Teaching and Learning at the Campus Library: UW Bothell

Librarians from all subject areas partner with faculty to integrate information literacy into the following “core” courses students must take to enter into their majors at UW Bothell. (Please note the learning goals listed here are of shared responsibility between the librarian and faculty member, and that they can be met through means other than classroom instruction when necessary.)

FYPP Discovery Core

Desired Information Literacy learning goals for these courses typically include:

• Become familiar with “library basics:” be aware of different library spaces, borrowing privileges and policies, where different types of materials can be found within the library (both in print and online), and how to access UW Restricted materials from off campus.
• Find general information (ebooks, reference materials) on a topic using UW Libraries Search.
• Learn how to use sources to identify main concepts of a topic and additional search terms.
• Identify and record pertinent citation information for sources.
• Reflect critically on:
  • the influence of search algorithms on the information seeking process.
  • the implications of generative artificial intelligence (AI) for research and learning, including hallucinations, environmental impacts, and academic integrity.

BWRIT 135: Research Writing

Desired Information Literacy learning goals for this course typically include:

• Develop strategies for selecting research topics, formulating research questions, and carrying out research.
• Identify and use different kinds of secondary sources.
• Use library and other search tools to identify research material.
• Cultivate strategies for finding, organizing, and storing information.
• Exercise critical thinking strategies for reading, evaluating, and understanding a variety of source types.

Librarians work closely with faculty to identify courses within the majors and graduate programs to target for hands-on or online information literacy instruction.  The types of targeted courses typically include:

• “Core” courses or sequences
• Required courses for the degree
• Research methods or disciplinary writing courses
• Capstone or senior seminar courses, and
• Courses with a significant emphasis on critical thinking or research projects  

Information Literacy learning goals for these courses are developed and maintained by the subject librarian liaison(s) working with the school or program, and in partnership with their faculty.

Graduate students also receive support from librarians based on their specific research projects through classroom/online instruction and research consultations with their subject librarian liaison(s).

• Contact your subject librarian or
• Leslie Hurst, Director of Teaching & Learning Services
• Dani Rowland, Head of Undergraduate Instruction

Information literacy is the set of integrated abilities encompassing the reflective discovery of information, the understanding of how information is produced and valued, and the use of information in creating new knowledge and participating ethically in communities of learning. (ACRL, 2015)

Further reading:

• Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Framework for Information Literacy in Higher Education
  • Introduction for Faculty and Administrators
• Campus Library learning goals.