 Learning by doing rather than learning by listening has probably always been recognized as a superior method of teaching. Not until easy, affordable access to computers has learning by doing become a classroom reality. McHenry County College in Crystal Lake tried it and found it a highly successful teaching method. Laptop computers open the door to this 'hands-on' learning. Here is McHenry's story.
The McHenry County College Library since 1998 has been looking for ways to transform its library instruction program. In 1999, the librarians developed a program mission, goals and objectives in line with the Association of College and Research Libraries Information Literacy Competency Standards. The library's goals for its instruction program was to include improving student understanding and retention of material by getting students actively involved in learning through 'hands-on' experience.
 Use of existing stationary computers owned by the college was not feasible, since these are frequently in use by students conducting research independently. The library does not have its own computer classroom, but teaches in an open area of the library that consists of seven round tables. This area must remain flexible, because when library classes are not being taught, the area is used by students studying in groups and working on class projects. The one viable alternative was to apply for a grant through the Illinois State Library in the Educate & Automate program. Portable wireless computers would be the key. On February 14, 2001, an award letter from Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White was sent to McHenry County College informing them that an Educate & Automate grant for more than $29,000 had been awarded to the college library enabling them to purchase 14 wireless laptops and related equipment.
The other class covered the same material, but students followed instruction on the wireless laptops actually using the resources the librarian was discussing and demonstrating. At the end of both sessions, students completed a tool designed to access the concepts covered in the sessions. The librarian then tallied and compared the results of the assessment tool used in the two classes.
Although the results indicated that students in both classes performed about the same on the assessment tool in regard to the concepts that were taught, the results also indicated a marked difference in students' attitude toward the library instruction session as indicated by their responses and the librarian's own observation. The students who used the laptops were much more engaged in the learning process. In the eyes of one instructor however, a less outwardly visible, but entirely different picture emerged.
Amy Faubl, Library Director for McHenry County College and administrator of the grant said, "As the teacher in both of these classes, I observed a palatable difference in attitude between the two classes as a result of using laptops. The students in the class using the laptops were much more attentive and involved in the session than the students in the control class. This observation is confirmed in feedback received from students using the laptops. Everyone responded favorably to the laptops.
Some of the student comments included, "it made it a lot easier to follow along."
Another stated, "with the hands-on feature of this session, it was easier to learn and it made the learning more enjoyable and easier to understand."
A third said, "it was a lot better because when I do something and see it in front of me, I learn a lot better and grasp onto things."
Since the initial two summer classes, the laptops have been used in 70 library classes during the fall semester reaching many of the college's more than 3,000 students. Faubl said that since then, "we have conducted a fall workshop for faculty members at the college to make them aware of our new resources and teaching methodologies. The classroom faculty was really impressed by the laptops. We also published an article in the school newspaper to make students aware of the changes in the library classes. The laptops are great because we can get instant feedback from the students on whether they are getting the concepts we are teaching them in the library instruction sessions. "It gives them an opportunity to try out the skills they are learning immediately and ask questions.
"Students have commented that having the laptops is very helpful. The students are more interested in the sessions. I have had students ask me how they can get to use the laptops when they see me setting them up in the library for a class. Also, faculty have made very positive comments and I think the laptops have attracted more faculty to the library. We have faculty we haven't seen before now bring their classes in for library instruction. This is a very positive result of the grant, the more students we c an reach, the happier we are, because as librarians we know information literacy is such an important lifelong learning skill."
For further information regarding this grant contact Amy Faubl, McHenry County College, 8900 U.S. Highway 14, Crystal Lake, IL., 60012-2761, 815-455-3700, FAX 815-455-8999.
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