This fall the Library is offering an independent iPod Touch Library Tour to introduce Writing 1 students to the library. This project is supported by a grant from the Center for Research and Teaching Excellence (CRTE).

The tour will be available for for checkout on iPod Touch devices at the 2nd floor Library Services Desk.  Students will also have the option of downloading the tour to their own iPod device. 

Sample: 

The following is an excerpt of the UC Merced Library Tour (3:18).

In working with Writing 1 classes we have observed that writing faculty strongly believe students should be exposed to the library as they adjust to university life. Yet for Writing 1, extensive research skills do not match well to Writing 1 goals and seem much more appropriate in the Writing 10 curriculum.

In response to this observation, we are providing an iPod Touch Library Tour for students with the following outcome:

Due to the growing student body, we will be offering the iPod Touch Library Tour as the standard instruction method for Writing 1 in order to focus our information literacy instruction in-person efforts on Writing 10 sections and other upper division courses including WRI 101 etc. Though the primary audience for this tour will be Writing 1 students, we will also make this tour available to Writing 10 students and transfer students though on a less formal basis.

Since we will have a total of 15 iPod touches for this project, we will be spreading the tours with Writing 1 students across the first 5 weeks of school.

We hope that you will consider incorporating this instruction into your course. Below are more specifics. As part of this project, we are offering students an active learning experience with an opportunity for both virtual and personal interaction with librarians.

Components:

Students

• Students will receive iPod Touch Boot Camp Training (if needed) either in Writing 1 OR independently via an online tutorial.
• Students visit the Library and check-out an iPod touch to complete the tour independently OR students download the iPod touch Library tour to their own iPod device.
• Students complete and submit the follow-up assignment for class credit. Results will be emailed to the librarians.

Writing Faculty

• Writing faculty include the iPod Touch Tour and related assignment as a course requirement.
• Writing faculty coordinate with librarians to secure a week in which their students will receive iPod Touch Boot Camp Training (if needed), complete the tour and submit the assignment.  * Suggested weeks for Writing 1 sections are listed below.

Librarians

• Librarians will conduct a 15 min. iPod Touch Boot Camp session to introduce students to using the iPod Touch (if needed) in a Writing 1 session. * An alternative will be to direct students to the iPod Touch Boot Camp tutorial online.
• Librarians will review assignment submissions, respond to each student with feedback and invite students to a Library open house session.
• Librarians will submit completion results for the assignment to Writing 1 Faculty for their records.

Next Steps:

• Incorporate the iPod Touch Tour into your syllabus and include a small incentive for your students to participate. Provide a due date for iPod Touch assignment completion.
• Submit best dates for iPod Touch Boot Camp OR choose to direct students to the same information available in an online tutorial.

Assessment:

Assessment of this iPod Touch Tour will be done through the semester survey in Writing 1.

Timeline:

Each week selected sections participate in the iPod Boot Camp in WRI 1 or via an online tutorial.  Students complete the independent iPod touch Tour and follow-up assignment. 

Week 2: Aug. 31st to Sept. 4th
Suggested Sections: 1-4, 8-9
No Library Open House this week.
Suggested due date for assignment, Sept. 9th

Week 3: Sept. 7th to Sept. 11th
Suggested Sections: 10-11, 13-16
Library Open House, Friday Sept. 11th
Suggested due date for assignment, Sept.16th

Week 4: Sept. 14th to Sept. 18th
Suggested Sections: 17-20, 23-24
Library Open House, Friday Sept. 18th
Suggested due date for assignment, Sept. 23rd

Week 5: Sept. 21st to Sept. 25th
Suggested Sections: 25-27, 31-32, 35
Library Open House, Friday Sept. 25th
Suggested due date for assignment, Sept. 30th

Weeks 6-8:
Suggested Sections: Writing 10
Library Open House, Friday Oct. 2nd

** To indicate the involvement of your Writing 1 section(s), please complete a submission form .

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