Rethinking handouts for library instruction sessions: They’re not as bad as you’ve been told

1. Rethinking handouts for library instruction sessions:They’re not as bad as you’ve been told John HickokInstruction/Outreach Librarian CSU Fullerton http://users.library.fullerton.edu/jhickok/conferences.htm

2. Today’s presentation • Why handouts have a bad rap 7min. • A rebuttal to the bad rap 7min. • are tools for active-learning 10min. • can be green-friendly! 10min. • have advantages over e-guides 10min. • Effective design principles 10min. • Q&A 5min.

3. Learning objectives Participants will be able to… • Identify why handouts have a bad rap • Identify rebuttals to these bad raps • Explain how handouts help in active-learning • List ways handouts can be green-friendly! • State an advantage handouts have over e-guides • Recognize effective design principles

4. 1. Why handouts have a bad rap

5. 1. Why handouts have a bad rap Considered old fashioned

6. 1. Why handouts have a bad rap 1980s/90s: catalogs & databases were not graphical and required complicated text strings to search…so explanation sheets were needed Considered old fashioned

7. 1. Why handouts have a bad rap 1980s/90s: catalogs & databases were not graphical and required complicated text strings to search…so explanation sheets were needed Considered old fashioned

8. 1. Why handouts have a bad rap 1980s/90s: catalogs & databases were not graphical and required complicated text strings to search…so explanation sheets were needed Considered old fashioned

9. 1. Why handouts have a bad rap 1980s/90s: catalogs & databases were not graphical and required complicated text strings to search…so explanation sheets were needed Considered old fashioned

10. 1. Why handouts have a bad rap Not green-friendly

11. 1. Why handouts have a bad rap Today, “paperless”, “save the trees”, “eco-friendly” is the call. Printing is seen as wasteful. Not green-friendly

12. 1. Why handouts have a bad rap Today, “paperless”, “save the trees”, “eco-friendly” is the call. Printing is seen as wasteful. Not green-friendly

13. 1. Why handouts have a bad rap Today, “paperless”, “save the trees”, “eco-friendly” is the call. Printing is seen as wasteful. Not green-friendly

14. 1. Why handouts have a bad rap Today, “paperless”, “save the trees”, “eco-friendly” is the call. Printing is seen as wasteful. Not green-friendly http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=refJmQhLvBs

15. 1. Why handouts have a bad rap No longer needed due to e-guides

16. 1. Why handouts have a bad rap Academic libraries everywhere now have former handouts on their websites as e-guides No longer needed due to e-guides

17. 1. Why handouts have a bad rap Academic libraries everywhere now have former handouts on their websites as e-guides No longer needed due to e-guides CSU Fullerton

18. 1. Why handouts have a bad rap Academic libraries everywhere now have former handouts on their websites as e-guides No longer needed due to e-guides Pasadena City College

19. 1. Why handouts have a bad rap Academic libraries everywhere now have former handouts on their websites as e-guides No longer needed due to e-guides UCI

20. 2. A rebuttal to the bad rap

21. 2. A rebuttal to the bad rap Old fashioned

22. 2. A rebuttal to the bad rap Yes, newer catalogs/databases are more graphical & user-friendly….but GUI-ier interfaces do not automatically ensure adequate Info. Literacy. Old fashioned

23. 2. A rebuttal to the bad rap Yes, newer catalogs/databases are more graphical & user-friendly….but GUI-ier interfaces do not automatically ensure adequate Info. Literacy. Old fashioned Easy to self-learn, right?

24. 2. A rebuttal to the bad rap Yes, newer catalogs/databases are more graphical & user-friendly….but GUI-ier interfaces do not automatically ensure adequate Info. Literacy. Old fashioned

25. 2. A rebuttal to the bad rap Not green-friendly

26. 2. A rebuttal to the bad rap Not green-friendly

27. 2. A rebuttal to the bad rap Not green-friendly

28. 2. A rebuttal to the bad rap Not green-friendly Responsiblesustainable use

29. 2. A rebuttal to the bad rap No longer needed, due to e-guides

30. 2. A rebuttal to the bad rap While e-guides are great, they put all the responsibility of understanding/deciphering solely on the student…without live, human explanation. No longer needed, due to e-guides

31. 2. A rebuttal to the bad rap While e-guides are great, they put all the responsibility of understanding/deciphering solely on the student…without live, human explanation. No longer needed, due to e-guides

32. 2. A rebuttal to the bad rap While e-guides are great, they put all the responsibility of understanding/deciphering solely on the student…without live, human explanation. No longer needed, due to e-guides

33. 2. A rebuttal to the bad rap While e-guides are great, they put all the responsibility of understanding/deciphering solely on the student…without live, human explanation. No longer needed, due to e-guides

34. 2. A rebuttal to the bad rap While e-guides are great, they put all the responsibility of understanding/deciphering solely on the student…without live, human explanation. No longer needed, due to e-guides

35. 2. A rebuttal to the bad rap While e-guides are great, they put all the responsibility of understanding/deciphering solely on the student…without live, human explanation. No longer needed, due to e-guides

36. 3. are tools for active learning Handouts provide a means for hands-on participatory, experiential learning

37. 3. are tools for active learning Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934)Psychologist Students learn most effectively experientially—interacting in their learning environment. Handouts provide a means for hands-on participatory, experiential learning

38. 3. are tools for active learning Jean Piaget (1896-1980)Psychologist Students learn best in interactive environments, and draw from others’ influence/guidance. Handouts provide a means for hands-on participatory, experiential learning

39. 3. are tools for active learning Handouts provide a means for hands-on participatory, experiential learning

40. 3. are tools for active learning • Too Textual • No visuals • No invitation to participate • Aesthetically: boring Handouts provide a means for hands-on participatory, experiential learning

41. 3. are tools for active learning Handouts provide a means for hands-on participatory, experiential learning

42. 3. are tools for active learning • Text, but paced • Screenshot visuals • Invited participation box • Aesthetically: bullets, graphics Handouts provide a means for hands-on participatory, experiential learning

44. 3. are tools for active learning Another example: handout invoking experiential learning among international students.

45. 3. are tools for active learning Another example: handout invoking experiential learning among international students.

46. 4. can be green-friendly

47. 4. can be green-friendly Let’s start with examples of abuse that give handouts a bad name: Little/no content usingan entire page

48. 4. can be green-friendly Let’s start with examples of abuse that give handouts a bad name: Little/no content usingan entire page Only using one side

49. 4. can be green-friendly Let’s start with examples of abuse that give handouts a bad name: Little/no content usingan entire page Only using one side A hanging paragraph taking an entire page

50. 4. can be green-friendly Let’s start with examples of abuse that give handouts a bad name: Little/no content usingan entire page Only using one side A hanging paragraph taking an entire page Giving out nearly fullcourse-pack as a handout