Discussion
Your thoughts…
What do students seem to have the most difficulty with regarding inquiry?
What research skills do your students need to be successful in your programs/classes?
What can the library do to support your students in becoming effective researchers?
What are your thoughts about teaching the research process?
Other…

References
ACRL. (2000). Information literacy competency standards for higher education. Retrieved from http://www.ala.mgrps/divs/acrl/standards/informationliteracycompetency.cfm
Baker, L. (2006). Library instruction in the rearview mirror: A reflective look at the evolution of a first-year library program using evidence-based practice. [Feature]. College & Undergraduate Libraries, 13 (2), 1-20.
Beutter Manus, S. J. (2009). Librarian in the classroom: An embedded approach to music information literacy for first-year undergraduates. [Autobiography; Individual biographies]. Notes, 66 (2), 249-261.
Boff, C., & Johnson, K. (2002). The library and first-year experience courses: A nationwide study. Reference Services Review, 30 (4), 277-287.
Bullard, K., Bolorizadeh, A., Bright, K., & Gray, L. (2007). Options for integration: Creating a flexible library research module for the first year experience curriculum. [Feature]. Tennessee Libraries, 57 (1), 1-4.
Frazier, N. E. (2006). In the loop: One librarian's experiences teaching within first-year learning communities. [Feature]. College & Undergraduate Libraries, 13 (1), 21-31.

References… cont
Head, A. J. & Eisenberg, M. B. (2010). Truth be told: How college students evaluate and use information in the digital age. Project Information Literacy Progress Report . Seattle, WA: University of Washington. Retrieved from http://projectinfolit.org/pdfs/PIL_Fall2010_Survey_FullReport1.pdf
Jacobson, T., & Mark, B. L. (2000). Separating wheat from chaff: Helping first-year students become information savvy. The Journal of General Education, 49 (4), 256-278. doi: 10.1353/jge.2000.0029
Kelleher, M., & Laidlaw, S. (2009). A natural fit: The academic librarian advising in the first year experience. [Feature]. College & Undergraduate Libraries, 16 (2/3), 153-163.
Samson, S., & Granath, K. (2004). Reading, writing, and research: Added value to university first-year experience programs. [Feature]. Reference Services Review, 32 (2), 149-156.
Virginia Tech. (2010, October 6). Quality enhancement plan: Pathways to success. Retrieved from http://www.fye.vt.edu/QEP/index.html

Thank You Questions? Comments? Contact Us: Carolyn Meier Instruction Librarian [email_address] Rebecca Miller College Librarian for Science, Life Sciences, and Engineering [email_address] Margaret Merrill College Librarian for Agriculture [email_address] Heather Moorefield-Lang , College Librarian for Education & Applied Social Sciences [email_address] Lesley Moyo Director of Research & Instructional Services [email_address]

Integrating Inquiry: Student Centered Approaches for Inspiring Lifelong Learning

by Rebecca Miller on Feb 02, 2011

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Integrating Inquiry: Student Centered Approaches for Inspiring Lifelong Learning Presentation Transcript