Co-operation in Teaching: Case Seinäjoki

The students in the social services degree programme begin their thesis process by writing a literature review based on theoretical information dealing with a chosen topic. After deciding on the topic, the students attend a short IL-intervention. The aim is to awaken IL skills within a clearly restricted frame of content. The information specialist and subject teacher agree on the objectives. In 2008 the objective is to increase the use of domestic scientific articles as information sources. The content of teaching includes recognizing features of scientific information and finding reliable subject specific information. The planning of the course was easy since the objective was concrete. In addition to students, some teachers participated in the IL-lessons. They had a two-sided role: as students themselves and as advisors in analyzing the topic and evaluating information. There were many advantages to this form of co-operation:
- the learning happened at a specific time, fixed to serve the thesis process
- motivation in information retrieval, clearly defined need and content
- mutual objectives decided together with teachers.
For more information, contact Ms Leena Elenius, e-mail leena.elenius@seamk.fi

Information Specialist as a Member of a Teacher Team: Case Satakunta

In Satakunta University of Applied Sciences, teachers from all courses interact and plan together the content of each study module. In the Basics of Professional Competencies module, the teacher team consists of six teachers: an expert in teamwork, PBL, labour legislation, communication, information literacy and IT. In the planning phase of the module, the content of all courses in the module is compared. This way the team discovers different approaches to the problems presented to students in addition to where the courses in the module overlap. IL plays an important part during the PBL-learning process, especially when the students create the context for learning, construct working theories and share information in tutorials. The learning objectives for IL in this module are finding relevant information, correct usage of references, and critical consideration.
For more information, contact Ms Kaisa Paasio, e-mail kaisa.paasio@samk.fi

Teaching Tandem: Case Seinäjoki

When the students in the nursing degree programme work on their thesis, the information specialist teaches the students during the various phases of writing. The course begins with a short introduction to information retrieval followed by a hands-on workshop. The students search for information relevant to their own topics concurrent to planning their research scheme. It is of utmost importance that the students understand the core of their thesis and how to express it. Information search forms the frame of the research scheme. The information specialist evaluates the research scheme according to the quality of chosen information sources. The used criteria include scope, correctness, authenticity, and relevancy. Also the information use technique (e.g. referencing) is evaluated.
For more information, contact Ms Leena Elenius, e-mail leena.elenius@seamk.fi

Focusing on Individual Needs: Case Seinäjoki

Design students writing their thesis learn IL in workshops. The groups are small, topics varied and stem from practical working life needs. Almost all students have a working life partner. Teaching is flexible focusing on individual needs and competences. During contact lessons the students plan their learning process in relation to their information retrieval process. They also hand in a research scheme to their subject teacher. This research scheme is discussed during the lesson with student, subject teacher and information specialist. In other words, three actors ponder on the thesis simultaneously from three different viewpoints. Teaching together in a workshop with an informal atmosphere is very efficient and provides good results. However, the size of the group shouldn’t be larger than twelve students.
For more information, contact Ms Leena Elenius, e-mail leena.elenius@seamk.fi