New Frontier in Research Methodology
Instruction for Latin Americanists
Jana Krentz
Dept. for Spain, Portugal and Latin America
University of Kansas Libraries
[email protected]
Explosion of the internet and complex
database searching
Need to promote information literacy
skills
Association for College and Research
Libraries (ACRL) – set of standards for
instruction for Higher Education
Teaching faculty recognize the need for
more library instruction.
Poorly researched papers
Over dependence on the internet
Students find library databases too
complicated.
Solutions
One shot subject-specific or generic
instructional sessions
Curricular reform on university
campuses
Collaborative efforts of faculty, librarians
and administrators
Information literacy credit courses
University of Kansas
27,000 undergraduate students.
6,000 graduate and professional
students.
2,000 research and teaching
faculty.
133 faculty affiliated with Latin
American studies.
One of 18 title VI centers for
Latin American studies.
Dept. Of Spanish and Portuguese
ranked 3rd by NRC.
Dept. for Spain, Portugal and
Latin America
42 one shot subject specific sessions
Reaches 1,000 students per year
Research methodology course for Latin
America
Core course with the Latin American
Studies program.
Close relationship with the Dept. of
Spanish and Portuguese
Integrated library component into
Spanish 300-level courses.
LAA700-Research Methodology
for Latin America
25 year history
Help students develop and refine search
skills
Overview of principal research
methodologies and resources
Develop a transferable strategic ability
Follows ACRL standards
Students encouraged to acquire
evaluating skills
Case study scenarios
Partnering with teaching faculty
Historical, current events scenarios,
business prospectus
Mock trial
Pedagogical advantages
Difficulties – partnering with teaching
faculty
Dept. of Spanish and Portuguese
2004 – discussion on lack of literacy
skills in undergraduate majors
Solutions
• More one-shot sessions in 400 and 500-level
classes
• Online tutorials
• Integrating library component in 300-level
classes
Library Components in 300-level
classes
Assessment of information literacy skills
Redesigned Span 324/328
Online/onsite course redesign grant
Spanish 324/328
Composition and grammar for majors
Taught every semester
200 students per semester
Dissatisfaction with its instructional strategies
Desire to include integrated technology
components
6-7 Teaching Assistants, 2 faculty members,
subject specialist librarian
Course redesign
Lecture-breakout section format
Addition of conversation practice and
small group work
Implementation of technology
Film clips, music, art, images, online
tutorials
Blackboard
Personal Response Systems (CPS)
Library modules
2 modules integrally connected to course
content and writing assignments
2 large lecture presentations
Accompanying supporting written
assignments
Online tutorials
Librarian works with instruction team to train
in evaluating activities and assignments.
First module – Guggenheim Museum in
Bilbao
Students use Spanish newspapers,
databases and internet.
Evaluation of websites
Online tutorials
3 online tutorials created using Viewlet
• How to search Spanish language newspapers in
LexisNexis
• How to search Google effectively in Spanish
• How to search ¡Informe!: Revistas en español
Active learning techniques
Graphics
Multiple choice pop-up quizzes
Text boxes
Second module focuses on Latin
America– Bilingualism
Online tutorials
• HAPI – Hispanic American Periodical Index
• HLAS – Handbook of Latin American Studies
• ClasePeriodica
• Online Catalog
Outcome
Ground-breaking course within the
Dept. of Spanish and Portuguese, within
the Libraries, within the University
Feedback and comments positive
Feel their confidence and skills were
enhanced
Fosters departmental goals