Download - Enriching the Academic Experience
INSPIRATION, INNOVATION, CELEBRATION an entrepreneurial conference for librarians
June 3 & 4, 2009
Enriching the Academic ExperienceThe Library and Experiential Learning
William BlackChristy Groves
Amy York
Middle Tennessee State University
Introduction and Overview
Define EXL
EXL @ MTSU
EXL experiences @ MTSU Walker Library
EXL formal class
EXL as a new role for libraries
Several EXL Definitions
Internships
Cooperative Education
Undergraduate Research
Study Abroad
Service Learning
Leadership Development
Student Teaching
EXL @ MTSU
“that learning process that takes place beyond the traditional classroom and that enhances the personal and intellectual growth of the student. This education can occur in a wide variety of settings, but it usually takes on a ‘learn-by-doing’ aspect that engages the student directly in the subject,
work or service involved.”
-- Experiential Education in the College of Arts and Sciences, Northeastern University, 1997.
EXL @ MTSU
Develop an experience-based knowledge & apply theories to practical problems
Create connections between experience and discipline
Cultivate good citizenship through contributions to community
Develop as individuals -- understand needs of others, cultural awareness, and appreciation of differences
Develop & demonstrate managerial & leadership & research skills
American Democracy Project, McNair Scholars
MTSU EXL Requirements
18 hours of EXL classes
At least one external activity – a research project requiring interaction external to the department or university
Internal service component – leadership role in campus sponsored charitable activity, volunteer with campus office, or campus leader
Completion of an E-Portfolio (a Web site created by the student showing learning outcomes during the EXL Scholars Program experience)
Participation in assessment activities
Participating in the EXL Program at MTSU can provide valuable opportunities to:
Keep abreast of changing needs in industry
Interact with professionals in the field
Become familiar with employers
Evaluate classroom instruction in relation to students’ preparation for employment
Explore new possibilities for working relationships
Explore new possibilities for public service
EXL Benefits to Faculty
EXL Experiences @ Walker Library Library as Partner: Revisioning the Library
Marketing students and survey Anthropology students and focus groups Art students and paper projects
Library as Leader Spring 2009 EXL 2010: Revisioning Walker Library
Library as Lab Anthropology and Garbology Printing Press Project
Library as Partner
Revisioning the Walker Library
Assessing the Library’s Role
Evaluating Performance
Structuring the Partnership
Goals
Outcomes
Revisioning the Walker Library
Focus Questions
What Activities can be stopped?
How could continuing activities use less resources?
What changes could be made to improve efficiency?
What new services/activities could be provided to faculty and students to improve the library’s relevance to the campus?
What relationships with other campus units should be established or expanded in order to improve library’s relevance to the campus?
Marketing Initiative
Purpose Explore why students come to the library Determine how often they would come if certain
changes were made Discover ways that could student use of the
library
Methodology Paper & pencil survey handed out and
completed in classes (869 responses)
Restricted choice questions Margin of error = +/- 3.3% Data entered into computer & compiled
Marketing Initiative
Results
Students primarily come to the library to a) use computers b) meet with study groupsc) do research for a class
Students would come more often or stay longer if the library had a) more computersb) increased open seating, more comfortable seatingc) the ability to reserve meeting roomsd) longer hours, particularly 24 hour access during examse) the ability to bring food & drink into the building
Marketing Initiative
What we learned:
Collaboration has value
Population counts
Anthropology Project Three overriding questions:
How do students conduct research for class assignments?
Do students use the library during the research process and
What are student perceptions of the library?
