The Cephalonian Experience: how to bring some Greek sunshine to your library orientation Nigel Morgan, Cardiff University LOEX of the West Las Vegas, June 5th 2008 Please fill in your fun Library Orientation Quiz sheet Great Britain Wales Cardiff London Cardiff University 7-8 Library Orientation Quiz Orientometer Scores Orientation Dodo - your views border on extinction! 9-12 Orientation Ostrich - take your head out of the sand and be more pro-active! 13-24 Orientation Owl - wise views – you recognize the importance/challenges of orientation 25-28 Orientation Hawk - you devour orientation - would you like to lead this session please? Some observations on library orientation “Teaching first-year students about the library can be like teaching librarians how to field strip an M-1 carbine.” (Cornell 2000, p.45) “Avoiding the fish-eye” (McGuire and Welch 2000, p.177) What is the Cephalonian Method? It is not – a method of birth control – anything to do with “Captain Corelli’s Mandolin” – a weight loss program – a culinary procedure The Cephalonian Method is: “A glorious fusion of music, color and audience participation which is designed to appeal to the senses whilst engaging the mind”  It’s an accepted fact that library orientation is “boring”. So why did we bother revamping our sessions? • To stop students falling asleep • To stop OURSELVES falling asleep • Convey information more effectively • Inject some spontaneity • Encourage attendance at BI sessions We wanted to have a good time!! What qualities did we want our “new-style” orientation to have? • An interactive format – illusion of being “student driven” • Enjoyable to deliver • To present librarians in a favorable light • Humorous & entertaining • Theatrical & attention grabbing We wanted to put on a “show”! Where did we get our inspiration? Hi Las Vegas! And Sorry questions I can’t be WHY are you reading out with you today! from those colored cards? The Cephalonian Method explained Basic introductory information Finding reading list items Services and facilities Miscellaneous     My Mum’s e-mailed me a photo of Miguel, my pet iguana. Where can I print him out? Biosciences Study Centre PC rooms in Science Library • Microsoft applications • Blackboard, Internet, & email Networked printing payment: • Laser printing (b&w) - 6p per A4 sheet • Colour printing - 20p per sheet None of the books I need are on the shelf. How do I get hold of them? Use Voyager to place reservations E.g. Germann, W. & Stanfield, C. Principles of human physiology. San Francisco: Benjamin Cummings. 2002. What really irritates us? Eating & drinking Excessive noise Soggy books Loud talkers Theft Mobile phones ! Mobile phones !! Mobile phones !!! What are the advantages of using the C Method? • A good icebreaker • Extremely versatile – large & small groups / different audiences • Encourages creativity • Variety – each session is unique! • Non-linear approach ideal for the web generation • It works! What are the potential pitfalls? • • • • • • • Unpredictability for presenter Lacks “spatial orientation” value General shyness Audibility of students Color perception issues Preparation time ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN! How did the students react to the Cephalonian Method? “Very well presented..loved it….Bravo!” “It was a creative way of introducing the library. Student’s participation was a smart idea!” “It was a bit weird” / “It was funny” “It was divine” / “It was bangin’ “ “Captivating” “Loved the jokes” “Who’s the guy in the photos? Can I have his phone number? I want to date him” “Did you think that this session provided an effective introduction to the library?” Year 1 Medicine 2003-2007 1762 1800 1600 1400 1200 Number of 1000 students 800 600 400 200 0 31 4 Yes Yes No Don’t Know No Don't Know 98.1% 0.2% 1.7% “How did you rate the session overall?” 642 700 600 500 Number of students 400 338 316 300 196 200 91 100 5 6 9 10 46 3 4 5 0 1 2 6 7 8 9 Score Year 1 Medicine 2003-2007 7 - 20% 8 – 39% 9 - 19% 10 - 12% 10 “Do you think it will be beneficial to attend the next BI session?” 278 93 1363 Year 1 Medicine 2003-2007 Yes No Don’t Know 79% 6% 15% How and why did we incorporate music and what did we choose? • Creates mood & atmosphere • Use at start, finish or during activities • An aid to learning – “Mozart effect” (Don Campbell, 1997) • Effect on biorhythms • Students like it! We like it! How and why did we incorporate music and what did we choose? Santana / Latin American classical guitar Talking Heads Paul Weller Goldberg Variations - J.S. Bach Sarah Brightman Kate Bush New Age / Inspirational Birdsong Student “hot picks” • “We’ve Got to Get Out of This Place” – The Animals • “I Want to Break Free” – Queen • “Bat out of Hell” – Meatloaf • Spice Girls • Handel’s “Messiah” • The national anthem • Death metal / thrash metal • “ More music would be fun" Music Activity Listen to the following 3 tracks and fill in your activity sheet Consider: • The kind of mood created • The most appropriate time of day Music Activity Track 1: Mr. Elemental by Clifford White Track 2: Corazon