Science & Engineering Bibliographic Instruction:
Connecting Traditional Resources and Future Technologies
Physical Sciences: Kathy Whitley
Coordinator of Computerized Reference Services
UC San Diego Science and Engineering Library
Engineering: Ann Ward
Engineering Librarian, Cal Poly Pomona
Life Sciences: Kathy Dabbour
Reference Librarian, UCLA Biomedical Library
THIS PROGRAM focused on the changing nature of BI, the
challenge of incorporating electronic resources while continuing to teach
traditional library resources, and meeting the expectations of students
and faculty. The three speakers described how they are meeting the challenge
and provided insights into reaching the intended audience.
All three speakers touched on problems faced by all BI librarians--countering
the notion that "everything is on the Web," the importance of evaluation
and critical thinking, the need to collaborate with and educate the faculty,
and the lack of time in a traditional, 50-minute BI to cover electronic
and print resources adequately. Web-based tutorials and information guides,
worksheets and exercises, active learning, hands-on time, and the use of
longer "lab" periods for BI were among the solutions offered by the speakers.
Each speaker also addressed the particular instructional needs of her institution
and gave examples of Web sites and electronic resources that have been incorporated
into BI. Each also provided specific examples of worksheets, tutorials,
or classroom techniques that have worked. The three speakers also discussed
future directions for their BI programs.
Kathy Whitley does bibliographic instruction at UCSD primarily for chemistry
and chemical engineering. She gave examples of Web sites that she uses in
her BI and illustrated how they relate to print resources. Also of great
interest to the audience was the information she presented on the various
formats that can be used for putting information on the Web, such as PDF
and JavaScript.
Ann Ward focused on BI for undergraduate engineering students at Cal Poly
Pomona. She began by describing the nature of engineering and some of the
information seeking characteristics of engineers and explained how that
knowledge can be used to reach engineering students. She also discussed
how engineering BI has changed with the introduction of electronic resources,
and she provided examples of Web sites to include in engineering BI.
Kathy Dabbour described instructional programs UCLA has provided for medical
students and for Biology 5L, formerly a required course for biology majors.
She discussed the many challenges of reaching the busy medical students
and described the self-guided exercises she and her colleagues have developed.
For the Biology 5L course, worksheets and CAI are among the techniques that
have been used. Kathy also addressed the importance of assessment and the
use of faculty and student feedback.
Ann Ward
Cal Poly Pomona
Annual
Conference Highlights