Library, Writing Program Collaborate to Address Students’ Information Literacy Needs
January 18, 2017
UC Merced instruction librarians and several faculty members from the Merritt Writing Program (MWP) met Jan. 5 for a one-day Teaching Research and Information Literacy (TRAIL) workshop.
This is the fourth group of faculty members from the writing program to attend the workshop with the intent of integrating TRAIL activities, readings and tutorials into their Writing 10: College Reading and Composition sections.
The TRAIL curriculum srives to embed information literacy more deeply into courses than is possible in single library instruction sessions. MWP faculty incorporate TRAIL materials into the first few weeks of their course, which prepares students for in-person library instruction. Students arrive at the library session with drafted research questions, pre-search experience and an understanding of concepts such as bias.
During the session, librarians work with students to strengthen their research questions, develop their search strategies and address search challenges they encounter. In this model, students experience research as a process alongside the process of writing, rather than research as a one-time event in the form of a library instruction session.
Librarians are interested in meeting students’ information literacy needs in a variety of disciplines through collaborative efforts with faculty members, whether through face-to-face instruction, embedded curriculum, tutorials or models similar to TRAIL.
People who would like to explore options for integrating information literacy into their courses can email Sara Davidson Squibb or call 209-205-8237. Learn more about resources provided by Library Instruction Services on the department’s webpage.
