Making Research Relatable: Using Popular Culture and Gamification Elements in Library Instruction

Teaching information literacy concepts to undergraduates can be a difficult task for library instructors concerned about how to parse complex research concepts while avoiding the overuse of library jargon. Our presentation will showcase some of the ways we are using popular culture examples as an entry point to teach students about information literacy. We will share the practical ways in which we’ve introduced gamification elements to create larger conversations about the norms and practices of academic writing. We also have examples of how we’ve used quotes from popular television shows, examples from films, and references to popular culture to showcase library research ideas in an easily understood (and occasionally even fun) light. In our ShopTalk we’ll share our specific examples, talk about what changes we’ve made over multiple sessions, and hopefully hear from the audience about what examples they use to connect with students.