Tools for Engagement in Library Instruction

1
Tools for Engagement in Library Instruction

• Eleonora Dubicki
• Jacqui DaCosta

NJLA Annual Conference 2008 Valuing Libraries,
Librarians, and Library Staff May 1, 2008
2
Eyes down for

• LIBRARY BINGO

3
Engagement through Active Learning

• Active learning techniques shift library
  instruction from lecturing to guiding/coaching
  students.
• Engage students in the learning process
• Elicit student discovery
• Capture their attention
• Address multiple learning styles
• Create an experience they can relate to and
  replicate
• Receive immediate feedback as an instructor

4

• Confucius says
• I hear and I forget.
• I see and I remember.
• I do and I understand.
• Chinese philosopher reformer (551 BC - 479 BC)

5
Learning Pyramid
6
Active Learning Requires More Prep

• Collaborate with faculty on assignment
• Powerpoint slides
• learning objectives, assignment, popular vs
  scholarly chart, suggested topics, links to
  OPAC/databases/tour
• Handout for students
• Contact info, chart for popular vs scholarly,
  databases, websites on one side and exercises
• One minute evaluation sheet
• 4 open-ended questions provide feedback on
  session

7
Active learning tools
Games
8
Back to Bingo!
9
Library Bingo one option

• Cards can be given out with keywords or phrases
  printed on them
• Requires more advance planning
• Is a speedier option if you are not able to
  communicate with participants in advance
• Need to be confident with the terminology that
  you use
• Cards marked off and prizes given

10
Library Bingo another option

• Participants can be sent bingo cards in advance
  to record their expectations of, and questions
  for, the library session
• Or participants can complete bingo cards as
  they enter, if there is time
• Cards checked off as something is mentioned
• First with a full house wins a prize

11
Library Bingo what it achieves

• Marking off the cards is the less important
  activity reflection
• Participants questions are already prepared and
  in front of them
• Can collect cards in at the end
• Could respond to other questions by email
• Helps with planning of future sessions
• Assess whether you are briefing faculty well
  enough!

12
Whatever turns you on

• Students and faculty have reacted well to Library
  Bingo
• Works well with smaller groups
• Used for Freshman bibliographic instruction at
  TCNJ, and orientation elsewhere
• Perhaps start with a class with whom you are
  comfortable and/or know the instructor well

13
In the words of another British import

• And now for something completely different!

14
What is the Cephalonian Method?

• A fusion of color, images, humor and music!
• A way to involve participants in the session and
  to encourage questions
• An attempt to relieve the boredom for all
  involved!

15
How does this work?

• There are 8 colored cards around the room each
  with a question or a statement
• Colors are assigned to different types or
  categories of relevant topics
• Related topics are grouped and assigned a color
• Be prepared to address any question from the
  colored topic set and number your PowerPoint
  slides!

?
?
?
?
16
How the Cephalonian Method started

• Cardiff University librarian on holiday
• Developed by Linda Davies and Nigel Morgan
• Used initially for large group orientation and to
  replace tours

17
Popularity of the Cephalonian Method

• Revealed to the unsuspecting British librarian
  public in 2004!
• Been used
• For large groups and small groups
• At different types of institutions
• With undergraduates and graduates
• For orientation and other teaching sessions

18
My Moms e-mailed me a picture of Miguel, my pet
iguana. Where can I print him out?

• 2 PC rooms (24 hour access)
• Microsoft applications
• Subject databases
• Internet email access
• Network printing accounts
• Laser printing

19
What really irritates us?

• Eating drinking
• Excessive noise
• Theft
• Cell phones !
• Cell phones !!
• Cell phones !!!

20
Reactions to the Cephalonian Method?

• Students
• They seem to like it its something different
• They laugh with you and are keen to see what is
  coming next
• Faculty
• Wonderful
• Superb
• They like the style

21
What can go wrong?

• Need a contingency plan for the technology to let
  you down!
• You are inviting a moderate amount of chaos into
  your classroom
• You cant audition the students
• Shyness
• Audibility
• Color blindness

22
Benefits of the Cephalonian Method

• A good icebreaker
• Adaptable for different audiences
• It can make the students look forward to their
  next library session!
• Achieves certain active learning objectives
• Interaction
• Discussion and questions

23
Mixing it Up

• Games Guess the Google
• Tutorials Virtual library tour
• Exercises think-pair-share , hands-on learning,
  and demos

24
Get themTalking

• Guess-the Google
• Ice-breaker
• Guessing game
• Intro to keywords
• Guess-the-Google game was fun and at the same
  time informational

25
Keyword Exercise

• Pick a topic and identify keywords
• Brainstorming
• Think-Pair-Share
• Small group discussions
• Demonstrations

Write down your Research Topic, underline key
concepts Global warming is threatening the
habitat of polar bears. Identify Key
Concepts AND AND Global
warming habitat polar bears Environment home

26
Use Creative Research Topics

• New marketing strategies for video games
  increase sales.
• Consumers are concerned about identity theft and
  privacy.
• Presidential candidates use of YouTube.
• Sports scandals raise questions of fair play.
• Obesity among children can be reduced with more
  exercise.
• Hip hop lyrics draw outrage.

27
Collaborative Learning

• Think-Pair-Share
• Students think about a topic
• Pair up with another student to discuss
• Share findings with class

28
Database Searching Exercise

• Find a scholarly article
• Use topic and keywords from keyword exercise
• Select database(s) for search
• Refining search strategies
• How do you know it is scholarly?
• Accessing full text of article

29
Demonstrations

• Have students demo search
• Highlight additional facts about database as they
  demo
• Ask students for other suggestions or how they
  did the search differently

30
What do students think?

• I think more discussion is good
• letting the students follow along makes
  remembering the steps easy
• the exercises were helpful, fun and informative
  
• kept my attention and taught me a lot
• liked video before class

31
The fun of learning

• Think-pair-share
• Reflection
• Collaborative learning
• Social interaction
• Brainstorm ideas
• Receive feedback

• Demonstrations
• Hands-on
• Trial and error
• Teach others
• Practical applications

32
The fun of learning

• Library Bingo
• Social interaction
• Encourages questioning
• Requires cognitive activity
• Reflective learning

• Cephalonian Method
• Social interaction
• Revolves around questioning
• Engagement through challenge and involvement
• Provides incidental learning

Cooperstein Kocevar-Weidinger (2004),
Bicknell-Holmes Hoffman (2000)
33
Final thoughts

• Not for everyone
• Confidence
• Librarian/Entertainer
• Preparation time
• Cant just pick it up and run
• Can reap benefits
• Minimal technology
• Low cost option
• Students are more engaged and less inclined to
  dash away