Unified Theory of Virtual Reference

• It is important to have a united opinion of the service provided in Virtual Reference

• If we don’t actively engage the students it might leave them with an erroneous mental model of the information seeking process

• Instruction is important in reference regardless of format

Westbrook, L. (2006) Virtual Reference Training: The Second Generation College and Research Libraries.

Scaffolding – Theory of Choice

“The digital format actually reinforces that staged process by putting control of the communication in the user’s hands during…the stages of the reference interview.”

Westbrook, L. (2006) Virtual Reference Training: The Second Generation College and Research Libraries.

Theoretical Framework of Scaffolding

• Social Constructivist approach to knowledge

• Assumes all knowledge is social in nature and people learn in the context of social interactions that lead to comprehension

• Links new knowledge to already existing mental models

Theoretical Framework (con’t)

• Requires a shared understanding of the task

• The instructor leads the student to this understanding – involves both challenging and supporting the student

• The instructor controls elements that are initially beyond the ability of the student

• The student focuses on the tasks that are within their range of ability

Recursive

Breakdown

Stage 1

• RUSA Reference Guidelines

• Clarification and identification

Stage 2

• Understanding the information need (RUSA)

• Cognitive process

• Selection of area to focus on based on student level

Stage 1 & 2 – Transcript Example

Question I am wondering where I can find bibliographical information for periodicals that are not available at X University

Librarian: Hello Student in order for me to effectively answer your question it would help if I know what you are working on?

Student: I am working on an annotated bibliography for my humanities class

Student: I went to the library today and got some of my secondary sources but I had to leave before I could finish and I need the rest of the information in order to complete my assignment

Librarian: ok so you need more information on a topic ...or you want to find the information of specific sources so you can complete the citation

Student: I need information on the specific sources so I can complete the citation, exactly

Librarian: ok...do you remember where you were searching when you found them...which database you were using? What subject are you researching?

Student: I was at the lilian smith childrens library downtown searching through periodicals to find anything pertaining to "The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton as well as anything regarding gangs, violence etc... in childrens literature

Stage 3

• Simplifies the task by reducing the number of acts required to reach a solution

• Marks features of a task that are relevant for learning

• Allows you to edit, modify, or add to the search process

Stage 3 – Transcript ExampleQuestion Could you assist me with using PsycInfo in locating articles that

can be found on the Library X server?

Student: I need help locating articles with respects to the paper that I have to write. I tried last night, but I couldn't find many that would pertain to the topic

Student: I am researching on different aspects of groups (ie. Group Formation and Structure, Conflict, Leadership, Decision Making and Performance)

Student: There's Norm Development, Group Development, Social Support, Sources of Conflict, Managing Conflict, Sex differences in dealing and Resolving Conflict, Gender Differences in Leadership, Leadership Styles, Social Loafing, Decision Making

Librarian: ok so for those topics you will need to do separate searches. Are you familiar with using AND / OR to create a search strategy?

Student: No, that's what I am confused about

Librarian: Ok the key thing to remember is that AND will narrow your search ( you get fewer records) because it means the other terms must be there and you use it to connect keywords that represent the different concepts in your topic...

Librarian: so for your topic one search might be sex differences and conflict and resolution

Librarian: Now if you need to pull up more records you would connect keywords that represent the same idea with OR so for the same search to expand it I could use the following keywords ....(sex differences or gender differences) and conflict and resolution

Stage 4

• Providing structure to the search but allows for student input (self efficacy)

• Idealization can occur here

• Assists in building the blocks to generalize the task to apply in future contexts

• Modeling

Stage 4 – Transcript Example

Question I need some help locating relevant information for my essay..

Librarian : great, once you are in PsychInfo select the Advanced Search tab at the top

Student: ok

Librarian: now we have to select our keywords to perform the search

Librarian: you said you are interested in social facilitation theory and that there is a relationship to evaluation apprehension theory

Librarian: what do you think the two key ideas are in your search?

Student: social facilitation

Librarian: great!

Librarian: we can also connect that to the other key idea of evaluation apprehension to make sure you get articles that will talk about both

Librarian: so in the fist search box put: social facilitation

Librarian:  and in the second below put: evaluation apprehension

Librarian:  then perform the search

Librarian:  you should get 33 articles

Stage 5

• Approximation

• Error recognition OR Breakdown

Stage 5 – Transcript Example

Question I would like some assistance finding informational articles regarding "ascribed status" and "achieved status" and the negative and positive effects both can have on each other, for my essay.

Librarian: you can try different combinations of terms or even add a third line to make the search more specific

Librarian: for example if you're interested in teachers, or gender/class, etc.

Student: yes that helps

Librarian: if you find anything good within your results, take a look and see what other terms they might be using and try adjusting your search strategy

Student: ok great

Librarian: give it a try and come back for more, I can wait online while you attempt this or you can log back in when you are ready.

Activity – Transcript Analysis

Stages of Scaffolding in VR• Is each stage present?• Were there sections/stages where the scaffolding

was weak?• What were those areas?• What could the librarian have done to improve the

support in those sections?

*Remember* Co-construction of knowledge and dialogue

Librarian: Hello Student, it's seems like you have some good search ideas but it's just a matter of narrowing your topic down Librarian: we can try that together Librarian: are you on the library homepage?

Student: thank you Librarian, I would really appreciate your help!

Librarian: no problem, it's why I'm here

Student: yes I am on the library home page...

Librarian: great let's got into psychinfo and see what we can do...

Student: ok, I am in the advanced search page of psychinfo...

Librarian: great now we have to find another search term to narrow out your topic... you are already using excellent descriptors for your topic Librarian : are you interested in perceptions of difference, or maybe from a particular sex

Student: I am not sure... this assignment is in light of a library tutorial we had in lecture the other day; its purpose to help us to practice researching. there are no specifications just the question "are there sex differences in spatial ability?"

Librarian:  that's not a problem, so the assignment is just for you to practice library skills right?

Student: yes

Librarian: ok well that actually is why they chose something so broad, a part of library skills is deciding how to narrow a topic

Librarian:  so you have to select how to focus it

Student: ok, so i should just choose what I am interested in regarding this topic?

Librarian: absolutely!  you have the best descriptors for your topic but now you get to select an area of it that interests you... for example you can look at spatial ability sex differences and highschool students

Librarian: if that was of interest to you

Student: sure!

Librarian: if you use high school students as a search phrase you should get around 40 articles Librarian: much more focused = a  lot less articles

Student: ok... i will try this..Student: i received 0 hits :( Student: i put: Student: oops... i think i spelled a word wrong... i will try again

Student: still 0! (human sex differences) and (spatial ability) and (highschool students) - journal articles; english only; human population Student: what did i do wrong?

Librarian: are you putting that search all on one line?

Student: no, one beneath the other using the connecter "and"

Librarian: ok separate out highschool to look like high school students

Student: i got 22 hits!

Librarian: excellent!

Edited to fit the screen

A Culture of Instruction in VR

• Elimination of Divisions• Virtual Reference Values• Instructional Framework in VR• Personal/Group Analysis

Scaffolding Instruction in VR

• Recognition of Instructional Moments

• Co-construction of knowledge• Reduction of Control

Photo “Stair in Scaffold” by andrewpaulcarr, flickr 2006