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Mann Library

Open until 10pm - Full Hours /
Lobby/Contactless Pickup: Open 24 Hours

Instruction Program

Request Course Instruction

To request library instruction for your classes, please use the Request Course Instruction form on this page. For specific questions, you may also email mann-ref@cornell.edu.

Programmatic Learning Outcomes

The focus of Mann Library’s Information Literacy Program is helping students become critical thinkers and responsible digital citizens that know how to find, evaluate, and utilize credible and relevant information. Mann Library has created a menu of instruction options/ideas for what we can offer to students in your class. This is based on 7 student learning outcomes, listed below. We also maintain a collection of online instruction materials that are accessible to faculty for uploading to Canvas or for incorporation into course content. 

Learning Outcome 1

Students will be able to describe the strengths, limitations and biases of different information types (e.g., government statistics, archival materials, community surveys, empirical research articles, trade journals, websites, market data, etc.) and be able to select those most suitable for their question or need.

Learning Outcome 2

Students will be able to explain how economic, cultural, and political factors influence the production and preservation of information, and marginalize the perspectives, histories, and research of certain communities.

Learning Outcome 3

Students will be able to identify system components used in the discovery of information (e.g. metadata, filters, data indexes, readme files, thesauri, etc.) and utilize this knowledge to find content most relevant to their needs.

Learning Outcome 4

Students will be able to articulate how the automation and embedded biases of algorithms lead to personalization, sorting and discrimination. 

Learning Outcome 5

Students will be able to apply the definitions of credibility and contextual authority when evaluating content, sources, claims, or evidence and utilize techniques like lateral reading and upstream searching to verify accuracy and trustworthiness.

Learning Outcome 6

Students will be able to articulate how data and knowledge evolves with each review, analysis or manipulation and be able to draw appropriate conclusions based on the strengths and limitations of each iteration.

Learning Outcome 7

Students will be able to understand the ethical obligation and appropriate mechanisms for including attributions when creating new forms of scholarship (e.g. research papers, podcasts, short films, data visualizations, proposals, posters, etc.).