A challenge in library instruction is the disconnect between students' pre-college information literacy experiences and the expectations of college-level research. This session dives into mystifying issues: why students arrive at college with uneven or inaccurate understandings of research and libraries, and why these misconceptions persist. The presenters will share insights from recent student focus groups at a large R1 institution that reveal what students know about libraries and research before arriving to college, how they conceptualize the library, their experience with AI in research, and how they apply their K-12 information literacy skills as R1 university students. Like the Bermuda Triangle, these gaps are mysterious but exploring them can reveal new strategies for libraries.
Participants will: 1. Identify patterns and misconceptions in students' pre-college information literacy experiences. 2. Understand how K-12 information literacy experiences impact college-level instruction and engagement. 3. Explore innovative strategies for reimagining instruction beyond the one-shot model to deliver meaningful information literacy experiences for first-year students.
