Information Literacy for a Information Literacy for a Freshman Engineering Freshman Engineering

Studies Course Studies Course Larry SchmidtLarry Schmidt

Science/Engineering LibrarianScience/Engineering Librarian

Charles W. DolanCharles W. DolanH. T. Person ProfessorH. T. Person Professor

Department of Civil EngineeringDepartment of Civil Engineering

University of Wyoming

University Studies University Studies ProgramProgram

9 core components9 core components

5 imbedded components5 imbedded components

ES 1000 – Orientation to Engineering ES 1000 – Orientation to Engineering StudyStudy I Intellectual Community (core)I Intellectual Community (core) L Information Literacy (imbedded)L Information Literacy (imbedded) O Oral Communication (introduction)O Oral Communication (introduction)

ES 1000 Course ES 1000 Course ComponentsComponents

Freshman Reading Program - IFreshman Reading Program - I Information Literacy - LInformation Literacy - L Introduction to University Life - IIntroduction to University Life - I Introduction to Engineering - IIntroduction to Engineering - I

ES 1000 Orientation to ES 1000 Orientation to EngineeringEngineering

13 Sections13 Sections 15 sessions (1 credit hour)15 sessions (1 credit hour)

20-22 students per section20-22 students per section Taught by faculty instructors and Taught by faculty instructors and

peer assistantspeer assistants Satisfies I and L and introduces O Satisfies I and L and introduces O

componentscomponents

University Studies – L University Studies – L requirementrequirement

Students should demonstrate the Students should demonstrate the ability to:ability to:

1. 1. Formulate a research question.Formulate a research question.

2. Understand how to use information 2. Understand how to use information databases.databases.

3. Use the UW catalog.3. Use the UW catalog.

4. Discriminate between primary and 4. Discriminate between primary and secondary sources. secondary sources.

http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/unst/Criteria_Review_Sheets/L.doc

University Studies – L University Studies – L requirementrequirement

5. Discriminate between popular and 5. Discriminate between popular and scholarly sources. scholarly sources.

6. Evaluate web sites and the 6. Evaluate web sites and the differences between web based differences between web based search engines.search engines.

7. Avoid plagiarism.7. Avoid plagiarism.

8. Know how to cite material.8. Know how to cite material.

9. Pass the TIP (Tutorial for 9. Pass the TIP (Tutorial for Information Power) with a minimum Information Power) with a minimum score of 70.score of 70.

http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/unst/Criteria_Review_Sheets/L.doc

Literacy component of Literacy component of ES 1000 ES 1000

Pass the TIP Quiz (70% or better)Pass the TIP Quiz (70% or better)

Develop a Research questionDevelop a Research question Prepare a 3-5 page paper to answer Prepare a 3-5 page paper to answer

the questionthe question Use minimum of 3 referencesUse minimum of 3 references Prepare a 3-5 page assessment of Prepare a 3-5 page assessment of

sourcesource

Longitude – UW Read Longitude – UW Read 20052005

Freshman Reading Program.

WHERE WILL IT LEAD YOU?Longitude is a key element of

navigation, mapmaking and surveying. Design Challenge Design Challenge Class Discussion – I activityClass Discussion – I activity L activitiesL activities

GPS Scavenger HuntGPS Scavenger Hunt Locate the Science Library Locate the Science Library Locate the title of a book from the call numberLocate the title of a book from the call number..

CatalogCatalog Physical locationPhysical location

University of Wyoming University of Wyoming LibrariesLibraries

Separate science Separate science librarylibrary

TIP Tutorial TIP Tutorial http://www-http://www-

lib.uwyo.edu/lib.uwyo.edu/

TIP - Tutorial for Info TIP - Tutorial for Info PowerPower

http://tip.uwyo.edu/categories.html

Five Modules and QuizFive Modules and Quiz

InvestigatingInvestigating SearchingSearching LocatingLocating EvaluatingEvaluating UtilizingUtilizing QuizQuiz

TIP – Quiz LoginTIP – Quiz Login

https://secure.uwlib.uwyo.edu/quiz/

Example of a TIP Quiz Example of a TIP Quiz questionquestion

1.1. Citations are important in a research Citations are important in a research paper becausepaper because

●● they show how many sources you cited and they show how many sources you cited and thus, how much work went into the paper thus, how much work went into the paper

● ● they are a way to increase the page length they are a way to increase the page length of the paperof the paper

● ● they assist others in finding your sources if they assist others in finding your sources if they want to see the entire work they want to see the entire work themselves themselves

● ● all of the above all of the above

Results - TIP ScoresResults - TIP Scores

Fall Semester 2005Number of

studentsAverage

score

Total TIP 1472 84

Freshman 745 81

Freshman Engineering 199 81

Undeclared 88 80

Sophomore Engineering 28 86

TIP Quiz 91% completion rate

TIP Quiz Question TIP Quiz Question ResultsResults

Indicate that copyright is still not Indicate that copyright is still not understood.understood.

