1. Data & Library Instruction

2. Statistical Literacy and
Information Literacy
Statistical literacy is the ability to understand and
evaluate the use of statistics and numbers in evidence
(Schield, 2004).
Are data and statistics any different from other types
of information?

3. Starting with Data
From the resources we’ve shown you, what is the first
source you would incorporate into your desk work or
library instruction? How would you do it?

4. Student Learning
Outcomes
Where does data fit into your student learning
outcomes?
Construct a research question appropriate to your
discipline.
Identify appropriate subject- specific databases to
find relevant information
Select relevant books, articles, reference materials,
etc.

5. Think-Pair-Share
Brainstorm data-specific student learning outcomes for
your patrons?

6. Activity 1 SLO
Students can use an evaluation rubric to evaluate
statistics in popular sources.

7. Activity 1
Ask students to pick a table from USA Today
Snapshots or NationMaster
Evaluating statistics
Authority: Who is the author? What are their qualifications?
Audience: Who is the intended audience?
Content: Are they accurate? Can they be verified?
Coverage: What is the population or sample size?
Currency: What is the date of the data?
Purpose: Why was the information collected?
Colbert evaluates USA Today

8. Activity 2 SLO
Students can find statistics on religious congregations.
Students can use ARDA to develop research
questions about religions congregations.

9. Activity 2
Ask students to choose a religious congregation using
ARDA
Ask students to compare their religious congregation
in different states and ask:
Does anything surprise you about the religious groups you chose?
What differences did you see between the two states?
What might explain those differences or commonalities.
Ask students to look up information in the secondary
literature about their congregation.

10. Group Activity
Pick a scenario for an instruction session (freshmen
comp, grad workshop, upper division social science
class)
Write one or two Student Learning Outcomes related
to data
Create a short activity to support your SLOs
What opportunities or challenges do you imagine?
Share!