The following are two proposed presentations for CIT 2009.  If you are doing something I don't know about, please add it.

Jim Nichols

=================== Personal Information ======================

FIRSTNAME: Jim

LASTNAME: Nichols

=================== Abstract Information =======================

PRESENTATION TITLE: Better Sources, Better Learning, Better Contributions to Courses: Improving student research, learning and writing

SESSION FORMAT: Birds of a Feather

1ST TRACK: 6. Personal Knowledge Management & User Created Content

2ND TRACK: None

PRESENTATION RATING: Introductory

PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION: Frustrated with your students? work on research assignments? Tired of seeing references to Wikipedia? Worried about plagiarism? Do your students even know where the library is? Meet and consult with members of the SUNY Librarians Association Work Group on Information Literacy (SUNYLA WGIL) to develop solutions to these problems.

ABSTRACT BODY: Are you frustrated with your students? work on research assignments? Are you tired of seeing references to Wikipedia? Do you worry about plagiarism? Do you wonder if your students even know where the library is? Meet and consult with members of the SUNY Librarians Association Work Group on Information Literacy (SUNYLA WGIL) to explore how you and your students can make the most of the library and information resources available to you. We plan small group discussions to identify and define the barriers you experience, generate solutions, and improve learning and teaching. The special focus will be on students? participation in exploring and using professional and scholarly communications to produce and share new knowledge. The aim is to raise the quality of student research and presentation through constructive practice of questioning, searching, reading, thinking, learning and writing within the bounds of specific professional and academic disciplines.

=================== Personal Information ======================

FIRSTNAME: Shannon

LASTNAME: Pritting

=================== Co-author's Information ===================

1ST FIRSTNAME: Karen

1ST LASTNAME: Shockey 

2ND FIRSTNAME: Jim

2nd LASTNAME: Nichols

=================== Abstract Information =======================

PRESENTATION TITLE: Designing an Active and Interactive Multi-Level Tutorial

SESSION FORMAT: Birds of a Feather

1ST TRACK: 1. Active/Student Centered Learning - Engaging Students in the Classroom

2ND TRACK: 4. Teaching and Learning in Innovative Spaces (Real & Virtual)

PRESENTATION RATING: Intermediate

PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION: The SUNY Oswego Information Literacy Tutorial was recently redesigned to become more interactive and encourage active learning. The new tutorial, used by a wide variety of students from Freshmen to Graduate Students, is designed around modules and individualized learning, encouraging students to identify what learning they need to experience.

WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS SESSION/WHO IS YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE? Librarians Faculty/Staff involved in Distance Learning Faculty teaching at multiple levels (Lower Division Undergraduates, Upper Division Undergraduates, Graduate Students, etc.)

ABSTRACT BODY: For a redesign of the Information Literacy Tutorial, the Lake Effect Research Challenge, a team of librarians created an interactive online experience that focuses on engaging learners. A variety of formats and activities were used to accommodate individual learning styles and abilities. To better address particular learning outcomes, provide flexibility, and to present basic level building blocks leading to higher level learning, we chose a modular format. Because The Lake Effect Challenge offers so many options and levels, students must take responsibility in determining what they need and want to learn. It also requires that students consistently assess if they need to review more advanced or more basic material. The Challenge affords students the opportunity to individualize their learning, enabling them to browse and forage through the material, selecting the areas of greatest immediate use. As a result, we provide multiple avenues and not a single linear path. In short, they must search and discover for themselves. This presentation will demonstrate how the team approached redesigning the Information Literacy Tutorial with the principles of active learning in mind. It is well known that active learning keeps students engaged and encourages participation and increases responsibility for their own learning. The Lake Effect Research Challenge does not only offer interactive technology and learning activities; the design of the content and structure of the Tutorial is interactive.