This document discusses using active learning techniques to engage students in information literacy sessions. It presents various active learning activities that can be used, organized by learning goals and ACRL standards. These include games like Jeopardy and activities using props to demonstrate concepts like Boolean logic. Tips are provided for implementing active learning, such as encouraging participation and using humor. Participants are prompted to reflect on what active learning activities they currently use and which discussed activities could work for their sessions.
Activate Your Learners! Active Learning Strategies for Fostering Participant Engagement in Information Literacy Sessions
1. Activate Your Learners!
Active Learning Strategies for Fostering Participant
Engagement in Information Literacy Sessions
Lisa Shamchuk, Leah Plouffe & Jody Nelson
MacEwan University Library
CLA Conference and Tradeshow
May 30, 2013
2. Outline
This session will:
• Discuss the value of including active learning
techniques in instruction/programming.
• Present the chart used by our teaching team to
individualize instruction.
• Allow you to try out active learning activities.
3. Active Learning
Active learning refers to a student-centred
instruction method which focuses on having
students actively participate in the learning
process.
4. Advantages of Active Learning
• Improves:
– Interest
– Motivation
– Involvement
– Group work dynamics
• Allows students to:
– Express their ideas/opinions
– Practice their skills
– Take responsibility for their
own learning
• Recognizes a variety of learning
styles
5. Tips for Active Learning
• Talk informally with students as they arrive for class.
• Expect that students will participate and act accordingly.
• Arrange the classroom to encourage participation including putting chairs in a cluster
or circle if appropriate.
• Reduce anonymity by introducing yourself. Ask the class to relate previous library
experiences to you.
• Use small group discussion, questioning, and writing to allow for non-threatening
methods of student participation.
• Give students time to give responses, do not rush them.
• Reward students for participating by praising them or paraphrasing what they say.
• Draw the students into discussions by showing the relevance of the library to their
studies.
• Allow students time to ask questions at the end of class.
• Use humour to add an element of fun to sessions.
(Drueke, 1992)
6. Goal Activities ACRL Standard
Introduction to (or review
of) the library and its
services
• Jeopardy
• Shoot Out
• Press
Conference
Identifying alternate
synonyms and spellings
• Taboo
• Synonym Race
2.2.b : Identifies keywords, synonyms and related
terms for the information needed
Applying Boolean Logic
• Human Booleans
• Shuffle and Deal
• Coloured Shapes
2.2.d: Constructs a search strategy using
appropriate commands for the information retrieval
system selected (e.g., Boolean operators, truncation
and proximity for search engines)
Identifying
popular/trade/academic
articles
• Sorting Journals
• Wanted Ad
• Resource
Referee: Journals
3.2.a: Examines and compares information from
various sources in order to evaluate reliability,
validity, accuracy, authority, timeliness and point of
view or bias.
3.2.d: Recognizes the cultural, physical or other
context within which the information was created
and understands the impact of
context on interpreting the information.
Searching databases
• Scrimmage
• Librarian Needs a
New Car
• Resource
Referee:
Databases
2.2.e: Implements the search strategy in various
information retrieval systems using different
user interfaces and search engines.
2.3.a: Uses various search systems to retrieve
information in a variety of formats.
7. Introduction to (or review
of) the library and its
services
Identifying alternate
synonyms and spellings
Applying Boolean Logic Identifying
popular/trade/academic
articles
Searching databases
Jeopardy
Review of library skills
(general library, catalogue,
periodicals, databases, etc)
using Powerpoint Jeopardy
game.
Taboo
Topic keywords are declared
taboo and cannot be used to
search. Students brainstorm
other terms in pairs or
groups.
Human Booleans
Student clothing or birthdates
are used to demonstrate how
Boolean operators can be
used to narrow or widen a
search.
Sorting Journals
Provided stacks of mixed
types of journals are sorted
and described by students.
Scrimmage
Based on discovery principle,
students search databases on
their topic without receiving
instruction and then discuss
their methods before the
librarian demonstrates.
Shoot Out
Students write questions on
slips of paper and throw them
to the front of the class.
Questions are answered at
the end of the session, if not
covered at the beginning or
during the class.
Synonym Race
Students are placed in teams
and given a keyword. Teams
then race to come up with the
most synonyms.
Shuffle and Deal
Students are given a playing
card, and stand when
instructor asks for certain
combinations using AND, OR
to demonstrate how Boolean
operators can be used to
narrow or widen a search.
Wanted Ad
Students write a wanted ad
for academic journals,
describing their
characteristics.
Librarian Needs a New Car
Students search for an item
and discuss different results
found via web, CBCA,
1search, catalogue, etc.
Press Conference
Coloured cards with library
questions are given to
students at the beginning of
class and answered
throughout at timely intervals.
Coloured Shapes
Premade coloured shapes
are given out to students.
