Information Literacy (IL) competencies are defined as "the ability to locate, evaluate, and use information effectively" and are considered essential for students in their academic lives and future careers (ALA, 1989). IL plays an important role in developing critical thinking and problem solving skills, and improving academic…

Discusses the lack of success with lecturing for academic library instruction and suggests active learning as a better alternative. Highlights include a historical overview of active learning; considerations for active learning in the library classroom; and active learning and library instruction for special groups. (LRW)

College freshmen enrolled in English composition classes were polled to determine their attitudes toward two different methods of bibliographic instruction: the lecture-discussion practicum and the workbook. Analysis indicated that most students perceived the lecture-discussion to be the more successful instructional technique for both general and…

Describes a library instruction program at the University of Illinois that consists of a narrowly focused one-shot lecture, complemented by a series of library activities that can be completed independently by students. The reasons for revising the program, the variety of instructional approaches and media used, and the effectiveness of the…

Discussion of changes in academic library instruction needed for teaching Internet access to electronic databases focuses on a study at the University of Connecticut that compared differences in effectiveness between an online, real-time hands-on class with an eclectic format that combined lecture and a hands-on component. (Author/LRW)

Discussion of academic library instruction focuses on the use of humor to make it more effective. Highlights include a literature review on humor in education, as a communication device, and use in the business sector; a stand-up comedy workshop; lecture humor; and humorous active learning activities. (LRW)

An alternative method for teaching a three-credit, undergraduate library instruction course for students other than library science majors was explored at Southern Connecticut State University. It was believed that traditional methods of instruction--e.g., lecturing in libraries and using paper handouts--were colorless, failed to engage students,…

This study conducted at Bowling Green State University in 1978-79 compares student reactions to a media-assisted library skills lecture tour and a self-paced workbook covering similar material, traces their reactions during development of a workbook program, and analyzes associations between student reactions and other variables. Fifteen…

A computer-assisted bibliographic instruction program developed for remedial students to teach them critical thinking skills covered library vocabulary, formats, call numbers, tools, and question analysis. Evaluation showed that students receiving classroom presentation scored higher on a posttest than students using the computer-assisted…

This book presents a wide selection of issues currently of interest and concern in higher education institutions in Ireland. The chapters are snapshots of the intersection between theory, practice and research in particular settings; they are not meant to be comprehensive. Nevertheless, they present practice approaches, new theoretical…