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Experience of the Veterinary Medicine Library Lorna Dodd Liaison Librarian University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland [email protected] Shining a spotlight on Information Literacy:

Shining the spotlight on Information Literacy : experience of the Veterinary Medicine Library. Author: Lorna Dodd

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Delivered at Facilitate Problem-Based Learning Summer School, June 23 – 27 2008, Dublin, Ireland. 2008-06-23.

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Page 1: Shining the spotlight on Information Literacy : experience of the Veterinary Medicine Library. Author: Lorna Dodd

Experience of the Veterinary Medicine

Library

Lorna Dodd

Liaison Librarian

University College Dublin,

Belfield, Dublin 4,

Ireland

[email protected]

Shining a spotlight on Information Literacy:

Page 2: Shining the spotlight on Information Literacy : experience of the Veterinary Medicine Library. Author: Lorna Dodd

Background

• Only Veterinary Medicine programme in Ireland

• Review in mid 1990s resulted in introduction PBL in the 2 pre-clinical years

• Students attend traditional lectures & lab sessions as well as PBL module

Page 3: Shining the spotlight on Information Literacy : experience of the Veterinary Medicine Library. Author: Lorna Dodd

What is Information Literacy?

“recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.” (Association of College Research Libraries, 2000)

Page 4: Shining the spotlight on Information Literacy : experience of the Veterinary Medicine Library. Author: Lorna Dodd

Why is Information Literacy important in PBL?

• Self-directed learning

• Development of life-long transferable skills

• Critical and reflective thinking

Page 5: Shining the spotlight on Information Literacy : experience of the Veterinary Medicine Library. Author: Lorna Dodd

INFORMATION LITERACY

Identify an information need

Identify the most appropriate source

Effectively retrieve relevant

information

Evaluate the reliability, relevance, currency &

appropriateness of the information

Use the information

in an ethical way

Page 6: Shining the spotlight on Information Literacy : experience of the Veterinary Medicine Library. Author: Lorna Dodd

What the students think…

• 95% of students consider the library to be important in PBL

• Those who did not think the library was important in PBL also experienced difficulties with PBL

• Half of students spent longer in the library for PBL because of the way PBL affects how they find and use information

Page 7: Shining the spotlight on Information Literacy : experience of the Veterinary Medicine Library. Author: Lorna Dodd

What the students think…

• 40% of students experienced difficulty finding information for PBL

• Most students consider information seeking skills very important or extremely important in PBL because: “As a qualified vet you have to do your own PBL”

• Students who value information skills were able to search for information more easily

Page 8: Shining the spotlight on Information Literacy : experience of the Veterinary Medicine Library. Author: Lorna Dodd

All those who spent more time

in the library for PBL

considered information literacy

important in PBL

Students who selected their own material:

Considered information literacy skills more important & displayed

higher levels ofinformation literacy skills

Students who feel the library is important in PBL

display higher levels of information literacy

Page 9: Shining the spotlight on Information Literacy : experience of the Veterinary Medicine Library. Author: Lorna Dodd

• Anatomy of the lung Factual Information –

Textbooks

• Allergens and treatment Current Research – Journal

Articles or Websites

• Is the information reliable?

• Is the information relevant to problem? Location Availability of treatment

The Coughing Horse

Page 10: Shining the spotlight on Information Literacy : experience of the Veterinary Medicine Library. Author: Lorna Dodd

Identify an information

need

Convert Learning Issues

into search strategies

Identify most

appropriate source

Identify kind of information &

resource

Effectively retrieve relevant

information

Evaluate reliability, relevance, currency

& appropriateness

Use the information

in an ethical way

Apply information to problem &

integrateinto existing knowledge

APPLYING INFORMATION LITERACY TO

PBL

Page 11: Shining the spotlight on Information Literacy : experience of the Veterinary Medicine Library. Author: Lorna Dodd

Veterinary Library Experience

As a result of PBL:

Librarian is PBL tutor

Knows problems & therefore required resources

Talks to students about resources they use

Close collaborative relationship with faculty

Information literacy delivered after first problem – in context

Start of PBL:

Information literacy delivered during orientation

Librarian in support/admin role

Page 12: Shining the spotlight on Information Literacy : experience of the Veterinary Medicine Library. Author: Lorna Dodd

Veterinary Library Experience• Facilitator/Tutor plays important role

Results showed that facilitators differedSome recommended material and

directed students in finding informationThese students selected material

themselves lessDisplayed lower levels of information

literacy – never verified information by checking another source

Page 13: Shining the spotlight on Information Literacy : experience of the Veterinary Medicine Library. Author: Lorna Dodd

Conclusion

• Information Literacy should be consciously developedFacilitators can - encourage students to think about information they need challenge students to critically evaluate the information

they find and the source

• Information Literacy can be: Included as a learning outcome An assessment criteria

• Involve librarians in curriculum development: Ensure there are sufficient resources Help students develop necessary skills

Page 14: Shining the spotlight on Information Literacy : experience of the Veterinary Medicine Library. Author: Lorna Dodd

Running or planning a PBL course?

Don’t forget your friendly librarian!!!

“Know where to find information and how to use it. That’s the secret of success.”

Albert Einstein

Page 15: Shining the spotlight on Information Literacy : experience of the Veterinary Medicine Library. Author: Lorna Dodd

References

• Association of College Research Libraries (2000), ‘Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education’ [online], American Library Association. Available from http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlstandards/informationliteracycompetency.htm.

• Dodd, L. (2007) ‘The impact of Problem-Based Learning on the Information Seeking Behaviour and Information Literacy of Veterinary Medicine Students at University College Dublin’, Journal of Academic Librarianship, vol. 33(2), pp.206-216

• Eskola, E (1998) ‘University students’ information seeking behaviour in a changing learning environment – How are students’ information needs and use affected by teaching methods?’ Information Research vol. 4(2)

• Oker-Blom, T. (1998) ‘Integration of Information Skills in Problem Based Curricula’, 64th IFLA General Conference, August 16-21, 1994, Amsterdam, pp.1-8, IFLA

• Rankin, J.A. (1996) ‘Problem-based learning and libraries: a survey of the literature’, Health Libraries Review, vol. 13, pp.33-42

• Silen, C & Uhlin, L (2008) ‘Self-directed learning – a learning issue for students and faculty’ Teaching in Higher Education.