Academic Libraries in the Net Academic Libraries in the Net GenerationGeneration

Embracing Technology to Infuse Embracing Technology to Infuse Information Literacy throughout the Information Literacy throughout the

CurriculumCurriculum

Pamela A. JacksonPamela A. Jackson

April 14, 2005April 14, 2005

Net Generation StudentsNet Generation Students Also called Net Gen, Also called Net Gen,

Generation Y, Millennials, Generation Y, Millennials, Echo Boomers, Echo Boomers, Boomlets.Boomlets.

Born after 1981.Born after 1981. Net Gen students grew Net Gen students grew

up with digital media up with digital media integrated into their integrated into their everyday lives (WWW, everyday lives (WWW, video games, chat rooms, video games, chat rooms, Blogs, IM, cell phones, Blogs, IM, cell phones, etc).etc).

A boomlet born in 1992.

Placing the Net Gen in ContextPlacing the Net Gen in Context

Do you remember when handwriting Do you remember when handwriting letters was a necessity, not a ‘vintage’ letters was a necessity, not a ‘vintage’ mode of communicate?mode of communicate?

Did you wait in line to see Star Wars in the Did you wait in line to see Star Wars in the theater…on its theater…on its firstfirst release? release?

Was your first hyperlink in a Was your first hyperlink in a Choose Your Choose Your Own AdventureOwn Adventure book? book?

How many of you were regularly using a How many of you were regularly using a computer by the ages of 3-8?*computer by the ages of 3-8?*

Circa 1981: A Techno Turning PointCirca 1981: A Techno Turning Point

MTV goes on the air MTV goes on the air debuting “Video Killed the debuting “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Radio Star” by The Buggles. Buggles.

Supreme Court rules to Supreme Court rules to allow television cameras allow television cameras in the courtroom.in the courtroom.

Commodore Vic-20 Commodore Vic-20 debuts in May 1981 and debuts in May 1981 and becomes the first becomes the first personal home computer personal home computer to sell more than a million to sell more than a million units.units.

Pacman-mania swept the nation.

Learning Characteristics of Net Learning Characteristics of Net Gen StudentsGen Students

Comfortable with the digital environment.Comfortable with the digital environment. Accustomed to independent navigation of the Accustomed to independent navigation of the

Web.Web. Visually-oriented. Visually-oriented. Accustomed to figuring things out themselves Accustomed to figuring things out themselves

(trial-and-error, experimentation).(trial-and-error, experimentation). Enjoy collaboration and teamwork.Enjoy collaboration and teamwork. Multitaskers. Multitaskers. Expect immediate results and instant Expect immediate results and instant

gratification.gratification.

SDSU StudentsSDSU Students

Average Age = 24.2Average Age = 24.2Undergraduates: 22.6Undergraduates: 22.6Graduates: 30.9Graduates: 30.9

International Student Enrollment: 4.2% of International Student Enrollment: 4.2% of student population (SDSU ranks 13th in student population (SDSU ranks 13th in nation for hosting international students)nation for hosting international students)

Source: SDSU Office of Analytic Studies Fall 2004 Data for San Diego CampusSource: SDSU Office of Analytic Studies Fall 2004 Data for San Diego Campus

International Net Gen StudentsInternational Net Gen Students

Today’s international Today’s international students are globally students are globally connected and connected and techno-savvy. techno-savvy.

Like domestic Like domestic students, they think in students, they think in terms of their lives as terms of their lives as they relate to they relate to computers and computers and computer access. computer access.

Survey of International StudentsSurvey of International Students

N=121N=121

Used a library in their home Used a library in their home country (HC). country (HC).

94%94%

Used a computer inside of a Used a computer inside of a library in HC.library in HC.

84%84%

Regularly use the Internet. Regularly use the Internet. 96%96%

Used email in HC. Used email in HC. 93%93%

Conducted computerized Conducted computerized library research in HC.library research in HC.

80%80%

Currently use Instant Currently use Instant Messengers.Messengers.

50%50%

Source: Jackson, Pamela. Incoming International Students and the Library: A Survey. Reference Services Review, 33(2). (Forthcoming 2005).

Net Gen Students and Academic Net Gen Students and Academic LibrariesLibraries

May be confused by library resources and May be confused by library resources and the research process.the research process.

Find library resources are difficult to figure Find library resources are difficult to figure out on their own.out on their own.

Rely heavily on the Internet for research. Rely heavily on the Internet for research. Approach research in a nonlinear fashion.Approach research in a nonlinear fashion.

