Academic YearComposition sessions/ Total instruction sessions Percent of total instruction /7429% /11730% /13935% /10630% /10321% (tutorial in use in both Comp I and II) 0/920% (tutorial in use in Comp II only) 22/67 (not all data collected yet)32%

The tutorial Original Skunk Ape Tutorial created in 2000 and was in use at FGCU from circa 2004 A basic orientation to library research and information literacy Theme: The Skunk Ape, a mythical ape-like creature thought to live in the Everglades

In 2009, work began in earnest on a new recreation of the Skunk Ape tutorial

Meanwhile…

How did it become part of the first- year experience? Spring classes of Comp II used it as part of the course redesign grant Fall Comp I classes continued to use it Spring Composition program leaders make the tutorial required for Comp II classes

Using the Learning Management System Composition Instructor Information Literacy Technology Librarian ANGEL Learning Object Repository Composition II CRN #1 Composition II CRN #2 Composition II CRN #3

Participation # of students submitted scores # students enrolled in Comp II Spring 2011(no score collection)1570 Fall Spring First Time in College Enrollment for Fall 2011: (approximately) 2325 students

Is it effective? Pre/Post Test data Spring 2011Fall 2011 Spring 2012 (as of 4/2/12) 102 students92 students857 students Average score Pre-Test: 55.58% Average score Pre-Test: 53.84% (7 out of 13 questions correct) Average score Pre-Test: 55.58% Average score Post-Test: 75.57% Average score Post-Test: 75.48% (10 questions out of 13 correct) Average score Post-Test: 74.60%

Survey feedback: What did you like? I enjoyed that there were videos and that it wasn't just straight reading. Extremely user-friendly and interactive. Not just plain text that students will not be drawn to continuously reading. It is, in my opinion, extremely effective and I feel that it increased my knowledge significantly, and I now feel confident enough to do any search and citation! Fun noises

Survey feedback: What didn’t you like? The videos made me feel like I was being talked down to. The modules are too long and I wish it got a little more to the point rather than all of the videos. I was already taught the information so it seemed redundant to me. I'm more of a face to face learning rather than a computer learner. When submitting the scores, the connection kept getting lost and I had to repeat the tutorial.

Using a tutorial for first-year instruction in Composition classes Pros Reach students without straining human resources Automated data collection Students can go back to the tutorial for refresher Cons Lose the “personal” touch Technical glitches and incompatibility issues Updates can be complicated and irksome

Resources for further information McClure, R., Cooke, R., & Carlin, A. (2011). Information literacy and the skunk ape: Assessing the impact of online library learning modules on student writing in English composition courses. Journal of Information Literacy, 5(2), Skunk Ape Tutorial skunkape.htm skunkape.htm Anna Carlin, Florida Gulf Coast

Flickr Photo Credits Kids Writing photo: Kayaker1204, Commencement photo: Thatautguy, Teacher photo: Don O'Brien, Google Master Plan photo: Steve Jurvetson,