Future-Proofing Library Experience for the First College Year Beth McMahon and Cyndi Boertje ILA/ACRL Spring Conference April 17, 2009 The “Perpetual Question”

What is the ‘perpetual question’? “What people don’t understand, more and more, are librarians. If I can Google, why do I need you? I’m coming to see this as a perpetual question, one that we can’t stop answering.” —Cindy Chadwick LJ Mover and Shaker, ‘04 Beth McMahon and Cyndi Boertje ILA/ACRL Spring Conference April 17, 2009

“Perpetual Question” or Elephant in the Room? “Why do I need you?” is the unspoken question of the First Year Experience course. And it deserves an answer Beth McMahon and Cyndi Boertje ILA/ACRL Spring Conference April 17, 2009

What do we mean by “future-proofing”? Correcting false or limited impressions Emphasizing intentional, sequential learning Starting a process in the first year that would resonate throughout students’ academic careers Beth McMahon and Cyndi Boertje ILA/ACRL Spring Conference April 17, 2009

Intersections: An Introduction to the Liberal Arts An exploration of the “intersections” where disciplines, ideas and events converge, connect and collide. Students are introduced to college-level skills of reading, writing, speaking, listening, critical thinking and information literacy. Beth McMahon and Cyndi Boertje ILA/ACRL Spring Conference April 17, 2009

Intersections: An Introduction to the Liberal Arts The course will specifically focus on these areas of student development: 1.Joining the academic community 2.Curiosity and personal responsibility dispositions 3.Inquiry and study habits 4.Communication and information literacy skills Beth McMahon and Cyndi Boertje ILA/ACRL Spring Conference April 17, 2009

Information Literacy Outcomes for Intersections 1.Readily confer with faculty and librarians about information needs 2.Effectively access information collections and services available on site in Geisler Library facilities as well as on the library’s website 3.Evaluate information and sources critically 4.Incorporate new information into their knowledge base 5.Formulate insightful search questions and devise effective information search strategies 6.Use information ethically and legally by citing sources correctly and avoiding plagiarism Beth McMahon and Cyndi Boertje ILA/ACRL Spring Conference April 17, 2009

Why Peer Teachers? Establish closer links between information literacy and writing Have an embedded advocate and role model for students Continue successful Writing Tutor model Opportunity for talented advanced students to expand tutoring and presentation skills Beth McMahon and Cyndi Boertje ILA/ACRL Spring Conference April 17, 2009

The IL Modules for Intersections Getting to Know Geisler Library Become a Citation Pro Online Library Resources All About Academic Journals Search Strategies Evaluating Information Sources Ethical Use of Information Beth McMahon and Cyndi Boertje ILA/ACRL Spring Conference April 17, 2009

The Modules Two primary teaching/learning strategies: “Nintendo logic”: – Self-directed trial and error Competition – Presented as a “reality TV”-style game Beth McMahon and Cyndi Boertje ILA/ACRL Spring Conference April 17, 2009

What we hoped the Peer Teachers would do Model scholarly inquiry and possibilities for academic achievement Personalize library experience Re-assert the importance of information literacy in their own academic success Beth McMahon and Cyndi Boertje ILA/ACRL Spring Conference April 17, 2009

What the Peer Teachers actually did Became key informants and truth-tellers Established very positive relationships with faculty Improved classroom dynamics Made powerful personal insights about themselves as teachers and leaders Beth McMahon and Cyndi Boertje ILA/ACRL Spring Conference April 17, 2009

Were the Peer Teachers successful? Citation outcomes – Professor feedback indicates Yes! – Increased attention to citation in tutoring session and reference consultations Information Ethics – Preliminary post-test data shows slight improvement Course evaluations – Yes! Beth McMahon and Cyndi Boertje ILA/ACRL Spring Conference April 17, 2009

What did the Peer Teachers say about their experiences? Communication is essential! Need to feel supported and desire for autonomy sometimes conflict Challenges of working with freshmen Managing the workload Building a working relationship with your professors Beth McMahon and Cyndi Boertje ILA/ACRL Spring Conference April 17, 2009

What we learned We need more Peer Teachers! We need even more extensive collaboration between librarians and Peer Teachers. Everything takes longer than you think. Less talking, more listening “Barometers” for the class Beth McMahon and Cyndi Boertje ILA/ACRL Spring Conference April 17, 2009

What comes next? Beth McMahon and Cyndi Boertje LA/ACRL Spring Conference April 17, 2009

References Miller, R. (2008, August 15). Future-Proof Your Library. Library Journal, 133(13), Retrieved from Beth McMahon and Cyndi Boertje ILA/ACRL Spring Conference April 17, 2009