Information and Communication Information and Communication Literacy (ICT)Literacy (ICT)

Net Gen students: Net Gen students: are ‘web-smart,’ but may not know how to make are ‘web-smart,’ but may not know how to make

appropriate use of technology to communicate ideas appropriate use of technology to communicate ideas in presentations or class assignments;in presentations or class assignments;

need information literacy instruction to develop critical need information literacy instruction to develop critical thinking and evaluation skills;thinking and evaluation skills;

need help constructing effective search strategies.need help constructing effective search strategies.

Information Seeking ActivityInformation Seeking Activity

Pretend you are a Net Gen student who lives on-campus. You need to write Pretend you are a Net Gen student who lives on-campus. You need to write a research paper for a sociology course. It’s due in 3 weeks. Rank the a research paper for a sociology course. It’s due in 3 weeks. Rank the following resources in the order that you would seek the information:following resources in the order that you would seek the information:

___ Photocopy an article from the current periodicals section in ___ Photocopy an article from the current periodicals section in Love Library Love Library

___ Search Google for the American Sociological Association’s ___ Search Google for the American Sociological Association’s Website Website

___ Request a book through Link+___ Request a book through Link+___ Link to the full-text of an article from Academic Search___ Link to the full-text of an article from Academic Search___ Get a book from the Asian collection on the 4th floor___ Get a book from the Asian collection on the 4th floor___ Obtain a newspaper article from microfilm on the 1st floor___ Obtain a newspaper article from microfilm on the 1st floor___ Order an article through interlibrary loan___ Order an article through interlibrary loan

Technology-Enhanced Academic Technology-Enhanced Academic Library ServicesLibrary Services

E-journalsE-journals Electronic ReservesElectronic Reserves Virtual Reference (chat, email, text messaging)Virtual Reference (chat, email, text messaging) Open URL Linking (SFX)Open URL Linking (SFX) PDA/Cell Phone/Smart Phone/iPod access to PDA/Cell Phone/Smart Phone/iPod access to

library resourceslibrary resources Digital Collections (images, audio, video) Digital Collections (images, audio, video) Federated SearchingFederated Searching

Live Online ReferenceLive Online Reference

Makes use of digital media with which Net Makes use of digital media with which Net Gen students are comfortable Gen students are comfortable

Available 24/7 Available 24/7 Can work well for office hoursCan work well for office hoursMore research needed--convenience More research needed--convenience

doesn’t equal quality doesn’t equal quality

Technology-Enhanced Technology-Enhanced Information Literacy InstructionInformation Literacy Instruction

Although technology is not the answer to Although technology is not the answer to every instructional problem, it can:every instructional problem, it can:enhance student learningenhance student learningkeep academic libraries relevant and on the keep academic libraries relevant and on the

cutting edge cutting edge make library material more visually orientedmake library material more visually orientedactively engage Net Gen studentsactively engage Net Gen studentshelp students interact with digitally-rich world help students interact with digitally-rich world

of informationof information

Infusing Information Literacy Infusing Information Literacy across the Curriculumacross the Curriculum

Employ innovate technologies to enhance Employ innovate technologies to enhance student learning and facilitate articulation of student learning and facilitate articulation of InfoLit into the curriculum.InfoLit into the curriculum.Embed digital library resources into Course Embed digital library resources into Course

Management Software (BlackBoard, WebCT, Management Software (BlackBoard, WebCT, ANGEL) ANGEL)

Create Self-paced Interactive Web-based Create Self-paced Interactive Web-based TutorialsTutorials

Explore Emerging Technologies (RSS Feeds, Explore Emerging Technologies (RSS Feeds, Blogs, WIKIs, Gaming)Blogs, WIKIs, Gaming)

Interactive Web-based TutorialsInteractive Web-based Tutorials

Tutorials are innovative ways to stimulate Tutorials are innovative ways to stimulate student learning. Students learn important student learning. Students learn important research skills:research skills:at their own pace at their own pace outside of traditional class time and outside of traditional class time and

classroomsclassroomswhen it is convenient for them (24/7)when it is convenient for them (24/7) in ways suited to individual learning styles in ways suited to individual learning styles

Interactive Web-based TutorialsInteractive Web-based Tutorials

Tutorials can influence changes in ILI:Tutorials can influence changes in ILI: Students learn at their own pace, outside of Students learn at their own pace, outside of

physical classrooms and traditional class time. physical classrooms and traditional class time. Offers a progressive reinforcement of Offers a progressive reinforcement of

information literacy skills.information literacy skills. Students gain a common foundation of Students gain a common foundation of

knowledge before the in-person library knowledge before the in-person library instruction session.instruction session.

