Ken Burhanna Mary Lee Jensen Barbara Schloman Mixing It Up: Using a Blend of Projects to Create a College Transition Program Ken Burhanna Mary Lee Jensen Barbara Schloman ALAO 2006 Akron, OH

Indicate your library’s involvement with high school outreach  Our library doesn’t currently do this, but I am interested in learning more.  Our library has occasional high school visits, but no “formal” program.  Our library has a “formal” program in place for high school outreach.

Institute for Library and Information Literacy Education (ILILE)  Kent State federally funded project to: Foster collaboration among K-12 teachers and library media specialists Advance information literacy in the K-12 curriculum  Partners: College of Education, School of Library & Information Science, and University Libraries

Informed Transitions

Informed Transitions  Important questions: 1. Do students have an assignment? 2. Any other specific objectives? 3. What is the size of the group? 4. Will students need borrowing privileges?

Informed Transitions  Early Results: Over 700 high school students have visited Students representing 17 different high schools Positive librarian & teacher feedback Positive student feedback

Informed Transitions High school seniors or college freshmen?

Transitioning to College -- T2C

T2C – The beginning  Used Pathways to Academic Libraries videos at Bowling Green State University as model for project.  Videos and web site developed with input from Ohio academic librarians and school library media specialists (LSTA grant).  Designed to be used by high school juniors and seniors and first year college students.

T2C – Five 3-5 minute videos  Welcome to Academic Libraries  Talking to Databases  Tips for Research Success  Getting Help When you Need It  College: What to Expect

T2C – Student Perspective

T2C – Supporting materials for videos

Glossary -- Definitions of common terms used in academia

T2C – Including links to additional information

T2C – Lesson Plans

T2C – Compare College Libraries

T2C -- Compare College Libraries

T2C – Additional Resources

T2C -- Feedback

TRAILS

TRAILS: Objectives  Standards-based  Both class and individual outcomes  Privacy assured  Web availability with no cost  Easy to administer

TRAILS: Development  Based on 9 th grade Ohio Academic Content Standards and AASL Information Power standards and indicators for 9 th -12 th grade  Core competencies classified into 5 information literacy categories  Items written and tested with assistance of school librarians

TRAILS: Steps to Using  Create an account; verify request  Sign in and go to My Account Options  Create a session  Administer to the students  Close the session  View reports

TRAILS: Available Assessments A pre- and post- test assessment for:  General: 30 items; covers all 5 categories  By Category: 10 items Develop topic Identify potential sources Develop, use, and revise search strategies Evaluate sources and information Recognize how to use information responsibly, ethically, and legally

TRAILS: Sample Items

TRAILS: Administration Details

TRAILS: View Class Report

TRAILS: View Student Report

TRAILS: Use to Date  Over 1,700 accounts created  Includes middle schools, high schools, postsecondary schools  From all 50 states plus the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands and…

From over 20 countries

TRAILS: Possible Use for Academic Librarians  Use with incoming freshmen as an immediate measure of competency levels  Introduce to pre-service teacher education classes  Use 10-item category assessment as quick diagnostic prior to instructional session

Blending Our Projects With Yours  Recommend resources on the Transitioning to College (T2C) web site to high school groups who can’t schedule/afford visits.  Have students do some of the exercises on T2C site (for example, develop a search strategy or an LC tutorial) prior to visiting your library.

Blending Projects (contd.)  Use the Welcome to Academic Libraries video as an introductory piece with visiting groups. Then mention how your library is different or the same.  Have teachers/librarians administer TRAILS as a pre- and post-test in association with the students’ library visit.

Blending Projects (contd.)  Use Informed Transitions, TRAILS or T2C as conversation starters with your local high school community.

Action Points for Getting Started  Identify programs on your campus that target high school students and make a connection.  Reach out to local school library media specialists to assess their needs.

Action Points: continued  Identify your top feeder high schools.  Consider developing a program whereby local high school classes can visit your library.

Action Points: continued  Develop a one-page handout about college information literacy expectations for new students that you can share with teachers and librarians.  Consider offering borrowing privileges to local high school students.

Action Points: continued  Investigate the K-12 educational terrain by learning about the organizations supporting SLMS in Ohio and nationally: AASL, OELMA, INFOhio, regional and county library groups.  Finally, consider your first-year students in light of what you’ve learned about high school to college transitions.

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