Another learning outcome profile – this one is especially challenging to accomplish in a one-shot library session, but it can play a key role in assessment.

Frame: Scholarship as a Conversation

Outcome: Students will be able to contribute to the scholarly conversation at an appropriate level, such as in a guided discussion, undergraduate or graduate research article, or conference presentation/poster.

Base Time: 40-50 min. or several months/weeks

Primary Strategy: The librarian asks students to use the results of their research to create an appropriate, often technology-based and/or creative product to share with classmates.

Additional Strategies:

• The students create visual products to share at a public research fair on campus.
• Students create virtual exhibits using a web 2.0 tool.
• Librarian works with a department to create an undergraduate research journal which students contribute to every year.
• Students evaluate their classmates contributions to a virtual discussion.

Why this learning outcome is important:

Without the ability to effectively communicate and synthesize the research they have conducted, students lack the ability to make use of that research in a productive way.

Key Points

• Information literate students are able to effectively communicate information.
• Students are contributors to the scholarly conversation.
• There are a variety of ways in which students can contribute to the scholarly conversation.

Subject-Specific Tailoring

• Students in a department could create and run a peer-reviewed journal.
• Students could collaborate with faculty to conduct research projects and/or present their projects to faculty.
• The librarian could have a discussion about how professionals in a particular field tend to share their research.

Real-World Application

Students will often be called upon to contribute their expertise in an appropriate format in the workplace.

Potential Assessments

• Projects, final products, presentations (assessed with a rubric)
• Scholarly journal
• Research fair
• Formative assessment of a class discussion

Use of Technology

• Presentation Web 2.0 tools like Prezi, Slideshare, PowToon, Haiku Deck, etc.
• Use an institutional repository, like Cleveland State’s EngagedScholarship (here is an example of an undergraduate research journal at CSU)