New Frontier in Research Methodology

Instruction for Latin Americanists

Jana KrentzDept. for Spain, Portugal and Latin America

University of Kansas LibrariesJkrentz@ku.edu

Explosion of the internet and complex database searching

Need to promote information literacy skills

Association for College and Research Libraries (ACRL) – set of standards for instruction for Higher Education

Teaching faculty recognize the need for more library instruction.

Poorly researched papers

Over dependence on the internet

Students find library databases too complicated.

Solutions

One shot subject-specific or generic instructional sessionsCurricular reform on university campusesCollaborative efforts of faculty, librarians and administratorsInformation literacy credit courses

University of Kansas 27,000 undergraduate students.

6,000 graduate and professional students.

2,000 research and teaching faculty.

133 faculty affiliated with Latin American studies.

One of 18 title VI centers for Latin American studies.

Dept. Of Spanish and Portuguese ranked 3rd by NRC.

Dept. for Spain, Portugal and Latin America

42 one shot subject specific sessionsReaches 1,000 students per yearResearch methodology course for Latin America Core course with the Latin American Studies program.

Close relationship with the Dept. of Spanish and Portuguese

Integrated library component into Spanish 300-level courses.

LAA700-Research Methodology for Latin America

25 year historyHelp students develop and refine search skillsOverview of principal research methodologies and resourcesDevelop a transferable strategic ability

Follows ACRL standards

Students encouraged to acquire evaluating skills

Case study scenariosPartnering with teaching facultyHistorical, current events scenarios, business prospectusMock trial

Pedagogical advantages

Difficulties – partnering with teaching faculty

Dept. of Spanish and Portuguese

2004 – discussion on lack of literacy skills in undergraduate majorsSolutions

• More one-shot sessions in 400 and 500-level classes

• Online tutorials• Integrating library component in 300-

level classes

Library Components in 300-level classes

Assessment of information literacy skills

Redesigned Span 324/328

Online/onsite course redesign grant

Spanish 324/328

Composition and grammar for majorsTaught every semester200 students per semesterDissatisfaction with its instructional strategiesDesire to include integrated technology components6-7 Teaching Assistants, 2 faculty members, subject specialist librarian

Course redesign

Lecture-breakout section formatAddition of conversation practice and small group workImplementation of technologyFilm clips, music, art, images, online tutorialsBlackboardPersonal Response Systems (CPS)

Library modules

2 modules integrally connected to course content and writing assignments2 large lecture presentationsAccompanying supporting written assignmentsOnline tutorialsLibrarian works with instruction team to train in evaluating activities and assignments.

First module – Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao

Students use Spanish newspapers, databases and internet.

Evaluation of websites

Online tutorials

3 online tutorials created using Viewlet

• How to search Spanish language newspapers in LexisNexis

• How to search Google effectively in Spanish• How to search ¡Informe!: Revistas en

español

Active learning techniques

Graphics

Multiple choice pop-up quizzes

Text boxes

Second module focuses on Latin America– Bilingualism Online tutorials

• HAPI – Hispanic American Periodical Index• HLAS – Handbook of Latin American

Studies• ClasePeriodica• Online Catalog

Outcome

Ground-breaking course within the Dept. of Spanish and Portuguese, within the Libraries, within the UniversityFeedback and comments positiveFeel their confidence and skills were enhancedFosters departmental goals