Supporting Research in the First College
Year
Dianna E. SachsMarch 20, 2009
What is First Year Seminar? History of collaboration Learning outcomes Structure and methodology Responses Where do we go from here?
WMU Libraries + FYS
2 credit hours Approx. 1,200 students, 58 sections Academic and social transition to University Community Faculty and student facilitators
What is FYS?
2006 – tour of the library on request
2007 – tour, short project, required
2008 – project, integrated tour, required
◦Common Research Experience = enhanced roll for library
History
Learning Outcomes
◦ Library = comfortable, welcoming◦ Librarians = knowledgeable, friendly
◦ Wide variety of resources and services
◦ Basic concepts of information organization and research
Fall 2008
Structure and Methodology
◦ Project-oriented active learning◦ Work in groups◦ Peer mentoring◦ Self-determined
◦ “Choose Your Own Adventure” meets “Madlibs”
Fall 2008
Choose an item Write keywords describing item Use keywords as search terms to find next
item Repeat, repeat, repeat
Final item often unrelated to first Students’ choice throughout
Sample Project
“They were really responsive to Maps, Special Collections, too. They think they’re going to hate it at first, but then they find that one item and everyone is like ‘Ohhhhhh!’” - Megan W.
“Some students were kind of ‘blah’ and unresponsive because it wasn’t for a grade. I remember some of them said they weren’t going to try.” -Lauren D.
Responses from Student Leaders
Observed: around 70% were interested. Active learning was successful
Responses
More successful when faculty instructor was present
Better balance between “intro to library tour” and “project time”
Faculty – projects should be more focused
Common Research Experience continues More focused project Short (but interactive) tour independent of
project
Experimental classes – librarian integrated into course and curriculum
Come back next year!
2009?
Questions?