Linked courses offer undergraduate students the opportunity to learn important skills in classes that are linked to courses in a disciplinary field. Let me take a moment to review four types of linked courses at the University. The first type of Linked Courses provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to take an information resources seminar in conjunction with a large lecture class. Librarians collaborate with faculty to develop and deliver instruction in locating, evaluating and using information in the context of a particular academic subject. Seminars may use such tools as online discussions and peer-reviews, and cover topics such as evaluation criteria, copyright issues, use of library databases and Web searches.
Specific curricula support the assignments and coursework of the linked lecture class.
A second variation of the Linked Course is being developed collaboratively by the School of Library and Information Science, the University Libraries, UWired, and several other academic departments. This first undergraduate offering under the aegis of the School of Library and Information Science will be a service course to provide an introduction to the intellectual and pragmatic abilities that can be called information technology literacy. By working with courses in different disciplines, we hope to explore the range of concepts and abilities that students may require. Each FIG includes a resource seminar taught by a Peer Instructor and in 1994, information and technology topics were added to the seminar curriculum. The 2,000 freshmen enrolled in FIGs develop core competencies in electronic communication, Internet and the Web, and library resources.