Empowering Engineers: Information Literacy Beyond the Classroom

1. Welcome To The Real World Showing the Value of Information Literacy Beyond the Classroom The ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, June 26 - 29, 2011 Vancouver, BC, Canada

2. The Idea • Watching engineers search for information • Knowing the importance of information to engineers • Wanting a way to show how info lit is needed in engineering classes • Wanting a way for info lit to be incorporated into any engineering class

3. Problem-based learning • First used in medical education in late 1960s • Pedagogical approach using real-life scenarios • Students participate in discovery and learning • Integrates easily into the curriculum

4. Macklin, Alexius Smith. 2001. Integrating Information Literacy Using Problem-Based Learning. Reference Services Review 29, no. 4:306-313. • “… teaching strategy takes everyday situations and creates learning opportunities from them.” • Snavely, Loanne. 2004. Making Problem-Based Learning Work: Institutional Challenges. portal: Libraries & the Academy 4, no. 4:521-531. • “Librarians collaborate with instructors to set up problems and questions so students will participate in their own discovery and learning.”

5. ACRL & Information Literacy • Determine the extent of information needed • Access information effectively and efficiently • Evaluate information and its sources critically • Incorporate information into one’s knowledge base • Use information effectively for a specific purpose • Understand the economic, legal, ethical and social issues surrounding the use of information

6. ABET Criteria 3 • Function on teams • Communicate effectively • Engage in lifelong learning • Use the techniques, skills and modern scientific and technical tools necessary for professional practice

7. Hsieh, C.; Knight, L. 2008. Problem-Based Learning for Engineering Students: An evidence-based comparative study. Journal Of Academic Librarianship 34, no. 1:25-30. • “PBL can be an effective pedagogical approach for information literacy instruction to engineering students.” • such an assignment would “…fulfill ABET’s required ‘soft skills’ requirement for all engineering programs…”

8. Yadav, A.; Subedi, D.; Lundberg, M.; Bunting, C. 2011. Problem –based Learning in Electrical Engineering. Journal of Engineering Education 100, no. 2:253-280. • “…students performed at least twice as well on topics taught via PBL compared to students taught via traditional lecture method…they were better able to problem-solve and transfer their learning to new situations.”

9. The Assignment • Work in teams • Identify products for elderly with cognitive or mobility problems to stay in their homes • Prepare a team report listing the devices found along with any standards, patents, etc.

10. Survey Results • Which information types did you use? • Articles 89% • Books 42% • Standards 19% • Patents 16%

11. Survey Results • “Engineers need to know how to locate technical information.” • 80% agreed • “I will be able to locate all the information I need on Google.” • 41% agreed • “Once I’m done with school I won’t have to do anything like this again.” • 2% agreed

12. John Napp Associate Professor & Engineering Librarian University of Toledo john.napp@utoledo.edu

13. Thank you!