Embedded Information Literacy Instruction for Upper Level Engineering Undergraduates in an Intensive Writing Course

ABSTRACT

This study describes and assesses a pilot program to provide information literacy instruction to undergraduate engineering students in a writing intensive course. Working in teams, students complete a professional paper that requires them to identify and analyze a topic on mechanical power. Instruction is delivered through a consultation model that embeds librarians in student teams. Findings indicate that these students receive customized instruction, use the class guide to identify and access library resources independently, and to a lesser extent, use interlibrary loan to acquire needed materials. Scalability is challenging, but suggestions for improvement are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Information literacy
• embedded instruction
• engineering education
• undergraduate students