What Students Really do in the Library
Abstract: The authors observed 730 collegiate students in the library
and recorded their study (or non-study) activities. Approximately 60%
of behaviors were study related. The most commonly observed behavior was
reading print material (18.8%). The second most common behavior was the
use of social media (11.4%). These results have implications for understanding how students learn and study in the pervasive digital world.
from the discussion:
"........ Libraries, particularly in times of economic
instability, must often justify their existence and use of funds.
Demonstrating to library or school administration the actual observed
use of the physical library for school-related behaviors can provide one
or many pieces of data that may prove useful. Although our finding that
73% of those working on a computer were more likely to engage in a
non-study behavior suggests that the presence of computers or other
mobile devices can be major distractions, evidence presented in the
literature indicates that students expect libraries to be social and
study spaces. In addition, making library materials and study materials
accessible via mobile technologies (e.g., iPads, smartphones) can allow
for more frequent access to these resources. Little to no research has
been done regarding the use of the mobile Web by students in the
library, with the exception of a qualitative study conducted by.
They noted that, depending on reading preferences, students may or may
not read actual articles or books online, but they might begin their
searches or access library services while waiting on line at the store (Seeholzer & Salen, 2011).
Investigating how remote use of library resources ties in with the
physical use of the building can provide stakeholders with data that can
help to inform decisions.
When we can
actually observe what students do rather than what they say they do in
the library, we can get a fuller picture of study behaviors and how they
relate to academic achievement. It is important for educators to
understand that the learning environment can influence student
engagement and study behaviors and that the environment is further
influenced by a variety of factors. Students expect a comfortable and
attractive study space not only for scholarly pursuits, but also for
socializing. Social and academic activities are integral aspects for
facilitating student engagement (Entwistle & Peterson, 2004; Milem & Berger, 1997; Suarez, 2007).
A well-designed library should support scholarly activities, but both
the current literature and the results of this study indicate that we
cannot expect the library to be a building exclusively used for academic
behaviors."
No comments:
Post a Comment