Students stand when their
card is described with AND,
OR, NOT to demonstrate how
Boolean operators can be
used to narrow or widen a
search.
Resource Referee: Journals
Folders are filled with articles
that might be found in
different types of journals etc.
Students are asked to
examine contents and
comment.
Resource Referee:
Databases
Folders are filled with items
that might be found on
Google, different databases,
etc. Students are asked to
examine contents and
comment.
12. Reflection
What types of active learning activities are you
already doing in your sessions?
Of the activities discussed, which could you see
yourself using/modifying for your sessions? How?
What potential problems/issues can you foresee
with any of these activities?
15. References
“Active learning" (2009). In S. Wallace (Ed.), A dictionary of education. Retrieved from 2012
from http://www.oxfordreference.com
Booth, C. (2011). Reflective teaching, effective learning: Instructional literacy for library educators. Chicago:
American Library Association.
Burkhardt, J. M., MacDonald, M. C., & Rathemacher, A. J. (2010). Teaching information literacy: 50
standards-based exercises for college students (2nd ed.). Chicago: American Library Association.
Chen, K. & Lin, P. (2011). Information literacy in university library user education. Aslib Proceedings, 63(4), 399-
418. doi:10.1108/00012531111148967
Drueke, J. (1992). Active learning in the university library instruction classroom. Research Strategies, 10
(Spring), pp. 77-83.
Holderied, A. C. (2011). Instructional design for the active: Employing interactive technologies and active
learning exercises to enhance information literacy. Journal of Information Literacy, 5(1), 23-32. Retrieved
from http://ojs.lboro.ac.uk/ojs/index.php/JIL
Sittler, R., & Cook, D. (2009). The library instruction cookbook. Chicago: Association of College and Research
Libraries.
Notas del editor
LisaIntroductionsActive Learning is not a completely new concept. I think we all use elements of active learning during our programming, but it can be very easy to slip into rote, routine lecture mode. I know I have a spiel I give during my session. By being aware of this concept, and shaking up our teaching a bit, our IL sessions became a bit less boring and students paid a bit more attention and maybe even learned something.***From Proposal: Knowledge of active learning principles. Chart of active learning activities. Practical experience of active learning activities. Objective: This session will demonstrate to participants the value and applicability of active learning to information literacy (IL) instruction. Participants will experience active learning activities that could be adapted to all types of library programming. Method: Speakers will discuss the value of incorporating active learning techniques within IL instruction as a proven means of fostering learner engagement and participation. They will share a chart, used by the teaching team to individualize IL sessions, which maps IL learning objectives with corresponding activities. Session attendees will have the opportunity to experience five different active learning activities, and to participate in a reflective discussion of these active learning experiences and their applicability to IL programming. Results: Session attendees will experience active learning activities being used in the IL program at MacEwan University Library. Participants will learn strategies and techniques for applying active learning within IL instruction, and will come away from the session with a useful guide for matching active learning elements to IL learning objectives. Conclusion: The MacEwan University library remodeling of English IL instruction to incorporate active learning has been an overwhelmingly positive experience for library instructors as well as for student learners. We hope to inspire participants towards reinvigorating their own IL programming with active learning Description:MacEwan University Librarians have revamped introductory information literacy programming to incorporate active learning activities. Our session will discuss the value of active learning, share the chart used to match activities with learning objectives, and allow participants to experience active learning activities that could be adapted for programming in all types of libraries.
LisaKeep in mind “instruction” can be interchanged with “programming” and “student” can be interchanged with “participant”. As academic librarians, we speak from our experience with students, but if you’re in a public or special library, these principles apply to any patrons or clients you may be delivering programming or sessions to.1. Modified Shootout Activity:Participants write a question about active learning on a piece of paper. They exchange that paper with a neighbor/partner. Their partner will keep the question in mind throughout the session and they will discuss and answer each other’s questions at the end.Leah 2. Modified Press Conference Card Activity:“Who has the red card? What is your name? Please read the question. Thank you <name>.” Here is the answer…
LeahThis can be through activities such as group discussion, investigation, experimentation, or role play.As opposed to traditional passive lecture formats, active learning emphasizes the link between learning and doing, and requires student participation.1. Modified Press Conference Card Activity:“Who has the blue card? What is your name? Please read the question. Thank you <name>.” Why bother with active learning…
LeahActive learning helps to increase student interest and involvement by allowing them to express their questions, ideas and opinions.With active learning, the librarian acts less like a lecturer dispensing information and more like a facilitator of critically reflective learning which develops information literacy skills and engagement with their academic discipline.The librarian becomes less of a focal point, and is able to move through the classroom and assist students who are given greater opportunity to participate and exercise their skills. Active learning is an approach that recognizes a variety of learning styles and offers instructors multiple ways of reaching learners that perform better in environments which are less lecture-based.1. Modified Press Conference Card Activity:“Who has the green card? What is your name? Please read the question. Thank you <name>.” How do I promote an active learning environment…
LeahPersonally, I [LEAH FILL IN WHAT YOU DO]Not sure about incorporating active learning activities into your session? Here are some other tips!This will make the students a bit more comfortable while creating an inviting and low-risk atmosphere for participation.
