INFORMATION COMPETENCY PROJECT

1. INFORMATION COMPETENCY PROJECT Presentation by Teresa Ojezua, Head Librarian Katie Davis, Reference / Instruction Librarian Philander Smith College Little Rock, AR

2. Outline of Presentation • Summary of Project • Introduction • Project Goal • Structure • Process • Outcomes • Key Breakthroughs • Project Review • Challenges • Stakeholders • Key Change Issues • Insights from Leadership Institute • Goals Not Met • Relationship to College Strategic Plan • Summary & Conclusions • Questions • Immunity to Change • Immunity Map

3. Summary Our project focused on establishing information literacy competencies to enhance students’ development, curriculum redesign and campus collaboration. With funds from the office of Title III, we expanded the Library Committee and held a series of discussion meetings to develop a set of IL competencies that all students should have before they graduate from the college. The result was a motion by the Faculty Senate adopting the proposed IL competencies.

4. Introduction… • Information explosion—radical change in the way information is stored, organized, and retrieved • To equip students for lifelong learning in an evolving information universe • To help students use relevant information for informed decision making • To discourage reliance on internet for “copy & paste” research activities

5. We are seeing students… • Failing to evaluate sources or their relevance to assigned projects • Clicking and not reading • Engaging in rampant plagiarism • Regurgitating ideas of others—no original thought • Hitting the print button and thinking they’ve accomplished their research

6. Definition of Information Literacy • Information Literacy is the set of abilities requiring individuals to “recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.” (Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education, ALA 2000)

7. Project Goals • To provide faculty and staff with a better understanding of information literacy • To develop outcomes based guidelines for information literacy for all PSC students • To disseminate the PSC guidelines on the Worldwide Web (via the library webpage and in other sources)

8. Structure • Expanded the Library Committee to include an extra faculty member from each Division, administrators, computing staff, and two student representatives • Wrote a Grant for funds from the Director of Title III • Held 4 discussion meetings—Dec. 2009, Jan. 2010, Feb. 2010, Mar. 2010 • Invited Consultant & HBCU Mentor to address the group

9. Consultant at IL Discussion Forum

10. Another IL forum in session

11. Process • Create a vision for the project • Tie aim to personal concerns / observations • Build and empower a team (Stakeholders) • Demonstrate commitment • Use standardized tools to demonstrate benchmarks (ALA, ACRL) • Utilize Faculty Senate to institutionalize proposed IL standards and competencies • Develop strategies for future implementation

12. Outcomes • Promoted a discussion on student information literacy in academia • Worked toward changing the library’s role on campus and in the larger community. • Built partnerships within the library and campus wide • Proposed five I.L. competency standards • Proposed framework for implementation and assessment that was accepted by Faculty Senate

13. Key Breakthroughs… • Acceptance of information literacy competency standards in faculty members’ class objectives • For librarians and library staff, this project has led to increased communication and improved services. • Making connections and sustainable relationships on campus • Developed a formal professional relationship with our HBCU Mentor

14. Key Breakthroughs… • Affirm librarians as key players in the institution and important role of the library in enhancing teaching and learning • Changing IL competency as a “library thing” to literacy skills into classroom instruction • Funding can be obtained for professional development of faculty • IL connects all the stakeholders (students, faculty, librarians, computer staff, student services, campus administrators)

15. Project Review—Challenges • Faculty resistance—fear of losing control over subject matter and lack of time to incorporate IL objectives into classroom. • Convincing faculty of shared responsibility and collaboration in executing the proposed I.L. competencies. • Establishing buy-in among the library staff

16. Meeting the challenges • Established trust and communicated our vision with persistence. • Positive reinforcement for participation • Inclusion of all library staff in library planning meetings • Monthly professional development exercises for library staff

17. Stakeholders Administrators Faculty Computing Staff LibrariansStudent Reps HBCU Mentor

18. Key Change Issues • To Raise the bar on student research competence and confidence • To Establish lasting collaborative relationships • To Empower Library staff

19. Helpful Insights from Leadership Institute… • Create a vision that is relevant to the institution’s strategic plan • Stakeholder analysis • Develop strategies (communication, funds, change management, staff etc.) • Develop a project plan • Execute (take action)

20. What goals were not met? • One goal is still in progress: to disseminate the IL guidelines on the WWW via the library website • Anticipated completion: Summer 2010

21. Relationship of Project to College Strategic Plan • I.L. is essential to achieve the College’s strategic goal #2: “to strengthen it’s academic profile, programs, and performance.” • Provides skills for life-long learning • Prepares students for post-college work environment. • Helps to create student motivation and engagement

22. Summary and Conclusions • Library vision is translated into executable actions. • Librarians play a vital and evolving role in collaborating with campus stakeholders to implement the changes necessary for an effective I.L. program. • From workshop presentations, to one-on-one consultations, faculty see the library as more than a collections-related resource, and more of a service and training-centered resource.

23. Immunity to Change • Time to think outside the box!

24. Immunity Map

25. Insights from Immunity Concept: • This concept shows the multi-dimensional nature of change. • Change is prevented by barriers coming from both individual and group commitments. • Team work as well as individual reflection is necessary to overcome resistance to change.

26. Questions…?