Purpose & Goals

Librarians update tutorials and research guides as needed but don't always know what student experiences of those tools is like. A two-year student-driven study reformed our library's tutorials and guides using the Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TILT) framework.

Design & Methodology

Transparency in Learning and Teaching framework, focus groups, usability testing using authentic assessment, qualitative analysis.

Findings

Nothing about students, made without students, can truly be for students. This research demonstrated new pathways for designing library content based on student and faculty scholarship and undergraduate course-based research experiences.

Action & Impact

We began to programmatically assess student experiences of our tutorials and research guides. We completely designed the tutorial site and have a burgeoning method for mixing and reusing content on research guides to meet student needs within courses.

Practical Implications & Value

Our college community has come together through this work, and it has led to deeper partnerships with STEM faculty on research, instruction, and digital repositories. The authentic assessment is a lightweight tool to capture student needs and align library content and instruction with course and college goals.