Title: The Integration of Embedded Librarians at Tuskegee University
1The Integration of Embedded Librarians at
Tuskegee University
Tuskegee University
- Juanita M. Roberts
- Director
- Library Services
- Ford Motor Company Library/Learning Resources
Center - Margaret K. Alexander
- Librarian
- T. S. Williams Veterinary Medical Library
Presentation LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE April 4-8,
2008 Morehouse College of Leadership Atlanta,
Georgia
2The Integration of Embedded Librarians at
Tuskegee University
-
- Tuskegee Universitys Library Services
- Propose to explore and create collaborative ways
to establish better collaboration between faculty
and librarians by increasing visibility of
librarians and libraries as research providers. -
- This collaborative effort is seen as a means of
improving the informational literacy skills of
Tuskegee University students. -
- Librarians are embedded into the classroom
environment to assist faculty with teaching
assignments and research needs. - To accomplish this goal, three steps have been
taken. - Step One Blackboard, a
web-based course management system, was selected
and reviewed by the E-Learning Coordinator and
two librarians. - Step Two An essential component
was to gain an understanding of the functionality
and use of Blackboard at Tuskegee University. - Step Three Because the buy in
of the librarians is vital to the success of this
project, meetings were held to obtain their input
and suggestions. - As a result, the integration of embedded
librarians into Blackboard is being viewed as a
success based on the feedback from the
instructor, students and librarians.
3PRESENTATION OUTLINE
- Definition of Blackboard
- Tuskegee University Libraries Strategic Plan
- Project Goal and Objectives
- Project Review
- Breakthroughs/Innovations
- Application of Learnings
- Summary
4Definition of Blackboard
- Web-based course-management system
- Enables faculty and students to participant in
classes online or use online materials and
activities - Instructors are able to provide class materials,
handouts, discussion boards, chat rooms and
online tests to students.
5Tuskegee University LibrariesStrategic Plan
- Fundamental purpose is to acquire, organize,
preserve and disseminate information - Supports the educational program of the
University - Prepares the student to function responsibly as
an individual within society - Tuskegee Universitys mission focuses on three
special elements Instruction, Research and
Service - Committed to preserve past resources as well as
addressing new technological advances within the
diverse collections - Enhance vital skills of information literacy that
form the foundation for lifelong learning within
the student learning environment
6Strategic Directions
- Collect, preserve and provide access to
network-based library collections - Create and improve library services and space to
meet the needs of faculty, staff and students - Collaborate and partner with faculty to create an
effective and lifelong learning environment for
students - Recruit, train and retain a well-qualified,
motivated and diverse workforce
7Embedded Librarians Project focuses on three of
the strategic directions
- Create and improve library services and space to
meet the needs of faculty, staff and students - Embodies the needs of the faculty
and student - Librarian embedded as teaching assistants and
readily available to assist students and faculty - Collaborate and partner with faculty to create an
effective and lifelong learning environment for
students - Student enhances informational skills and
research techniques - Skills retained as lifelong skill to be
utilized in future learning environments
8Embedded Librarians Project focuses on three of
the strategic directions
- Recruit, train and retain a well-qualified,
motivated and diverse workforce - Acknowledges the challenges and demands of
current and future academic programs and
information technologies of the University - Librarians are constantly upgrading
professional skills to meet technological
changes implemented at Tuskegee University - Collaboration between librarians to assist
faculty and students via Blackboard -
9Project Goal and Objectives
- Tuskegee University Libraries will
increase awareness, knowledge and utilization
levels of University faculty, staff and students
by integrating embedded librarians into online
instruction via Blackboard. - Objective 1 To establish better collaboration
between faculty and librarians. - Objective 2 To increase visibility of
librarians as research providers. - Objective 3 To direct students to appropriate
resources for their assignments. - Objective 4 To improve information literacy
skills. - Objective 5 To assist faculty with teaching
assignments.
10Project ReviewImplementation of Embedded
Librarian Project
- Two librarians attend Blackboard Workshop
facilitated by e-Learning Coordinator - Explore ways to provide additional library
services to students - Course instructions and assignments posted via
Blackboard - Librarians embedded as teaching assistants
- Embedded in Social Work 236 Human Behavior and
Social Environment
11Instructional Process via Blackboard
- Research assignment given to students and
requires research skills - Library link on first page of course section
- Librarians listed as teaching assistants
- Students ask questions via Discussion Board
- Ask a Librarian- librarians provide instructional
comments at point of contact with students - Professional and credible resources support
student assignment - Interactive learning between students and
librarians
12Blackboard TrainingStakeholders
- E-Learning Coordinator conducted workshop to
train librarians on the usage of Blackboard - Project readily accepted by stakeholders
- Librarians
- Faculty
- Students
- Staff
- Campus Technology
- University
13Breakthroughs and Innovations
- Tuskegee Universitys Planning, Implementation,
Evaluation and Improvement Reports (PIEI)
utilized the Embedded Librarians Project as a
model - Collaboration between instructor for Social Work
236 and librarians - Librarians embedded as teaching assistants
- Ask a Librarian link incorporated into online
course via Blackboard - Students have direct contact with students via
discussion board - Students are directed to appropriate and
professional informational resources - Interactive learning between students and
librarians
14Breakthroughs and Innovations
- Improvement in Institutional Quality (change)
- Student comfort zone increases - able to seek
help from librarian - Collaboration between librarians and faculty
- Alternative method of meeting informational needs
of students - Information Literacy enhanced
- 24 hour access to Ask a Librarian
15Breakthroughs and Innovations
- Embedded Librarian concept presented to
- School of Education
- Dean, Associate Dean and National
Council for
Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
representative - School of Nursing library liaison
- Freshman Orientation Coordinator
16Application of LearningBenefits for Social Work
236
- Students learn how to locate credible and
professional sources - Students spend time thoughtfully researching
their topics last minute research reduced - Students produced quality research documents
- Students realize their chosen major social
work- is knowledge based - As professional social workers need to learn
where to locate information
17Benefits for Librarians
- Direct access to student assignments
- Dialogue with instructor and students as it
relates to understanding assignments - Enhances perception of libraries and librarians
as a viable source of information - Students are comfortable in contacting librarians
for assistance - Class assignments based on resources available in
library - Understand class assignments
- Public relations via Blackboard
18Benefit for Students
- Students expanded their knowledge
- Library resources
- Library collections and services
- Availability of appropriate information resources
- Usage of librarys online catalog
- Conduct a search in locating resources in the
librarys collections I - Selection of appropriate databases for research
topics - Proper method to cite electronic and print
resources - Evaluate information found on the web and
plagiarism
19Benefits for Tuskegee University
- Embedded Librarian Project used as a model in
PIEI - Improvement in Institutional Quality
- Increased Student Retention
- Improvement in Information Literary
20THANK YOU
- Tuskegee University Libraries
- www.tuskegee.edu/libraries
- Tuskegee, AL