The developmentalist conception of information's value makes learning the central consideration for evaluating information. Following philosopher Richard Kraut, this article argues that developmentalism provides an important complement to prevalent methods of teaching the evaluation of information. These methods emphasize (a) trustworthiness--for…

This study is based on the belief that inquiry-based learning should be made an integral part of any student's learning, especially at university level. To find out the students' perceptions toward library user education, 426 questionnaire surveys have been collected from the Peking University (PKU), China and the University of Tsukuba (UT),…

Critical information literacy is a way of thinking and teaching that examines the social construction and political dimensions of libraries and information, problematizing information's production and use so that library users may think critically about such forces. Being an educational approach that acknowledges and emboldens learners' agency,…

This article is an exploration of ways in which LIS educators can consider culture, heritage, and identity as a framework for becoming participatory agents of their teaching practices in the LIS classroom. To support this framework, this discussion introduces the research methodology, practitioner inquiry, as a meaningful approach to studying…

When secondary school librarians teach students digital life literacies, they help students perceive that librarians can provide support for real-life problems. The more librarians work with students, create inviting library environments, and have positive engagements with students, the more they change student perceptions of librarians in…

Learning communities purposefully restructure the curriculum to link together courses or course work so that students find greater coherence in what they are learning as well as increased intellectual interaction with faculty and fellow students. This article investigates where academic libraries and academic library user instruction fit in this…

Describes how principles of learning theory can be applied to bibliographic instruction to increase its efficacy and broaden its scope. The discussion covers conditions of learning, including motivation, active responding, and reinforcement; learning of information seeking behaviors, including the power of reinforcement and librarian-initiated…

Describes background and content of a library skills course paired with an English composition course in a developmental studies program for high risk university students. Several principles for teaching developmental students are listed, and suggestions for pairing courses are offered. (nine references) (MES)

An ongoing research project at the University of Alabama explores the term paper bibliographies of students receiving two different forms of library instruction. Two librarians score each bibliography for appropriateness and quality of sources. Results to date indicate that bibliographies of students receiving extra library instruction are not…

In the 1970s, German academic libraries discovered user education as a new area of responsibilities, although promising activities at the end of the decade were not continued because of the lack of staff and organizational conditions. Since the beginning of the 1990s, activities in that field have been renewed, especially by large academic…

Describes the development of library-centered Internet training workshops at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, offering advice to those wishing to implement their own programs. Many considerations related to choosing teaching methods, assembling equipment and materials, and scheduling and promoting sessions are the same as with traditional…

Describes an experiment that examined the relationship between successful searching of CD-ROM databases by undergraduate students and various types of instruction provided by the library staff. The findings indicate that the only level of instruction that resulted in a significant difference was a live demonstration of searches. (six references)…

Examines an online searching instructional program for high school seniors from the perspective of several cognitive learning theories and proposes a synthesized approach to applying learning theory to bibliographic instruction. Topics discussed include concept-based teaching; novice versus expert search methods; mental models; cognitive…

This paper discusses customer services in academic libraries. The first section addresses the concept of the "customer." Thereafter, the paper applies the metaphor of the producer and its consumers to the relationship between a university and its students. The second section looks at education as a process of refinement. Next, the…

Discusses the need for end-user instruction in searching CD-ROM databases and describes various instructional methods, including point-of-use; group instruction, e.g., demonstrations, workshops, and course integrated classes; written materials, e.g., manuals, templates, workbooks, and search forms; tutorials; and videotapes. Staffing needs,…