Abstract

There is an old proverb, "If the mountain will not come to Mohammed, then Mohammed must go to the mountain." Without a university mandate for information literacy instruction, it is a challenge to engage our incoming undergraduate freshmen who are often overwhelmed by the higher expectations of scholarship at the college level and the complexities of the information environment. Unique and creative approaches are needed to reach millennial learners where they are, both physically in terms of where they reside on campus and pedagogically by employing new teaching methods that they can appreciate and understand. This poster presents a highly collaborative project that was developed by librarians, faculty, and students at Purdue University: "Research Project Survival" brought information literacy instruction into the lounges of five residence halls in a fun and interactive format that included food, games, and prizes. Attendance was voluntary and exceeded expectations by averaging 22 residents per session. Students completed written evaluations, and a final report assessed the success of the program. The poster draws from over thirty photos that were taken at the events; screen-shots of Facebook events used for student interaction; and ephemera such as the lively and humorous posters made by the students. Poster presented at the American Libraries Association 2008 Annual Conference, June 30, 2008, in Anaheim, California.

Keywords

information literacy instruction, undergraduate, outreach

Date of this Version

6-30-2008

InfoLitResHallsReport.pdf (8746 kB)
Taking Information Literacy to the Halls: A Pilot Project (Summative Report)

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