This document discusses teaching information literacy using discovery tools. It outlines that the presentation aims to help instructors understand the unique qualities of discovery tools to better teach students, learn how to maximize discovery tool features to teach evaluating search results, and understand how discovery tools integrate with subject databases. Some benefits of using discovery tools for teaching include their one-stop shop model, intuitive Google-like interface, facets and limiters, and ability to accommodate broad searches. However, challenges include the overwhelming number of results, lack of controlled vocabulary between databases, and dependency on topic area for interdisciplinary coverage. The document provides best practices for teaching like focusing on keywords, facets, critical thinking, and using the tool as a scaffold to subject databases. It concludes

1. TEACHING INFORMATION
LITERACY WITH
DISCOVERY TOOLS
Nancy Fawley, University of Alabama
Nikki Krysak, Norwich University

2. Introduction
About our presentation

3. Webinar Outcomes
• Understand the unique qualities of discovery tools in
order to better instruct students in the classroom
• Learn how to maximize discovery tool features in
order to teach students to fully evaluate search
results
• Understand how discovery tools integrate with
subject-specific databases in order to meet upper-
level course needs
• Acquire new ideas for teaching in order to fully
capitalize on the benefits of teaching with a
discovery tool

4. Poll #1:
Understanding Our Audience
Does your institution have a discovery tool?
a. Yes, we have one
b. Not yet, but we will be implementing one
c. No, and we have no plans to implement one

5. Poll #2:
Understanding Our Audience
If you have a discovery tool, when did your institution
implement a discovery tool?
a. Less than 1 year ago
b. 1 to 2 years ago
c. 2 to 3 years ago
d. More than 3 years ago

6. Understanding Our Students

7. Digital Natives
• Love to customize and personalize
• Often visual learners
• Say what they think

8. Digital Natives
• Collaborative
• Multitaskers
• Crave speed and entertainment

9. “Google’s simplicity and single search box seems
to have created the expectation among students of
a specific search experience within the library”
Asher, Andrew D. and Lynda M. Duke. 2011. “Searching for Answers: Student
Research Behavior at Illinois Wesleyan University.” In College Libraries and
Student Culture: What We Now Know.” Ed. Lynda M. Duke and Andrew D.
Asher. Chicago: American Library Association.
…Which means that they rely too
much on simple keyword searches.

10. Digital Natives as Information Seekers
• Adept with technology as a tool, but lack critical
thinking and evaluation skills
• Lack the methodological understanding to search
for and evaluate resources in the library

11. Poll #3:
Understanding Your Institutions
If you use a discovery tool, is it positioned as a
main default search box on the library homepage?
a. Yes
b. No

12. Discussion

13. Benefits of Teaching with
Discovery Tools
• One-stop shop model (also a drawback)
• Unified search platform

14. • Intuitive, Google-like interface
• Accommodates broad keyword searches
Benefits of Teaching with
Discovery Tools

15. • Facets and limiters
Benefits of Teaching with
Discovery Tools

16. • Interdisciplinary-friendly
• Encourages critical thinking (also a drawback)
Benefits of Teaching with
Discovery Tools

17. • Overwhelming number of retrievals
• Relevancy rankings
• Lack of controlled vocabulary between databases
skews rankings
Challenges of Teaching with
Discovery Tools

18. • Requires critical thinking (also a benefit)
• One-stop shop model (also a benefit)
Challenges of Teaching with
Discovery Tools

19. • Spotty interdisciplinary coverage
• dependent on topic/subject area
• Obtaining buy-in (from faculty & library colleagues)
Challenges of Teaching with
Discovery Tools

20. Getting others on board
• Include librarians in the decision-making process
• Write the discovery tool into learning outcomes
• Work with tech services to customize discovery tool

21. • Be ready for surprises!
Challenges of Teaching with
Discovery Tools

22. Discussion

23. Teaching: Best Practices

24. • Focus on keyword development
Teaching: Best Practices

25. • Focus on facets and limiters
Teaching: Best Practices

26. • Emphasize critical thinking
Teaching: Best Practices

27. Teaching: Best Practices
• Use as a scaffold for discipline-specific databases

28. • Develop supplemental subject guides
Teaching: Best Practices

29. • Highlight link resolvers
Teaching: Best Practices

30. • Emphasize interlibrary loan
Teaching: Best Practices

31. Lesson Ideas
• Keyword development

33. • Evaluating sources
Lesson Ideas

34. • Flip the classroom
Lesson Ideas

35. Discussion

36. Selected Bibliography
Buck, Stefanie, and Margaret Mellinger. "The Impact Of Serial Solutions’ Summon™
On Information Literacy Instruction: Librarian Perceptions." Internet Reference
Services Quarterly 16.4 (2011): 159-181.
Cmor, Dianne & Xin Li. “Beyond Boolean, Towards Thinking: Discovery Systems
and Information Literacy.” Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences (2012): Paper 7.
Debonis, Rocco, Edward O'Donnell, and Cynthia Thomes. "(Self-) Discovery
Service: Helping Students Help Themselves." Journal Of Library & Information
Services In Distance Learning 6.3-4 (2012): 235-250.
Fagan, Jody, Condit. "Discovery Tools And Information Literacy." Journal Of Web
Librarianship 5.3 (2011): 171-178.
Fawley, Nancy & Nikki Krysak. “Information Literacy Opportunities within the
Discovery Tool Environment.” College & Undergraduate Libraries 19 (2012): 207-
214.