Building a Sustainable Life Science Information Literacy Program Using the Train-the-Trainer Model

The train-the-trainer model has great potential for expanding information literacy programs without placing undue burden on already overextended librarians; it is surprisingly underused in academic libraries. At the University of Kentucky, we employed this model to create a new information literacy...

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Main Authors: Patricia Hartman, Renae Newhouse, Valerie Perry
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Alberta Library 2014-09-01
Series:Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship
Online Access:https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/istl/index.php/istl/article/view/1611
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author Patricia Hartman
Renae Newhouse
Valerie Perry
author_facet Patricia Hartman
Renae Newhouse
Valerie Perry
author_sort Patricia Hartman
collection DOAJ
description The train-the-trainer model has great potential for expanding information literacy programs without placing undue burden on already overextended librarians; it is surprisingly underused in academic libraries. At the University of Kentucky, we employed this model to create a new information literacy program in an introductory biology lab. We trained biology teaching assistants (TAs), each of whom was responsible for teaching two lab sections, to teach scientific database searching and Endnote Online to undergraduates. Over the first two semesters, we taught or co-taught 78 sessions of BIO 155 (nearly 2,200 attendees), with the librarian only in attendance at TA training and a total of 14 class sessions. Here we describe the program from its inception in late 2012 through the present, covering such topics as course coordinator buy-in, class design, active learning exercises, and assessment. Of particular note is the progression of our training program, which evolved from a style encouraging imitation toward one inspiring TAs to personalize the subject matter. We believe this approach inspired TAs to reflect on the importance of information literacy in their own research and to emphasize its relevance to undergraduates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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spelling doaj-art-d75c00a89309458aa68fee1d485dda142025-08-20T03:32:19ZengUniversity of Alberta LibraryIssues in Science and Technology Librarianship1092-12062014-09-017710.29173/istl1611Building a Sustainable Life Science Information Literacy Program Using the Train-the-Trainer ModelPatricia HartmanRenae NewhouseValerie Perry The train-the-trainer model has great potential for expanding information literacy programs without placing undue burden on already overextended librarians; it is surprisingly underused in academic libraries. At the University of Kentucky, we employed this model to create a new information literacy program in an introductory biology lab. We trained biology teaching assistants (TAs), each of whom was responsible for teaching two lab sections, to teach scientific database searching and Endnote Online to undergraduates. Over the first two semesters, we taught or co-taught 78 sessions of BIO 155 (nearly 2,200 attendees), with the librarian only in attendance at TA training and a total of 14 class sessions. Here we describe the program from its inception in late 2012 through the present, covering such topics as course coordinator buy-in, class design, active learning exercises, and assessment. Of particular note is the progression of our training program, which evolved from a style encouraging imitation toward one inspiring TAs to personalize the subject matter. We believe this approach inspired TAs to reflect on the importance of information literacy in their own research and to emphasize its relevance to undergraduates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/istl/index.php/istl/article/view/1611
spellingShingle Patricia Hartman
Renae Newhouse
Valerie Perry
Building a Sustainable Life Science Information Literacy Program Using the Train-the-Trainer Model
Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship
title Building a Sustainable Life Science Information Literacy Program Using the Train-the-Trainer Model
title_full Building a Sustainable Life Science Information Literacy Program Using the Train-the-Trainer Model
title_fullStr Building a Sustainable Life Science Information Literacy Program Using the Train-the-Trainer Model
title_full_unstemmed Building a Sustainable Life Science Information Literacy Program Using the Train-the-Trainer Model
title_short Building a Sustainable Life Science Information Literacy Program Using the Train-the-Trainer Model
title_sort building a sustainable life science information literacy program using the train the trainer model
url https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/istl/index.php/istl/article/view/1611
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AT renaenewhouse buildingasustainablelifescienceinformationliteracyprogramusingthetrainthetrainermodel
AT valerieperry buildingasustainablelifescienceinformationliteracyprogramusingthetrainthetrainermodel