This document summarizes an information literacy workshop for magical libraries. It provides several active learning exercises and discussions around key topics: 1) Groups used Post-It notes to answer what they learned at the annual conference and share answers on a poster. 2) Participants engaged in think-pair-share activities to discuss definitions of learning and stabilization of synapses in the brain. 3) The document outlines challenges of learning but emphasizes that everyone can learn and learning is an active developmental process, not just acquisition of information.

1. Active-learning Potions
Information Literacy in Today’s
Magical Libraries

2. What have you learned (about) at this
year’s ILA Annual Conference?
• Divide into groups
• Use Post-It notes
• Answer the question above
and post your answer to the
poster with the Post-It notes.
• Can you post more answers
than the other teams?

3. Name that definition
• Stabilizing through repeated use, certain
appropriate and desirable synapses in the brain
-- See Robert Leamnson’s Thinking About
Teaching and Learning (53).

4. Name that definition II
• What would you call a collection of electronic
records that provide information about articles,
book reviews, or books? Individuals may search
on specific parts of the records, called fields.

5. The Good News
• “While the growth of axons is profligate during
early development, it never completely stops
until extreme old age—perhaps only at death”
(Leamnson 21).
• Everyone can learn.

6. How would you define learning?
• Think-pair-share
• Write down an answer, turn to
your neighbor, and share your
ideas.
• Discuss all together

7. Active Learning
• “Learning is a developmental process rather
than only a question of acquisition.”
-- What the Best College Teachers Do
by Ken Bain (153).
• “When learning is active, students do most of the
work. They use their brains . . . Studying ideas,
solving problems, and applying what they learn.
Active learning is fast-paced, fun, supportive,
and personally engaging.”
-- Active Learning by Mel Silberman

8. Active-learning Ideas
• Listening Teams
• Visual Quiz
• Handouts
• Lecture
• Think-Pair-Share
• Applying the CRAAP Test  Do it!
Research question: “How does active
learning improve a student’s education?
Does it?”

9. Teaching
• “The great irony here is that
the best teaching draws
attention away from the
teacher. The very best
teaching, like the very best
writing, is often transparent”
(Leamnson 18).

10. Challenges
• “Learning new things, in short, is strenuous.
Students will avoid it if they can” (Leamnson
20).
• Time constraints
• Knowing the students. Derek Bok believes the
best teachers always work to learn more about
their students.

11. Wrap up
• What can we conclude from this workshop?
• What have you learned in this workshop?
• What will you take back to your library?
-- Name three things.