Faculty Learning Community for Improving Student Research Literacy
| description: | The purpose of this community is to provide a forum for collaboration among faculty and librarians across disciplines to discuss concepts and applications for integration of information literacy into the curriculum. Broadly defined, information literacy is the ability to locate, evaluate, and use information ethically while fostering the development of critical thinking skills. Participants in this community will discuss the philosophy and theories of information literacy and explore methods/approaches for incorporating these concepts into the learning environment. |
| amount: | Each participant has available up to $1,000 to support his or her efforts, for example, purchase of hardware or software, travel to conferences, on-line courses, etc. |
| eligibility: | Full-time faculty and librarians at assistant rank or above are eligible. Applications from both early career and seasoned faculty are encouraged. |
| selection: | Librarians and faculty will be selected to create a community representing a variety of disciplines and teaching styles by a subcommittee of CELT. |
| submission: | Please send an electronic copy of your application to CELT and one original application with your signature page via campus mail to CELT. |
| due date: | Awards will be announced in May. |
| consponsors: | The Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT) and University Libraries |
Purpose and Description
Information about Faculty Learning Communities
Members of the Faculty Learning Community for Improving Student Research Literacy will partner to discuss and learn how we can better prepare students to think and use information critically and ethically. We will explore the philosophy and theories of information literacy and develop direct applications for improving the quality of student research in a learning environment.
Throughout the year, participants will examine and discuss current research practices, engage one another and guest speakers in discussions, and participate in relevant meetings, campus events and conferences.
Establishing a baseline for students to begin to develop information seeking and evaluating skills is a critical component of improving the quality of student research. Given the wide array of information that is now accessible at our fingertips, it is common for students to experience information overload as they begin looking for relevant materials to support research papers and class assignments. By fostering the development of information literacy skills in higher education, students are better prepared to effectively find, evaluate, synthesize, organize, and ethically use information throughout their college career, and their work and personal lives.
This learning community will provide participants with the opportunity to deeply explore their course(s), examine how knowledge of information is transmitted, and reflect on how to apply information literacy in relation to specific assignments, projects and course goals. We anticipate an outcome of increased and enhanced opportunities for students to develop information literacy skills that will be crucial to their success.
The goals and objectives of this community are to provide participants with opportunities to:
- Share and discuss research and information needs within participants’ courses
- Develop and/or improve research assignments within participants' courses
- Share and discuss ideas and new perspectives on improving information literacy in the curriculum
- Explore and investigate methods of accessing and using information ethically
- Foster collaboration between faculty and librarians across disciplines
- Engage students as active participants in and contributors to the learning environment
- Develop new approaches for weaving technology and information competencies into the classroom
Selection
Participants will be selected on the basis of their interest in improving the quality of student research, commitment to incorporating information literacy into their curricula, the likelihood that they will apply information literacy concepts explored in this community to other courses in the future, commitment to participating fully and enthusiastically in learning community related activities, and the interest to share what they learn with faculty and librarians beyond this learning community.
Recent Recipients
2007-08
- Kevin Armitage, History
- Yu-Fang Cho, English/Women’s Studies
- Bruce E. Drushel, Communication
- Michael Howser, Social Sciences Library, Co-Facilitator
- W. Sherman Jackson, History
- John M. Krafft, English, Hamilton
- Kim Medley, Geography
- Jenny Presnell, Information Services/University Libraries
- M. Elise Radina, Family Studies and Social Work
- Eric Resnis, Science Libraries, Co-Facilitator
- Andrew Revelle, Information Services
- Robert Weinberg, Kinesiology and Health
2006-07
- William Baker, University Libraries
- Stacy Brinkman, University Libraries
- Brenda Dales, Teacher Education
- Michael Howser, Social Sciences Library, Co-Facilitator
- David Holt, Geography
- dele jegede, Art
- Cynthia Mader, University Libraries, Co-Facilitator
- Leonard Mark, Psychology
- Jeff Merhout, DSC & MIS
- Gina Petonito, Sociology and Gerontology
- Siok Lian Tan, Music
- Valerie Ubbes, Physical Education, Health, and Sport Studies
2005-06
- Deborah Akers, Anthropology
- Clyde Brown, Political Science
- Michael Howser, Social Sciences Library, Co-Facilitator
- Margaret Jendrek, Sociology/Gerontology
- Cynthia Mader, University Libraries, Co-Facilitator
- Jenny Presnell, Information Services/ University Libraries
- Aaron Shrimplin, Information Services/ University Libraries
- Heeyoung Tai, Chemistry & Biochemistry
- George Vascik, History
- Alan Winkler, History
- Robert Withers, Information Services/ University Libraries
- Jen-Chien Yu, Information Services/ University Libraries
2004-05
- C. S. Chen, Engineering
- Valerie Cross, Computer Science
- Michael Howser, Social Sciences Library, Co-Facilitator
- Susan Hurst, Business Librarian
- Ben Jacks, Art/Architecture
- Joe Leonard, Management
- Cindy Mader, Science Librarian, Co-Facilitator
- Shannon Van Kirk, Art/Architecture Library
- Ted Wagenaar, Sociology & Gerontology
