Library and Information Science

Teaching Resource

Author Carpentry is a researcher-to-researcher training and outreach program in open authoring and publishing. It was initiated at the Caltech Library to enhance scientific authorship and publishing in the digital age.

Submitted by Sarah Crissinger on February 23rd, 2017
Share this on: 
Short Description: 

These materials support a workshop for seniors on losing access to information after graduation. After a short lecture on why information costs money, we used each exercise, which focus on students making their work open, to encourage students to think critically about how their information sharing decisions impact others. We used three types of exercises--academic, creative, and work/corporate--to acknowledge that students are creators of multiple kinds of information.

Learning Outcomes: 

Students will be able to articulate how their own decisions impact others' ability to access information in order to make more intentional sharing choices with their information output

Individual or Group:

Course Context (e.g. how it was implemented or integrated): 

We were given a one hour slot during our university's annual Senior Summit. We had to collaborate with our Center for Career Development to do this.

Additional Instructor Resources (e.g. in-class activities, worksheets, scaffolding applications, supplemental modules, further readings, etc.): 
Potential Pitfalls and Teaching Tips: 
Suggested Citation: 
Crissinger, Sarah. "Why You Won’t Have JSTOR When You Graduate and What You Can Do About It." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2017. https://projectcora.org/assignment/why-you-won%E2%80%99t-have-jstor-when-you-graduate-and-what-you-can-do-about-it.
Submitted by Sarah Vital on January 27th, 2017
Share this on: 
Short Description: 

A 90 minute session with first year students in the School of Economics and Business Administration. Covered areas included overview of difficulties in searching and algorithm bias. Emphasis was on the importance to being critical consumers of information and understanding searches are not neutral.

Attachments: 
AttachmentSize
SEBAFYACLessonPlan2016.docxdisplayed 935 times12.33 KB
Learning Outcomes: 

Students are aware of the “algorithm bias” that is inherent in the technology of search engines (all search engines, from Google to library databases) and how this affects their search for information (and the concerns this bias has for social justice). Students understand ways to overcome this bias by 1) critically evaluating not just the individual resources found but also the search results in general , 2) using multiple resources for information retrieval, and 3) making use of experts and known, reliable sources

Individual or Group:

Course Context (e.g. how it was implemented or integrated): 

This was a session for the required First Year Experience .25 credit course. All students have majors declared in Business Administration (including Marketing and Finance), Economics, or Accounting

Suggested Citation: 
Vital, Sarah. "Social Justice in Information- First Year Business Students." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2017. https://projectcora.org/assignment/social-justice-information-first-year-business-students.
Submitted by Lisa Burgert on January 26th, 2017
Share this on: 
Short Description: 

Students will participate in a game-based learning scenario based on Net Neutrality. Participants will each assume the role of an individual vested in the issue (Chairman of the FCC, President of the U.S., CEO of telecommunications company, or Supreme Court Justice). They will form alliances, discuss issues, formulate a strategy, and briefly share their viewpoint with the hope of winning the game. The learning experience is student lead.

Attachments: 
AttachmentSize
In Class Discussion Worksheet 1displayed 1062 times49.71 KB
In Class Discussion Worksheet 2displayed 826 times52.09 KB
Evaluation of the Gamedisplayed 779 times57.63 KB
Lesson Plandisplayed 911 times124.04 KB
Learning Outcomes: 

• Students will synthesize ideas gathered from multiple sources, and draw reasonable conclusions based on the analysis and interpretation of information of their biographical, corporate information, and research on Net Neutrality demonstrated through discussion with other stakeholders. (Research as Inquiry) • Students will recognize that a given scholarly work may not represent the only perspective on the issue by communicating with others during role-playing game with different opinions/viewpoints. (Scholarship as Conversation).

Individual or Group:

Course Context (e.g. how it was implemented or integrated): 

This lesson was designed for the Library 103: Information Literacy 3-unit credit course. It is designed as a major research project involving role-playing over multiple weeks in a semester long class. This is the second part of a three part series. In part one students are introduced to the project and the “All-But-The-Term-Paper” assignment. Part three groups or individual students give their presentations, there is a ruling on who wins the game, and a debrief of the game. With modifications the lesson can be adapted to single 90-minute session.

Potential Pitfalls and Teaching Tips: 

This is student lead and directed. Students discuss, collaborate, and present the information.

