Improving
Information Literacy
Among
Undergraduates
Florida Gulf Coast University
Nora Demers, PhD.
Danielle Rosenthal, MLS
FGCU IDS 2006
Project Goal
• To assess and improve information literacy at
the undergraduate level in select classes
– Issues in Science and Technology (IDS
3303)
• Present assessment of students self-evaluation
of abilities at several levels
• Use IDS 3303 Issues in Science and
Technology as a prototype sample strategy to
improve literacy
FGCU IDS 2006
FGCU Learning Goals and
Outcomes
Information Literacy
Identify and locate multiple sources of
information using a variety of methods.
Analyze and evaluate information within a
variety of disciplinary professional
contexts. Participate in collaborative
analysis and/or application of information
resources.
FGCU IDS 2006
FGCU’s Library Services
Information Literacy Plan
Endorsed by the Dean's Council, November 1997 and by the
Undergraduate Curriculum Committee July 17, 1998.
“…to develop learner expertise in searching for,
analyzing, evaluating, and managing the information
needed for use in academic, personal, and
professional life”
“…it is intended that the skills will be transferable
across a variety of information systems and remain
effective long after current technology becomes
obsolete”
FGCU IDS 2006
FGCU’s Library Services
Information Literacy Plan
Adapted from ACRL's Model Statement of Objectives for
Academic Bibliographic Instruction
Tier 1: Basic skills that correspond with the General
Education program. Intended to provide a foundation
for more advanced competencies.
Tier 2: Advanced research techniques and specialized
resources unique to the discipline or professions
involved.
FGCU IDS 2006
FGCU’s Library Services
Information Literacy Plan
The four ability components
How information:
• is identified and defined by experts.
• sources are structured.
• sources are intellectually accessed by users.
• sources are physically organized and accessed.
FGCU IDS 2006
FGCU’s Library Services
Information Literacy Activities
How can we help you?
• Customized in-class instruction sessions
– Can include developing/modifying assignments together
• Individualized research consultations (My Librarian)
• Basic Library Training (BLT’s) offered each semester at
various times.
• Online Tutorials-General and Database specific
• Online Pathfinders/Research Guides
• Printable handouts
FGCU IDS 2006
FGCU IDS 2006
FGCU IDS 2006
Subject Librarians (Liaisons)
Business and Economics, Resort and
Hospitality Management
Kate Lippincott
Fine and Performing Arts, Languages
and Literature, Communication, the
Humanities, Philosophy and Religion
Rachel Cooke
Science, Math, Computer
Science, Ecological Studies
and Engineering
Danielle Rosenthal
FGCU IDS 2006
Public Administration, Political
Science, Reference
Geraldine Collins
Health Professions, Human
Services & Social Work, and
History
Mary Kay Hartung
Education, Anthropology,
Sociology, Criminal Justice, Legal
Studies and Psychology
Carol Maksian
http://library.fgcu.edu/AboutTheLibrary/contactus.htm
Collaboration is Key
• Collaboration between librarians and professors
is the critical factor in obtaining information
literacy
• Improving info lit at FGCU will require
comprehensive delivery and assessment of
outcomes in numerous courses at all levels.
• Collaborations between Demers, Rosenthal and
Maksian underway to examine effectiveness of
strategies and course assignments.
FGCU IDS 2006
IDS 3303 Issues in Science and
Technology
This IDS course provides a scaffold of
assignments leading students through the
process of devising and implementing a research
question about a current issue in Science and
Technology
FGCU IDS 2006
Tools Used in Issues in Science and
Technology (IDS 3303) to Examine and
Improve Information Literacy
• Pre and Post test of literacy with Advanced Library
Training (ALT) sessions
– ALT Sessions have been offered since 2002 in numerous
classes in all colleges.
• Resource surveys
• Information literacy continuum
• Forming a research question worksheet, assignment and
brochures.
• Annotated Bibliography assignment and brochure.
• Website evaluation assignment and web resources.
FGCU IDS 2006
Pre/Post test instrument
1. Have you had the BLT (Basic Library training) here at FGCU?
Yes, I did it online
I had the training as part of my ________________ class.
No, I have not done the training, but feel comfortable with basic library use
No, I have not done the training, and am unsure of how to use the basic
library resources
2. How would you rate your information literacy skills in the following areas?
a. Use of FGCU library catalog online:
Barely adequate
Fair
Good Very Good Outstanding
b. Use of FGCU Electronic resources:
Barely adequate
Fair
Good Very Good Outstanding
3. In relation to the FGCU library, what is an “Online Database”?
4. What makes the online databases that FGCU has different from “Google” or
other similar search engines?
FGCU IDS 2006
Pre/Post test instrument (con’t.)
5. Do you know how many databases the library has access to?
__1-10 __10-50 __50-100 __100-150 __150-200 __ >200
__I have no idea
6. Explain the major differences between databases like EbscoHost,
Proquest and Lexis-Nexis versus Cambridge Scientific Abstracts and
PubMed?
7. What is the difference between a “full-text” database, a citation only
database and a citation/abstract database?
8. How might you choose and/or find which databases to use?
9. What can you do if your search results in a citation and abstract
without full text?
FGCU IDS 2006
Pre/Post test instrument (con’t.)
9. If your search is not yielding appropriate results, what
resources or techniques might you use to refine your
search?
