Active Learning by Design: Creating Engaging Library Instruction from Start to Finish

Ever finish a library session and wonder how much actually stuck with your students? Active learning can make the difference between passive listening and meaningful engagement. This hands-on course explores practical ways librarians can bring more energy, intrinsic motivation, and interaction into their instruction. Grounded in research on learning and brain science, the session demonstrates why participatory teaching approaches improve learning and retention. Using examples from instruction at the Texas A&M University Medical Sciences Library, participants will experience adaptable strategies that work across disciplines and class sizes. Techniques include Muddiest Point reflections, Jigsaw and Iron Chef hybrid activities, LibWizard digital scavenger hunts, and Turn and Talk variations, including the collaborative 1-2-4-All discussion model. Participants will also see how simple technology tools like Mentimeter and Padlet can encourage participation through anonymous polling and real-time feedback. Structured thinking frameworks such as Headlines will be introduced to help guide discussion, identify uncertainties, and deepen reflection. Revised 2024.10.08 The course will also touch on practical instructional design elements such as writing clear learning objectives, incorporating quick formative assessments, and evaluating learning outcomes. Participants will leave with ready-to-use ideas and will have time to redesign one of their own instructional lessons using strategies introduced in the session.

Course URL: Pending

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Summarize the scope, purpose, and cause for the data rescue efforts, and their current status.
• Review different health statistic resources from federal, national, archived, and non-government organizations
• Evaluate health statistic resources for reliability, transparency, and longevity.

Agenda

• 0:00 – 0:10 | Foundations of Engagement
• 0:10 – 0:30 | Writing Objectives
• 0:30 – 1:05 | Active Learning Strategies & Mapping to Assessment
• 1:05 – 1:15 | Break
• 1:15 – 2:10 | Active Learning Strategies & Mapping to Assessment
• 2:10 – 2:20 | Break
• 2:20 – 3:00 | Instructional Redesign Workshop

MLA CE Credits: 3