Showing the Value of Information Literacy Beyond the Classroom The ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, June , 2011 Vancouver, BC, Canada

Watching engineers search for information Knowing the importance of information to engineers Wanting a way to show how info lit is needed in engineering classes Wanting a way for info lit to be incorporated into any engineering class

First used in medical education in late 1960s Pedagogical approach using real-life scenarios Students participate in discovery and learning Integrates easily into the curriculum

Macklin, Alexius Smith Integrating Information Literacy Using Problem- Based Learning. Reference Services Review 29, no. 4: “… teaching strategy takes everyday situations and creates learning opportunities from them.” Snavely, Loanne Making Problem-Based Learning Work: Institutional Challenges. portal: Libraries & the Academy 4, no. 4: “Librarians collaborate with instructors to set up problems and questions so students will participate in their own discovery and learning.”

Determine the extent of information needed Access information effectively and efficiently Evaluate information and its sources critically Incorporate information into one’s knowledge base Use information effectively for a specific purpose Understand the economic, legal, ethical and social issues surrounding the use of information

Function on teams Communicate effectively Engage in lifelong learning Use the techniques, skills and modern scientific and technical tools necessary for professional practice

Hsieh, C.; Knight, L Problem-Based Learning for Engineering Students: An evidence-based comparative study. Journal Of Academic Librarianship 34, no. 1: “PBL can be an effective pedagogical approach for information literacy instruction to engineering students.” such an assignment would “…fulfill ABET’s required ‘soft skills’ requirement for all engineering programs…”

Yadav, A.; Subedi, D.; Lundberg, M.; Bunting, C Problem –based Learning in Electrical Engineering. Journal of Engineering Education 100, no. 2: “…students performed at least twice as well on topics taught via PBL compared to students taught via traditional lecture method…they were better able to problem-solve and transfer their learning to new situations.”

Work in teams Identify products for elderly with cognitive or mobility problems to stay in their homes Prepare a team report listing the devices found along with any standards, patents, etc.

Which information types did you use? Articles89% Books42% Standards19% Patents16%

“Engineers need to know how to locate technical information.” 80% agreed “I will be able to locate all the information I need on Google.” 41% agreed “Once I’m done with school I won’t have to do anything like this again.” 2% agreed

John Napp Associate Professor & Engineering Librarian University of Toledo

Thank you!