Connections: Library Orientation

This module is a library introduction for incoming USU Connections students. This module will discuss library spaces on USU campuses, money saving resources, and research tips and resources. This module can be imbedded in USU-1010 Canvas courses.https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/elearning_all/1056/thumbnail.jp

The effect of carotenoid candidate genes on the photosynthetic capacity of sorghum as assessed by Linkage Disequilibrium mapping

Carotenoids are accessory pigments that play roles in photosynthesis and photoprotection in plant leaves. Genetic studies to associate carotenoid candidate genes with variation in photosynthetic capacity however, have not been conducted. The objectives of this research project were to characterize the phenotypic variation of photosynthetic rate (A), effective quantum yield (πPSII), and photochemical quenching (qP) in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.), and to determine the level of association between phenotypic variation and polymorphisms in carotenoid candidate genes. A LI-COR 6400XT portable photosynthesis unit was used as a high-throughput assessment tool in all experiments. Preliminary studies were performed to evaluate experimental conditions that could potentially affect measured variation of leaf photosynthetic rate in sorghum. Results from those preliminary studies indicated that plant developmental stage, leaf section, radiation level, and CO2 concentration in the LI-COR chamber were important variables. The optimal conditions for photosynthetic measurements as determined in preliminary experiments were implemented in Linkage Disequilibrium (LD) mapping experiments. A carotenoid diversity panel consisting of 86 sorghum lines with known genetic variation for the carotenoid candidate genes Crtiso, Lcye, Hyd1, Hyd2, Zds, Ccd1, Nced3, Lcyb, Crtre, Pds, Psy1, and Psy3 was evaluated under controlled and field conditions. Genetic associations between markers in the carotenoid genes and photosynthetic phenotypes were established by GLM and MLM models which include corrections for population structure, kinship, and multiple comparisons. Multiple markers in three genes Crtiso, Ccd1, and Hyd1 were significantly associated with variation in photosynthetic rate and effective quantum yield in one or both environments. Individual markers explained between 5 to 8% of the phenotypic variation, as expected based on the genetic and physiological complexity of the trait under investigation. This study is, to our knowledge, the first investigation on the natural genetic variation in carotenoid candidate genes and their effect on the photosynthetic capacity of a crop species. This research project was also a proof of concept that LD mapping can be applied successfully to determine the genetic architecture of complex physiological traits such as photosynthesis

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Collaboratively Navigating Information Literacy Instruction in the Classroom

Teaching students to critically think and effectively research and write is a tall task, but an important one in ensuring students become informed citizens. The good news is we don’t have to face these challenging concepts alone. In Spring 2022, USU Librarians conducted a research study to better understand information literacy instruction that is occurring in our local high schools as well as understand teacher/librarian collaborations. Presenters will share key findings from this study and facilitate a discussion about how our expertise as teachers and librarians might intersect in ways that will better support our students. Participants will also discover resources to better support information literacy instruction. Discussion Questions What information literacy skills are you prioritizing in your classrooms? What information literacy skills do you see your students struggling with the most? What resources are you using to support your information literacy instruction? How can we as teachers and librarians collaborate and make the best use of each other’s expertise in order to further develop students’ information literacy skills

Sink or Swim? A Case-Study Approach to Teaching Information Evaluation

This paper is part of the LOEX 2019 conference proceedings and reports on an engaging information evaluation lesson designed by a team of librarians at Utah State University. Teaching evaluation skills in the highly emotional world of fake news is a daunting task. The lesson described here uses realistic case studies to give students the critical distance necessary to practice evaluation before diving into their personal research and biases. The article outlines the lesson’s case study activity and rationale in teaching students adaptable evaluation skills that they can apply in their academic, professional, and personal lives

STEM USU Libraries Orientation

An introduction to library resources and services available to students in STEM programs at Utah State University.https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/elearning_all/1057/thumbnail.jp

Library After Hours: Reinventing the First-Year Experience, One Epic Party at a Time

What if we could transform student perceptions of the academic library in one night? Our library orientations may be the key to changing the library image from that of a stuffy and intimidating place to a hub for exploration, creativity, and fun. This presentation will highlight how one institution threw out the rule book on the traditional library orientation, trading in our tired PowerPoints and scavenger hunts for laser tag and escape rooms, to give students a night to remember. Presenters will share details about the planning, execution, and assessment of an after-hours library event attended by 1,500 first-year students

Utah State University: English Composition Library Instruction Program – A Program within Programs

This case study book chapter presents missions, allocation of resources and labor, supervisory structures, prioritization approaches, and other processes and structures required to make the English Composition Library Instruction Program work. The program consists of an integration with Utah State University’s English 1010 and English 2010 courses. Both of these courses have their own separate objectives and learning outcomes, and the overall goal is that once students finish (or test out of) both courses, they will have developed foundational research and writing skills related to rhetorical argumentation. Our goal in describing our program is to showcase an example of an internal structure that falls under a larger umbrella of information literacy goals and expectations library wide

Intro to Primary Sources

The Identifying Primary Sources tutorial teaches students how they find, evaluate, and use primary sources in their own research. Along the way, they\u27ll learn about some great places to start researching when looking for primary sources.https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/elearning_all/1052/thumbnail.jp

Engaging ≠ Engagement: Assessing Students\u27 Behaviors Following Gamified Orientation

What do students retain from first-year workshops? In fall 2019, Utah State University Libraries assessed our interactive orientation when it became optional rather than required for USU’s first-year seminar, creating two populations to study, participants and nonparticipants. By convening focus groups and analyzing campus data, we investigated if the orientation helped freshmen engage with library spaces, services, and materials. Findings revealed workshop strengths and weaknesses, as well as broader student preferences, behaviors, and expectations. Join librarians and students to discuss first-year students’ anxieties and needs concerning not only the library, but also campus belonging and student independence

Unlocking Student Engagement: Success and Failure in Redesigning a First-Year Library Orientation

Are you struggling to find the balance between an informative and entertaining library orientation program? This interactive presentation will explore how librarians overcame numerous challenges to develop an engaging, scalable first-year library orientation session. During the orientation, students use the library’s virtual and physical spaces to solve clues and reveal a four-digit lockbox combination. Presenters will share strategies for adopting a similar session and lead attendees in a simulation of the lockbox activity