December 2000 — Features
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An Active Learning Approach to Teaching Effective Online Search Strategies
This
article describes the workshops that resulted from the collaboration of a
librarian and an economics faculty member. We explain our method of instruction,
and some lessons we have learned about electronic resources and college
students1. The object of our workshops is to teach students how to
locate appropriate academic sources on the Web and in library databases, how to
create an effective search strategy, and how to use the retrieval features in
InfoTrac.
In
the literature of library instruction, the active learning model is recognized
as a valuable complement to the traditional instructor-centered lecture
approach (Bren, Hilleman and Topp 1998). Several recent articles (Alden 1999;
Bren, Hilleman and Topp 1998; Kaplowitz and Contini 1998; Germain, Jacobson,
and Kaczor 2000; Leuthold 1998; Vander Meer and Rike 1996) describe specific
successful applications of the active learning model to bibliographic
instruction workshops. Several other recent articles describe educators’
experiences teaching computer literacy in library workshops, and offer
reflections on lessons learned (Brandt 1998; Greenhalgh 1997; and Kryder 1999).
This
article introduces an active learning approach for instructing undergraduates
on how to search electronic databases in the library.
The
Active Learning Approach:
Librarian,
Teacher and Computer Staff Collaborate
As
a librarian (who knows how to find information) and as an economics professor
(who suggests information to look for), we have collaborated for several
semesters to construct active learning tools for use in a lab where each
student is at a computer workstation. According to Agarwal and Day (1998),
“hands-on” experience gained while using the Web “provides a better
understanding of the subject matter and makes the learning process more
active.” The librarian leads the class in two workshops during the semester.
The economics instructor is always present, participating in the workshop and
assisting with hands-on instruction. During the workshops, students learn how
to navigate the Web and the electronic library Web pages, and learn how to find
and use the online academic databases.
Online
quizzes are an integral part of our active learning approach. The online
quizzes are written in PERL script. The university computer staff writes the
server-side programs and the client-side quiz template. It is this template
that we are able to customize for our classes. For example, after a lecture and
hands-on session about a particular search engine, we administer an online
quiz. The quiz, which has multiple-choice and short-answer questions, tests the
knowledge of search commands for retrieving information on the Web. It is
immediately graded and returned to each student’s desktop. We conclude with a
discussion of the search strategy and syntax for each of the questions.
Students respond with enthusiasm to these pedagogical devices, which help
engage them in the learning cycle and reinforce learning.
