Embracing Change:: Alternatives to Traditional Research Writing Assignments

The pedagogical value and real-life applicability of traditional research writing assignments has been investigated since at least the 1990s, and the increase in adoption of alternative assignments could be an indication that students are questioning their long-term benefits. Traditional research writing assignments do not always align with the goals and outcomes that students set for their education.

Embracing Change: Alternatives to Traditional Research Writing Assignments collects existing alternative assignments from librarians and classroom instructors and examines their benefits and drawbacks, impact on various student populations, and the support needed to make them successful. In two parts--Analog-Driven Assignments and Technology-Driven Assignments--authors offer a wealth of insight into the theory and practice of utilizing alternative assignments. Case studies detail the development of assignments, their implementation, lessons learned, and assessment, and provide examples and reference materials for incorporating or refining your own alternative assignments. Projects covered include:

• how students engage with writing gray literature
• producing a local voting guide
• creating museum-level exhibit labels
• composing and printing original poems using a letterpress
• developing finding aids
• writing a children's book
• creating infographics and lightning talk videos
• learning digital literacy using podcasts
• a variety of digital humanities projects

Embracing Change is a testament to the power of interdisciplinary collaboration, highlights the value of alternative assignments, and provides librarians and educators with practical guidance for creating, implementing, and supporting alternatives to research writing assignments.

Author: Silke Higgins
Publisher: Assoc of College & Research Libraries
Published: 07/11/2022
Pages: 330
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.70lbs
Size: 9.92h x 6.93w x 0.87d
ISBN13: 9780838937662
ISBN10: 0838937667
BISAC Categories:
- Language Arts & Disciplines | Library & Information Science | General

About the Author

Silke Higgins is an associate librarian for research and instruction at San José State University. She holds an MLIS from San José State University. Her primary field of library and information science research revolves around the role libraries play in furthering the academic success of nontraditional and international students, with focus on English as a foreign language (EFL). Research topics of interest within the field of librarianship include jargon use of dominant discourse communities and its effect on nontraditional student communities, as well as motivating nontraditional student populations with the use of culturally sensitive approaches. Her writing on library- and nonlibrary-related research has been published nationally and internationally; she is also the coeditor of Supporting Today's Students in the Library: Strategies for Retaining and Graduating International, Transfer, First-Generation, and Re-entry Students (ACRL Publishing, 2019).

Ngoc-Yen Tranis the coordinator for teaching and learning at Seattle University. She holds an MLIS from the University of Washington. The focus of her research is on high-impact educational practices, especially the high-impact practice of undergraduate research experiences. Her library and information science research revolves around scholarly communications topics and information literacy instruction. She has published her research and writing in multiple journals, including College and Research Libraries, The Reference Librarian, and Internet Reference Services Quarterly. She is also the coeditor of the book Supporting Today's Students in the Library: Strategies for Retaining and Graduating International, Transfer, First-Generation, and Re-entry Students (ACRL Publishing, 2019).