A Connected Class: Blended Learning in the Information Literacy Classroom

Lauren Pressley, Instructional Design Librarian

Kaeley McMahan, Arts Librarian

Wake Forest University

outline______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• z. smith reynolds library information literacy program– overview of the program, template course

• why we changed our course– what we have learned, new technologies

• before and after– changes, intentions

• fall 2007– implementation

• spring 2008– results

zsr information literacy program______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• 12 sections each semester• librarians from each department teach• template course• easy to modify

template course______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• 14 classes a semester• introduce students to the library• how to do research• thinking critically about information• 4 assignments, final project

changes: why?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

changes: what?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• individuals to groups• chosen topics to assigned topics• blackboard to blog• word to google docs and google notebook• new topics• added: quizzing and clickers

new: course implementation______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• fall 2007• 17 students• 4 groups of 3, 2 groups of 4• google docs• google notebook• quizzes• clickers• blog• group work and presentation

new: google docs______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

•each student created their own

•same edit features as word

•edit and view in real time

•shared with instructors

•track updates and revisions

•grade on the doc

•all assignments in one location

new: google notebook______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

•created a notebook for each group

•collated individual work

•collaborative space

•visually appealing for final project

new: quizzes______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

•10 1-point quizzes at the start of class

•2-3 questions

•short answer, multiple choice, hotspot

•highlight important topics from the lectures

new: clickers______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

•turningpoint software

•Rosalind Tedford created the powerpoint presentations

•not quizzes, not connected to students

•gauge students knowledge before and after lecture

•get feedback during lecture

new: blog______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

•main course page

•syllabus, assignments, contact information, etc…

•course updates, communication and reminders

•weekly discussion post

•extra credit

new: group work and presentations______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• information and technology topics assigned• research in individual assignments• brought results together for group project• 10 minute presentation• peer-evaluation of group members

results: google docs______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• easier for us to grade, easier for the students to get comments and feedback

• positive feedback in evaluations

• need to give more formatting information

• made a template for the individual assignment

• created each doc for consistency

results: google notebook______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

•one technology too many, removed for January 2008

•couldn’t see revisions, updates

•group google doc

•group project template

•some groups used for communication

results: quizzes______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• keeps the students engaged in the lectures• immediate feedback• emphasizes important points of the lecture• google app?

results: clickers______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• good interaction with the students• can immediately gauge students understanding • positive feedback, students liked the clickers• some technical difficulties

results: blog______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

•great as a central place

•more intuitive than Blackboard

•easy to update and modify

•weekly discussion post had a good response

•broke out sections of the syllabus

•embeded google calendar

results: group work and presentations______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• groups of 3 work well• more explanation on presentation and project• incorporate visual element• sit in groups

questions? feedback?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• contact us

– Lauren Pressley, presslm@wfu.edu

– Kaeley McMahan, mcmahak@wfu.edu

– course blog, http://blog.zsr.wfu.edu/lib100 – mock course, http://blog.zsr.wfu.edu/demo