This presentation uses M. D. Merrill's (2007) first principles of instruction as a theoretical lens for understanding that librarians must lead the way to improving school enviornments using effective, theory-based design of problem-based instruction that includes acquistion of knowledge and information literacy skills. This is a presentation at the 2013 Kansas Library Association-Kansas Association of School Librarians annual conference in Topeka, KS.

2. NOW, PLEASE PAY ATTENTION. . . .
“For schools to be successful. . . .
librarians must lead the way to
improving school environments using
effective, theory-based design of
problem-based instruction that includes
acquisition of knowledge and
information literacy skills” (Dow, 2013, p.
8).

3. FIRST PRINCIPLES OF INSTRUCTION
1. Learning is promoted when learners are engaged in solving
real-world problems.
2. Learning is promoted when existing knowledge is activated as a
foundation for new knowledge.
3. Learning is promoted when new knowledge is demonstrated to
the learner.
4. Learning is promoted when new knowledge is applied by the
learner.
5. Learning is promoted when new knowledge is integrated into the
learner’s world.
Merrill, 2007, p. 63

4. FOUR-PHASE CYCLE OF INSTRUCTION
Activation of relevant prior knowledge
Demonstration of new knowledge to be
learned
Application of the new knowledge to
specific situations
Integration of new knowledge and skill
into their daily activities
Merrill, 2007, p. 63

5. MAJOR CHALLENGES FACING SOCIETY TODAY
America needs informed, information literate, and involved
citizens.
~~~~~~
sufficient energy
prevention and treatment of illness and
disease
maintaining clean food and water
global environmental change

6. AUTHENTIC, REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS
Examples
• Grass does not grow well under tree limbs. This hurts my
summer lawn moving business.
• Why the divide between Washington D.C. lawmakers?
• My brother has a disability. He does not like to eat. He is
unhappy and cries a lot.
• When I play outside in the cold, my body heats up and causes
me to sweat. My clothes stick to me. Wet clothes keep me
cold.

7. AUTHENTIC, REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS
(CONTINUED)
• My grandmother served me cookies made from colored cereal.
I broke out in a red rash.
• My family does lots of laundry. It is expensive to wash clothes.
I wonder if cold water detergent would clean the clothes and
reduce the cost.
• About 120 amphibian species, including some species of
frogs, have disappeared since 1980 (the year my parents were
born). What could happen without frogs in the food chain?
• Sometimes I see raw meat on the shelve at the grocery store
that is past the sell-by date (and offered for a reduced price).
Is this safe to eat?

8. AUTHENTIC, REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS
(CONTINUED)
• We have a car but gasoline is too expensive to purchase. What
are best and worst cars when it comes to fuel efficiency?
• How will I be able to afford a place to live? What is sustainable
and affordable housing?
• What impact to humans have on the earth’s climate?
• When I try to fly a paper plane, it crashes. Why?

10. TEACH ACROSS GRADE LEVELS, CONTENT
AREAS, STANDARDS, AND INSTITUTIONS
electronic access skills
evaluation skills
strategies for making evidence-based claims
process for conducting new research
appropriate report writing style and mechanics
quality presentation skills (communication)
passion for using research to make improvements (solve problems) and to
lead change
Enable students to become college or career
ready.

11. BENEFITS OF AUTHENTIC, PROBLEM-CENTERED
INSTRUCTION
Moves traditional teaching from read and report assignments to problem-
based instruction that enables students to
• reach out for meaning and learn how to learn.
• move awareness of job-specific responsibilities to focused education
and a specific thinking process.
• go beyond the limits of the course textbook to incorporating clear (to
the learner) and complete procedures for information retrieval and
evaluation.
• practice in small steps the parts of the process in the context of the
overall task.
• evaluate information found in selected sources on the basis of
accuracy, validity, importance, and content.
• see the whole task to be done, or the whole problem to be solved, as
the result of completing the task.Dow, M. J. (2013), p. 9
Discussion: There is
no turning back! Right?

12. REFERENCES
Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSS), 2010. Retrieved from
http://www.corestandards.org/
Dow, M. J. (Ed.). (2013). School libraries matter: Views from the research.
Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited.
Merrill, M. D. (2007). First principles of instruction: A synthesis. In Trends
and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology. 2nd ed. by R. A.
Reiser and J. V. Dempsey. Person Education.