Information Literacy Instruction in Engineering Graduate Courses: Instructional Design and Reflection
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29173/istl2725Abstract
Prior research on information literacy instruction in engineering graduate programs rarely considers course instructor perspectives, and instead only uses student feedback to evaluate the efficacy of information literacy instruction. This study documents the authors’ efforts to evolve the library curriculum to motivate student learning and meet the course needs. Data collected from the student survey and course instructor questionnaire found that most students reported that the instruction was engaging and satisfying, but evaluations of the usefulness of the instruction were mixed. The course instructor was satisfied with the students’ overall work in information gathering though found their project reports unsatisfactory in terms of report writing and critical thinking. The findings shed light on student needs and faculty expectations of engineering project-based graduate courses.
Downloads
References
Alpi, K., & Hoggan, C. (2016). Recognizing the value of threshold concepts: Application of a conceptual tool to professional students learning to be researchers. The Reference Librarian, 57(2), 114–130. https://doi.org/10.1080/02763877.2016.1121070
Ambrose, S. A., Bridges, M. W., Dipietro, M., Lovett, M. C., & Norman, M. K. (2010). How learning works: Seven research-based principles for smart teaching. Jossey-Bass.
American Library Association. (2006). Information literacy standards for science and engineering/technology. https://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/infolitscitech
Association of College and Research Libraries. (2015). Framework for information literacy for higher education. https://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/issues/20infolit/framework1.pdf
Association of College and Research Libraries. (2018). Standards for libraries in higher education. https://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/standards/slhe.pdf
Association of College and Research Libraries. (2019). ACRL environmental scan 2019. https://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/publications/whitepapers/EnvironmentalScan2019.pdf
Bennett, S. (2009). Libraries and learning: A history of paradigm change. portal: Libraries and the Academy, 9(2), 181–197. https://doi.org/10.1353/pla.0.0049
Bohémier, K. A. (2019). Information has value: Teaching with the ACRL Framework in a STEM Setting. Science & Technology Libraries, 38(1), 72–82. https://doi.org/10.1080/0194262X.2018.1531805
Bundy, A. (2004, February 3–5). Beyond information: The academic library as educational change agent [Paper presentation]. 7th International Bielefeld Conference, Bielefeld, Germany.
Carroll, A. J. (2020). Thinking and reading like a scientist: Librarians as facilitators of primary literature literacy. Medical Reference Services Quarterly, 39(3), 295–307. https://doi.org/10.1080/02763869.2020.1778336
Cooperstein, S. E., & Kocevar-Weidinger, E. (2004). Beyond active learning: A constructivist approach to learning. Reference Services Review, 32(2), 141–148. https://doi.org/10.1108/00907320410537658
Cruickshank, J. (2019). The critical role of information retrieval in STEM information literacy. Science & Technology Libraries, 38(1), 83–97. https://doi.org/10.1080/0194262X.2018.1544534
Engineers Canada. (n.d.). Engineering regulators. https://engineerscanada.ca/regulatory-excellence/engineering-regulators
Hooper, M. D. W., & Scharf, E. (2017). Connecting and reflecting: Transformative learning in academic libraries. Journal of Transformative Education, 15(1), 79–94. https://doi.org/10.1177/1541344616670033
Hoschette, J. A. (2010). The engineer’s career guide. Wiley.
