vanderbilt visions... an exercise in collaboration loex conference, may 1-3, 2008 melinda brown lee...
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Vanderbilt Visions...An Exercise in Collaboration
LOEX Conference, May 1-3, 2008
Melinda Brown
Lee Ann Lannom
Amy Stewart-Mailhiot
The Environment Private research
university
Nashville, TN
11,847 students
6532
undergraduates
1,700 first-year
students
The Environment
4 schools with undergraduate programs
Blair School of Music Peabody College of Education & Human
Development College of Arts & Science School of Engineering
4 Libraries that serve these colleges
Focus on social, academic, cognitive & cultural transition from high school to college
What is Vanderbilt Visions?
Semester-long orientation program for
first years
Common, shared experience
100 sessions – students + 2
VUceptors
What is Vanderbilt Visions?
Feedback from students in 2006 Visions program…
…Include a Library Session!
What Happened Next?
Committee on Undergraduate Information Literacy (CUIL)
Vanderbilt Libraries – undergraduate Center For Teaching Writing Studio
CUIL member on Vanderbilt Visions Advisory Board
CUIL Makes a Proposal
Introduce resources of Library
system
High school vs. college level
research
Multimedia, interactive
presentation
Meet with large groups
Expected Positive Outcomes
Give all students a base-line introduction to Library services &
tools
Introduce students to a librarian (or two)
Make students aware help is
available at libraries on campus
Proposal Accepted – Now What? CUIL Coordinator became the
Project Manager
As members of CUIL, the Writing Studio & the Center For Teaching participated from the beginning
Development of the Presentation
Parts in development process:
Visions Reader Entry
Video Interviews
Lesson Plan
Staff Training
Development of the Presentation…Visions Reader Entry
Each library has its own character - try
them all out & find out which one works
best for you.
Explore the libraries - there are lots of
computers and hidden study nooks
where you might not expect them to be
They have real (as in non-required,
fiction) books at the library! Good for
beach reading over spring break!
“What Vanderbilt Students Think First-Year Students Should Know about the Libraries?”
Development of the Presentation…Video Interviews
Faculty, graduate & undergraduate student interviews
Focus on the research process, tools & advice for first-year students
Collaboration among campus partners
Development of the Presentation:Lesson Plan
Video Clips
ScriptFun Facts
Interactive Learning
Development of the Presentation:Staff Training
Final Preparations Training for 29 staff Practice with new clickers Field trip to lecture rooms
20 Vision Presentations in 3 days
Intellectual Engagement at
VanderbiltOr…
Things You Need To Know About Research,
But Didn’t Learn In High School
Lights… Camera… Action!
Which of the following cannot be checked out at one of the
libraries at Vanderbilt?
1. A puppet2. An umbrella3. A skeleton4. A globe5. A parachute
High School VS. College Research
(It was a piece of cake, until
I read the syllabus…)
Learn how and where to get started with your research
Hints: Reading Assignments
If you see any of these:– annotated
bibliography – secondary source
material – scholarly or peer-
reviewed articles
It’s research time!
Research Traps to Avoid
• Too much Google and Wikipedia• Not enough scholarly resources
Hard to port! We’re heading for the Googlepedia Triangle. We need to get away before
our research project is sunk!
Articles can be your BFF
Popular vs. Scholarly
Aaargh! What’s the difference?
After the Show…
Library debriefing sessions
Visions staff feedback
Unexpected Surprises
Recommendations
Debriefing Sessions…Presenter Feedback
Question Feedback Proposed solutions
Did you get enough help from VUceptors?
Strong consensus … NO
Do training before sessions
Enlist student workers
Have more library staff per session
How was the timing of the presentation?
Majority started 5-15 minutes late
Consolidate film credits
Cut out parts of video
Debriefing Sessions…Presenter Feedback
Question Feedback Proposed solutions
How was the student response & behavior?
Did the lighting changes or other technical issues impact your presentation?
Ranged from attentive to bored
Problems with students using cell phones
Students liked clickers
Shorten first video clip
Find ways to increase interactive elements
Some rooms required more practice to get the right balance for lighting
Lighting needs varied during PPT and video portions of presentation
Debriefing Sessions…Presenter Feedback
Question Feedback and Proposed Solutions
Aside from technical problems, what part(s) could have worked better?
Videos could have been shorter and/or less repetitive
More technical support from Learning Resource Center
Include popular vs. scholarly tutorial
Include a welcome clip from University Librarian
Conduct more interviews to increase & improve selection
Visions Staff Feedback
Increase the level of interactivity
Include more student involvement
Find creative ways to involve VUceptors
Unexpected Bonuses
Our own ‘shared experience’ Increased sense of collaboration Cross-library communication
Desire to do more sessions
Discovery of hidden staff talents
Recommendations
Determine level of autonomy up
front
Involve students throughout
process
Be Inclusive:
Encourage participation at all levels of the library
Invite faculty & other campus partners to serve as advisors
Recommendations Explore & utilize the talents of
staff
Consider technology needs early:
Survey campus resources Determine what you should
outsource
Do you have a ritual for bringing your research to a close?
Vanderbilt Visions...An Exercise in Collaboration
LOEX Conference, May 1-3, 2008
Melinda Brown, [email protected]
Lee Ann Lannom, [email protected]
Amy Stewart-Mailhiot, [email protected]