Supporting Research in the First College Year

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?