““Face” time with students can be advanced and Face” time with students can be advanced and student-centered when tutorials precede in-student-centered when tutorials precede in-person library instruction.person library instruction.

GamingGaming

Net Gen students are growing up with Net Gen students are growing up with edutainment/infotainment—How will edutainment/infotainment—How will Higher Education respond?Higher Education respond?Role Playing Games (RPGs) Role Playing Games (RPGs) Science experimentsScience experimentsOnline Coloring Books and PuzzlesOnline Coloring Books and Puzzles Interactive Public Service AnnouncementsInteractive Public Service Announcements

Blogs (Online Journals)Blogs (Online Journals)

Yes, students do still read and write. Yes, students do still read and write. Academic Library Blogs: Academic Library Blogs:

promote services, collections, eventspromote services, collections, eventshighlight resources and instructionhighlight resources and instructionsubject-specific for departments or classes subject-specific for departments or classes

Potential ILI usePotential ILI useStudent research process blog Student research process blog

RSS RSS (Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary)(Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary)

RSS feed is usually a group of headlines, RSS feed is usually a group of headlines, brief summaries, and links to full text.brief summaries, and links to full text.

RSS RSS (Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary)(Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary)

Push out information that students and Push out information that students and faculty can pull in to their personal web faculty can pull in to their personal web portals. portals.

Partner with technology centers on Partner with technology centers on campus to offer RSS feeds and links to campus to offer RSS feeds and links to trusted freeware aggregators. trusted freeware aggregators.

Embed library RSS feeds into CMS.Embed library RSS feeds into CMS.

WIKIsWIKIs

Collaborative content composition Collaborative content composition softwaresoftware

Potential ILI use:Potential ILI use:Plagiarism instruction—groups of students Plagiarism instruction—groups of students

can work collaboratively to read original can work collaboratively to read original passages, then write and edit paraphrases passages, then write and edit paraphrases until they are satisfied as a group that they until they are satisfied as a group that they have avoided plagiarism.have avoided plagiarism.

Google SmoogleGoogle Smoogle

Are libraries becoming less relevant to our Are libraries becoming less relevant to our user community?user community?Calm down, it’s just another search interface.Calm down, it’s just another search interface.Students need critical thinking and evaluation Students need critical thinking and evaluation

skills. skills. Role of information literacy is to teach Role of information literacy is to teach

students how to interact with information.students how to interact with information.

Blended LibrarianshipBlended Librarianship Librarians need to embrace the scholarship of Librarians need to embrace the scholarship of

teaching and learning:teaching and learning: instructional designinstructional design teaching pedagogiesteaching pedagogies assessment of student learningassessment of student learning

““Blended Librarians help faculty to achieve Blended Librarians help faculty to achieve student learning outcomes by designing learning student learning outcomes by designing learning tools and objects that facilitate the mastery of tools and objects that facilitate the mastery of information literacy skills.”*information literacy skills.”*

Source: collaborate conferenceSource: collaborate conference

Campus-wide Partnerships for Campus-wide Partnerships for

Information and Communication LiteracyInformation and Communication Literacy Campus-wide responsibility for graduating Campus-wide responsibility for graduating

information literate students information literate students Build partnerships=everyone plays a role Build partnerships=everyone plays a role Information Literacy HouseInformation Literacy House

Get the Students InvolvedGet the Students Involved

“ “Librarians should consult with students in Librarians should consult with students in the design phase of services and the design phase of services and incorporate students on teams that make incorporate students on teams that make decisions about the implementation of decisions about the implementation of those services. Making use of the those services. Making use of the imagination, creativity, technical skills, and imagination, creativity, technical skills, and perspectives of Net Gen students is the perspectives of Net Gen students is the best way to ensure that new services will best way to ensure that new services will be responsive to both their needs and their be responsive to both their needs and their style” (13.9)style” (13.9)

Challenges for Academic Challenges for Academic LibrariesLibraries

Advances in technology have a significant Advances in technology have a significant impact on staffimpact on staff

Funding Funding Technology fluency required of librariansTechnology fluency required of librariansNeed for professional development Need for professional development

opportunities and supportopportunities and support

Further ReadingFurther Reading

Questions/Comments?Questions/Comments?

Thank You.Thank You.