Using Course Syllabi to Assess Research Expectations of Biology Majors: Implications for Further Development of Information Literacy Skills in the Curriculum.

Authors

  • Andrea L. Dinkelman

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29173/istl2508

Abstract

This article describes an analysis of course syllabi from selected courses in the biology curriculum at Iowa State University. The purpose of this research was to learn about the numbers and types of information literacy assignments given to students majoring in biology. Overall, the most common assignment type for biology majors was a lab report or lab exercise. Very few course syllabi mentioned the library as a useful resource for completing assignments. Only a few assignment directions recommended specific indexes such as Biosis Previews or Web of Science. Suggestions for improving the content of course syllabi and additional ideas about the further development of information literacy skills in the biology curriculum are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

American Library Association (ALA)/Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL)/Science and Technology Section (STS) Task Force on Information Literacy for Science and Technology. 2006. Information literacy standards for science and engineering/technology. [Online]. Available: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/standards/infolitscitech.cfm [Accessed: July 28, 2009].

Baker, N.R. 2005. ASM's curriculum recommendations: microbiology majors program. [Online]. Available: {http://www.asm.org/index.php/component/content/article/29-education/undergraduate-faculty/223-asms-curriculum-recommendations-microbiology-majors-program} [Accessed: October 8, 2009].

Bean, R. J. & Klekowski, L. M. 1993. Course syllabi: extracting their hidden potential In: Jacobs, C.J., editor. The Sixth Off-Campus Library Services Conference Proceedings; Mount Pleasant, MI: Central Michigan University. p. 1-9.

Biology Degree Requirements. 2008. [Online]. Available: {http://chronicle.com/article/The-Number-That-s-Devouring/26481} [Accessed: March 9, 2010].

Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management - Iowa State University. 2008. Learner outcomes assessment portfolio. [Online]. Available: {https://www.nrem.iastate.edu/outcomes} [Accessed: July 30, 2009].

Dewald, N. H. 2003. Anticipating library use by business students: the uses of a syllabus study. Research Strategies 19(1): 33-45.

Ferrer-Vinent, I. J. & Carello, C. A. 2008. Embedded library instruction in a first-year biology laboratory course. Science & Technology Libraries 28(4): 325-351.

Firooznia, F. & Andreadis, D. K. 2006. Information literacy in introductory biology. Journal of College Science Teaching 35(6): 23-27.

Flaspohler, M. R., Rux, E. M., Flaspohler, J. A. 2007. The annotated bibliography and citation behavior: enhancing student scholarship in an undergraduate biology course. CBE- Life Sciences Education 6(4): 350-60.

Grafstein, A. 2002. A discipline-based approach to information literacy. The Journal of Academic Librarianship 28(4): 197-204.

Holliday, W. & Martin, P. 2006. University studies syllabus audit. [Online]. Available: {https://web.archive.org/web/20120619114809/http://library.usu.edu/instruct/gened-il-audit.pdf} [Accessed: July 30, 2009].

Holyoak, A. R. 1998. A plan for writing throughout (not just across) the biology curriculum. The American Biology Teacher 60(3): 186-190.

Intended Professional Abilities. N.D. [Online]. Available: {https://web.archive.org/web/20130503143313/http://www.micro.iastate.edu/extendedgoals.html} [Accessed: October 8, 2009].

Intended Professional and Technical Learning Accomplishments. N.D. [Online]. Available: {https://web.archive.org/web/20130503143312/http://www.micro.iastate.edu/majorgoals.html} [Accessed: October 8, 2009].

Jacob, N. & Heisel, A. P. 2008. A faculty-librarian partnership for investigative learning in the introductory biology laboratory. Journal of College Science Teaching 37(4): 54-59.

Kearns, K. & Hybl, T. T. 2005. A collaboration between faculty and librarians to develop and assess a science literacy laboratory module. Science & Technology Libraries 25(4): 39-56.

Lauer, J. D., Merz, L. H., Craig, S. L. 1989. What syllabi reveal about library use: a comparative look at two private academic institutions. Research Strategies 7(4): 167-174.

National Association of Biology Teachers. 2008. Guidelines for the evaluation of four-year undergraduate biology programs. [Online]. Available: {https://nabt.morwebcms.com/files/galleries/Four_Year_Guidelines.pdf} [Accessed: July 28, 2009].

National Research Council. 2003. BIO 2010: Transforming Undergraduate Education for Future Research Biologists, Washington, D.C. : National Academies Press. p. 3, 46-47.

O'Hanlon, N. 2007. Information literacy in the university curriculum: challenges for outcomes assessment. portal: Libraries & the Academy 7(2): 169-189.

Outcomes Assessment for the Biology Major. 2004. [Online]. Available: {http://www.las.iastate.edu/academics/assessment/biology.shtml} [Accessed: October 8, 2009].

Porter, J. R. 2005. Information literacy in biology education: an example from an advanced cell biology course. Cell Biology Education 4(4): 335-43.

Rambler, L. K. 1982. Syllabus study: key to a responsive academic library. The Journal of Academic Librarianship 8(3): 155-159.

Rybarczyk, B. 2006. Incorporating primary literature into science learning. In: Mintzes, J.J. & Leonard, W.H., editors. Handbook of College Science Teaching; Arlington,VA: NSTA Press. p. 159-166.

Smith, E. M. 2003. Developing an information skills curriculum for the sciences. Issues in Science & Technology Librarianship [Online]. Available: http://www.istl.org/03-spring/article8.html [Accessed: August 1, 2009].

Tenopir, C., Pollard, R., Wang, P., Greene, D., Kline, E., Krummen, J., Kirk, R. 2003. Undergraduate science students and electronic scholarly journals. In: Todd, R.J., editor. ASIST 2003: Proceedings of the 66th ASIST Annual Meeting; Medford, NJ: Information Today, Inc., p. 291-297.

VanScoy, A. & Oakleaf, M. J. 2008. Evidence vs. anecdote: using syllabi to plan curriculum-integrated information literacy instruction. College & Research Libraries 69(6): 566-575.

Williams, L. M., Cody, S. A., Parnell, J. 2004. Prospecting for new collaborations: mining syllabi for library service opportunities. The Journal of Academic Librarianship 30(4): 270-275.

Downloads

Published

2010-03-01

How to Cite

Dinkelman, A. L. (2010). Using Course Syllabi to Assess Research Expectations of Biology Majors: Implications for Further Development of Information Literacy Skills in the Curriculum. Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship, (60). https://doi.org/10.29173/istl2508

Issue

Section

Refereed Articles
Share |