Suggested Citation: 
Burgert, Lisa. "Social Justice Role Playing Game: Net Neutrality Lesson Plan- Part 2." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2017. https://projectcora.org/assignment/social-justice-role-playing-game-net-neutrality-lesson-plan-part-2.
Submitted by Margaret Brown-Salazar on January 26th, 2017
Share this on: 
Short Description: 

Created by M. Brown-Salazar Saint Mary's College of CA This lesson was developed to have graduate level students explore social justice issues in information found on the internet. It is based on Dr. Safiya Noble's work: Algorithms of Oppression. Simplified, we asked students to consider that when we seek information, we need to examine the perspective/privilege of the voices/sources of information and identify/understand whose voices are represented and whose voices are missing and how that impacts/influences our understanding. Students were asked to consider issues we uncovered in relationship to themselves personally, as students and also also professional practitioners. We used clips from a lecture by Dr. Noble to stimulate discussion and asked to students to critically examine results of google image searches as an illustration of inequities. Students completed a survey as assessment.

AttachmentSize
Pre-session Handoutdisplayed 793 times25.63 KB
In Class Assignmentdisplayed 780 times16.76 KB
Learning Outcomes: 

Learning Objectives (include SMC institutional learning outcomes, ACRL Standards, Framework, or others) Students understand that Google is the dominate search engine. Students understand that most internet searchers believe the information they find is trustworthy, accurate, unbiased, credible Students understand that search engine algorithms are based on criteria for increasing advertising and marketing and not criteria to provide the best information available to answer their search query SRIL 1 Students understand that there are influences (social, political, economic, …) that shape social justice issues in information retrieval SRIL 1 Students can articulate a personal or professional practice that they could develop to become more critical consumers of information specifically as it relates to internet search results SRIL 1 SRIL 2 Students can articulate one action they might take to make the issue of social justice in information more apparent to others

Individual or Group:

Course Context (e.g. how it was implemented or integrated): 

This was a new unit added to a series of 3 information literacy sessions that graduates students complete in their Research Seminar course. The intention is to extend a lesson plan on using the internet for research to have students consider "the social, political, economic, and corporate systems that have power and influence over information production, dissemination, access, and consumption." (Gregory, L. and Higgins, S. (Eds.) (2013). Information literacy and social justice: Radical professional praxis. Sacramento, CA: Library Juice Press.) .

Assessment or Criteria for Success
(e.g. rubric, guidelines, exemplary sample paper, etc.): 
AttachmentSize
2016 2017 SeekingSocialJusticeinInformationAssessmentWorksheet.docxdisplayed 666 times15.61 KB
Potential Pitfalls and Teaching Tips: 

Although I asked students to watch the Noble video before the session - NO ONE did that! As I reconsider, I think it works fine without the pre-session video - I removed it from subsequent instruction sessions. This instruction takes on its own unique life with each group - it is fascinating. I am fortunate to work with faculty who allowed the session to take as long as it took. One session concluded and 15 minutes later students were still in the room talking about it in small groups on their own.

Suggested Citation: 
Brown-Salazar, Margaret. "Seeking Social Justice in Information | Graduate Counseling, Leadership and Education Students." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2017. https://projectcora.org/assignment/seeking-social-justice-information-graduate-counseling-leadership-and-education-students.
Submitted by Margaret Brown-Salazar on January 26th, 2017
Share this on: 
Short Description: 

Created by M. Brown-Salazar & G. Kessler Lee Saint Mary's College of Ca Library This lesson was developed to have students explore social justice issues in information found on the internet. It is based on Dr. Safiya Noble's work: Algorithms of Oppression. Simplified, we asked students to consider that when we seek information, we need to examine the perspective/privilege of the voices/sources of information and identify/understand whose voices are represented and whose voices are missing and how that impacts/influences our understanding. We used clips from a lecture by Dr. Noble to stimulate discussion and asked to students to critically examine results of google image searches as an illustration of inequities. Students created a shared file with images and thoughts that represented what they learned.

Learning Outcomes: 

Learning Objectives (include SMC institutional learning outcomes, ACRL Standards, Framework, or others) Students understand that when you Google search your bias, your results will match your bias (SMC: IERP 2) Students understand that Google is the dominant search engine. Students understand that most internet searchers believe the information they find is trustworthy, accurate, unbiased, credible Students understand that search engine algorithms are based on criteria for increasing advertising and marketing and not criteria to provide the best information available to answer their search query (SMC:IERP 2) Students can articulate the impact of this content/topic on them Students can articulate one action they might take to make the issue of social justice in information more apparent to others Framework: All: Research as Inquiry, Searching as Strategic Exploration, Information Has Value

Individual or Group:

Course Context (e.g. how it was implemented or integrated): 

Session integrated into the High Potential First Year Advising Cohort curriculum.