Students still do not understand Students still do not understand database searching.database searching.

Which set of call numbers is in the Which set of call numbers is in the correct order? correct order? 64% responded 64% responded incorrectlyincorrectly

Questions & TIP Questions & TIP questionedquestioned

Is there a problem with the tutorial?Is there a problem with the tutorial? Is there a problem with the Is there a problem with the

questions themselves?questions themselves?

TIP is in revision again based on these TIP is in revision again based on these results and comments from library results and comments from library faculty.faculty.

Library Presentation - Library Presentation - optionaloptional

The Assignment - againThe Assignment - againnow the students are ready to …now the students are ready to …

3-5 page research paper 3-5 page research paper 3-5 assessment paper3-5 assessment paper

2003 – 2004 student initiated research2003 – 2004 student initiated research

2005 – faculty generated questions2005 – faculty generated questions

Student initiated Student initiated questionsquestions

A brief lookA brief look

I want to find information on the I want to find information on the new Hemi engine design.new Hemi engine design.

I am looking at writing a paper I am looking at writing a paper about the longest suspension bridge about the longest suspension bridge in the world.in the world.

Reference QuestionsReference Questions

Student questions were not always Student questions were not always clearclear

Often came to the desk looking for Often came to the desk looking for Patented informationPatented information

Questions focused on a specific Questions focused on a specific engineering problems engineering problems

The 1714 Longitude Act The 1714 Longitude Act was a successful “Design was a successful “Design Competition.” Identify a Competition.” Identify a modern successful design modern successful design

competition and compare it competition and compare it to the trials described in to the trials described in

Longitude.Longitude.

Example of a Faculty generated question

Results – WWW key Results – WWW key points points

Students selected appropriate web Students selected appropriate web materialmaterial

Evaluations indicated there was Evaluations indicated there was some confusion about Wikipedia some confusion about Wikipedia

Used a combination of domain sitesUsed a combination of domain sites

Results – Research Results – Research PapersPapers

Many of the papers lacked Many of the papers lacked referencesreferences

Journals citations were limitedJournals citations were limited Web sites were the most common Web sites were the most common

referencesreferences

Student Evaluations Student Evaluations

ES 1000 class evaluations – L ES 1000 class evaluations – L componentcomponent

Information Literacy Presentation Information Literacy Presentation was beneficialwas beneficial

Research paper was beneficialResearch paper was beneficial

The Library tutorial was beneficialThe Library tutorial was beneficial

Attendance of the library workshop Attendance of the library workshop was beneficialwas beneficial

The FutureThe FutureFall 2006 ES 1000 StudyFall 2006 ES 1000 Study

Power groups – 2 sections of 20 Power groups – 2 sections of 20 studentsstudents

TIP Quiz pretestTIP Quiz pretest TIP Quiz – taken at the end of the TIP Quiz – taken at the end of the

semestersemester

Future Plans – continuedFuture Plans – continued

Tasks will includeTasks will include Reference and web site evaluationsReference and web site evaluations Faculty generated questions vs. student Faculty generated questions vs. student

initiated questions.initiated questions. Writing assignmentWriting assignment

Assessment by librarian, engineering Assessment by librarian, engineering faculty and writing center personnelfaculty and writing center personnel

Other IdeasOther Ideas

Can we incorporate Information Can we incorporate Information literacy into upper level classes?literacy into upper level classes?

Do we need to create a TIP for the Do we need to create a TIP for the sciences and engineering? sciences and engineering?

What information skills do What information skills do graduating engineers need?graduating engineers need?

Blink – M. Blink – M. GladwellGladwell

Choice for 2006Choice for 2006

"Blink" is a book "Blink" is a book about what Gladwell about what Gladwell calls "rapid cognition calls "rapid cognition -- the decisions we -- the decisions we make in the blink of make in the blink of an eye."an eye."

LinksLinks

UW University StudiesUW University Studies http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/unst/USP_20http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/unst/USP_2003.htm03.htm

UW ReadUW Read

http://uwread.uwyo.edu/http://uwread.uwyo.edu/

TIPTIP

http://tip.uwyo.edu/categories.htmlhttp://tip.uwyo.edu/categories.html

TIP QuizTIP Quiz

https://secure.uwlib.uwyo.edu/quiz/https://secure.uwlib.uwyo.edu/quiz/