Integrating Information Literacy Skills into a Blackboard Class

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Integrating Information Literacy Skills into a
Blackboard Class

• Presented by Sarah Brick Archer,
• Northeastern State University
• Tahlequah, Oklahoma

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Background

• Sarah Brick Archer
• Instruction librarian for 24 years.
• Experienced with Blackboard and html.
• Established relationship with English teaching
  faculty.

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Institutional Background

• Northeastern State University
• Comprehensive regional university in Oklahoma.
• Enrollment of approximately 9,500.
• Blackboard available since 2000.
• 10 of classes online with 30-40 of classes
  with online components.

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Introduction

• Libraries are responsible for instructing
  distance education students in
• Basic information literacy techniques.
• Use of print and non-print materials.

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Information Literacy

• Information literacy is defined as "the ability
  to locate, evaluate, and use information to
  become independent life-long learners.
• Commission on Colleges, Southern Association of
  Colleges and Schools (SACS). Criteria for
  Accreditation, Section 5.1.2 Library and Other
  Information Resources Services . 10th ed. Dec.
  1996. (URLhttp//www.sacscoc.org/SectV.htm)

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• Libraries have tried to meet these
  responsibilities through
• In-person instruction sessions.
• Uploading supplemental materials to online
  classes.
• Creating a discussion thread for instruction.

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First Example of Implementation, 2004

• All three elements listed below were included in
  the online class.
• The librarian had full instructor status in the
  teaching facultys online class.
• A library instruction module was added to the
  class.
• The librarian assisted in creating and monitoring
  the discussion board.

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Description of the First Study

• Conducted in English 5033 Graduate Research and
  Writing class taught during fall 2004 on
  Blackboard.
• 9 students were enrolled.
• Library instruction module--html-based, including
  links Flash routines.
• Discussion board monitored by the librarian.
• Online survey of students.

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Module Content

• Photograph and contact information for librarian.
• General library information.
• Review of information cycle.
• Concepts of search strategies.
• Choosing a topic.

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• Database concepts.
• Locating materials.
• Evaluating materials.
• Citing resources.

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Creating the Discussion Board

• Created a month after the class started.
• Discussion board entitled Post your
  questions/con-cerns about your research in
  general and the program Ms. Archer has prepared
  in specific here.

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Summary of Discussion Board Activity

• Participation (9 students and 2 faculty had 19
  postings).
• Students needed help with
• Identifying peer reviewed journals.
• Assessing quality of materials.
• Dealing with technical problems.

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Discussion Board Comments

• I thought that I knew how to research already,
  but after reading the program you prepared, I
  was able to find twelve new potential (as in
  all of them are good) sources in less than an
  hour. Holy cow! (Victoria Hamilton, personal
  communication, September 15, 2004)

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• The thing that was most valuable to me was your
  suggestion to find what issues were current by
  checking the Calls For Papers.
• (Jeanne Urie, personal communication, September
  15, 2004)

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• Your information was very informativethe
  evaluating materials section was most
  valuable.
• (Melody Denny, personal communication, September
  17, 2004)

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Classroom Professors Comments

• Sarah, I think the posts so far indicate this
  approach is perhaps even more useful to them than
  we thought it might be.
• (Dr. Mary Stanley, personal communication,
  September 20, 2004.)

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Creating the Survey

• The purpose of the survey was to determine the
  effectiveness of a discussion board in enhancing
  the library online module.
• The survey was created and conducted on
  Blackboard by the librarian and posted two months
  after the discussion board closed.

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Survey Results

• Eight out of nine students responded.
• Participation was voluntary.

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Survey Results
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Survey Results-Student Comments

• I know this was an online class, but I would
  have liked an in-person library tutorial.
• The library module should be a required
  assignment in freshmen orientation.
• The discussion board made me realize that the
  librarian truly wants to help and will not feel
  bothered if I need to ask questions.

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• The library module made things clear visually
  theres just too much information for oral
  directions to make sense.
• I have had my academic butt saved by many
  librarians, and Im sure not for the last time.

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Additional Examples

• In a later class, I asked Dr. Stanley to include
  a discussion board that encouraged the students
  to explain how they conducted their research and
  to include databases and search strategies used.
  To encourage compliance, a discussion board
  rubric was created.

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Discussion Board Rubric Example

• 10 points A clearly written, spell/grammar
  checked contribution explaining the process that
  you used to define and create your semester
  project. Based on the library module, explain
  what databases you will or did use, why you
  selected them, and how you used them (what search
  terms did you use?) Identify problems encountered
  and any ideas of how you might overcome them.

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Examples of Student Questions on Additional
Discussion Boards

• A student mentioned her topic and that she had
  searched Web sites. It gave me a perfect
  opportunity to give her links to specific
  databases.
• Another student listed inappropriate databases
  for his topic, so I was able to identify more
  effective databases.
• Another student listed a search strategy to which
  I could recommend changes.
• During one discussion, I was able to email a
  student some relevant articles.

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Example of Discussion Board Comments, Advanced
Composition for Teachers, 2006

• Student Statement I would like to do my paper on
  the need for home-schooling regulations in the
  US, most particularly in Oklahoma.
• Classroom teachers reply This appears a "go,"
  but have you done a preliminary search to be sure
  you can find 10 solid sources?

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• My reply Keri,I would use ERIC and Education
  Fulltext for articles. For Oklahoma related
  materials, use NewsBank which indexes the Tulsa
  World and Daily Oklahoman. The Oklahoma State
  Dept. of Education has a link to home schooling
  on its Web site. It links to Oklahoma curriculum
  standards and to state and national home
  schooling associations.Sarah Brick Archer

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• Student reply Thanks for the addition (sic)
  place to search.  I have used the library site
  but the other places is (sic) a great place to
  go.  I now have ten sources.  Thanks, Keri

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Conclusion

• Librarians have a responsibility to teach and
  provide resources to distance education students
  and some approaches include
• Inserting library instruction modules into the
  Blackboard class.
• Participating in discussion boards.
• Finding e-books, e-journals and web sites to post
  in classes.

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• Discussion boards are useful follow-up tools and
  can generate critical thinking.
• Discussion boards create positive relationships
  between student and librarian.
• Omissions in instruction can be identified
  through discussion boards.
• Discussion boards can assist in assessing student
  satisfaction and achievement levels.

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• Classroom faculty seem supportive.
• The faculty member who participated in this study
  included the library module in other online
  classes. However, it was occasional inserted
  without being relevant or updated for the class.
• This approach is time consuming.
• Librarians can make it easier for classroom
  faculty to include projects in online classes.
• Students seem to recognize and appreciate the
  library instruction.