Instruct gives you a “low lift” option to start incorporating information literacy instruction in your class and assignments. If your class already focuses on information literacy already, Instruct can complement what you’re doing through 60+ videos, tutorials, and assessments. You can increase instructional time for information literacy by shifting lecture-based instruction to homework (flipped classroom), allowing for hands-on, high impact learning when students come to class.
Here are 3 ways you can utilize Instruct in your course:
1. Before Library instruction
Librarians would be happy to come to your classroom to teach your students research and information literacy skills. However, that time is limited.
- It can be hard to balance teaching students the conceptual knowledge they need and the basic mechanics of research for their assignments in one sitting. Use multimedia to flip your library instruction. Students can go through multimedia on their own time (before or after class) to get basic concepts of information literacy.
- Benefit: Librarians can focus their in-person time with students on hands-on searching and practice for their assignment, and reinforcing information literacy concepts.
2. Scaffold throughout your Course
Are you concerned about having enough time to cover your course’s content and incorporate research instruction into your syllabus?
- Use multimedia to flip information literacy instruction throughout several weeks of your course. Students can go through multimedia on their own time to learn basic concepts and practice research skills. Reinforce IL concepts through the research assignments you planned to give as part of your syllabus - like annotated bibliographies, research papers, etc. Relevant multimedia can be shared with students at each step of a major research project.
- Benefit: Students can benefit from information literacy instruction without a significant impact on your syllabus.
3. As a Remedial Tool
Do some of your students need a refresher or additional help with how to do research (transfer students, non-traditional students, at risk students)?
- Use multimedia as a remedial tool to for students who need to review basic information literacy skills. By making materials available online, students can get the help they need without significantly impacting your course syllabus.
- Benefit: Students who need additional help can benefit from information literacy instruction without a significant impact on your syllabus.
For more ideas on how to implement these suggestions, please visit our Help Site for Instructional Aids.