Using Online Learning Modules to Promote Students' Ability to Identify and Locate Empirical Research Articles

Librarians at Arizona State University seek to deliver library instruction programs that will help students develop Twenty-first Century skills including information and communication technology skills (iSkills). Increasingly librarians must find pedagogical solutions that enable faculty and students to promote iSkill development asynchronously. This study describes the results of one action research cycle in which online learning modules developed at Arizona State University Libraries were tested to assess their usability and effect on learning outcomes. The modules were designed to help students learn about empirical/primary research articles and how to locate them. The results from pre- and post-tests were significant, suggesting that General Biology students were successful in learning about empirical/primary research articles from the online modules. Students' perceived level of confidence in identifying and locating empirical research articles also improved after using the learning modules. Responses to the student evaluation of the modules suggest that on average students agreed that the modules had learning value, were value-added, usable and included technical functionality that enabled successful navigation.