Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Inquiry Method

BI IL Goal: to teach students how to find information in the library Goal: to teach students to manage information wisely; to encourage inquisitiveness; to foster lifelong learning

Inquiry Method: “Student-centered method of education focused on asking questions” Good learner traits Self confidence, bolder kind of intelligence Pleasure in problem-solving Keen sense of relevance No fear of being wrong Flexible point of view Contemplative approach to answering Ability to distinguish between fact and opinion Comfort with the unanswered question Avoid telling students what they “ought to know” Talk to students in a questioning manner Encourage thoughtful answers to questions Encourage non-judgmental student interactions Lesson plan flexible/ encourages problem-solving Gauge success by how student inquiry behavior develops Inquiry teacher traits

My early life as a BI librarian BI as one-shots Programs: CREW, business classes, applied psychology classes, seminar in contemporary world issues, MASH, education classes, radiography, Freshman Focus Dog and pony show—show and tell Students often getting the session two and three times Not required

Enough is Enough Invited students to be the drivers Designed interactive sessions Visited classes only if they had an assignment Asked faculty for student questions ahead of class time Collaborated with instructional designer and faculty in the creation of library friendly assignments

Meeting of the Minds Information literacy finds its rightful place “embedded” in the CORE Information literacy librarian is hired Staff librarians transformed into “teaching librarians” Creative juices are tapped and lesson plans are formed Collaboration in ClearspaceClearspace Collaboration in our subject wikis and course wikissubject wikiscourse wikis

Practice makes Perfect….well, almost……. Make lesson plans my own Practice on the cats Add “my” story Sometimes start class with a poem Some days are diamonds, some days are stone

Wow, this is Challenging! “Guide on the side” rather than “sage on the stage” 4.5 librarians to cover ever-growing course load Please speak up—waiting for a voice/enduring silence I have to write on the board?? Calling students by their names—you’ve got to be kidding……. May I just please show them the library webpage……it’s so comforting…… Hello faculty member, where are you?....oh, grading papers in the back of the room 

Letting Go, Growing Strong Using inquiry to teach inquiry Sharing successes, failures, frustrations Inquiry powerful tool for teambuilding, collaboration, and individual development Vulnerability and authenticity

Goals & Expectations exercise: IL program “cornerstone” Inquiry-based: encourages students to think about the role of information (literacy) in their daily lives Outcome: “combines new information with existing knowledge to generate new ideas and address a particular problem or question. Revolves around 3 key questions: Where does information come from? What do you want the information you use to be? What do you expect the information you use to do for you? “Real World”: Putting your goals & expectations to work

Programmatic SWOT Strengths Our staff Our faculty A new librarian Support from CORE Dean A lot of ideas Good students Good track record Inquiry method Number of librarians Size of incoming class Newness Short prep time A lot of ideas Overextending Classroom space Scheduling Weaknesses

SWOT continued Opportunities Threats Teach a lot of classes Newness Inform faculty about IL More contact with faculty & students Expand library presence Personal growth Assessment culture Students all four years Get ‘em while they’re young Web 2.0 Teach a lot of classes Sustain new initiatives Time for our individual obligations Burnout Assessment culture Covering program sessions Old BI model

The good news is….we “keep on truckin’” robert crumb, zap comix, 1968

Thank You!