Yale University Library Research Guides: Active Learning in Library Instruction: Home

Active Learning Options

Proactive Follow Ups
At the end of class, pass around a basket of candy with the attached “I want a library research follow up" sign-up sheet. A few days to a week after class, email each student to ask how research is going for their assignment. In this email, you could either remind them to reach out to their Personal Librarian for questions specific to their research… or you could ‘go the extra mile’ by CCing their Personal Librarian on the email to initiate the collaboration.
Time commitment: 15-20 minutes, after class (to send the emails)

Course-specific research guide (from English 114: Fashion, Dress, and Music)
An example of a course-specific library research guide. This guide can also be integrated into the left-navigation using the ‘Redirect Tool’ for students to access easily with other course material.
Online "flipped classroom" worksheet (example from English 114)
A guided research activity using Google Forms. These forms can be used for in-person or online classes, and they can be used as pre-class assignments to introduce key concepts, during class for student practice, or after class to reinforce the lesson. If a form is used as a pre-class assignment, a follow-up exercise can be done in-person using student responses. See the example below.

Evaluating sources - in-class exercise
Worksheets to use during class to compliment, reinforce, and scaffold learning concerns from the Google forms above.
Prep time: 15 minutes Class time:15 minutes

Online Mind Map
A virtual mind map to guide students through the process of starting with a large concept to develop a more specific idea and to generate keywords. From the University of Arizona.
Publishing Timeline as Teaching Strategy (Kayla Del Biondo)
Slide deck. Can be used to debunk some jargon before diving into website or database demonstrations.

Timed Book Search in Sterling Library
File: Powerpoint slide deck, to be used *after* students complete a timed 5-minute search in SML book stacks for a pre-assigned call number. Students return to the classroom with their book, and review the slides with the instructor. At the last slide prompt ("Group Work"), students break into pairs to examine the books in the library catalog using subject headings, keywords, chapters, and indexes. See slide 10 for full group work details.
Build Your Own Reading List - Lesson Plan
A lesson that builds from 1 citation to find other, related citations. See worksheet below. Best bet: Leave time at the end of class for this exercise.
Class time: 15-20 minutes
Build Your Own Reading List - Worksheet
Part 2: a worksheets for students to practice finding other, similar resources from 1 citation or topic.
Secondary Sources
A handout to use after a discussion about using different sources in academic work. Best bet: Modify theme of the paragraphs on the class topic.
Prep time: 30 minutes Class time: 10-15 minutes.
Call Numbers and Subjects
A lesson plan to give students experience finding a book in the stacks, understanding subject-based shelving, and linked subject headings. Best bet: Use at the beginning of class, after introducing the library catalog.
Prep time: 10 minutes Class time: 15-20 minutes
Defining Features Matrix
A lesson plan to evaluate student understanding of how a source can be used in a research paper (primary, secondary, scholarly, or popular source) as well as how research intent can affect source use.
This matrix can be also be used as a template for other purposes.
Prep time: 10 minutes Class time: 15 minutes
Flash Cards for Student Participation
A game-based lesson that encourages student engagement. Flash cards are randomly distributed to students before class, each with a corresponding library-related question.
Prep time: 10-15 minutes Class time: Varies
Students Decide
Sample print outs to allow students to pick the topics covered during a library instruction session. Download template includes 21 different topics, and students can use stickers or markers to vote on what they want to know at the beginning of class. Best bet: Modify template based on class or student level. Follow-up after class with students and/or faculty with information on topics not covered.
Prep time: 5 minutes Class time: 5 minutes
The Internet Names Things
A lesson plan to teach linked subject headings and finding synonyms for search queries. Best bet: Use toward the beginning of class, before searching in any library resources; create a short PowerPoint for the images included in lesson document.
Prep time: 10-15 minutes Class time: 20-30 minutes
One Minute Paper: Boolean Operators
A worksheet to assess student understanding of how to use boolean operators to expand and narrow search results. Examples can be modified to fit the scope of your class.
Prep time: 5 minutes Class time: 5 minutes
Scholarly Credentials
A lesson plan as a discussion prompt on credibility between viral content websites (Buzzfeed et al.) and academic sources.
Prep time: 15-20 minutes Class time: 20 minutes