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Doing Research: A Student's Guide to Finding and Using the Best Sources

Library Instruction at KPU

Face-to-face library classes are increasing across all courses and campuses.

In addition to the number of library classes increasing, the majority of classes are now 90 minute sessions (up from 50 mins)

 

Big Questions:

  • How do we become more strategic in ensuring that ALL first year students receive information literacy instruction?
  • What about our online and blended students?
  • Some students receive this instruction multiple times across their first year courses- could this be minimized?

In 2015 the Association of College and Research Libraries introduced a new approach to information literacy that addresses changes in higher education as well as a rapidly changing information ecosystem. 

 

"Information literacy is the set of integrated abilities encompassing the reflective discovery of information, the understanding of how information is produced and valued, and the use of information in creating new knowledge and participating ethically in communities of learning." (ACRL 2015)

 

The ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education is organized into six frames, each consisting of a concept central to information literacy, a set of knowledge practices, and a set of dispositions. The six concepts that anchor the frames are:

  • Authority Is Constructed and Contextual
  • Information Creation as a Process
  • Information Has Value
  • Research as Inquiry
  • Scholarship as Conversation
  • Searching as Strategic Exploration

Knowledge practices and dispositions associated with each frame were designed to be open-ended and non-prescriptive, so that librarians and faculty can collaborate locally to determine learning outcomes that best suit their students' situations.

For a fuller discussion of the Framework and KPU's information literacy programme, please see this guide.

Other resources that informed the development of Doing Research: A Student's Guide to Finding and Using the Best Sources:

Next Steps?

  • First draft of Modules 1-4 completed April 2019
  • First video draft April 2019, 3 more to follow (OER Grant received for this)
  • Pilot modules with ENGL 1100? CMNS 1100? others? May-Jun 2019, Sep-Nov 2019
  • Moodle integration summer 2019
  • Badge application process summer 2019?

 

Other thoughts? Wanting to participate in the pilot? Please contact Celia Brinkerhoff

Thank You!

The working group included Jennifer Williams, Julia Grandison, and Elizabeth Gooding all from the department of English, who helped to shape this first draft of the project by offering excellent support and suggestions in terms of content and activities. Additional feedback was provided by Greg Chan and Jennifer Hardwick.

Support for this project also came from BCcampus through an Open Education Resource grant.