Facing Off: Comparing an In-Person Library Orientation Lecture with an Asynchronous Online Library Orientation

Abstract

A study to compare the effectiveness of an in-person library orientation with an online asynchronous orientation was conducted with three sections of Social Work Research Methods, a required course in the University of Iowa's Master of Social Work program. Two sections of the course received an online orientation involving short videos, text and links to resources that they could complete at their convenience. One section of the class received a 50-minute live lecture covering the same information by the liaison librarian for Social Work. Each section also took part in a live question and answer session with the librarian in a computer lab. Each student was asked to take an anonymous pre-test before the orientation and an anonymous post-test after their lab session. Findings from this study will be used to tailor library instruction for future Social Work Research Methods classes.