Presented with Dr. Dee McKinney at Connections: A Critical Thinking Conference at East Georgia State College, Swainsboro, GA, 29 Sept. 2017

1. Embedded Librarians:
A “Natural” Solution
Dr. Dee McKinney, Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning & Professor of
History
Katie Shepard, Research & Instruction Librarian

2. What’s An Embedded Librarian?
• Librarian is in class as co-instructor
• Moderates a discussion board for students
• Focus on history majors: specific discussions of
• Primary and secondary sources
• Critical Reading
• Written history as opposed to other sorts of history (i.e. artifacts)

3. Our “ Natural” Collaboration:
Primary Sources
• As part of Affordable Learning Georgia, we created a set of readings 100% online
and free
• All are either primary sources (i.e. The Magna Carta) with some high-quality
secondary sources (i.e. virtual tour of Near Eastern Collection at British Museum,
with curator commentary and written summary)
• Discussion questions (10-12 per unit, over 6 units) focus on primary sources

4. Our “ Natural” Collaboration: Data
• We see an overall positive trend since we began in fall 2015
• Some variables (i.e. the 8-week course in fall semester that started in October)
affected success
• Student comments on evaluations: positive and appreciative
• "Having a librarian in the course helped me understand how to read the sources and
understand them. [This had] been a challenge to me at first, but with her help, it
became easier."

5. Librarian’s View
Advantages
• Familiarity with course expectations
• Ease library anxiety
• Gold medal for librarians: faculty
collaboration!
Challenges
• Student interest can vary – professor
endorsement is essential as well as a
reason to engage
• Work duty balance

6. Professor’s View
Advantages
• New instruction methods
• A colleague to collaborate with
• Assistance with upkeep of open
textbook
• Learn more about open educational
resources
Challenges
• Requires patience

7. Future Development
• We plan to apply for an ALG grant to re-write HIST 1112 with primary sources
(currently using them, but needs formalization)
• Continue to collaborate and present our findings
• Expand embedded librarianship involvement in this and other courses

8. How could an embedded librarian help
faculty incorporate critical thinking into an
online class?
We’d like your thoughts!

9. What other types of natural relationships can
faculty cultivate to encourage critical
thinking and creative online teaching
methods?

10. Questions?

11. THANKS!