LeahOur activities were chosen to match with the Association of College and Research Libraries Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education. We developed this framework to be shared with the teaching team so that each librarian could build on it and combine activities to suit their style and classroom needs.We focused on five areas of content taught in our sessions:General library and website information or reviewKeyword GenerationBoolean logicTypes of ArticlesDatabase Searching
LeahEach of these areas feature a variety of activities, so it can be tailored to a librarian's individual preferences and teaching style. Basically, the library instructor would pick and choose activities based on the classes’ assignment, instructor request and individual teaching style. Refreshing our approaches not only benefited the students, but also us as IL instructors - we were forced to reexamine our established practices and step outside our comfort zone. Teaching new activities was also refreshing and fun for us.It’s worth mentioning that some of these activities we were already doing or made up, and some we adapted from other resources.
JodyI came into this project after Lisa and Leah had already laid the foundation. [JODY ADD]We’ve already demonstrate 2 of our activities to you. The first was a modified version of our “Shoot Out activity” – designed to introduce and review the library to our students. We hand out slips of paper and ask students to write down a question they have about the library or particular topic. Sometimes we get students to share in pairs like we’ve done here. Sometimes we have students keep their paper and at the end of the session we would ask students to share any questions that are unanswered. Sometimes, as the name implies, we ask students to crumple the paper into a ball and throw it at a target on the screen, or at us. We would then answer the questions at the start or end of the session depending on the class. Sometimes we get the other students to answer the question. (Reference: our own idea)1. Modified Press Conference Card Activity:“Who has the pink card? What is your name? Please read the question. Thank you <name>.”The second was a brief version of our “Press Conference Cards”. This activity is adapted from the Cephalonian Method. Usually we hand out 4-8 cards. This activity also aligns with our library review section so we ask questions like what time is the library open or how do I find a book on the shelf. (Reference: Morgan, Nigel & Davies, Linda. (2004). Innovative library induction – introducing the ‘Cephalonian method’. SCONUL Focus, 32(Summer/Autumn), 4.)These two activities can easily be adapted to any content that you might be teaching or presenting at any library in a group setting.
JodyAs academic librarians, we teach students about Boolean operators – using AND and OR to string together searching in order to get effective results returned. Blah Blahblah DEMONSTRATION (Reference:Blackman, M. (2003). Active learning techniques for library instruction: Shuffle and deal. Retrieved from http://ww.yccc.edu/library/activeLearning/shuffleanddeal.htm)
JodyAs academic librarians, we are often asked to teach students the difference between popular, trade and scholarly articles and journals. Another activity which really appeals to visual and kinesthetic learners is our sorting journals activity. First we would explain or demonstrate the difference between these different types of publications. Then, student groups would be provided with a pile of various types of journals. They are given 5 minutes to sort the pile into the three categories of popular, trade and scholarly. After, students would have to discuss with the group why they chose to put particular journals in particular categories. We would always include journals that appear to cross boundaries, such as the Harvard Business Review, Psychology Today, Canadian Nurse and Science or Nature.(Reference: our own idea)
JodyOne of the activities we do when teaching database searching with our students is a resource referee activity. We hand out a different folder to small groups of students. Each folder contains either types of articles and screen shots from a particular database. Students look through the materials, or explore the database online together and answer discussion questions which are also provided in the folder. Examples of questions are:What types of articles can you find in this database?Would you consider this database a good source of academic material?Databases we often include are Google, Google Scholar, Canadian Business and Current Affairs, our federated search, or a discipline specific database.The class would some come together and each group would present briefly on their database. Students determine which databases are appropriate resources for their particular assignment. This is usually followed by a demonstration of how to use the database, as well as hands on searching time for students.We’ve brought a set of folders, if you want to take a look at the contents after.(Reference: Activity adapted from ‘The Coffee Can Appetizer” : Sittler, R., & Cook, D. (2009). The library instruction cookbook. Chicago: Association of College and Research Libraries, 2009.)
LisaIf no response, offer questions as polls.Potential issues: lots of up front work (eg. Sorting Journals, Resource Referee), non compliance from patrons etc.
LisaThe last thing we need you to do is take a look at the question your neighbour gave you at the beginning of the presentation. Please take a few minutes now to talk together about the answers.Are there any questions?
Active Learning requires a bit more clean up - on your way out, you can try out the rest of our Shoot Out activity. Please do leave your papers and playing cards in our bin on your way out!