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Tools for Engagement
in Library Instruction
Eleonora Dubicki
Jacqui DaCosta
NJLA Annual Conference 2008
Valuing Libraries, Librarians, and Library Staff
May 1, 2008
Eyes down for
LIBRARY
BINGO
Engagement through Active Learning
Active learning techniques shift library instruction
from lecturing to guiding/coaching students.
Engage students in the learning process
Elicit student discovery
Capture their attention
Address multiple learning styles
Create an experience they can relate to and
replicate
Receive immediate feedback as an instructor
Confucius says:
“I hear and I forget.
I see and I remember.
I do and I understand. “
Chinese philosopher &
reformer (551 BC - 479 BC)
Learning Pyramid
Active Learning Requires More Prep
• Collaborate with faculty on assignment
• Powerpoint slides
– learning objectives, assignment, popular vs
scholarly chart, suggested topics, links to
OPAC/databases/tour
• Handout for students
– Contact info, chart for popular vs scholarly,
databases, websites on one side and exercises
• One minute evaluation sheet
– 4 open-ended questions provide feedback on
session
Active learning tools
Back to Bingo!
Library Bingo – one option
• Cards can be given out with keywords
or phrases printed on them
– Requires more advance planning
– Is a speedier option if you are not able to
communicate with participants in advance
– Need to be confident with the terminology
that you use
• Cards „marked‟ off and prizes given
Library Bingo – another option
• Participants can be sent „bingo cards‟ in
advance to record their expectations
of, and questions for, the library
session
• Or participants can complete „bingo
cards‟ as they enter, if there is time
• Cards checked off as something is
mentioned
• First with a „full house‟ wins a prize
Library Bingo – what it achieves
• Marking off the cards is the less
important activity – reflection
• Participants‟ questions are already
prepared and in front of them
• Can collect cards in at the end
– Could respond to other questions by email
– Helps with planning of future sessions
– Assess whether you are briefing faculty
well enough!
Whatever turns you on
• Students and faculty have reacted well
to Library Bingo
• Works well with smaller groups
• Used for Freshman bibliographic
instruction at TCNJ, and orientation
elsewhere
• Perhaps start with a class with whom
you are comfortable and/or know the
instructor well
In the words of another
British import
“And now for something
completely different!”
What is the Cephalonian Method?
• A fusion of color, images,
humor and music!
• A way to involve participants
in the session and to
encourage questions
• An attempt to relieve the
boredom for all involved!
How does this work?
• There are 8 colored cards around the room –
each with a question or a statement
• Colors are assigned to different types or
categories of relevant topics
• Related topics are grouped and assigned
a color
• Be prepared to address any question
from the colored topic set and number
your PowerPoint slides!
How the Cephalonian Method started
• Cardiff University
librarian on holiday
• Developed by Linda
Davies and Nigel
Morgan
• Used initially for large
group orientation and
to replace tours
Popularity of the Cephalonian Method
• Revealed to the unsuspecting
British librarian public in 2004!
• Been used
– For large groups and small groups
– At different types of institutions
– With undergraduates and
graduates
– For orientation and other teaching
sessions
My Mom’s e-mailed me a picture
of Miguel, my pet iguana.
Where can I print him out?
2 PC rooms (24 hour access)
• Microsoft applications
• Subject databases
• Internet & email access
• Network printing accounts
• Laser printing
What really irritates us?
Eating & drinking
Excessive noise
Theft
Cell phones !
Cell phones !!
Cell phones !!!
Reactions to the Cephalonian Method?
Students
• They seem to like it – it’s
something different
• They laugh with you and are
keen to see what is coming
next
Faculty
• “Wonderful”
• “Superb”
• They like the style
What can go wrong?
• Need a contingency plan for
the technology to let you down!
• You are inviting a moderate
amount of chaos into your
classroom
• You can’t audition the students
– Shyness
– Audibility
– Color blindness
Benefits of the Cephalonian Method
• A good icebreaker
• Adaptable for different
audiences
• It can make the students look
forward to their next library
session!
• Achieves certain active
learning objectives
– Interaction
– Discussion and questions
Mixing it Up
• Games – Guess the Google
• Tutorials – Virtual library tour
• Exercises – think-pair-share , hands-
on learning, and demos
Get themTalking
• Guess-the Google
– Ice-breaker
– Guessing game
– Intro to keywords
“Guess-the-Google game was fun and at the
same time informational”
Keyword Exercise
• Pick a topic and identify keywords
– Brainstorming
– Think-Pair-Share
– Small group discussions
– Demonstrations
Write down your Research Topic, underline key concepts:
Global warming is threatening the habitat of polar bears.
Identify Key Concepts
AND AND
Global warming habitat polar bears
Environment home
Use Creative Research Topics
• New marketing strategies for video games increase sales.
• Consumers are concerned about identity theft and privacy.
• Presidential candidates use of YouTube.
• Sports scandals raise questions of fair play.
• Obesity among children can be reduced with more exercise.
• Hip hop lyrics draw outrage.
Collaborative Learning
• Think-Pair-Share
– Students think about a topic
– Pair up with another student to discuss
– Share findings with class
Database Searching Exercise
• Find a scholarly article
– Use topic and keywords from keyword
exercise
– Select database(s) for search
– Refining search strategies
– How do you know it is scholarly?
– Accessing full text of article
Demonstrations
• Have students demo search
• Highlight additional facts about
database as they demo
• Ask students for other suggestions or
how they did the search differently
What do students think?
• “I think more discussion is good”
• ”letting the students follow along makes
remembering the steps easy”
• “the exercises were helpful, fun and
informative”
• “kept my attention and taught me a lot”
• “liked video before class”
The fun of learning
Think-pair-share Demonstrations
• Reflection • Hands-on
• Collaborative • Trial and error
learning • Teach others
• Social interaction • Practical applications
• Brainstorm ideas
• Receive feedback
The fun of learning
Library Bingo Cephalonian Method
• Social interaction • Social interaction
• Encourages • Revolves around
questioning questioning
• Requires cognitive • Engagement through
activity challenge and
• Reflective learning involvement
• Provides incidental
learning
Cooperstein & Kocevar-Weidinger (2004), Bicknell-Holmes & Hoffman (2000)
Final thoughts
• Not for everyone
– Confidence
– Librarian/Entertainer
• Preparation time
– Can‟t just “pick it up and run”
– Can reap benefits
• Minimal technology
– Low cost option
• Students are more engaged
and less inclined to dash away
