Tamsin Bolton

Tamsin Bolton is the Information Literacy Librarian at the University of Windsor. She also holds an adjunct Faculty Associate position with the University's Centre for Flexible Learning, where she is designing an integrated IL online module for use in selected courses. She has previously held the position of Information Literacy Intern at the University of Winnipeg and Business Librarian at Acadia University. Tamsin has been interested in IL curriculum integration and partnerships with faculty since starting in the profession five years ago.

The 'Future' of Information Literacy: A team approach to IL integration

Tamsin Bolton, University of Windsor

session 4b / Friday, May 12 / 9:00 - 10:30

In Fall 2005 the Faculty of Arts and Social Science at the University of Windsor launched a new and innovative first year course called "Ways of Knowing: The Future". The course integrates guest appearances by faculty from all disciplines lecturing on future-themed subjects, a talk show style discussion period and break-out sessions facilitated by senior student mentors. In addition to all this, the course also includes a team of five librarians who dedicate themselves to working with the break-out groups throughout the whole term, supporting the research needs of all 200 "Ways of Knowing" students as they work towards completing their final group projects.

As a member of both the course "design team" and "librarian team" I will discuss the history of "Ways of Knowing", its design, how the library came to be involved and methods librarians used to integrate themselves into the break-out groups. This session will also delve into feedback and data collected throughout the term, documenting what students, mentors, the course design team and librarians gained from the experience. Initial reactions to the course have been tremendously positive and the library's partnership in the process could provide a stellar example of how information literacy can be seamlessly integrated into the curriculum.