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New Frontier in Research Methodology Instruction for Latin Americanists

This article explores the need for promoting information literacy skills among Latin Americanists and provides solutions through one-shot instructional sessions, curricular reform, and collaborative efforts. It highlights the integration of library components in Spanish courses and outlines a research methodology course for Latin America that follows ACRL standards.

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New Frontier in Research Methodology Instruction for Latin Americanists

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  1. New Frontier in Research Methodology Instruction for Latin Americanists Jana Krentz Dept. for Spain, Portugal and Latin America University of Kansas Libraries Jkrentz@ku.edu

  2. Explosion of the internet and complex database searching • Need to promote information literacy skills • Association for College and Research Libraries (ACRL) – set of standards for instruction for Higher Education

  3. Teaching faculty recognize the need for more library instruction. • Poorly researched papers • Over dependence on the internet • Students find library databases too complicated.

  4. Solutions • One shot subject-specific or generic instructional sessions • Curricular reform on university campuses • Collaborative efforts of faculty, librarians and administrators • Information literacy credit courses

  5. University of Kansas • 27,000 undergraduate students. • 6,000 graduate and professional students. • 2,000 research and teaching faculty. • 133 faculty affiliated with Latin American studies. • One of 18 title VI centers for Latin American studies. • Dept. Of Spanish and Portuguese ranked 3rd by NRC.

  6. Dept. for Spain, Portugal and Latin America • 42 one shot subject specific sessions • Reaches 1,000 students per year • Research methodology course for Latin America • Core course with the Latin American Studies program.

  7. Close relationship with the Dept. of Spanish and Portuguese • Integrated library component into Spanish 300-level courses.

  8. LAA700-Research Methodology for Latin America • 25 year history • Help students develop and refine search skills • Overview of principal research methodologies and resources • Develop a transferable strategic ability

  9. Follows ACRL standards • Students encouraged to acquire evaluating skills

  10. Case study scenarios • Partnering with teaching faculty • Historical, current events scenarios, business prospectus • Mock trial

  11. Pedagogical advantages • Difficulties – partnering with teaching faculty

  12. Dept. of Spanish and Portuguese • 2004 – discussion on lack of literacy skills in undergraduate majors • Solutions • More one-shot sessions in 400 and 500-level classes • Online tutorials • Integrating library component in 300-level classes

  13. Library Components in 300-level classes • Assessment of information literacy skills • Redesigned Span 324/328 • Online/onsite course redesign grant

  14. Spanish 324/328 • Composition and grammar for majors • Taught every semester • 200 students per semester • Dissatisfaction with its instructional strategies • Desire to include integrated technology components • 6-7 Teaching Assistants, 2 faculty members, subject specialist librarian

  15. Course redesign • Lecture-breakout section format • Addition of conversation practice and small group work • Implementation of technology • Film clips, music, art, images, online tutorials • Blackboard • Personal Response Systems (CPS)

  16. Library modules • 2 modules integrally connected to course content and writing assignments • 2 large lecture presentations • Accompanying supporting written assignments • Online tutorials • Librarian works with instruction team to train in evaluating activities and assignments.

  17. First module – Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao • Students use Spanish newspapers, databases and internet. • Evaluation of websites

  18. Online tutorials • 3 online tutorials created using Viewlet • How to search Spanish language newspapers in LexisNexis • How to search Google effectively in Spanish • How to search ¡Informe!: Revistas en español

  19. Active learning techniques • Graphics • Multiple choice pop-up quizzes • Text boxes

  20. Second module focuses on Latin America– Bilingualism • Online tutorials • HAPI – Hispanic American Periodical Index • HLAS – Handbook of Latin American Studies • ClasePeriodica • Online Catalog

  21. Outcome • Ground-breaking course within the Dept. of Spanish and Portuguese, within the Libraries, within the University • Feedback and comments positive • Feel their confidence and skills were enhanced • Fosters departmental goals

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