Printer-Friendly

Guide for PWR Instructors

PWR Research Topic for Library Workshop (pdf)
or access Word format through PWR Newsletter
SKIL: Stanford's Key to Information Literacy (tutorial)
Guide for PWR Students

Library Workshops

Library workshops are tailored to your students' needs. Demonstrations of selected databases and sample searches in Socrates are driven by the topics your students submit. Let them know what to expect of the library workshop: it is not a tour. The workshop teaches research skills which are reinforced through hands-on learning.

SKIL

Please give your students enough time to complete SKIL, Stanford's Key to Information Literacy: an interactive tutorial, assigned in one or two module chunks, prior to the workshop. The tutorial was designed so that students learn the terminology, basic search strategy and types of resources available at Stanford. Incorporate information from each module into a PWR assignment as per SKIL assignments suggestions or develop your own.

SKIL Final Test

After the final quiz question, the student sees a page that says: Congratulations! and a link Take the Test. Clicking on the link should get them to the CourseWork page where SKIL 100 is listed as a course. By clicking on SKIL 100, the student gets to the Course Homepage which gives an explanation of how to proceed.

The students only need to take one version of the test. If they score unsatisfactorily, they have the opportunity to review SKIL and then take another version of the test. The PWR instructor can look at their final scores in CourseWork, which are ususally available to view by section after the fourth week of classes.

Topic Form

The students benefit the most by submitting a defined topic in advance. The librarians read these carefully and give each student suggestions of databases and other resources to consider, which are particular to their topic. The students have time to explore some of these resources during the workshop and to interact with the librarian for help.

What You Need For A Successful Workshop

• Check the Library Workshop Schedule so you know the date of yours and ask your students to meet promptly in the lobby of Green East (facing Meyer).
• Convey clearly to your students that they must complete SKIL.
• Go through SKIL yourself and incorporate assignments.
• Assign the Online Tour of Green Library. It can be printed and used as a guide to walk through the library. Suggestion: ask the students to turn in their guides with notes in the margins about what they liked, disliked, felt confused about or excited them.
• Ask your students to fill out a PWR Research Topic for Library Workshop form. Review the forms to make sure the information is complete and well formulated.
• Make an appointment to review your expectations with the librarian who will be teaching your workshop.
• Submit the forms, organized by section, to the designated librarian. Please be sure the librarian has at least a full 48 hours in advance of the workshop, excluding weekends and holidays, to work on the topics
• In the instruction classroom, sit in the back so you can help keep your students on-task.

The Information Center Instruction Team looks forward to working with you and your students. For additional information or questions, please contact:

Last modified: September 30, 2005