Got more great ideas like these? Please submit them to infocoordinators@palni.edu!
Manchester University's first year seminar program is topic based. To provide first year instruction to a wide breath of topics a Guide on the Side was created to teach "Spartan Search" was developed. The guide, along with a EBSCO guide, are linked on the local LMS and required as part of the first year seminar course. Each student must complete the guide and submit a certificate, which is then sent to a librarian by email.
At the start of class, pass out index cards and ask each student to write a question they have about the library. Usually, they will ask questions you were already going to answer, so you can hold up the card when you answer that question. This exercise almost always yields great questions whose answers are useful for the entire class. This is a great activity for a class without a true "library" assignment.
LC exercise
At Goshen College all first years take CORE 100: Identity and Culture in Community. There are three library pieces: a physical orientation of the library building, a LMS (Moodle) library workshop on basic searching mechanics, and a library class session on basic evaluation. For the physical orientation of the library building we developed a "iTour" where students use their iPads to visit several places throughout the library facility. Students begin by clicking on a QR code on their iPads and then are guided throughout the building. Each station has a stuffed animal and QR code to direct students to the next area.
