Designing Effective Library Assignments

Effective Library Assignments | Pitfalls to Avoid | Design Strategies |
Guidelines for Library Assignments | Additional Resources

What Effective Library Assignments Can Do

An Effective Library Assignment:

• Teaches life-long information literacy skills.
• Connects classwork directly to learning objectives.
• Leads to an enriched understanding of course-related topics.
• Takes full advantage of the libraries' information and research resources.
• Introduces and reinforces the research process and the value of scholarly communication.
• Reinforces the ethical use of information.
• Creates a positive learning environment for your class and the future library work of students.

Assignment Pitfalls to Avoid

Try to Avoid Library Assignments that:

• Assuming students already know the basics.
• Giving the whole class the same assignment which requires the same resources or books.
• Provide little guidance or support in topic selection, causing students to struggle with vague or overly broad topics.
• Require resources that the library does not own (resources change regularly).
• Send students on a scavenger hunt.
• Instructing students not to ask librarians for help (for fear that students won't do their own work).
• Contain incomplete or inaccurate references to resources.
• Have vague or incomplete instructions or directions given orally.

Assignment Design Strategies

Assignment Design Strategies & Approaches:

(The following is not an exhaustive list, but just a sampling of available strategies and approaches.)

• Self-paced via technology.
• Feedback checks and opportunities for individual consultations.
• Deconstruct assignment into steps.
• Problem-based learning activities.
• Modified PBL: "Explore, Learn and Teach" approach.
• Collaboration and group work.

Guidelines for Creating Effective Library Assignments

Provide a Clear Purpose and Instructions

Make sure your students understand what you want them to accomplish. State your purpose and how it relates to the objectives of your course. Test the assignment for clarity or ask a student or librarian to read it and offer feedback. Are the instructions clear? Verify your terminology. Remember: Library resources are constantly changing.

Do your Homework or Consult a Librarian

Review your assignment each semester. Be certain the library has the resources needed to complete the assignment. In reviewing the assignment, question whether it is too specific (students will all need the same resources, likely at the same time) or too general (students will feel lost and lack direction). Librarians are happy to help you with this process. Liaison Librarians at Kent State University.

Foster Critical Analysis

Design assignments that ask students to use the information they find in a meaningful way. Requiring students to analyze, evaluate, or comment on the information they find helps integrate information literacy skills into your course and makes students more likely to retain these skills.

Prepare Students for Success in the Library

Survey your students’ current understanding of the library. Do they require a librarian-led instruction session? Are they familiar with our library web site, KentLINK and Research Databases? Take the time to make sure your students are oriented and comfortable with the Library. Let them know how librarians can help.

Discuss the Research Process in your Field

Each field has slightly different methods and approaches to the research process, and students need to be acclimated to the research environment of your field. Make certain your students are aware of key terms (e.g. "peer-reviewed" and "boolean operators").

Additional Library Assignment Resources

Creating Effective Library Assigments - University of Maryland.

Designing Assignments that Can Be Effectively Supported
by the Libraries (Dos and Don'ts) - University of Minnesota.

Some Successful Library Assignments - Farmingdale State University of New York.

Effective Assignments Using Library and Internet Resources
- University of California, Berkeley

Creating Effective Library Assignments -- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign