Context matters:

As members of the University of Illinois academic community we have a responsibility to provide our students with positive, impactful (transformative) learning experiences.

Learning matters:

Our work with students during a reference transaction should provide a hands-on educational experience that teaches them skills that will enable them to become self-sufficient, lifelong library users.

Professional standards matter:

Numerous professional organizations have developed standards and guidelines that focus on educating our users. They include the following:

• RUSA Behavioral Guidelines
• ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education

Characteristics:

Teachable moments are:

• Spontaneous
• Dependent on the readiness of the recipient
• Sensitive to the needs of the patron
• Serendipitous

Tips and Strategies:

• Listen!  The reference interview is key.
• Who is your user?  Your approach should change when working with faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates.
• Be patient and flexible, the learning styles of users vary.
• Let the students do the work.
• Look for body language cues in person.  How receptive is the user?
• Look for moments to teach rather than push information out during chat.
• Keep it short and to the point.  They are teachable moments.

Identify the teachable moment in each of these scenarios:

1. A student approaches the desk with their laptop, saying that they can only find 2 articles on their topic. You notice that they have copied and pasted their whole thesis statement into the database’s search box.
2. A patron says that they cannot find enough results on blockchain technology in Academic Search Ultimate.
3. A RHET 105 student chats in and says that they need to find a scholarly source for their paper. They ask if an article from the Atlantic would count.