Interesting read about library education effectiveness

(from Diane Lorenzetti)

Why not just Google it? An assessment of information literacy skills in a biomedical science curriculum.

Karl Kingsley , Gillian M Galbraith , Matthew Herring , Eva Stowers , Tanis Stewart and Karla V Kingsley

BMC Medical Education 2011, 11:17doi:10.1186/1472-6920-11-17

Published:	25 April 2011

Abstract (provisional)

Background

Few issues in higher education are as fundamental as the ability to search for, evaluate, and synthesize information. The need to develop information literacy, the process of finding, retrieving, organizing, and evaluating the ever-expanding collection of online information, has precipitated the need for training in skill-based competencies in higher education, as well as medical and dental education.

Methods

The current study evaluated the information literacy skills of first-year dental students, consisting of two, consecutive dental student cohorts (n = 160). An assignment designed to evaluate information literacy skills was conducted. In addition, a survey of student online search engine or database preferences was conducted to identify any significant associations. Subsequently, an intervention was developed, based upon the results of the assessment and survey, to address any deficiencies in information literacy.

Results

Nearly half of students (n = 70/160 or 43%) missed one or more question components that required finding an evidence-based citation. Analysis of the survey revealed a significantly higher percentage of students who provided incorrect responses (n = 53/70 or 75.7%) reported using Google as their preferred online search method (p<0.01). In contrast, a significantly higher percentage of students who reported using PubMed (n = 39/45 or 86.7%) were able to provide correct responses (p<0.01). Following a one-hour intervention by a health science librarian, virtually all students were able to find and retrieve evidence-based materials for subsequent coursework.

Conclusions

This study confirmed that information literacy among this student population was lacking and that integration of modules within the curriculum can help students to filter and establish the quality of online information, a critical component in the training of new health care professionals. Furthermore, incorporation of these modules early in the curriculum may be of significant value to other dental, medical, health care, and professional schools with similar goals of incorporating the evidence base into teaching and learning activities.

References Desk Schedule May 2011

Time	May 2	May 3	May 4	May 5	May 6
8-9	Kelly	Kelly	Kelly	Kelly	Kelly
9-10		Lourdes		Melanie
10-11
11-12	Renee	Lorraine B	Susan	Lorraine T	Mary
12-1	Susan				Pat
1-2	Lourdes	Lourdes	Lourdes	Lourdes
2-3					HIN
3-4
4-4:30		Brian	Brian	Brian	Mary

Time	May 9	May 10	May 11	May 12	May 13
8-9	Kelly	Kelly	Kelly	Kelly	Kelly
9-10		Melanie		Melanie
10-11
11-12	Renee	Lorraine B	Helen	Lorraine T	Helen
12-1	Susan				Lourdes
1-2		Lourdes	Lourdes	Lourdes
2-3	Mary				HIN
3-4
4-4:30		Brian	Brian	Brian	Brian

Time	May 16	May 17	May 18	May 19	May 20
8-9	Kelly	Kelly	Kelly	Kelly	Kelly
9-10		Melanie		Melanie
10-11	Lorraine T
11-12	Renee	Lorraine B	Helen	Lorraine T	Mary
12-1	Susan				Pat
1-2		Lourdes	Lourdes	Lourdes
2-3	Mary				HIN
3-4
4-4:30		Brian	Brian	Brian	Mary

Time	May 23	May 24	May 25	May 26 CHLA	May 27 CHLA
8-9	Victoria Day	Kelly	Kelly	Kelly	Kelly
9-10		Melanie
10-11
11-12		Lorraine T	Helen	Lorraine B	Lourdes
12-1					Kelly
1-2		Lourdes	Lourdes	Lourdes
2-3					HIN
3-4
4-4:30		Brian	Brian	Brian	Brian

Time	May 30 CHLA	May 31
8-9	Lourdes	Kelly
9-10		Melanie
10-11	Lorraine B
11-12		Lorraine T
12-1		Pat
1-2	Lourdes	Lourdes
2-3
3-4
4-4:30		Brian

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