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How can a librarian help my students improve their research?
What expertise does a librarian have?
Librarians at Cal State San Marcos have a Master’s in Library and Information Science and are faculty. This terminal degree ensures that librarians are experts in a breadth of information organization and retrieval. We are experts in educating users to identify, find, and use the best information resources for your field.
Each instruction librarian is also a subject specialist and brings unique knowledge to their instruction, development of library collections, and assistance to students, faculty, and staff. We know our subject areas from the information creation and use perspective. For example, the Business Librarian’s knowledge of the intricacies of navigating Mergent Online helps Business 302 students successfully compare ratios. Similarly, our Science Librarian’s knowledge of PubMed’s MeSH system is vital to helping a biochemistry student track down needed articles.
Examples of librarian faculty collaborations
How does all of the above actually happen?
The examples below include a brief description of the library
instruction provided and the three main learning outcomes, as
articulated in the Information Literacy Standards for Higher Education. These
examples represent only a small sampling of the wide range of
librarian faculty collaborations.
Biology 211: Introduction to Population and Organismal Biology
This is the 2nd course in the first year of coursework for Biology majors. It is taught entirely with the Problem-based Learning pedagogy, a approach that has been widely adopted in Nursing and Medical education. Students are presented with real-world scenarios and as teams, research explanations and solutions. A significant challenge for students is finding and understanding peer-reviewed journal articles, which are required to be used as their main information sources. In collaboration with the instructor of record and laboratory instructor, students are given in-depth instruction in strategically searching CSUSM Library's resources. An assignment in the first week of classes is given to students that will prepare them for their semester of research. Throughout the semester, students are expected to seek out assistance as their scenarios get more complex. Currently in development is an online tutorial that will complement the in-class instruction and first-week assignment; all of which will allow students to begin developing the library research skills essential for a career in the sciences.
Main Learning Objectives
1.1e Identifies key concepts and terms that describe the information need
2.2a Develops a research plan appropriate to the investigative method
3.4f, g Integrates new information with previous information or knowledge and Selects information that provides evidence for the topic
COMM 390: Communication Research Designs, Methods and Approaches
This course is required for all Communications majors and explores both qualitative and quantitative research and relies heavily on the library for the literature reviews. In collaboration with the instructor of record, the librarian teaches students how to conduct library research focused mainly on finding and accessing scholarly communications journal articles while sharing tips on ways to focus their topic. While various instructors of record may vary the specifics of the assignment, the learning outcome of the course and its focus on library resources is clear.
Main Learning Objectives
1.1a Confers with instructors and participates in class discussions, peer workgroups, and electronic discussions to identify a research topic, or other information need
2.2b,c Identifies keywords, synonyms and related terms for the information needed and Selects controlled vocabulary specific to the discipline or information retrieval source
2.3a Uses various search systems to retrieve information in a variety of formats
3.4a. Determines whether information satisfies the research or other information need
GEW 101: Principles of Written Communication
An introductory course for first-year students in critical thinking and writing skills that fulfills General Education Requirement Area A.2 (Written Communication.) The students utilize reading and writing to demonstrate development in critical thinking and analysis. The Major Paper #2 project requires properly documented research in a variety of scholarly sources and analysis of the sources used to support their thesis and arguments. Student awareness of the variety of sources, their appropriateness to the assigned topic, and ethical use of those sources are the goals of the librarian instructor in the instructional collaboration. Due to the variety of assigned topics and individual classroom instructor's goals, learning is supported through a customized presentation of lecture/demonstration, hands-on work, and follow-up appointments. A supporting online tutorial is being developed to reinforce and expand the library skills and concepts presented during the classroom interactions.
Main Learning Objectives
2.1a,b Investigates the scope, content, and organization of information retrieval systems and selects efficient and effective approaches for accessing the information needed from the investigative method or information retrieval system
2.2b,c Identifies keywords, synonyms and related terms for the information needed and Selects controlled vocabulary specific to the discipline or information retrieval source
3.2a Examines and compares information from various sources in order to evaluate reliability, validity, accuracy, authority, timeliness, and point of view or bias
HIST 301: Historical Methods and Writing
The gateway course for the History major student, this course provides guided exploration of the range of historical research while focusing on a specific topic. The librarian instructor, in collaboration with the classroom instructor, advances the student's existing knowledge of research techniques and resources. This includes awareness of subject-specific resources and more advanced research techniques and introduction to the less-used resources. Guidance is provided through lecture/demonstration to prepare the students to parse their broad topic into researchable pieces. A follow-up hands-on research meeting is to begin exploration and reinforce through active learning. The librarian's goal is to elaborate on the basics of information literacy and in help the students understand and determine the place of their findings in the scholarly conversation.
Main Learning Objectives
1.1d Defines or modifies the information need to achieve a manageable focus
2.1c, d Investigates the scope, content, and organization of information retrieval systems and selects efficient and effective approaches for accessing the information needed from the investigative method or information retrieval system
3.5a,b Investigates differing viewpoints encountered in the literature and determines whether to incorporate or reject viewpoints encountered
ID 340: American Ethnic and Multicultural Studies
This interdisciplinary course studies the challenges and opportunities that exist for various ethnic subpopulations in America including: African Americans, Native Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, and White Ethnics (e.g., Italian Americans, Irish Americans, and Jewish Americans). In a semester-long, intensive research project-- designed in collaboration with the instructor of record and the ethnic studies librarian-- students analyze a particular ethnic subpopulation, focusing on the myths and realities of access to valued resources (like income, education or healthcare) and the past and present discrimination of that group.
Main Learning Objectives
1.1c Explores general information sources to increase familiarity with the topic
3.2a Examines and compares information from various sources in order to evaluate reliability, validity, accuracy, authority, timeliness, and point of view or bias
5.3a Selects an appropriate documentation style and uses it consistently to cite sources
Kinesiology 202: Introduction to Kinesiology
This gateway course for kinesiology majors provides a holistic overview of the field of study and builds the core skills and knowledge needed for students to succeed in the major. A significant part of a kinesiology major’s learning experience requires the searching, use and application of the professional literature that ranges highly technical discussions of biomechanics, psychological determinants of exercise motivation, and sociological perspectives on professional athletes. Therefore, two sessions of this class are dedicated to having students become familiar with navigating PubMed (the primary research literature database for kinesiology.) Emphasis is placed on articulating the information needed in the right terminology and nomenclature, efficiently assessing the relevancy of search results, and, most importantly, developing an understanding of how the disparate literature of this field is organized.
Main Learning Objectives
1.1c Explores general information sources to increase familiarity with the topic.
2.2b Identifies keywords, synonyms and related terms for the information needed.
2.2c Selects controlled vocabulary specific to the discipline or information retrieval source.
2.3a Uses various search systems to retrieve information in a variety of formats.
3.4a. Determines whether information satisfies the research or other information need.
Sociology 480: Seminar in Comparative Sociology
This is a capstone course designed for sociology majors who are about to graduate. The course requires students to draw upon their background in Social Theory and in Sociological Research Methods to engage in comparative sociological research on a topic of their choice. Students need to compare and study a social issue in at least two societies. .
Main Learning Objectives
1.1d,e Defines or modifies the information need to achieve a manageable focus and identifies key concepts and terms that describe the information need
3.2a Examines and compares information from various sources in order to evaluate reliability, validity, accuracy, authority, timeliness, and point of view or bias
3.4b,c Uses consciously selected criteria to determine whether the information contradicts or verifies information used from other sources and draws conclusions based upon information gathered
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