ILILE, Initiatives, Teacher Education Resources, Universities Involved

To develop three 90-minute seminars for the Early Childhood cohort with one seminar being offered in each of three consecutive quarters.
To provide students with enhanced research skills in order to prepare them to be lifelong learners – personally and professionally, as well as to equip them to be able to teach information literacy techniques to students in their classrooms.

Seminar I provided students with an opportunity to evaluate and discuss a research scenario and offer observations and solutions. Students also focused on developing a search strategy. The seminar was taken by 23 students.
Seminar II addressed annotated bibliographies (types, use, composition). The seminar was taken by 22 students.
Seminar III is scheduled for the third quarter of the academic year and will cover the topic of literature reviews.
A binder was developed and provided to students in Seminar I. Materials were added to the binder throughout the seminars. Students were also given a copy of the APA Publication Manual for use throughout the year.

Although there was some positive reaction to the seminars, the majority of the students felt that they already knew how to use the search strategies and how to write annotated bibliographies.
Pre-test administered to students prior to the start of the seminars. Post-test administered at the end of Seminar I. Results showed that there was some improvement in scores after Seminar I.
Assessment of other seminars yet to be administered.
Content of Seminar I will be redone since students felt it repeated information that they had received in the Writing Course in Early and Middle Childhood (in which a librarian routinely provides instruction) – although students did show knowledge deficiencies in the pre-test that counters their claim that they already knew this material.
Seminars will be expanded to include students in the middle childhood cohort.
Education faculty were supportive of the project.
Exploration of online module development is being considered.

ILILE