engleski

Teaching information literacy at the University of Zagreb School of Medicine - an example of successful library and faculty collaboration

With new medical and scientific knowledge emerging every day, effective medical education has to prepare future physicians to practice and learn in an ever- changing clinical environment. The curriculum of medical schools has to be competency-based, enabling students to acquire both core and professional competencies as well as knowledge and skills for evidence-based decision making, effective problem solving and self-directed lifelong learning. A well designed program of information literacy is an important component in the development of critical thinking, logical inquiry and decision making. Central Medical Library (CML) affiliated with the University of Zagreb School of Medicine participates in educational programs of its parent institution at all levels, developing different teaching modules aimed at acquiring skills necessary for identification, obtaining and evaluation of information, as well as their usage in an ethical manner. As a part of the graduate programme, CML participates in mandatory and elective courses in both Croatian and English track programs. The course Introduction to research in medicine is vertically organized, corresponding to the students’ ability to comprehend research methods in medicine, data analysis and publishing of study results. CML’s modules in graduate courses provide students with an introduction to the characteristics of medical literature, methods of information dissemination, effective searching techniques and systematic organization of information, but also familiarize them with the principles and practices of evidence-based medicine. In the PhD programme librarians from CML aim to provide the students with an advanced level of information literacy, including modalities of critical appraisal of scientific papers, recognizing credible sources of medical information, the importance of different bibliometric indicators and appropriate use of information. Since evaluation of educational impact is an important part of every teaching programme, CML participates in different appraisal activities. In the academic year 2011/2012 an anonymous survey was conducted in order to determine students’ perceptions and attitudes toward information literacy. Moreover, librarians from CML are trying to examine the effectiveness of teaching methods and course content. Pre and post knowledge surveys consisting of course learning objectives framed as questions that test mastery of particular objectives were prepared for that purpose. The surveys are being conducted throughout the academic year 2013/2014, and the results of this, as well as other appraisal activities, will be presented at the ECIL conference.

Information literacy ; medical schools ; medical students ; medical information ; academic libraries ; teaching methods ; teaching evaluation

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