Incorporating Information Competence into the Geography Curriculum at HSU

2001-2002

 

Funds requested: $7,395

Dr. William Herbrechtsmeier, Chair,  Department of Geography

wb1@humboldt.edu  (707) 826-5763

Dr. Judy Walton, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography

jw17@humboldt.edu  (707) 826-3910

Ray Wang, Government Documents Librarian, Information Services

rw6@humboldt.edu  (707) 826-5614

Humboldt State University

Arcata, CA 95521

Submitted February 22, 2001

 

Abstract

Geography students are faced with an increasing and sometimes overwhelming amount of information on topics as diverse as the physical universe and cultural landscapes. Because geography is an integrative discipline, borrowing and synthesizing widely, it is critical that students learn to use databases and resources relevant to a wide range of research topics. Additionally, students must achieve competence with spatial information for use in cartography courses.

 

The Department of Geography at Humboldt State University recently revised its major to reflect a renewed commitment to improving student information competence. The program now requires a foundational course - Geographic Research and Writing (Geog 311) - designed to familiarize our majors with the methodologies, terminologies and resources of geography and to enhance information literacy and competence. Two other required courses in the major, Senior Field Research (Geog 411) and Mapping Sciences (Geog 216) also stress information competence.

 

Unfortunately, faculty have had neither time nor money to coordinate efforts at systematically incorporating information competencies into geography courses or to develop a set of student learning outcomes with regard to information literacy. After a semester into our revised major, we recognize a rather pressing need for this to be accomplished.

 

The department will use project funding to examine syllabi, course assignments, and assessment tools, and develop a coordinated approach to improving student information competence. One of our goals is to ensure that information skills learned in Geog 311 (Research and Writing) are reinforced across the curriculum. Another goal is to enhance information literacy in all geography courses through the use of electronic resources and tutorials on HSU Library's web site. Library faculty offer their full support for this project and are integral to its success.

 

Grant money will fund two departmental meetings, a course release for fall semester for Geog 311 instructor Judy Walton, and other activities (described below) that will result in:

• A set of student learning outcomes in geography with regard to information competence
• Course assignments that promote information competence across the curriculum
• Assessment instruments to certify that students have met competence requirements

Project Activities 

1.     Departmental Meetings (2)

a.    Half-day retreat with faculty and participating librarian early in fall semester 2001 in order to:

• Discuss the role and place of information competence in the geography curriculum.
• Discuss learning outcomes for the major in regard to information competence, ensuring that outcomes are consistent with ACRL standards on information literacy.
• Work with librarian to identify resources already available regarding information literacy, and to identify special needs for geography students.
• Discuss possible on-line information tutorials for geography students (and faculty).
• Share syllabi and discuss assignments with regard to information competence.
• Begin developing assessment tools for student information competence.

Expected outcomes include:

• A draft list of department's student learning outcomes that include the skills of information competence.
• Sample assignments that incorporate information literacy requirements.
• Agreement on type of instruments needed for assessing information competence, both in classes and in the entire major program.
• Agreement on which information skills and resources to target using on-line tutorials and a Web page for geography students (and faculty).

b.  Half-day faculty meeting at end of spring semester 2002 in order to:

• Review course assignments that promote information competence. Ensure that the nature and purpose of these assignments are spelled out on course syllabi.
• Evaluate and adjust assessment instruments used to measure student information competence in individual courses, and those used to measure information competence as an outcome of the student's educational experience in the geography major.
• Evaluate and modify on-line tutorials for geography students (and faculty).
• Assess faculty need for future professional development in information competence.

 

2.     Subcommittee Work (assessment, electronic resources)

a.    Project co-directors will meet as necessary throughout the year to develop and refine instruments for assessing information competence of geography seniors. Co-directors will also oversee development of assessment instruments for each course that incorporates information competencies.

b.   Co-directors and Participating Librarian -- will meet as necessary to develop Web pages with information resources for geography students and on-line information competence tutorials.

3.     Professional Development Workshop

A half-day workshop, organized and run by computer cartographer Mary Cunha.  Goals include:

• Improve spatial information competence skills of faculty members through hands-on instruction.
• Introduce faculty to new spatial data resources for use in class.
• Demonstrate information competence modules (using data sets from the US Census, USGS, etc.) that teach students to find, evaluate, and cite spatial data for visual display in maps, charts, diagrams, etc.
• Provide ideas for assessment instruments to measure spatial information competence.

 

4.     Release Time (one course)

Project co-director Judy Walton requires course-release time for fall semester 2001 in order to accomplish the following tasks:

• Set up half-day faculty retreats/meetings
• Coordinate and attend all meetings with department chair and librarians
• Coordinate grant with project co-director William Herbrechtsmeier
• Oversee development of assessment tools for courses and overall major
• Work with library consultant to develop and refine on-line information tutorials
• Develop Web pages to provide CSU with project proposal, activities, and deliverables

 

Qualifications of Participants

William Herbrechtsmeier

Chair, Department of Geography and Professor, Religious Studies, HSU

Experience with departmental assessment policy and learning outcomes. Undergraduate courses emphasize student information competence, especially the use of electronic data.

 

Judy Walton

Assistant Professor, Geography, HSU

Assistant Professor and Instructor of Research & Writing (Geog 311). Has served two years as the Department’s library liaison, and is currently involved with librarians in improving geography student information competence.

 

Ray Wang

Government Documents Librarian and Subject-Matter Librarian for Geography

Experience in developing on-line information literacy tutorials with assessment tools. Also experience in creating Web-based, discipline-specific “guides to doing research” at HSU Library.

 

Mary Beth Cunha

Cartography Consultant, Department Cartography Lab Manager

Twenty years experience as a cartographer in private, public, and academic spheres; part-time geography instructor and cartography lab manager. Developed set of "learning modules" for students working with spatial data, targeting specific information literacy standards.

Mary Kay

M.L.S.

Collection Development Librarian and Electronic Resources Coordinator in Library Information Services at HSU. Has offered her support on this project as needed.

 

 

Timeline

Date(s)	Activity
August 2001	Half-day retreat (faculty and participating librarian)
Sept. - Dec. 2001	Project Co-director meets individually with faculty and librarian(s) to develop assessment instruments and on-line tutorials. Faculty implement information competence assignments and assessment tools discussed at retreat. Fall 2001 courses and syllabi incorporate new standards for information competence.
December 2001	Professional development workshop in spatial information for faculty.
Jan. - May 2002	Spring 2002 courses and syllabi incorporate new standards for information competence. Faculty implement information competence assignments and assessment tools discussed at retreat.
May 2002	Half-day retreat (faculty). Review results to date; modify information competence assessment tools and assignments as needed.
May - June 2001	Project Co-director assembles deliverables, prepares final report, evaluates project success, assesses remaining needs, and creates Web pages that provide the project proposal, activities and deliverables.
July 2001	Project completed

 

Budget

Cost	Explanation
$6,265	Course release time (4 WTUs) for Project Co-director @ replacement rate (includes 12% benefits). Note: all courses taught by Co-director are 4 WTUs.
$  550	Half-day retreats (two @ $250 ea. for facilities, food, transport, + $50 stipend for librarian)
$  300	Supplies and printed materials
$    80	Student assistants (for internet work and project Web pages) 10 hrs @$8.00/hr
$  200	Cartography consultant fee, food and other costs for 1/2-day workshop on spatial data
$7,395	Total

Letter of Support

See attached letter of support from Karen Carlton, Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.