Using peers in a three folded support : student needs and achieving the learning outcomes!

Abstract

This poster describes how librarians, teachers and students collaborate at the Faculty of Law at Lund University in order to support the law students to achieve the learning outcomes.

The purpose is to highlight the use of peers as a part of the learning support. When The Bologna process took place in 2007, the library introduced a plan on how to achieve the learning outcomes concerning information literacy. Information literacy is an important competence for law students and professionals and is therefore stressed in the learning outcomes. A central feature is that the outcomes should be closely related to the contents of each course so that the students practice information literacy as part of the subject law. To make best use of different competencies the library suggested a three folded support structure. Student teachers give database instructions for solving course assignments; subject teachers and librarians work together in lectures concerning document cultures and law practices; librarians are responsible for lectures concerning problem solving and information seeking.

The faculty has a long tradition of hiring students to assist in teaching on a basic level. One reason to use peers in teaching is that students are close to the learning process and are familiar with difficulties. The students also have other perspectives on the topics being taught, which can be useful in their teaching (Biggs & Tang, 2011, p. 147). The information lectures have very often a high amount of participants, which sort of confirm the teaching organization.

The library is responsible for coordinating the information literacy and work in close relation with the student teachers and the subject teachers. The librarians repeatedly discuss with the subject teachers and the student teachers about the learning outcomes and the assignments on the course. Exercises and questions for the students are jointly developed. The librarians also write manuals for the lectures given by librarians and student teachers.

We believe this way of organizing support is one way to enhance student learning both in information literacy and in subject learning.

References

Biggs, J. B. & Tang, C. S-K. (2011). Teaching for quality learning at university: what the student does. 4th, [rev.] Ed.. Maidenhead: Open University Press.