Preparing Students to Thrive Preparing Students to Thrive and Survive in Collegeand Survive in College

Ken Burhanna, Head of Instructional Services, Kent State University Suzanne Johnson-Varney, Technical Services Librarian, Shawnee State University

Can Information Literacy Save Lives?

Girl uses information literacy to save 100 lives!

College Faculty Expectations for FY Students

• Savage, S.B.,  & Sigalet, J.M. (1 June, 2011).  Library Research Skills Survey Report: What research skills do college professors expect first-year students to have? Kelowna, BC: Okanagan College Library. See web link below

• Film Project -- Research Skills: Bridging the gap between high school and post-secondary http://libguides.okanagan.bc.ca/content.php?pid=109335&sid=2234332

College Faculty Expectations for FY Students

Faculty Expectations in ranked order -- Okanagan Study

1)Locate & access information2)Avoid plagiarism3)Recognize when information is needed4)Evaluate for credibility & authority5)Organize & use information effectively6)Differentiate between popular & scholarly7)Differentiate between primary & secondary8)Create research strategy / keep research journal9)Synthesize & build on existing information10)Develop & build on existing skills

Standards Bridge the Way

• AASL

– Accesses info effectively

– Evaluates info– Uses accurately– Pursues for personal

interests– Appreciates

literature– Contributes to the

learning community and groups

– Uses ethically

• ACRL

– Defines and articulates need

– Accesses info effectively

– Evaluates & incorporates info

– Uses for specific purpose

– Uses ethically– Incorporates info

into knowledge base

Strongly Related to College Success:

Academic self-confidence: Level of academic self-confidence (of being successful in the academic environment). 

The Role of Academic and Non-Academic Factors in Improving College Retention, ACT Policy Report (2004)

Student Perceptions Matter

Visits to academic librariesWork with college level assignmentsTalk with current college students (former students)Share faculty / instructor expectationsTransitioning to college web site www.transitioning2college.org

Increase Confidence / Lower Anxiety

• Librarians were tremendously underutilized by students. Eight out of 10 of the respondents reported rarely, if ever, turning to librarians for help with course-related research assignments. 

• “They’re basically taking how they learned to research in high school with them to college, since it’s worked for them in the past,” Alison J. Head.

“Lessons Learned: How College Students Seek Information in the Digital Age,” Alison J. Head and Michael B. Eisenberg, Project Information Literacy First Year Report with Student Survey Findings, University of Washington's Information School, December 1, 2009

Key to Success: Asking for Help

TRAILS: Tool for Real-time Assessment of Information Literacy

Skills

www.trails-9.org

• Online Card Catalog– OhioLINK ebook content; databases and ejournals

can be accessed through local OPACS– Understanding types of authentication

– My Account

Skills that transition with students

• All of the INFOhio databases are available through OhioLINK– EBSCOHost: Enhanced content purchased at the

college level by OhioLINK; most schools purchase even more content from EBSCO

– The Art Collection– Literature Online– Learning Express Library– Mango– Oxford Reference Online– Newsbank

INFOhio databases go to college…

• SSU offers Noodle Bib and End Note Web• Students should be aware that there are multiple

types of citation styles• Area of study may determine what citation style is

used…..• Sometimes a professor will have students use

what they prefer

Citation Tools & Styles

Research Project Calculator

• Text-A-Librarian & LibAnswers …LibGuides• QR Codes• Bitly URL’s• Mobile Apps

– EBSCO– LexisNexis– Taylor & Francis

A word about microfilm & fiche….

Commonly found technology

• Basic word processing skills are essential• Excel is helpful• PowerPoint will be expected at some point• Content Management Software• Email• Attachments• The “Cloud”• Authentication – again……

Computer Skills

• Keeping up with trends is crucial to understanding what your students may encounter when moving to college– RSS Feeds– Twitter– Facebook– LinkedIn

Professional Development

TRAILS & Transitioning to College are joining forces!

• As part of a grant, we plan to father feedback on the needs of librarians working with high school students to strengthen their information literacy efforts and to prepare their students for college.

• If you would be willing to provide feedback, let us know by filling out the form available at the link below:

http://tinyurl.com/hs2college

Your Input Is Needed

Resources Faculty Expectations for College Students, The Okanagan Project http://libguides.okanagan.bc.ca/content.php?pid=109335&sid=2234332

Research Project Calculator http://www2.infohio.org/rpc/

TRAILS – Tool for Real-Time assessment of Information Literacy Skills http://www.trails-9.org/

TRAILS & Transitioning to College Feedback Volunteer Form

http://tinyurl.com/hs2college

Transitioning2College – Helping You Succeed http://www.transitioning2college.org/

http://www.transitioning2college.org/documents/brians_top_10_firstyear_001.pdf

Questions

Ken Burhanna, Head of Instructional Serviceskburhann@kent.edu

Suzanne Johnson-Varney, Technical Services Librarianssvarney@shawnee.edu