Information literacy for off-campus students

The following article has been published in Libri Volume 57, Number 3, September 2007 which we have online access to via the catalogue. The direct link is http://www.librijournal.org/subs/2007-3pp140-164.pdf. I have only read the conclusions and recommendations so far, and they aren't unexpected, but this article would be interesting reading as we consider how we can support users at a distance.

Developing Information Literate Off-Campus Learners: Pedagogical
Issues and Current Practice ROBERT NEWTON

Abstract. This study examined the potential and actual roles that
academic librarians play in supporting the development of information
literate off-campus learners. It reviews the literature, concentrating
in particular on issues related to the institutional context in which
off-campus learners are supported and the teaching role of the
academic librarian. A series of 12 interviews and a questionnaire
survey of 70 academic librarians provided the basis for a detailed
analysis of the current situation in Scotland and a Web survey was
used to confirm key findings, extending the study to include academic
librarians across the United Kingdom. The research concludes that the
most critical issue to be addressed is the integration of academic
library professionals within course teams. These librarians are
willing to become involved in teaching and to take responsibility for
the delivery of information literacy courses for off-campus learners,
but in order to do so effectively they must operate and interact with
students within the same learning space as the academic staff.

Suzie

Information Literacy Strategy Plan 2007/08

I've drafted a new implementation plan for this academic year which you can see at S:\Staff\Academic Support\Meetings and Action points\Info Lit strategy\Info lit strat plan 0708.doc

Please have a look at it and add your comments /ideas to this post here on the blog. If you want to add or change text in the plan please use Track Changes and put a note in the blog to alert us all to the changes.

We'll finalise the plan in the first part of our Info Literacy meeting on Friday 14th September so I'd be grateful if you could post your comments by Thursday 13th.

Many thanks,
Heather

A recent posting on lis-infoliteracy highlighted a short article on the absence of literature searching skills among experienced and novice researchers in academia, which provides evidence of the need for more training in this area. It draws on findings from the 2006 Research Information Network survey as well as the author’s own experience in running information retrieval workshops at the Centre for Evidence Based Policy and Practice (formerly Queen Mary, now KCL)

Gomersall, A. (2007) Literature searching: waste of time or essential skill? Evidence & Policy, 3 (2) 301-308

I've printed a copy and put it in the black box in the FSL office.

Suzie

Article on infolit and Blackboard

There's an article in the latest issue of Journal of Academic Librarianship entitled
'Integrating Information Literacy into Blackboard: Building Campus Partnerships for Successful Student Learning'
See http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00991333 - article 5.

Christine

Just had a quick look at Phil's blog and found a link to this interesting article on the BBC about FaceBook and how it is being used by students and the reactions of Universities etc:

Facing up to Facebook


Caro.

Here are some interesting Web 2.0 resources for people to play with from Phil Bradley’s course:

Pageflakes: This allows you to create your own homepage. Use the flakes to add RSS feeds, e-mail, to do lists, calendars, bookmarks etc

Bloglines: If you want a simple RSS reader Phil recommends this tool, use it to add feeds from sites such as the BBC or to rerun internet searches on tools such as Google.

CustomSignGenerator: This is the site that I’ve been using to find possible images for our tip of the week marketing campaign.

Del.icio.us: Share bookmarks either from person to person or just from machine to machine.

Literature Map: If you liked a book by one author see what else this site thinks you might like (not sure I agree with all the answers).

Slide Share: Store Powerpoint Presentations on the web for easy access and the ability to share with others.

For more info about these and others resources try Phils website and blog or take a look at the documentation in the black boxes in the FSL’s office.

Caro.

Article on teaching with Blackboard

There is a new journal out called 'Communications in Information Literacy' available at http://www.comminfolit.org/

In this, its first issue, there is an article about the use of Blackboard in teaching sessions:
DEVELOPING STUDENTS’ INFORMATION AND RESEARCH SKILLS VIA BLACKBOARD at http://www.comminfolit.org/index.php/cil/article/view/Spring2007AR2/12

As always there seems to be a lot more support at the institutional level as they incorportaed a summative assignment into the process, but there may still be something we can take from this.

LKJ