Teaching Research Skills Using Video: An Undergraduate Library Approach

Technology can be both the bane and the boon of bibliographic instruction librarians. While none of us would hesitate to extol the virtues of automation and computerization, it becomes more evident that, in some ways, library instruction is driven by technology. Technological advances give us new classes to teach, but also offer new methods of instruction. Considering what we want to teach, and considering the methods available ten years ago as compared to the present, we've come a long way—but so have our students. This is not to say they are any more knowledgeable of library research methods; but rather, computer and video technology are now second nature for them. Introducing this technology into the classroom means we have the ability to provide library instruction in a way that encourages students to learn—on their own terms.