Focus Group Discussion Issues:How students conduct research
Who students consult about research
If and how students use the MTSU library
Student awareness of library resources and services
Student satisfaction with library resources and services
Anthropology Project
Methodology
Student researchers solicited participants
The Library provided food for Summer focus groups
Researchers took notes and transcribed audio sessions
Discussion questions developed as a group with anthropology instructor
Anthropology Project
Research Outputs
Written field reports
Oral presentation
Typed transcripts
Summary of findings by instructor
a
Anthropology Project
Assessment
Review of focus group transcripts
Assignment of identifiers
Identification of common themes
Anthropology Project
We learned about why students use the library: Use computers, study alone or with a group, do research
for a class, find books and articles
How they do research: Internet (Google, Wikipedia, Amazon), book and article
research, database preferences
Who they contact Classmates, friends in major, students who have taken
same class, instructor, reference desk, Jesus
Anthropology Project
Application of Research Results
Question Tent – Fall 2008
More laptops and increased laptop checkout period
Circulation limits increased
Food and drink policy changed
Anthropology Project
Drawbacks of Partnership – Library
Diminished control
Reliance on inexperienced researchers
Increased visibility = increased accountability
Anthropology Project
LESSONS
Clear research questions
Preliminary education
Deeper discussion about project goals
Realistic timeline
Increased involvement
Anthropology Project information from K. West & S. MangrumWalker Library, MTSU
•Pros
Art Studen
Amy
Spring 2008 – Paper Rewind
Library as Leader
EXL 2010: Service Learning Practicum Revisioning The Walker Library
What is it?A class in the library where you do a project, learn skills, get practical experience
Why take a course in the Library?Earn 1 hour class creditGet research and analysis skillsFlexible class scheduleClass meets on campus and onlineWork with other students and individually
What will I be doing?Review what services the Walker Library currently offersReview library services offered at other institutionsLead research projects to assess library services and facilitiesRecommend practical changes to services offered to the MTSU community
EXL 2010: Revisioning the Walker LibrarySpring 2009
PLAN A: Student Advisory Board Class credit = participation Brainstorming new services; helping with events; administering
surveys Regular meetings
ENROLLMENT = 5 students 4 students 3 students
PLAN B: single research project and discussion questions Meet online (in D2L) Students work independently and together online Answer “reflection” questions about library usage/preferences (e.g.,
noise levels, food and drink policy, personal study habits and library)
EXL 2010 Research ProjectSpace Utilization Study*
Methods: 10 days of observation: M-F and M-F 4 times per day (except Friday): 10 am, 2pm, 6pm, 10pm Record occupation of open seating, computers, and group study rooms Library is divided into zones for observations
Goals: Determine most popular seating choices: carrels, tables, or soft chairs Identify most popular “zones” in the library Determine peak computer and group study usage times
Student participation: Help design study parameters and observation sheets Record observations Analyze data
* Modeled after Xia, Jingfeng (2005). Visualizing occupancy of library study space with GIS maps. New Library World 106: 5/6. pp. 219-233.
Library as Lab
Anthropology and GarbologyA Material Culture Investigation of the James E. Walker Library, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee by Owenby and Cavlovic
In this paper we will explore the material culture left behind by people using the James E. Walker Library on the Middle Tennessee State University campus. We will do this by examining the trash left behind by students and faculty in the library study rooms, student break rooms, faculty break room, and the Starbucks in the library. We will reveal our expectations, methodologies, what we found, and interpretations of these findings. We will also include a critique of our methodologies and recommendations for future projects of this genre.
Printing Press Project
The journey of readingbegins with the act of printing
Back to the future Collaboration Construction Partners Funding Partners
Support
MTSU Foundation Local Donor Private Foundation Friends of the Press
PROJECT GOALS
Enhance the educational experience
Serve as a cultural resource
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
Partnerships with county middle and high schools
Community workshops Visiting artist program
EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES
County Schools
MTSU Classes
Community Outreach
EXL and Libraries
Pros:Free workPart of larger academic communityLibrary takes active role in learningStudents have active role in library servicesSets up new role for libraries
Cons:Results may be less than perfectCan be a lot of work for librariansAre you ready to accept student ideas? And follow up?Grades
Cultivating Partnerships
Create list of library needsTap your friends in academic departmentsContact EXL or Service Learning OfficeGet to know the curriculum (senior capstone project?)Go to student exhibits, scholars day, senior showcasesUse web 2.0 to invite feedback/projects (blogs, twitter, facebook, wikis)Exhibit some radical (or moderate) trust
Mystery Pillows
Class assignment Pillows highly used by students Students created this on their own Several pillows disappeared....
Keys to the Entrepreneurial Spirit
Expect success
Be willing to try
Find a nucleus of support
Dedicate to the task
Learn from others
Snatch success from failure
Culture of experimentation
Other Examples
Marketing/advertising CSU San Marcos: library marketing plan1
Texas A&M: advertise e-books2
Illinois Wesleyan: promote reference services3
Database instruction (English students) Hampton University: created database guides4
Eastern Washington University: Refworks workshops5
Ergonomics Cornell University: library signage and workstation design6
ENDNOTES
References
1. Meulemans, Yvonne Nalani and Ann Manning Fiegen. (2006). Using business student consultants to benchmark and develop a library marketing plan. Journal of Business and Finance Librarianship. 11(3), 19-31.
2. McGeachin, Robert B. and Diana Ramirez. (2005). Collaborating with students to develop an advertising campaign. College & Undergraduate Libraries. 12(1), 139-152.
3. Duke, Lynda M., Jean B. MacDonald, and Carrie S. Trimble. (2009). Collaboration between marketing students and the library: an experiential learning project to promote reference services. College and Research Libraries. 70(2), 110-121.
4. Rhodes, Naomi J. and Judith M. Davis. (2001). Using service learning to get positive reactions in the library. Computers in Libraries. 21(1), 32-35.
5. Meyer, Nadean J. and Ielleen R. Miller. (2008). The library as a service-learning partner: a win-win collaboration with students and faculty. College & Undergraduate Libraries. 15(4), 399-413.
6. Library ergonomics. Cornell University Ergonomics Web. Retrieved May 28, 2009, from http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/AHProjects/Library/libraryprojects.html.
7. Katula, Richard and Elizabeth Threnhauser.. (1999). Experiential education in the undergraduate curriculum. Communication Education. 48, 238-255.