Transcript Information Literacy @ DCU

The Information Literacy
Professional
Ellen Breen
Sub-Librarian, Head of Information & Public Services
IATUL Seminar
Munich, November 30 – December 1, 2010
Presentation Overview
• Information Literacy Education: Current
Context
• Organisational Structure for IL
• Information Literacy in DCU…
• Qualifications and skills required
• The future……
Context: Information Literacy Education
• Emphasis on student-centred learning
• Retention issues and improving the firstyear student experience and overall
academic standards (Plagiarism)
• Information seeking behaviour studies
highlight the need for IL support
• Lifelong learning and employability
• Demand
Context: Information Literacy Education
Claire McGuinness, Lecturer, SILS (Lilac, 2009)
• Librarians understand the importance of IL
• Librarians understand how students seek
information, and what difficulties they experience in
the process
• Librarians have a long history of teaching (19th
Century)
• Librarians are information experts
• Other stakeholders (e.g. Academics) are not in a
position to teach IL
User Information Behaviour Studies
“Information literacies,
including searching,
retrieving, critically
evaluating information
from a range of
appropriate sources
and also attributing it
– represent a
significant and
growing deficit
area.”
User Information Behaviour Studies
“There is an identifiable
need for training, support
and improved systems to
help people find the
information they need”
“Students need more
guidance and clarity on
how to find content and
how to assess its worth
as well as its relevance”
IL in the Workplace
A study of SMEs in the UK, estimated that employees spend 6.4
hours a week looking for information.
37% of searches are unsuccessful, equating to £3.7 billion in
wasted time each year. (DeSaulles, 2007)
DCU graduate student and GMID
Business Community
Organisational Structure for IL
• Typically a
Subject/Liaison Librarian
Model
– ‘Teaching’ Role
• Role of Subject Librarian
itself is
changing/expanding
• “Something’s gotta give”?
(Reference Desk)
Training Hours
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
2002/03
2003/04
2004/05
2005/06
2006/07
2007/08
2008/09
2009/10
Students
8000
7000
6000
5000
20
00
/0
1
20
01
/0
2
20
02
/0
3
20
03
/0
4
20
04
/0
5
20
05
/0
6
20
06
/0
7
20
07
/0
8
20
08
/0
9
20
09
/1
0
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
2009/2010: 62.1% of student population (approximately)
Students
Case Study
Information Literacy for Engineers
Delivery: Classes, Workshops, Online
Learning Support
• Presentations, workshops,
demonstrations
• Collaborative group work
where practicable!
• VLE support (resources,
forums etc)
• Online Tutorials, Quizzes
• Classroom response
systems (CRS)
Cross-Institutional Project
• Sharing expertise, resources in challenging
times!
• MyRI (Measuring Your Research Impact)
– Online tutorial and learning materials to support
bibliometrics and research assessment awareness
and training
– ‘National Digital Learning Resource’ funded project
– All materials will be available in the open access
NDLR repository
– Using Articulate software
IL Developments Aligned to DCU Strategy
 Learning Innovation Strategy (2006-2008)
 Develop a distinct learning environment which will result in
….”students with a high level of information literacy”
 Actions under “support for new learners” and “online support”
 New Implementation Plan – Objective relating to ‘facilitating
the transition to higher education’ with specific action points
relating to a first year programme audit of study skills
(including IL skills)
 Graduate Attributes….
Expert Defined Standards
ACRL Standards for
Proficiencies for Instruction
Librarians and Coordinators
(2008)
– Administrative skills
– Assessment and evaluation
skills
– Communication skills
– Curriculum knowledge
– Information literacy
integration skills
– Instructional design skills
– Leadership skills
– Planning skills
– Presentation skills
– Promotion skills
– Subject expertise
– Teaching skills
– Technical skills
– Project Management Skills
– Academic Writing
Training Needs….
“Lack of a consistent teacher identity among
academic librarians may hinder their effectiveness in
meeting these expanding instructional
responsibilities in a changing organisational
environment” (Walter, 2008, p.65)
• ‘Teaching Librarians’ must be supported
with adequate training opportunities to
build confidence and skills
Training for Successful IL Delivery
• 3 day ‘Teaching and
Learning’ event for Subject
Librarian team
• HR training events
– Communication/presentation/
project management skills
• Learning Innovation Unit
events
Training for Successful IL Delivery
• ANLTC (Academic & National
Libraries Training Cooperative)
– e.g. ‘Writing for academic publishing’
• Conferences/Seminars
– LILAC
– CONUL ACIL annual seminar
• Library School Module: ‘The
Teaching Librarian’
• PG Certs in third level t&l
• Masters programmes in HE, Elearning
Importance of the ‘Teaching’ Librarian
Role
• Our university is better informed about how we ‘add value’
(Faculty T&L Committees etc)
– Strengthens and enhances the role of the library on campus
McGuinness, C. 2010
• Librarians who teach can develop a better relationship with
students/users, with all-round benefits
• Librarians’ involvement with teaching can lead to greater
insight into academic life, and better collegial relationships
• Librarians’ status in institution enhanced
Future….
• Demand for more online learning
support for information literacy
• Increased collaboration
– On campus e.g. Learning Support Staff
– Increased cross-institutional collaboration
• Appropriate ongoing training and
support is essential
Questions?
[email protected]
References
DeSaulles, M. 2007. Information literacy amongst UK SME: an information
policy gap. Aslib Proceedings 59(1) pp. 68-79.
Katz, Haras & Blaszczski 2010. Does Business Writing require information
literacy? Business Communication Quarterly, 73 (2) pp. 135-149.
McGuinness, C. 2010. Teaching Librarians or Librarians who Teach?
Teacher identity among academic librarians. Librarians' Information Literacy
Annual Conference (LILAC), Limerick , 29-MAR-10 - 31-MAR-10.
Walter, S. (2008). Librarians as teachers: A qualitative inquiry into
professional identity. College & Research Libraries, 69(1), pp.51-71.