Presentation created for Central Wyoming College on incorporating library resources into remedial/developmental English classes .

1. Incorporating library resources into
remedial/developmental English classes

2. ...are we working with?
Primarily nontraditional students and unprepared learners

3. ...are we trying to do?
The library is responsible
for:
1. Educating patrons/
students in information
retrieval
2. Critical thinking
3. Evaluation of resources

4. ...do we do that?
Reduce library anxiety.
Demystify the library!

5. ...do we do that?
“Students’ self-esteem, often challenged by library mystery
and seeming complexity, may plummet if students feel lost
in the library. Students may suffer further when they enroll
in college-level courses in which the professor expects the
students to utilize the library’s resources.” (Thomas, 2000)

6. ...do we do that?
It is essential to:

Create a positive attitude towards the library

Adapt students to an academic library environment

Increase confidence in utilizing library resources
Why? The goal is to create an environment in
which students feel connected to the library,
its staff, and using its resources.

7. Ways to incorporate the library:
Promote library resources

Library displays

Printed materials

Personal contact

Campus newspaper items
and radio spots

Special events University of Washington's
Information School performs
Lady Gaga remix

Short films

8. Ways to incorporate the library:
Promote library resources

Urge faculty to promote
services:

Reserve books

Bibliography services

Interlibrary loan

Database access

9. Ways to incorporate the library:
Promote library resources

Specialized library
instruction

Specialized library
projects

Library courses paired
with a developmental
course

Library collaboration with
a skills lab

10. Outreach! Collaboration between
librarians and staff

The library needs to be
presented as an integral part of
content courses by faculty in
order to be effective

Discuss assignments in context
of the library

Redesign preexisting
assignments to include library
skills

11. Outreach! Collaboration between
librarians and staff

Examine textbooks

Review curriculum

Participate on committees

Faculty instruction

12. Design library assignments for developmental
courses that have a probability of success

Topic selections

Limit resources

Put students into the right
place at the right time to
minimize frustration

13. Design library assignments for developmental
courses that have a probability of success

Develop confidence

Ideally assignments should
be tailored to a student's
specific interest and needs

There is no one size fits all
approach for all students.

14. *Things to keep in mind*
Use instructional practices
that build on each other
“For a given objective to be
attained, a student must
have experiences that give
him an opportunity to
practice the kind of
behavior implied by the
objective.” (Knapp, 1956)

15. *Things to keep in mind*

Instruction sessions need
to have clearly defined
objectives.

Skills taught in isolation
are less likely to be
applied to further
coursework

A student does not learn
by being told how to use
the library but by using it

16. *Things to keep in mind*

Instruction that is integrated
with other instruction will
reinforce itself

Instruction cannot be presented
as another form of “busywork”

17. Hands on/active learning
Multiple smaller sessions
build upon prior knowledge
rather than one shot
sessions

How do you find a book?

How do you find an
article?

Difference between
searching the internet and
using databases?

18. Hands on/active learning
For example:

Students read a novel
for class

Locate background
information on the topic
of the novel

Identify key events
during the novel's time
period

Complete research on
the author

19. Hands on/active learning
Self-Paced Modules

Computer assisted
instruction

Incorporate audio/visual
materials

Step-by-step instructions
with screen shots rather
than simply describing an
assignment

20. Thank you!
Please contact me with any questions.
Kevin Wadlow
eldritch.monkey@gmail.com
520-665-1457

21. ...references

Baughman, S. (January 01, 1983). The Community-Junior College Library and
the Educationally Disadvantaged Student. Community & Junior College Libraries,
1, 2, 25-32.

Farrell, S. (January 01, 2005). Start-Up of a Mandatory Library Orientation
Program in Developmental Education. Community & Junior College Libraries, 13,
1, 51-54.

Gerlaugh, K., Thompson, L., Boylan, H., & Davis, H. (2007). National study of
developmental education ii: Baseline data for community colleges. Research in
Developmental Education, 20(4), 1-4.

Knapp, P. B. (July 01, 1956). A Suggested Program of College Instruction in the
Use of the Library. The Library Quarterly, 26, 3, 224-231.

McMillan, V. K., Parke, S. J., & Lanning, C. A. (March 08, 1998).
Remedial/Developmental Education Approaches for the Current Community
College Environment. New Directions for Community Colleges, 100, 100, 21-32.

22. ...references

Roselle, A. (2008). community college library practices in developmental
education. Journal of Developmental Education, 32(2), 24-26, 28, 30, 32.

Roselle, A. (January 01, 2009). Preparing the Underprepared: Current
Academic Library Practices in Developmental Education. College and
Research Libraries, 70, 2, 142-157.

Schneider, A., & Fuhr, M. (January 01, 1983). The Library's Role in
Remediation. Community & Junior College Libraries, 1, 2, 47-58.

Thomas, S. E. (January 01, 2000). The Necessary Library Revolution in
Community College Developmental and Remedial Programs. Community &
Junior College Libraries, 9, 2, 47-57.

Unknown. (2006). Remedial and developmental education in the university of

23. ...references

Unknown. (2006). Remedial and developmental education in the university of
hawai′i community college system. Manuscript submitted for publication, White
Paper Group Committee, University of Hawai′i Community Colleges, Hawai ′i.
Retrieved from
www.hawaii.edu/offices/../remedial../Remedial_Dev_Ed_Paper.pdf

Watters, R. D. (September 06, 1986). A Climate of Excellence: Paving the Way
for Student Success at Miami-Dade South's Library. Community & Junior College
Libraries, 4, 4, 7-27.

Wine, E. (January 01, 1983). The Library Instruction Program at Miami-Dade
South. Community & Junior College Libraries, 2, 2, 57-63.

Yee, S. (January 01, 1982). Library Instruction in the Community College
Setting. Community & Junior College Libraries, 1, 1, 53-56.