10. Do you know how to request an interlibrary loan?
YES
SOMEWHAT
NOT REALLY
12. What did you think your information literacy is?
Barely adequate
Fair
Good
Very Good
Outstanding
FGCU IDS 2006
Results of pre-test survey
(Spr. 06 IDS 3303)
• Approx. 33% have had BLT
• Most rate skills good or better
• Fewer are familiar with difference between
Google and library resources
• How to request an ILL is a skill of about 50%
• Use of library webpages is less than 5 times total
FGCU IDS 2006
Student Perceptions of Info Lit skills
Findings show that the same trend appears each term:
• Students recognize greater literacy after training session, however
• They perceive greater a competency than is demonstrated through graded
assignments and questionnaires.
• (Demers and Malanfant, 2004)
FGCU IDS 2006
IDS 3303 Issues in Science and
TechnologyNumber of hits to IDS 3303 website on each date of semester
http://ruby.fgcu.edu/courses/ndemers/10363/index.htm
Jan 16
Jan 21
Jan 23
TOPIC
0
DUE
Introductions
List of 5 issues
Defining Science / Issues chosen
MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY NO CLASSES
Computer tutorial- advanced library
research
Meet in BHG 205 for class
Jan 28
Discuss individual projects in groups.
Jan 30
Feb 4
Feb 6
Feb 11
Discussion Chapters 1 & 2
Feb 13
Feb 18
Discuss timelines/assignments
Sign up for Presentations
Discussion, Chapter 8 & 9
Pro/Con Websites
Evaluation
Feb 20
Feb 25
Discussion of timeline
Presentations discussed/groups
formed
Research Plan Worksheets
Independent topics chosen.
Discussion Chapter 3, 4 & 5
Discussion Chapter 6 & 7
Topic titles- very specific
Essay regarding Science and
Technology
Final Preparation for presentations
Feb 27
Mar 4- Apr 3 Independent presentations and
discussion*
Mar 27
Independent presentations and
discussion*
Independent presentations and
Apr 3
discussion*
Set up group debates
Group Debate
Apr 8
Apr 10- 22
Apr 24 & 29 Class summary and discussion
May 1
Portfolio
FGCU IDS 2006
Timeline
Library work
Annotated bibliography
First version of individual
projects (bring 2 copies)
Peer review
Summaries of Presentations
Written reports
Portfolio
Date of semester
DATE
Jan. 14
1/14
1/18
1/22
1/26
1/30
2/3
2/7
2/11
2/15
2/19
2/23
2/27
3/3
3/7
3/11
3/15
3/19
3/23
3/27
3/31
4/4
4/8
4/12
4/16
(McKnight and Demers, 2003)
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
List due (1/16)
Research plan worksheets (1/30)
Topic titles (2/6)
Essay (2/12)
Website Evaluation (2/18)
Timeline (2/25)
Annotated bibliography (3/4)
First copy of paper due (3/27)
Peer review due (4/3)
URL provided to Biology list serve (4/4)
Summaries due (4/10)
number of hits to page
Brochures developed
Building
your
Timeline
FGCU IDS 2006
Self-report Resource Survey
How many times LAST term did you use your favorite search engine?
Jan 2006
Frequency
# of students
None
3
4
5
6
7
10
11
14
>14
1
2
1
1
1
2
1
1
2
14
How many times THIS term did you use your favorite search engine?
March 2006
Frequency
# of students
FGCU IDS 2006
4
5
6
7
>14
3
2
2
4
8
Self-report Resource Survey
How many times LAST term did you ask for help from the Reference Desk?
Frequency None
# of students 13
1 2 3
4
6
5 2 2
3
1
How many times THIS term did you ask for help from the Reference Desk?
Frequency
None
# of students 2
FGCU IDS 2006
1 2
3
4
5
6
6 4
2
2
2
1
Self-report Resource Survey
How many times LAST term did you use electronic resources from the Library?
Frequency
None
# of students 5
1
2
3
4
6
7
8 10
12
4
4
3
1
3
1
2 1
1
How many times THIS term did you use electronic resources from the Library?
Frequency
4
5
6
7
10
>14
# of students 4
4
1
3
1
6
FGCU IDS 2006
Self-report Resource Survey
How many times LAST term did you use the Library Catalog?
Frequency
# of students
None
1
3
6
10
>14
17
1
3
1
2
2
How many times THIS term did you use the Library Catalog?
Frequency
1
3
4
5
6
7
>14
# of students 3
2
2
3
2
2
4
FGCU IDS 2006
Information Literacy Continuum
FGCU IDS 2006
Progress and Future Directions
• Continue with ALT and assessments in courses
• Expand collaboration to include other classes
and assignments
• Pursue funding to support faculty in delivering
and such a labor intensive course curriculum
• Create rubrics and assessments that might be as
effective, but less time intensive for graders
FGCU IDS 2006
Please help expand this effort
• Fill out our survey
• Collaborate on development and implementation of
goals and outcomes assessments
• Offer suggestions and comments on ways to further
improve students at FGCU’s information literacy
FGCU IDS 2006
References
"Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher
Education." American Library Association. 2005.
http://www.ala.org/acrl/ilcomstan.html (Accessed 22 Mar,
2006)
Demers, N.E. and Malenfant, C. (2004) Collaboration for Pointof-Need Library Instruction Reference Services Review 32:3:264273
McKnight, R and Demers, N.E. (2003) Evaluating Course
Website Utilization By Students Using Web Tracking Software:
A Constructivist Approach. International Journal of E-Learning
2:3:13-17
FGCU IDS 2006