Launching Students into Information Literacy Vik Brown Southern Utah University.

Launching Students into Information Literacy

Vik BrownSouthern Utah University

Information Literacy

In this media-drenched era of blogs and podcasts,Google searches and instant messages, young people need to acquire a new set of literacy skillsthat allows them to locate information, sort through it quickly and most important, determine which sources are reliable and which ones aren’t.

Claudia Wallis Time Dec. 18, 2006

LM 1010 Course Description

• An introduction to the research process and methods for retrieving information. Focuses on developing information literacy skills, selecting relevant sources, and then evaluating, organizing, and citing the information. (Fall, Spring, Summer)

• 1 credit course

LM 1010 Information Literacy

Track the evolution of LM 1010• elective• live course • online course• general education requirement• cohort class

Southern Utah University

Facts about SUU

• Comprehensive, regional university offering graduate, baccalaureate, associate and technical programs.

• Colleges— Business, Education, HSS, Science, CIET, PVA

• Cedar City, Utah– Salt Lake City 250 miles

– Las Vegas 170 miles

Facts about SUU

• Founded in 1897– Branch Normal School 1897-1913

– Branch Agricultural College 1913-1953

– College of Southern Utah 1953-1969

– Southern Utah State College 1969-1990

– Southern Utah University 1990-

Facts about SUU

• Enrollment– 7,029 headcount (+15% in 5 years)– 5,580 FTE (+3.8% last year)– 1,182 new freshmen 2005– 1,541 other freshmen 2005– 85% Utah residents– ACT average score (20.77 to 21.89 in 5

yrs.)

Facts about SUU• Library

– 11 years old--82,418 square feet– Learning Commons

• 100 computer stations, multimedia lab

– 1200 study stations– 270,000 volumes– 22,746 serial titles--UALC– 10 librarians—faculty status

• teaching, scholarly activities, service

History of LM 1010

•Pre 1998 •Live elective course•Team taught

•1998 •Converted live class

to online course

History of LM 1010

• 2000• Dean’s Council approves LM 1010 Information Literacy

as a General Education requirement.

• Converted to WebCT

Facts about LM 1010

Live orientation

1 or 2 sessions

Online course1: Complete the Skills Survey 2: Read the Syllabus 3: Read - Quiz - Assignment4: Take the Final Exam5: Complete the Class Evaluation

LM 1010—Organization

The Course is ALL Online

• Syllabus and Skills Survey• Chapters – Quizzes – Assignments• Test-out and Final Exam• E-mail, grades, evaluation, etc.

Chapters

Online text book

Printed versionavailable at

SUU Bookstore and

Library Reserve

Quizzes

• Associated with each chapter. • May be taken two times; highest

score used.

•10 multiple choice questionsOpen book

Quizzes

Assignments

• #1 Choose a Research Topic– State as research question– Identify 2 or 3 keywords– Identify alternate keywords– Use truncation– Create two search statements– Test topic in Library Catalog and

Academic Search Premier

Assignments

• #2 Find Information– Write research topic question– Find background source—Library catalog or

Oxford Reference Online– Find book—Library catalog– Find newspaper article— ProQuest Newspapers– Find popular magazine article--ASP– Find scholarly journal article--ASP– Find web page

Assignments

• #3 Evaluate information– Scholarly journal article

• bibliographic information• annotation• source evaluation—authority, accuracy,

currency

Assignments

• #4 Cite information– Prepare MLA Works Cited list from the

six sources found on your topic• background source• book• scholarly article• popular article• newspaper article• web page

Deadlines

Grading

Quizzes (4) = 40 points

Assignments (4) = 40 points

Final Exam = 20 points

Total = 100 points

Minimum passing grade is a C- or 70%.

Test Out Exam

•Past Experience ?•Skills Survey ?

•Open Book•Part #1 Basic Information•Part #2 Practical application•Timed

•Accept the grade as your final grade or continue and finish the course

•2 point bonus for trying!

