Instruction at KML
KML librarians are available to give sessions on using the library resources. We can come to your classroom or hold sessions in the library. We can customize the session to your particular subject area and assignments. Please use our instruction request form to let us know when you would like to schedule a session and what content you would like us to cover.
Our Recommendations for Instruction
Faculty
- Suggest or assign the online tutorials to your students as part of their
first research assignment. The tutorials are accessible from the KML website
(http://kml.uindy.edu/tutorials/). Students can print out personalized
Certificates of Completion for each section of Module 2, to be turned in to you. If you
prefer, KML can provide a written test to be taken in class.
- Once your students have covered the basics in the online tutorials,
you may wish to schedule one or more classroom sessions tailored to your
particular subject area or research assignment. To request a classroom
session, simply fill out the online
Instruction Request Form, or call Tedra Richter at 788-2100.
- Please encourage students to contact our Reference Librarian any time
they would like individualized help or follow-up. Students have a number
of options:
- Stop by the library or give us a call weekdays from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. and
ask to speak to a Reference Librarian.
- Send us questions
via our e-mail service, Ask-a-Librarian.
- Schedule
an appointment: contact Tedra Richter (trichter@uindy.edu / 788-2100).
Students
- Go through all of the online tutorials. They are structured so that
you can go through them at your own pace and at your own convenience.
- If you would like individualized help, there are several options. The staff at KML is here to support you!
- Stop by the library or give us a call weekdays from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. and
ask to speak to a Reference Librarian.
- Send us questions
via our e-mail service, Ask-a-Librarian.
- Schedule
an appointment: contact Tedra Richter (trichter@uindy.edu / 788-2100).
- Watch for advertised Brown Bag sessions on your MyUIndy personalized
announcements.
Summary of the Online Tutorials
The tutorials are divided into four self-paced modules:
Module 1: Overview of the Research Process
This tutorial gives the student a quick roadmap of what to expect when embarking
on a research project.
Module 2: InfoHound
This tutorial introduces the student to the many-faceted information “landscape”
and discusses how to choose intelligently among the many possible sources, such
as scholarly and popular journals, databases, and the Internet. InfoHound also
introduces the student to database search skills. InfoHound includes interactive
quizzes. Students can print out a personalized Certificate of Completion for each section of this module.
Module 3: Finding Books and Media
The module is an online demonstration of using the library catalog to find
books and media. It also demonstrates WorldCat, a worldwide catalog that allows
students to find books and media that can be ordered through our interlibrary
loan service.
Module 4: Finding Articles
This module is an online demonstration of database searching and finding full
text online.
The staff at KML is committed to fostering information literacy, a set of
skills and knowledge that allows the individual
- to recognize when information is needed
- to locate and obtain the needed information
- to evaluate the information obtained
- to use the information effectively 1
Information Literacy
Information literacy is a key component of critical thinking and of scholarship,
and contributes significantly to our students’ academic success, lifelong
learning, and responsible citizenship.
Since our students have grown up with computers and the Internet, it may
be surprising to learn that standardized tests are showing that most
graduating high school seniors do not yet possess a high degree of information
literacy.2 Although they may be familiar with sources such as Google
and Wikipedia, they may not have much experience with scholarly sources
and with more advanced search techniques. To bridge the gap, KML offers
a variety of instructional resources:
- Self-paced online tutorials (summarized above).
- Classroom sessions tailored to academic subject areas or specific research
assignments.
- One-on-one consultation with a librarian: in person, by phone,
and by e-mail (“Ask a Librarian”)
- Brown-bag sessions on various topics
Footnotes
- The definition above of information literacy is derived from the Association
of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) standards for information literacy.
More information is available at
ACRL’s information literacy website.
- Katz, Irvin R. (2007). ETS research finds college students fall short
in demonstrating ICT literacy: National Policy Council to create national
standards. College and Research Library News, 68(1). Retrieved
July 24, 2007, from
http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlpubs/crlnews/backissues2007/january07/ets.htm