Library Instruction for Information Literacy & Critical Thinking
Librarians partner with instructors to advance information literacy and critical thinking throughout the curriculum. Critical thinking is closely intertwined with information literacy, which is defined by the Association of College and Research Libraries as "the set of integrated abilities encompassing the reflective discovery of information, the understanding of how information is produced and valued, and the use of information in creating new knowledge and participating ethically in communities of learning." Learn more about information literacy.(opens in a new window)
At OHIO, we start exposing students to the basics of what it means to navigate scholarship at orientation and build on that as students progress through their studies. As one way to build that foundation, the Libraries have partnered with University College, the School of Music, and others to embed our First Year OHIO Libraries Tutorial(opens in a new window) into the curriculum. This tutorial acts as the next step from orientation to foundational library and information literacy skills.
As students advance into higher level course within their majors, we encourage all instructors to consider how and why their students might be interacting with library and information resources. And discuss with their subject or regional campus librarian how best to support student learning in this area. Librarians can deliver instruction to your class in-person or online, asynchronously or synchronously.
See the Targeted Instruction, Assignments and Resources and Online Tutorials tabs for examples of what librarians can do!
Here are some of the collaborations librarians and instructors have used to advance student learning:
- Re-imagined the research paper assignment to meet your learning objectives and your time constraints.
- Created Subject or Course Guides (opens in a new window) that list the most appropriate resources in support of programs or assignments.
- Discussed how information literacy, critical thinking, and the library fit with BRICKS General Education.
- Developed customized library instruction or workshops for your class, in-person or online.
- Created targeted instructional videos like Evaluating Health Research (opens in a new window), by Hanna Schmillen, health science librarian.
- Used archival collections and digital special collections to teach primary source literacy.
- Shared lesson plans to examine authority and bias; helping students ask, “What is true?” “What is Fake news?” (opens in a new window)
- Supported instruction on background research and concept mapping to hone topics (opens in a new window).
OHIO librarians, archivists and staff can create tutorials that teach, engage, and quiz students. Some examples:
- Plagiarism Tutorial (opens in a new window) by Hanna Schmillen
- Visual Literacy Tutorial (opens in a new window) by Laura Smith
- Fair Use and Creative Commons for Images (opens in a new window)
- Searching 101 for School of Art + Design Students (opens in a new window)
- Introduction to Archives & Special Collections (opens in a new window) by Miriam Intrator
- Ethics in Archival & Historical Research(opens in a new window) by Miriam Intrator
- Industry & Market Research Basics Tutorial (opens in a new window) by Chad Boeninger
Specialized Workshops & Instruction Sessions
Ohio University Libraries provide additional learning opportunities to increase your information skills and knowledge in creative ways. These include online tutorials, workshops, and virtual tours available any time, as well as schedulable sessions taught by OHIO librarians, archivists, and library staff.