Johnson, N. E., & Mentzer, N. (2019). An analysis of student performance at the intersection of diversity and information literacy. Evidence Based Library and Information Practice, 14(3), 108–123. https://doi.org/10.18438/eblip29438
Kappers, W. M. (2016, June 26–29). Through the lens of the reviewer: Information literacy, an LMS, and peer review [Paper presentation]. 2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, New Orleans, LA, United States. https://peer.asee.org/27040
Korber, I., & Shepherd, J. (2019). Teaching the information literacy Framework: Creating choose-your-own-adventure flip-books. Reference Services Review, 47(4), 461–475. https://doi.org/10.1108/RSR-05-2019-0033
Kruger, J., & Dunning, D. (1999). Unskilled and unaware of it: How difficulties in recognizing one’s own incompetence lead to inflated self-assessments. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77(6), 1121–1134. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.77.6.1121
Lalwani, L. N., Niehof, J. M., & Grochowski, P. F. (2018, June 24–27). Engineering graduate student information literacy: Are we meeting the need? [Paper presentation]. 2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Conference Proceedings, Salt Lake City, UT, United States. https://peer.asee.org/30141
Mahmood, K. (2016). Do people overestimate their information literacy skills? A systematic review of empirical evidence on the Dunning-Kruger effect. Communications in Information Literacy, 10(2), 199–213. https://doi.org/10.15760/comminfolit.2016.10.2.24
Mechanical and Materials Engineering. (n.d.). Professional MEng program. University of Western Ontario. https://www.eng.uwo.ca/mechanical/graduate/professional_program/index.html
Mechanical and Materials Engineering. (2021). Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) program in mechanical engineering. University of Western Ontario. https://www.eng.uwo.ca/mechanical/graduate/PDF/MEng_ME.pdf
Molteni, V. E., & Chan, E. K. (2015). Student confidence/overconfidence in the research process. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 41(1), 2–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2014.11.012
Napp, J. B. (2004). Survey of library services at Engineering News Record’s Top 500 Design Firms: Implications for engineering education. Journal of Engineering Education, 93(3), 247–252. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2168-9830.2004.tb00811.x
Napp, J. B. (2017). Survey of library services at Engineering News Record’s Top 500 Design Firms: Ten years later. Science & Technology Libraries, 36(3), 288–295. https://doi.org/10.1080/0194262X.2017.1349715
National Academy of Engineering. (2012). Lifelong learning imperative in engineering: Sustaining American competitiveness in the 21st century. The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/13503
National Academy of Engineering. (2018). Understanding the educational and career pathways of engineers. The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25284
Piaget, J. (1968). Six psychological studies. (A. Tenzer, Trans.). Vintage Books.
Professional Engineers Ontario. (n.d.). Practice guidelines.
https://www.peo.on.ca/knowledge-centre/practice-advice-resources-and-guidelines/practice-guidelines
Professional Engineers Ontario. (2020). Guideline for professional engineering practice. https://www.peo.on.ca/sites/default/files/2020-12/PEPGuideline_Nov2020.pdf
Riehle, C. F. (2012). Inciting curiosity and creating meaning: Teaching information evaluation through the lens of “bad science.” Public Services Quarterly, 8(3), 227–234. https://doi.org/10.1080/15228959.2012.702598
Rodrigues, R. J. (2001). Industry expectations of the new engineer. Science & Technology Libraries, 19(3–4), 179–188. https://doi.org/10.1300/J122v19n03_12
Savory, E. (2020a). MME 9617 – Energy conversion: Individual term research review project reports and presentation [Unpublished internal teaching material]. University of Weatern Ontario.
Savory, E. (2020b). MME 9641 - Thermal systems engineering: Individual term research review project reports and presentation [Unpublished internal teaching material]. University of Weatern Ontario.
Smerdon, E. T. (1996). Lifelong learning for engineers: Riding the whirlwind. Plastics Engineering, 52(10), 4.
Stec, E. M. (2005). Using best practices: Librarians, graduate students and instruction. Reference Services Review, 34(1), 97-116. https://doi.org/10.1108/00907320610648798
University of Western Ontario. (n.d.-a). Facts & figures 2019-2020. https://www.uwo.ca/about/whoweare/facts.html
University of Western Ontario. (n.d.-b). Full-time constituent enrolment 2019-20 by immigration status. https://www.ipb.uwo.ca/documents/2020_immigration_status.pdf
Waters, N., Kasuto, E., & McNaughton, F. (2012). Partnership between engineering libraries: Identifying information literacy skills for a successful transition from student to professional. Science & Technology Libraries, 31(1), 124–132. https://doi.org/10.1080/0194262X.2012.648104
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2022 Shiyi Xie, Eric Savory

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.