Reinventing information literacy instruction through experimentation and
play
Jemima McDonald & Sophie McDonaldUTS Library
lib.uts.edu.au
@jemimaeve @misssophiemac
Where we were
Scary anonymous library
Stern shushing librarians
Sit down and face front classes
The walled garden
Wordy webpages are woeful
The B word
Image credit: Young Woman Sleeping On A Pile Of Books. Photography.Encyclopædia Britannica Image Quest. Web. 2 Nov 2011. http://quest.eb.com/media/image.htm?mediaId=154_2887017
What changed
Library of the futureStaff encouraged to experiment with new ways of thinking and doing things in preparation for our Library of the Future. Plan to move in 2016. Leading to cultural change.
Web 2.0New tools and ways of engaging with information has changed the way our clients find, use, create and share information. Leading to changed needs and expectations of our clients.
Info lit changesMore expansive view of information literacy Delivered in non-traditional ways e.g. via social media and blogsScreencasts for interactive online support
Simplify the language, structure & content of the class (more hands on)More in line with what/how students are using their own searching tools e.g. Google ScholarUse basic search interface in databases
Gaming elementsQuizzesNo more B word (at least not to undergrads)Use of web tools into classes
Cultural changePirate hat WednesdayPlanning dayEdible booksSustainabilityEngagementForumYammer
Collaboration
Work with student support units to:
• Deliver IL
• Feedback on what students need
• Events library staff can be involved in
Work with Faculty to:
• Showcase student work
• Joint projects
Image: Cell Biology student posters displayed in the library
What we’re doingFace to face classesFaculty workshopsPower sessions for staffGame-based learningOnline supportInstant chatStudy SkillsYouTube screencastsJust in time learningFlexible deliveryMobile supportQR codesPromoting IL via social mediaFocus on First Year ExperienceFocus on Research students and ECR
Information Literacy f2f classes
• Orientation program
• Intro to Library research - Xtranorml quiz http://youtu.be/Q4rU4_LhZmA
• Classes in Chinese: library research &referencing
• Referencing: how to reference using Harvard UTS style
• Mobile searching: finding information via UTS Library mobile website, apps to help with study/teaching/research
• Google Skills 1 and 2: including Google Scholar, RSS feeds using Google Reader and iGoogle
Optional classes
Information Literacy f2f classes
• Collaborative tools: using Diigo and Google Docs
• Finding images: creative commons licensing, educational use and reusing images correctly
• Advanced database searching: including mindmapping
• Finding statistics for Sciences and Social Sciences
• Make me famous: how to publish more strategically by using ERA journal lists, impact factors and maximise your impact by using the h-index and other measures
• Get connected: how to use databases and social media to connect with other researchers and share your research
Optional classes
f2f Faculty classes
• Treasure hunts
• In lecture demonstrations
• Embedded information literacy instruction in subject
• Embedded Library support in the uni Learning Management System (LMS)
• Power sessions for staff
• Proactive approach to seeing opportunities for IL
• Design students “Amazing race”
Organised by librarian and Faculty member
Evaluating the funInformal:
• Are people paying attention?
• Lots of positive feedback after the class “You guys give the most wonderful workshops!”
• Feedback from interactions with students in classes, Research Help Desk
Formal:
• Evaluation form on the library website
• 2 Question Survey each month (Jemima anecdote)
Break time
Fun day
Why?• First year experience• Engagement• Library is fun!
Games: • Online quiz• Murder mystery• Perfect paper plane• Treasure hunt• Technology petting zoo• Kinect• XBox• Sausage sizzle• Librarian or not• Face painting• Photo caption competition• Rogues gallery
Treasure hunts
Treasure hunts using QR codes
Nursing treasure hunts
Scavenger hunt apps
Online treasure hunt
Lesson: f2f treasure hunts more successful
Screencasting• Increase coverage of online tutorials
• Available for revision after class is over
• Specialised for academic staff to embed in LMS
• Introduced interactivity/quizzes
• InfoSkills Bank
• Youtube
• Embedr
• Trying different software
• Goal is to teach all information services staff how to create screencasts
QR codesStarted using them in 2009
Using them on posters, bookmarks, brochures to link to online content and competitions
Using them in the library to link to instructional and informative video via YouTube
Recently usage went through the roof when we introduced ‘flush ads’ with QR codes. That is back of toilet door promos
Used them for Fun Day treasure hunt to deliver clues
Usage is increasing along with awareness and usage of our mobile services
YouTubeStarted in 2009 with the Lib:flicks competition
Now have over 43,000 views with 20,000 of those for one video
We have video tours of the library, instructional videos, student and staff videos about their vision of the library of the future, competition winners and events
We link to YouTube videos via our website, library news, Facebook and Twitter sites, and QR codes
Library staff are encouraged to create content
Benefits: accessible on all newer mobile devices, easily embedded in website, LMS and shared on social networks
FacebookStarted in 2009. Created a social media policy, staff awareness and training.
Took at least a year to build up a strong online community. Now have over 1400 Likes and over 5000 check ins. 1300 monthly active users
Library news feeds through automatically. Also share links, tips, vodcasts, workshops, competitions and photos
People like and comment on our updates, ask questions, make suggestions
Web stats show Facebook is the highest external referrer to our website after Google
Facebook quiz
Photo captioning comp during orientation
TwitterStarted in 2009
Not as popular as Facebook for our community – over 1000 followers
Follow what people are saying about us and respond directly
Watching official mentions @utslibrary or uts library or event hashtags
People checkin on Foursquare
Encouraging staff to tweet from library events and conferences to share information with colleagues outside the room – Global reach
Flickr
Showing human face of library
Visual history
Engagement
Sharing
Competitions
Transparency
Blogs: Culture of reading
Encourage reading
Communication skills
Academic language
Indigenous Reading Group
Fortnightly Reading Group
Blogs: Research support
Save me time
Make me famous
Writing group for researchers
Diigo group for sharing links
Vodcasts of Research Week
Promoted via Facebook and Twitter
Research tools & data
Research Week 2011Collaboration with support staff from across the university
Developed new workshops with needs of researchers in mind
Expertise development for library staff
Stronger ties with research community
Blogging, tweeting all week
Vodcasts available
Research Week workshops
MobileMobile Library website, catalogue with location maps, room bookings, PC availability, subject resources
Increase in people wanting to know how to use tablets for study, teaching, research
Developing mobile literacy for clients and staff by running mobile searching workshops and staff mobile learning program
Delivering mobile friendly IL support via YouTube, Facebook and Twitter
Testing mobile databases
Major projects for our Library of the Future: RFID and library retrieval system (LRS) – we MUST be mobile ready
What next?
Study Skills launch
Managing a large load of classes
More formal evaluation of IL over time
Embed Study Skills into UTS Online (LMS)
More game based learning investigating new software
Mobile learning
Continue to listen, watch, learn, experiment, play, design, implement and evaluate
Take aways
Information literacy has a huge role in the future of libraries
As long as we consider the whole information world of our clients and not take a narrow view
We must consider digital and mobile literacy
We must be engaged with our clients and learn new skills to support them
We must promote what we do – where they’ll hear it!
Thanks!
Jemima McDonald & Sophie McDonald
UTS Librarylib.uts.edu.au
[email protected] @jemimaeve
[email protected] @misssophiemac
Questions?
And a huge thanks to all the UTS Library staff who have worked so hard to make all these
wonderful things happen