1. Bridging the gap through collaboration:
Building writing intensive courses through the enhancement of students’ library research skills

2. Collaborative partners
WAC course, Professor Rebecca Arliss
Librarian, Professor Carlos Argüelles
WAC fellow, Rodolfo Hernandez

3. Student Learning Outcomes for Critical Issues in Community Health
Navigate library resources
Evaluate and select articles from journals, reference books, and websites
Summarize and synthesize resources in a five page paper written in drafts
Design an educational handout to accompany the oral presentation

4. Collaborative Work Faculty and librarian plan four library sessions
Hands on development and practice of library skills - students learn by doing
Coaching each step of the way
WAC fellow and professor review drafts
Student peer review and practice with classmates
Librarian and WAC fellow attend oral presentations

5. Library Learning Activities
Pre- and post-assessment
Types of information sources, e.g. books, journals, websites
Use of keywords in searching
Boolean operators in advanced searches, e.g. AND, OR, NOT
Evaluation and selection of websites

6. Library Outcomes Initial assessment of students’ library search skills
Instruction on the types of information sources and searching techniques
Students practice searching for articles with individualized instruction from the librarian
Post-assessment for evaluation and planning

7. Collaborative Products
Library information resources highlighted and approved by professor
Draft and final five page paper
Draft and final educational handout
Oral presentation
Written reflection and personal assessment

8. Student’s Educational Handouts

9. Student’s Educational Handouts

10. Student’s Reflections
“As I researched and wrote my synthesis on my topic, I learned more that I expected, and definitely feel accomplished. I also learned about myself through the whole process. I didn’t know I had it in me to write a research paper, and since long, detailed essays are a huge part of a college education, I’m more confident I’ll be able to handle such a task in the future.”

11. “Going over the draft (with you, Dr
“Going over the draft (with you, Dr. Arliss) reassured me that I was going in the right direction, pointed out what was still missing from the synthesis, and gave me confidence in finishing the paper. I was also able to see how my grade will come together for the final synthesis from the handout (grading rubric) we received in class, so I knew exactly what to include to get the grade I was hoping for.”

12. “I can honestly say, with the help of this course, I learned lessons that will help me throughout my college years and in my life. There is so much more that I learned than these few pages, and I’m grateful to say I’m walking away with a sense of accomplishment as a student, and a person.”