Teaching Techniques for Librarians
Making Active Learning Simple
Donna Kearley, Annie Downey, & Gayla ByerlyTLA Annual Conference 2009
Why Use Active Learning?
UNT assessed 575 students 11% could perform a subject search
after instruction Added a worksheet to instruction
Success rate increased to 38% Other studies prove it works as well
Design for Active Learning 1. Experience
Activity that brings the student’s experience into the teaching situation
Ex: Worksheet 2. Practice
Activity where the student is provided an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the new information
Ex: Assessment 3. Application
Opportunity to apply the information to a new situation
Ex: Research paper assignment
Active Learning works because..
Students take an active role in learning
Students are more engaged Students feel more comfortable
participating and asking questions Takes into account that learning is a
process Facilitates assessment
Active Learning works because..
Learning is demonstrated to the learner BY the learner
Facilitates teacher learning Different learning styles and
domains can be accommodated and addressed
Learning becomes personally meaningful
Simple Strategies
Honor Silence!!! Expect participation Give students time to think When students answer questions,
reward them Make contact with students that look
interested Allow time for informal questions at
the end
Worksheets
Individually or in groups Short and simple Customized for a specific subject
area or audience
Group Work
Divide into groups of four Assign each group member with a
role Leader Searcher Recorder Reporter
Assign each group a searching task
Deck of Cards Boolean
Give each student a card Ask students to hold up cards that
meet specific criteria to illustrate Boolean concepts
Explain the concepts as you go (have them hold up a card that
meets the criteria for the search)
Brief Video
Show a brief 3-5 minute video on a research topic
Ask students to brainstorm the questions the video brought up for them
Break students into small groups Using the questions the brainstorm
brought up, develop a research question the group wants to investigate
List keywords based on research question
Keyword Hot Potato
Show a brief 3-5 minute video on a research topic
Ask students to brainstorm the questions the video brought up for them
Break students into small groups Using the questions the brainstorm
brought up, develop a research question the group wants to investigate
List keywords based on research question
Website Evaluation
Locate several websites you want students to evaluate – these should be a mix of “good” and “bad” websites
Print the web addresses on slips of paper – make one for each student
Either individually or in pairs, ask students to go to the website on their slip of paper and evaluate it
Have each student (as time allows) make the case either for or against their website
Ask the rest of the class to weigh in with whether they agree or disagree and why
Game Shows
Really OldMore Recent Most
Recent Older Really New
Q $100
Q $200
Q $300
Q $400
Q $500
Q $100 Q $100Q $100 Q $100
Q $200 Q $200 Q $200 Q $200
Q $300 Q $300 Q $300 Q $300
Q $400 Q $400 Q $400 Q $400
Q $500 Q $500 Q $500 Q $500
Final Jeopardy
Computer Games
Design a computer game to teach the concept.
Ask students to write or adapt a computer game to teach the concept involved.
Hands On Ideas – CPS Units
CPS Units – can be used anytime you would use a multiple choice test.
We have usedCPS units with Kindergarten through adults
Drama, Living History Museum, or Wax Museum
Reader’s Theater/Skits
Quilts
Puppetry
Baby Got Nitrogen
Biographies
Biography Hash – Anne Berry [email protected]
This lesson was adapted from an article by Judy Freeman in Library Talk (September/October 2000).
Museum Walks – submitted by Pat Strawn
I do several museum walks with my students before they begin their Shakespeare unit, read the Odyssey, or study the Holocaust.
Think of it as "Learning Stations" from elementary days.
Who better than you knows where all of the great pictures are, the wonderful reference books that no one uses, and where the great articles from the databases are?
Instructions continued
The great thing about the museum walks is that you tailor it to your collection.
If you were doing Civil Rights, you might pull up the audio (DVD, cassette, or VHS) of Martin Luther King's speech, or the children's book about Ruby Bridges, or a clip from the movie, or any of the recent books about the murder of Emmett Till.
I make colorful file folders with the questions on them and the number of the station.
To Kill A Mockingbird
I adapted one done by a teacher in our district (Gretchen Birnaby) on lynching before students read To Kill a Mockingbird.
I went to the Handbook of Texas and found a great article on the lynching of Jesse Washington in Waco, TX.
