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Category: Teaching

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By Lauri J. Vaughan

Library Director at The Harker School in San Jose, California, USA

 

We know how lucky we are at The Harker School, an independent, PK-12, college preparatory school in San Jose. We enjoy an oasis of library programming and teaching featuring five full time librarians, two part time librarians and me, the library director. My team spends hundreds of hours teaching at all levels, in all disciplines, to infuse information literacy into lessons and units collaboratively designed by subject area experts and librarians. 

We have a sense that our work puts our students ahead of the curve, especially in California where the ratio of school librarians to students has been dismal for many years. We see our students’ success in classrooms. We hear about it from alumni. But we also perceive weaknesses. When a test came along to quantify our students’ skills, like any good library team, we did our research. Threshold Achievement Test for Information Literacy (TATIL), offered by Carrick Enterprises, seemed promising. Inspired by ACRL’s Threshold Concepts, which inform much of our information literacy instruction at Harker, TATIL might provide a faithful assessment of how our students are doing. 

...continue reading "ACRL and the College Preparatory School: A Case Study using TATIL (Guest Post)"

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By Robin Ewing, Professor, Department Chair & Assessment Librarian, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA

This post is based on a poster session presented at the 2018 Library Assessment Conference. 

Background

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Robin Ewing

Faculty librarians at St. Cloud State University (SCSU) developed a 3-credit course combining critical thinking and information literacy. LIB 280: Critical Thinking in Academic Research satisfies the critical thinking requirement of SCSU’s Liberal Education Program (LEP). In this course, students examine and evaluate critical reasoning in scholarly research, the construction of arguments, and the management of their own academic research. We offer the course in a variety of formats. We’ve had sections paired with English composition courses, sections in a learning community, sections in the Honors Program, and we regularly have an online section. 

...continue reading "Collaborative Outcomes-Based Assessment in the Library (Guest Post)"

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Silvia Vong, University of Toronto

Silvia Vong joined the Advisory Board for the Threshold Achievement Test for Information Literacy in 2015. She was a key contributor to the creation of TATIL. She wrote test items, conducted cognitive interviews with students, and advised on other aspects of the project. In this interview she describes her work at the John M. Kelly Library in the University of St. Michael’s College, how her teaching approach has evolved, her project to introduce scholarly communication to undergraduates, and more!

Question: Please tell us about your job. 

I am currently Head of Public Services at John M. Kelly Library in the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto. This was a recent change as a couple years ago, I was the Collaborative Learning Librarian. In my previous role, I was the liaison for the Book and Media Studies program and taught an undergraduate course that introduced students to library and archival concepts and topics as well as research skills. Eventually I was given the opportunity to become Head of Public Services and I saw an opportunity to learn more about access services including overcoming the daily challenges that come with working the frontline. In the role, I oversaw the various services we provided for faculty, students, and staff and act as a liaison between our department and other library departments as well as the various departments across campus. 

...continue reading "Meet the TATIL Advisory Board: Silvia Vong"

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Monica Lopez, Librarian/Associate Professor and Acquisitions and Collection Development Coordinator at Cerritos College

Monica joined the Advisory Board for the Threshold Achievement Test for Information Literacy in 2017. Learn how Monica values the diverse backgrounds of her students and uses her own cultural experiences to connect and engage.

Question #1: Please tell us about your job. 

I am currently a full-time Librarian/Associate Professor and Acquisitions and Collection Development Coordinator at Cerritos College. Cerritos College is a community college in Norwalk, California and is one of the largest community colleges in Los Angeles County. I have been part of the Cerritos College campus community since 2004. My role as a faculty member and librarian is to provide high-quality, academically rigorous instruction in a comprehensive curriculum that respects the diversity represented in our student body and region. 

In addition to coordinating responsibilities in the library, I have taught an introductory library research course as a standalone course and through the Learning Community Program (First Year Experience). I have also taught with the PUENTE Program (puente means bridge in Spanish) which is a National Model for Student Success. I was a pioneer on campus by being part of the first campus to teach an introduction to library research course in The PUENTE Program in California. I have worked closely with my colleagues in the Learning Community Program to provide instruction in using our online research databases for specific assignments for English and Counseling courses. I firmly believe in bridging the gaps that students might encounter while attending community college by engaging in interdisciplinary programs and providing rich learning experiences.

...continue reading "Meet the TATIL Advisory Board: Monica Lopez"

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Natalie Lopez, Outreach Librarian for Palomar College

Natalie Lopez joined the Advisory Board for the Threshold Achievement Test for Information Literacy in 2017. Here she reveals how her teaching has evolved and shares her approach to incorporating the frames into her instruction. She also explains the meaning of this photo!

Question #1: Please tell us about your job.                        

I am the Outreach Librarian for Palomar College! I extend the promotional reach of library services to our student population, our faculty and our community of prospective students. I love that we have so many wonderful services to help our students succeed. My job involves increasing the visibility of these services and making sure students know to ask questions. I also let faculty know we build our collections based on the curriculum and we can help instruct their students how to successfully navigate the library as they work on research papers. 

...continue reading "Meet the TATIL Advisory Board: Natalie Lopez"