A Guide to Teaching Information Literacy: 101 Tips

This easy-to-use book is an invaluable source of inspiration for any librarian involved in teaching information literacy, providing practical guidance on tried and tested ideas and techniques for sessions. The role of the librarian increasingly involves delivering information literacy using a range of teaching methods, from delivering induction sessions to informal one-to-one support on a day-to-day basis. Although this is increasingly recognized, many practitioners do not have teaching qualifications and are often left to fulfil a role for which they feel ill-equipped. Even when they do have teaching qualifications, these are often gained from mainstream courses that do not always adequately address the delivery of information literacy. This book is a much-needed sourcebook to support library staff in the delivery of information literacy teaching, whether they are new to teaching or experienced but in search of fresh ideas. Full of hints and tips grounded in learning theory, it is a practical reference tool designed to be dipped into as needed when planning teaching and training. Where applicable the activities are mapped to models of information literacy, with guidance on adapting ideas for different levels and contexts. Advice is given on activities in the following areas: designing sessions preparing sessions delivering sessions different types of sessions teaching by topic creating teaching / support materials assessing learning evaluating teaching sessions e-learning. Readership: Any librarian involved with teaching information literacy and LIS students.

Table of Contents:
Planning 1. A framework for designing and delivering teaching and learning 2. Information literacy and standards 3. Training Needs Analysis (TNA) 4. Learner analysis 5. Pre-session audit 6. Learning styles 7. Facilitating learning 8. Aims 9. Learning outcomes 10. Assessment 11. Reflection 12. Evaluation 13. Social learning 14. Lesson planning 15. Storyboards Delivery 16. Body language 17. Collaboration 18. Computer labs 19. Cultural relevance 20. Demonstrations 21. Discipline 22. Dominant participants 23. Feedback to learners 24. Handouts 25. Inclusion 26. Interruptions 27. Jokes and humour 28. Latecomers 29. Managing groups 30. Managing questions 31. Managing sessions – overview 32. Managing sessions – the start 33. Managing sessions – the end 34. Marking 35. Mixed abilities 36. Motivation 37. Multisensory approaches 38. Nerves 39. One-to-one teaching/coaching 40. Peer observation 41. PowerPoint 42. Practical preparation 43. Presenting and performing 44. Questions 45. Room layout 46. Teaching assistants 47. Team teaching 48. Technical problems 49. Timing 50. Unresponsive participants Activities 51. Action learning 52. Amplifying your teaching 53. Audio feedback 54. Bibliographies 55. Blogs 56. Brainstorming 57. Building blocks 58. Buzz groups 59. Card sorting 60. Case studies 61. Cephalonian method 62. Checklists 63. Design briefs 64. Discussions 65. Dividing the dots 66. Drawing the line 67. Fear cards 68. Future scenarios 69. Games 70. Goldfish bowl 71. Guided tours 72. Hands-on workshops 73. Ice-breakers 74. Interviewing 75. Jigsaws 76. Lectures 77. Mind maps 78. Multiple-choice questions 79. Peer assessment 80. Podcasts 81. Portfolios 82. Poster tours 83. Presentations by learners 84. Problem-based learning (PBL) 85. Pub quizzes 86. Questionnaires 87. Quizzes 88. Self-assessment 89. Self-guided tours 90. Social bookmarking 91. Stop, Start, Continue feedback 92. Storytelling 93. Technology-enhanced learning (TEL) 94. Treasure hunt 95. Video 96. Virtual learning environments (VLEs) (or learning management systems, LMSs) 97. Visiting lecturers/guest speakers 98. Voting systems 99. WebQuests 100. Wikis 101. Worksheets

About the Author :
Helen Blanchett, Netskills Consultant Trainer, Newcastle University Information Systems and Services, Chris Powis, Deputy Director (Academic Services), Information Services, The University of Northampton and Jo Webb, Academic Services Manager, De Montfort University

Review :
Whilst acknowledging the proliferation of existing and emerging books or chapters about information literacy, British co-authors Blanchett, Powis and Webb have deliberately set out to publish a different kind of compilation, specifically ‘a series of hints and tips, together with some best practice guidelines’. They have succeeded in this, acknowledging input from many colleagues based at De Montfort and Northamption universities, JISC Netskills and elsewhere...All told, this is a great collection for advancing librarians’ teaching repertoires. Its utility is strengthened by both the brevity of individual entries and the span of practical issues covered. This new book from Facet“does what it says on the tin”. For those involved in teaching information literacy it provides a great introduction to teaching and learning, and how to apply both of these in an Information Literacy setting...this is a book that can be ‘dipped into’ if you are ever stuck for ideas for an Information Literacy/Study Skills teaching session. It gives you the pedagogic theory to back up the teaching delivery and activities, a range of delivery types to suit both beginners and experienced trainers, and a wide range of activities designed to encourage learning in differing learner groups. This text will serve as a great resource for instructors looking for inspiration. Whether it's just a small tweak or a complete reimagining, A Guide to Teaching Information Literacy offers some interesting and creative suggestions for improving instructional practice.