Online Information Literacy Training: Recipe for Success

Virginia L. Stone, Education Services Librarian

Catharine S. Canevari, Associate Director, Research and Education

Shannon D. Jones, Head, Outreach Services,

Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences,

VCU Libraries, Virginia Commonwealth University

Context

• Expanding use of technology in higher education landscape

• Desire to bring library resources and services to our users• Developing new pathways to bring library resources and

services to the point of need

Context

Links to VCU Libraries resources were created on both the Blackboard and VCU Portal

How the Project Started

• Wanted to address needs of distance and non-traditional students

• Wanted to build a comprehensive information literacy instruction package for all users

• Created a library resource Blackboard course • Discussed students’ needs with faculty• Based course modules on ACRL information literacy

standards

What is the information literate student able to do?

– Knows the nature and extent of the information needed.

– Access needed information effectively and efficiently– Evaluates information and its sources critically and

incorporates selected information into his or her knowledge base and value system.

– Uses information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose.

– Understands many of the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information and accesses and uses information ethically and legally.

Content Organized by ACRL Standards for Information Literacy

• Standard 1: Knowing what you need– Getting Started

• Standard 2: Accessing information– Explore Databases– Getting Materials

• Standard 3: Evaluation– Evaluating

• Standard 5: Ethics– Citing Sources

Use of Blackboard’s Tools for Communication

• Announcements• Discussion forum• Email

Announcements

Discussion Board

Usage• 1157 students enrolled

• Folder Hits Percent – Explore Databases 49.29%– Check Your Skills 20.46% – Getting Started 11.84%– Getting Materials 8.03%– Citing Sources 3.36%– Evaluating 4.37%– Welcome 1.2%– Contact Us 1.06%– Campus Safety 0.39%

Total 20963100%

Quiz Usage

Quiz NameCompleted by # of Students

Average Score

Information Skills Check

37 87

MICROMEDEX 24 85

Why & How to Cite Correctly

20 75

PubMed/MEDLINE 24 79

Plans for Future Development

• Integrate further into curricula– Pre-test and post-testing– File/content sharing with faculty courses, particularly in the

School of Nursing• Further use of Live Classroom• Voice announcements• Usage survey• Staff development

Questions???