Video tutorials are a common form of library instruction used with distance learners. This paper combines professional experience and literature reviews from multiple disciplines to provide a contextual overview of recommendations and findings for effective and engaging videos. The tools for tutorials appear in five main categories: screencasts,…

To introduce students to library research skills, university faculty often encourage them to attend hour-long presentations offered by the library. This face-to-face introduction to research skills can be disappointing, however, if students do not participate during the session. This article reports on a study that focused on improving student…

Describes the use of IMSeries software, a relational database capable of implementing curriculum design, in an elementary school. Topics include Big6 research skills; tracking the scope and sequence of curriculum; tying library skills to curricular disciplines; information literacy; and examples of a lesson unit and assessment strategy. (LRW)

Discusses electronic books and the need for school library media specialists to merge information literacy and library skills with technology skills. Highlights include advancing technology for electronic books; helpful Web sites, including Project Gutenburg; and reader software. (LRW)

Describes a project which made Wilsonline and the Wilsearch software available to high school students for term paper research. Findings are discussed, including student ability to formulate search strategies, usefulness of retrieved citations, and most frequently requested databases. The value of Wilsearch is compared with that of local library…

Describes the evaluation of a library orientation program for graduate students at Utah State University using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) software. Results are reported that indicate the need to focus on general information access skills rather than specific subject areas. (Contains nine references.) (LRW)

Briefly describes the elements of HyperCard and discusses its potential as an easy authoring tool for library media specialists to use in creating professional quality, computer-based instructional materials. Suggestions for the development of presentations, tutorials, information exploration exercises, and desktop instruction using HyperCard are…

Describes the planning process that took place at the College of DuPage (Illinois) in the development of a cross-platform interactive multimedia instruction program designed to be accessible to undergraduate students with diverse information literacy skills. Several authoring software packages are reviewed, and project proposal and content outline…

Review of software designed to help students find and use reference materials covers use of databases and word processing programs to record and organize notes for student research papers and online databases to acquire research materials. Learning activities for teaching how to use these resources include program for computer dictionary. (MBR)

Combines the results of action research in the high school library media center with conclusions in the professional literature to argue that systematic formal instruction in electronic search skills is necessary for awareness of library media software and competence in its use. Focuses on the why, what, where, and how of teaching electronic…

This 5-article section provides an annotated bibliography of 39 books about computer technology; describes peripheral equipment essential for building computer systems; suggests an approach to software evaluation and selection; describes the implementation of a computer program for elementary/secondary students and teachers; and reviews 34…

Discusses the role of school media specialists in teaching students to navigate information resources available through online systems. Highlights include database searching; use of the Internet; multimedia workstations; integrated learning systems; teaching library skills; authoring software; and teacher utilities. (two references) (LRW)