Test Out Exam

Fall 2006

413 of 988 students (41.8%) took TO: Part 1.386 of 988 students (39.2%) took TO: Part 2

305 of 988 students (30.9%) of enrolled students passed Test-Out.305 of 413 students (73.8%) who took Test-Out passed

Test Out Exam

% tested % passed

Fall 2004 62 49

Spring 2005 60 52

Fall 2005 49 39

Spring 2006 49 33

Fall 2006 49 40

Spring 2007 49 40

Student Progress Information Literacy Skills

Skills Survey—Final ExamBackground sources 55% to 88%

Current information 79% to 94%

Scholarly MLA format 16% to 73%

Book call number 82% to 91%

On line catalog 84% to 88%

Boolean search 92% to 100%Primary source 32% to 73%Scholarly characteristics 66% to 82%Authority 76% to 88%Citing 87% to 91%

Student Progress Information Literacy Skills

History of LM 1010

•2003 •Dean’s council approves UNIV 1000 First Year Seminar as a General education requirement.

Univ 1000

•Student Success Center• adjust to college life• select college courses• identify academic and career options• academic advisement• free tutoring• testing• information & registration for testing

Univ 1000

•Student Success Center• Director• Six academic advisors• Testing coordinator• Developmental math coordinator• Tutoring coordinator

UNIV 1000 First Year Seminar

• The First Year Seminar • connects students with faculty, staff, and other students and the University community.• is designed to help launch students’ university careers successfully and to equip students with the tools and abilities that will increase their career and academic skills. • Co-requisite: LM1010• (Fall, Spring)

University OrientationOffered at a variety of times during summer andbefore spring semester, Orientation providesacademic advisement, social activities and eventsto introduce students to SUU. Acquaints studentswith the services, facilities, opportunities andresponsibilities. Required of all first-time freshmen.

UNIV 1010

History of LM 1010

•2004• LM1010 and UNIV1000 are cohorted (25 students) concurrently.

UNIV 1000 General info

• Increase student retention rate • Required for students with fewer than

30 credit hours• 45 sections Fall Semester 2006• Taught by advisors (6), librarians, faculty

UNIV 1000 Topics

• Time awareness and planning• Cornell note-taking and self-testing• Study smarter rather than harder• Language power• Outlining reading material• Test taking• Stereotypes and prejudice

UNIV 1000 Objectives

• Wellness• Improve concentration

(lectures and reading)• Study smarter rather than harder • Read actively and improve memory• Think about thinking• Critical thinking

UNIV 1000 Objectives

• Connect with support systemscampus and community

• Develop socially and professionally--attend FASSST Week Workshops

• Improve citizenship • Demonstrate mastery in habits

UNIV 1000 Grading

Attendance and participation 25% of gradeMore than 2 unexcused absences could cause failure

Reading 25% of gradeYour College Experience Gardiner and JewelRead 100 pages—show active reading

FAAST Week 25% of gradeAttend advisement workshopAttend one professional/personal development workshop

Final 25% of gradeReflection paper

History of LM 1010

•2005• LM1010 and UNIV1000 are cohorted and

taught concurrently.• Cohorted with another general education

course.• Continue to teach non-cohort course.

History of LM 1010/Univ 1000

2006• 200+ students in non-cohort courses• 1000 students taught in cohorted courses of 25 students

• First eight weeks—Univ 1000• meet twice a week

• general session• seminar session

• Last seven weeks—LM 1010 orientation• Companion class (general ed)

Companion Course

• English, history, biology, political science, etc.

• Use for applying reading, study and note taking skills.

• Select research topic for LM 1010 from companion course.

• Information literacy skills support companion course assignments.

History of LM 1010/Univ 1000

2007• 1000 students taught in cohorted courses of 25 students

• First four weeks—Univ 1000• meet twice a week

• general session• seminar session—incorporate library research

• Week 5--LM 1010 orientation• Companion class (general ed)—incorporate research

CHALLENGES

Plagiarism

•All assignment #4s reviewed– Paper file

• 3% plagiarism rate

– Subscribed to Turnitin.com• .5% plagiarism rate

Retention

•1999 54% 1st year retention•2004 60% •2006 64%

Failure Rate

•Grade distribution—Fall 2006– A’s—28%– B’s—36%– C’s—18%– D’s—3%– F’s—16% (9% campus g. e. average)

•Initial orientation sessions•Emails sent•Workshops

Integration of Courses

• UNIV 1000/LM 1010• Research component• Expand seminar sessions

Any Questions?

Vik [email protected]

du435-586-1564