Flexible Info. Literacy Strategies for Engineering Design in EPICS

Hitting a Moving Target & Assessing Our Aim

Lisa G. Dunn, Colorado School of Mines

EPICS (Engineering Practices Intro. Course

Sequence)

Team-Based, Projects from Real ClientsChallenges for the Library Logistics for freshman EPICS

Timing - Project selection, syllabus ~18 sections, 450 students, 4 days

Participants: Students, instructors, program

Projects Change each semester Information requirements vary widely

EPICS Projects

Hitting the EPICS TargetIntegrate with Course Maintain the team environment Relevance – Show immediate benefits

Flexibility Sessions based on team activity, not

lecture Feedback loops

Instructors Librarians

Worksheet forms easily edited

AssessmentFeedback Pre-session surveys Final design project reports Comments from instructors & students

Results Instructors – “OK” Students – “Will this help me do the

project?” Need for updated information

Quantitative Data

ChangesOn-the-Fly Classroom Existing space Laptops, team-based seating Flexible, scalable

Assignments Divisions in teams’ work effort

Selective Goals - Students will: Extract useful information Evaluate the information’s source

The “M” Word

Marketing Awareness - “It’s marketing if you’re

capturing information.” Change Response – Demonstrate the benefit

“Marketing as if Your Library Depended on It,” Pat Wagner, Pattern Research, Inc.

Interviews with Instructors

Feedback on EPICS Demonstrated the benefits

Enhanced team environment Higher level of engagement Students discovered relevant information

Captured information Further changes to EPICS Instructors want…

Inteviews

What Do Instructors Want? (in 45 min.) “You should do….”

Communications issue Different things - Contradictory priorities

EPICS program issue Everything

Our issue – go for relevance, effectiveness Information literacy goals, assessment?

Spinning Our Assessment Data

Future PlansEPICS Version X.x…Assessment Qualitative data ≠

Marketing Define and plan your project Keep it simple Learn Keep the loop going

Awareness – Know your customer Change - Apply knowledge immediately Response – Feedback