Espinado by Santana Track 3: Night on Bare Mountain by Modest Mussorgsky Who else has used the Method and how successful has it been? Uni of Abertay Dundee Aston University Bangor University University of Bedfordshire University of Birmingham University of Bradford University of Brighton University of Bristol University of Chester De Montfort University University of Derby Durham University University of East London University of Glamorgan University of Huddersfield Imperial College London Kingston University University of Leeds Leeds Metropolitan University University of Leicester Loughborough University Manchester Metropolitan Uni University of Southampton University of Stirling University of Strathclyde University of Sunderland University of Sussex Swansea University University of Teesside University of the West of England University College Worcester York St John University Who else has used the Method and how successful has it been? Further Education Colleges (16-18 years) Barnet College City and Islington College Cornwall College, Saltash Hadlow College Holy Cross College, Bury Kidderminster College. Leeds College of Building Coleg Llandrillo Mid Cheshire College Neath Port Talbot College Nicholas Chamberlaine Technology College Northfields Technology College Oldham College Oldham Sixth Form College Coleg Powys Rotherham College of Arts and Technology Community College, Shoreditch Coleg Sir Gâr Stafford College West Cheshire College City of Wolverhampton College Who else has used the Method and how successful has it been? Schools: Fortismere School, North London The Cardinal Wiseman High School, Middlesex Oakbank School, Keighley, W. Yorks. Health Services: Peterborough & Stamford Hospitals The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, Harlow The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust Other: Institute of Development Studies, UK. International: Universite Catholique de Louvain, Belgium Universitaetsbibliothek Wuerzburg, Germany Redcliffe/Caboolture Health Service District Library, Queensland, Australia Waterford Institute of Technology, Ireland Who else has used the Method and how successful has it been? United States: Emory University, Atlanta, GA Lincoln Christian College and Seminary, IL University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, IL Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME Camden County College, NJ College of New Jersey, NJ Kent State Libraries, OH Southwestern Oklahoma State University, OK Mt Hood Community College, Gresham, OR Crichton College, Memphis, TN Faint o lyfrau gallaf eu benthyca? • Israddedigion ac Ôl-raddedigion Hyfforddedig: 12 eitem am bythefnos • Gellir benthyg llyfrau poblogaidd, fel y rhai sydd ar restrau darllen am gyfnod byrrach e.e. 24 awr neu 3 diwrnod Cofiwch y bydd angen eich Cerdyn Llyfrgell/Mynediad arnoch i fenthyca llyfrau!! 32 Quand peut-on avoir accès à la bibliothèque? Du lundi au jeudi: de 8h00 à 18h Le vendredi: de 8h00 à 17h Pendant les vacances: de 9h à 16h How to print your Polar Bear • We have drop-in IT facilities in the Learning Centre, G17, and the silent study room (L32). • All machines are attached to black and white printers. • At the start of term you have £20 worth of print credit, black and white prints cost 6p each, colour prints cost 75p. • Make sure you choose the correct printer! If you sent a black and white print to the colour printer you will still be charged 75p. How can I keep in touch? Why are we all here today? • To find out what services are available in the Learning Centre • You can get access to all the facilities on completion of enrolment • Your student card is also your library card I want to send a photo of my pet gerbil, Derek, on the Karaoke to my friend. Can I email it? Comments from librarians “I invited the Dean of Faculty. He described it as “pedagogically practised and polished” (Maria Bennett, University of Derby) “We got applause at the end of the session instead of the usual glum faces” (Mary Edwards Otter, University of Leicester) “It saved us from dying of boredom” (Hilary McKenzie, Cardinal Wiseman High School) “It engages them in a way that a straight presentation cannot” (Peter Godwin, University of Bedfordshire) In what ways can the Cephalonian Method be adapted and varied? • Incorporated into library tours (use of color zones) • Treasure hunts • Students write their own questions • Combined with “clickers” technology • Prizes / incentives • Quiz / game show formats Case Study: Oldham Sixth Form College, Lancashire Key elements: • Video clips to deliver information • A charismatic “compere” • Library staff divided into color teams • Colored lighting effects • Electronic random seat generator • Students entered into prize draw • A “come on down” finale Now it’s MY turn to ask YOU! 1. What do you like / dislike about the Cephalonian Method. Would you consider using it? 2. What obstacles might you face when trying to implement it? 3. Can you suggest ways in which the Method can be improved / developed? I hope you enjoyed your visit to Cephalonia! Thanks for your attention!