Library Support for Faculty: Information Literacy Instruction

For maximum flexibility, our librarians offer several options for your class:

• Synchronous Session: This session will happen in real-time in the classroom or online using Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or other videoconferencing options that you are using to meet with your class. These sessions can be tailored to a specific class assignment and we recommend that you talk with your liaison librarian to plan the session.
• Asynchronous Session: These sessions can happen through a variety of learning objects created by a librarian, like video lectures, tutorials, handouts, etc.
• Reference Consultations: If your students need individualized consultation on their particular research topic, librarians can hold "reference desk" hours in your course shell to talk through topic selection, search strategies, citation styles, or other more specific issues. Students are also able to use the reference chat functionality for independent research assistance. 
• Course guide: Librarians develop a web-based guide directing students to the best library and online resources for a particular research assignment.  These guides help place resources in the context of the larger research process.  

These options do not need to be stand alone options, they can be used to complement each other and help students successfully complete their research assignments. When in doubt, contact your subject liaison librarian to talk through all your options. 

The library is committed to fostering critical inquiry and information literacy skills within the W&J community. The Library seeks to support student learning and integrate information literacy across the curriculum by developing instruction sessions that engage students in the process of information exploration and discovery that encourages lifelong learning. (see Clark Family Library Mission and Goals).

Information literacy is a set of abilities requiring individuals to “recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information." (from the Association of College & Research Libraries Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education)

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Identify appropriate library resources for use within the context of a course assignment.
2. Evaluate sources for relevance to an assignment.
3. Understand that information creation is a process.
4. Read and interpret search results in order to discern if the results contain items/sources that may meet an information need.
5. Apply the information seeking process.
6. Recognize the librarian as a go-to person for research help.

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Call us: 724-223-6070

Text us: 724-987-5429

Email us: asklib@washjeff.edu

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