Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0294-3809

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2021

Publication Title

Journal of Academic Librarianship

Volume

47

Issue

5

Keywords

Information literacy, International students, Engineering students, Graduate students, Academic libraries, Canada

Abstract

In recent years, the University of Windsor has seen a significant increase in international student enrolments, especially in the graduate engineering programs. Previous studies indicate that international students often have difficulties in developing information literacy skills. Furthermore, many engineering students lack library research skills essential for succeeding in academic study. However, there is a scarcity of studies focusing on information literacy instruction for international engineering students and existing research in this area seldom utilizes statistical analysis methods to determine the effectiveness of the instruction. This paper aims to fill in the literature gap by examining the impact of an information literacy session geared towards international graduate engineering students at the University of Windsor. Statistical analysis of the paired pre-post survey tests reveals that the session has significantly improved the students' understanding of certain aspects of information literacy, including searching and locating information, but not the areas of identifying and evaluating information. Further instructions and additional support integrated into graduate seminars or other classes as well as offered outside of classrooms will be beneficial to these students, particularly in the areas of identifying information, evaluating information, finding scholarly sources, and other more advanced information literacy topics.

DOI

10.1016/j.acalib.2021.102415

Funding Reference Number

University of Windsor Centred on Learning Innovation Fund (CLIF)

Comments

Accepted version

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