English 101 Online: Home

Starting in Fall 2018, the library's information literacy instruction for English 101 will be offered in an exclusively online, asynchronous format. All English 101 instructors are strongly encouraged to incorporate the English 101 information literacy module into their courses to provide students with a common foundation for the more extensive academic research they will undertake in English 102 and other courses.

Why is English 101 moving to an online format?

The online module allows for a consistent approach to information literacy instruction across all sections of English 101, avoiding redundancy with library sessions taught for other courses (such as English 102 and Communications 111) and improving the overall sequencing of information literacy instruction across the curriculum. The online format also maximizes the number of first-year students who can participate in information literacy instruction, as we are not limited by the number of librarians or available class times. 

Is face-to-face information library instruction still offered for English 102?

Yes, as a more research-intensive course, English 102 should include face-to-face instruction with a librarian, who will tailor the lesson to the specific needs of the assignment. In general, English 102 library sessions provide more focused instruction on developing appropriate search strategies for particular research questions and evaluating different source types, especially scholarly sources. All English 102 instructors can request face-to-face library instruction though our online form. 

What content does the English 101 online information literacy module cover?

Aligned with the learning outcomes for English 101 (specifically the outcome of "identifying and analyzing electronic sources, including scholarly library databases, the web, and other official databases"), the module is an interactive tutorial that introduces students to the key differences between searching the web through Google and searching for sources through library databases. The module also covers important links and tools on the library website (such as the subject guides and Research DIY) and provides an introduction to EBSCO Academic, the most popular and useful database for general academic research. Throughout the module, students are asked to complete brief tasks and answer questions to foster engagement with the content. 

After completing the modules, students should be able to:

• Recognize the value of library databases in academic research and explain how these databases differ from and complement Google.
• Explain the general importance of peer-reviewed sources in academic research.
• Conduct basic database searches in order to find credible and relevant sources that will help you explore a particular research question.  

How do I incorporate the English 101 online information literacy module into my course?

Information literacy instruction is most useful to students in the context of a research assignment, so we encourage instructors to incorporate this module at a point in the semester when students will be conducting research. Students should use this link to access the module: https://louisville.libwizard.com/f/english101_2024

Students will be asked to provide their own name as well as their instructor's name when completing the module. Amber Willenborg will send each instructor a report including names and scores for all of their students who completed the module. Instructors can either email Amber (amber.willenborg@louisville.edu) their due date in advance or let her know when they are ready to receive their score report.

(The link below is to a demo version of the module that allows instructors to preview it without answering assessment questions. All questions are required in the student version above.)

• DEMO - English 101 Information Literacy Module