I also found a great article about Hispanics that were lynched on one of the databases.
I also set up a computer station or two with Billie Holiday performing "Strange Fruit".
Poster Assignment – Carol Nylund
February has a variety of themes: Valentine’s Day, President’s Day – for the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, Black History Month and Heart Month (Dress Red for Women).
The library would like to advertise these themes with posters. We may even share some with classroom teachers who are interested in having them in their room.
Poster Assignment Directions
Your assignment is to design a poster using Excel about any of the topics above.
I have the directions printed out if you need a copy.
To find information for your poster, please use one of the online encyclopedias.
Be sure to cite your sources for information and for your pictures. They need to be included on the poster in a text box or in small print below each item.
Specific Information on Themes
If you select Valentine’s Day, add a library or reading theme to the holiday idea or some facts about the holiday.
If you choose to do people from Black History then have them grouped by area of recognition – authors, musicians, science, etc.
With the presidents, include some facts about them, or their presidency.
Heart Month you should include some statistics, warning signs of heart attack, or something similar.
Example of a poster assignment
http://www.dentonisd.org/512719693919/lib/512719693919/Geothermal_Wanted_Poster.pdf
Centers
Museum Trunks
Hands on Activities
Experiments
Student Talk Show
Technology Ideas
PhotoStory - Science Vocabulary
Cheezy Puppet show.wmv
Brochures
http://www.dentonisd.org/512719693919/lib/512719693919/Biome_Brochure.pdf
PhotoStory by Students
Introductory PhotoStory by Students http://www.dentonisd.org/525208131
34625947/lib/52520813134625947/5_R_Ogenche.wmv
Podcasting by Students
http://www.dentonisd.org/52520813134625947/blank/browse.asp?A=383&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&C=84517
http://www.dentonisd.org/52520813134625947/lib/52520813134625947/wedding_crashers_by_Breanna.mp3
Podcasting by Students
Book Reviews by Students
Book Trailers Naomi Bates - http://naomibates.blogspot.com/2009/02/booktrailer-my-fathers-son-by-terri.html
Interactive Book Reviews http://hhs.lisd.net/calendar_library/library/booktalks.htm
Print, Cut, Fold Activities
Origami Books
Study CardsMiniature Books
Fan Decks
Pocket Portfolio
Folding VennFilmstrip
TowerPyramids
http://www.printcutfold.com
Print, Cut, & Fold Activities, Continued
Cascading Flip Books
Stretch BooksPost Cardshttp://www.den
tonisd.org/512719693919/lib/512719693919/Instructions_for_Folds.pdf
Flap BooksClue SquareDioramaContrast Square
Tabbed Books
School Resources
Harmin, Merrill and Toth, Melanie, Inspiring Active Learning: A Complete Handbook for Teachers, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 2006,ISBN 978-1416601555.
Bowman, Sharon, Preventing Death by Lecture, Bowperson Publishing, 2001,ISBN 978-0965685153.
School Resources
Bruff, Derek, Teaching with Classroom Performance Systems, Jossey-Bass, 2009, ISBN 978-0470288931.
Fontichiaro, Kristin, Active Learning Thorough Drama, Podcasting, and Puppetry, Libraries Unlimited, 2007, ISBN 978-1591584025.
Academic Resources
Practical Pedagogy for Library Instructors: 17 Innovative Strategies to Improve Student Learning
Doug Cook and Ryan Sittler
Creating the One-Shot Library Workshop: A Step-by-Step Guide
Jerilyn Veldof
Teaching Information Literacy: 35 Standards-based Exercises for College Students
Joanna M. Burkhardt, Mary C. MacDonald and Andrée Rathemacher
Academic Resources
Designs for Active Learning: A Sourcebook of Classroom Strategies for Information Education
Gail Gradowski, Loanne Snavely, Paula Dempsey
Library Instruction Publications: Active Learning Serieshttp://library-instruction-pubs.com/index.php
Active Learning Techniques for Library InstructionInformation Literacy Activities Designed by Librarians, For Librarianshttp://ww.yccc.edu/library/activeLearning/active_learning.htm
Thank you!
Donna Kearley Denton ISD [email protected]
Annie Downey University of North Texas [email protected]
Gayla Byerly University of North Texas [email protected]