Blending In: Collaborating with an Instructor in an Online Course

Abstract

Blended and embedded librarianship describe efforts by librarians to integrate information literacy more closely into courses, especially online. In this case study, online tutorials replace a librarian-taught research skills session for a course that has moved from face to face to online.Issues discussed include ways to integrate research skills in an online course, collaboration with faculty, and assessment of that instruction. Though successful, more research is needed to understand how students respond to online tutorials, and instructional design is affirmed as necessary to make online tutorials effective and engaging.

Integrating Library Instruction into the Course Management System for a First-Year Engineering Class: An Evidence-Based Study Measuring the Effectiveness of Blended Learning on Students’ Information Literacy Levels

“…9 Held draws attention to some "pillars of effective information literacy instruction" that must be considered when designing library instruction services, including collaboration with faculty, assessment of the library instruction, student responses to online library instruction, and attention to instructional design so that online tutorials are effective and keep student engagement in mind. 10 Michel summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of the use of asynchronous online tutorials in library instruction: online tutorials are accessible anytime, anywhere, allowing students or faculty to learn library skills at their own pace and saving librarians' instruction time. 11 On the other hand, online tutorials lack personal interaction between librarians and students, and developing effective online tutorials requires advanced web design technologies and usability testing, which demand substantial staffing time.…”

The Role and Responsibilities of an E-tutor Librarian

“…It is also inspired by Held's work that concludes that more research is needed to understand students' responses to online tutorials. 5 It is hoped this contribution partially addresses that need.…”

Applying interpretive phenomenological analysis to library and information science research on blended librarianship: A case study

“…The alternatives of IPA research have failed to provide experiential knowledge, intentions of the first-hand actors, and motivations of behaviours regarding blended librarianship. For instance, Held (2010) and Perini, 2015 , Perini, 2016 apply case study research design. Cherinet (2018) uses the Delphi technique, content analysis of job advertisements, and qualitative interviewing.…”