Additional Instructor Resources (e.g. in-class activities, worksheets, scaffolding applications, supplemental modules, further readings, etc.): 

In-class Exercise

Suggested Citation: 
Brown-Salazar, Margaret. "Social Justice in Information | First Year: High Potential Students." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2017. https://projectcora.org/assignment/social-justice-information-first-year-high-potential-students.
Submitted by Elisa Acosta on January 25th, 2017
Share this on: 
Short Description: 

In an effort to provide students with an open space to learn about and discuss recent national concerns over “fake news,” the library offered four sessions of the workshop “Keepin’ It Real: Tips & Strategies for Evaluating Fake News” during a campus-wide Inauguration Teach-In on Friday, January 20, 2017. During this session, students had the opportunity to talk about how misleading news sources (encompassing misinformation, disinformation, click-bait, propaganda, etc.) have affected their views on civil discourse, specifically relating to the recent U.S. presidential election. By the end of the session, we hope students became more confident in their ability to use critical thinking skills to judge the reliability of news reports, whether they come via print, television or the internet.

Attachments: 
AttachmentSize
Lesson Plan displayed 4365 times612.04 KB
AttachmentSize
Activity #1displayed 3828 times143.59 KB
PowerPointdisplayed 2558 times496.98 KB
Handout / Activity #2displayed 2921 times185.37 KB
Handout / Activity #2displayed 3024 times126.82 KB
Activity #2 Answer Key / Additional Instructions displayed 3639 times15.7 KB
Learning Outcomes: 

• Students will practice techniques for evaluating the credibility of news stories.
• Students will reflect upon their reactions to stories and practice identifying and distinguishing between their emotional responses and logical analyses of the items.
• Students will learn the value of information and sources from multiple perspectives.
• Students will become credible, trustworthy publishers in the digital age (sharing news).

Individual or Group:

Course Context (e.g. how it was implemented or integrated): 

The campus-wide breakout sessions were from 11:00-12:30pm (1.5 hours). Faculty were encouraged to cancel classes 8am-12:30pm so that students could watch the Inauguration together and attend one breakout session.

• Inauguration Day Teach-in website:  https://web.archive.org/web/20180117195647/http://academics.lmu.edu/teachin/breakoutsessions/

The library decided to offer four 45-minute break out sessions. Approximately 90 students attended. Several staff members and faculty attended also.

• Library Breakout Session Description: 

https://web.archive.org/web/20170113072807/https://librarynews.lmu.edu/2017/01/keepin-real-tips-strategies-evaluating-fake-news/

Additional Instructor Resources (e.g. in-class activities, worksheets, scaffolding applications, supplemental modules, further readings, etc.): 

Activity #2 could be spun off into a reflective assignment for students to critically examine their own news media consumption and information behaviors.

Potential Pitfalls and Teaching Tips: 

We had too much material for a 45-minute workshop. Perhaps 60-90 minutes is more realistic. Set aside more time for student discussion. As time marches on, choose a more timely "Fake News" story for Activity #1.

Suggested Citation: 
Acosta, Elisa. "Keepin It Real: Tips and Strategies for Evaluating Fake News." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2017. https://projectcora.org/assignment/keepin-it-real-tips-and-strategies-evaluating-fake-news.
Submitted by Laura Massa on January 5th, 2017
Share this on: 
Short Description: 

In small groups students give a presentation examining how the popular media reports scientific findings.

Attachments: 
AttachmentSize
Science in the Media presentations assignment & rubricdisplayed 1599 times19.28 KB
Learning Outcomes: 

• Discriminate between scholarly and popular modes of knowledge through an understanding of the peer review process. • Engage critically and reflectively in scholarly discourse. • Exercise critical thinking in oral discussion and writing.

Individual or Group:

Additional Instructor Resources (e.g. in-class activities, worksheets, scaffolding applications, supplemental modules, further readings, etc.): 

Before I introduce the assignment I ask students to rate how accurately they believe that the popular media reports scientific findings. After all of the presentations have been given, I ask them to rate this again, and engage in a bit of reflective writing. I ask them explain why their rating has stayed the same or changed, how they will approach science in the media moving forward, and what they think the main take-aways from this assignment have been. We then discuss those take-away messages-- which usually results in a much broader and deeper understanding of information sources.

Suggested Citation: 
Massa, Laura. "Science in the Media." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2017. https://projectcora.org/assignment/science-media.

Teaching Resource

This collection brings together scholarship and pedagogy from multiple perspectives and disciplines, offering nuanced and complex perspectives on Information Literacy in the second decade of the 21st century.

Teaching Resource

This book is intended to help widen and deepen the conversations between librarians and compositionists.

Pages