Student responses to an animated character in information literacy instruction

Date19 March 2018
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-12-2016-0149
Published date19 March 2018
Pages29-42
AuthorJennifer Poggiali
Subject MatterLibrary & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library technology,Information behaviour & retrieval,Information user studies,Metadata,Information & knowledge management,Information & communications technology,Internet
Student responses to an animated
character in information
literacy instruction
Jennifer Poggiali
Lehman College, City University of New York, New York, New York, USA
Abstract
Purpose This paper reports on a grant-funded project to create a hand-drawn, custom-made animated
character named Jasmyn. Drawing on animation theory, the purpose of this paper is to use qualitative
research to investigate student responses to the medium of animation, the characters design, and three
presentation strategies.
Design/methodology/approach The researchers held three student focus groups to investigate the
following research questions: Will students endorse animation as a medium for library instructional videos on the
grounds of its entertaining, subversive, or playful qualities? Is Jasmyn designeda ndwritten in a way that engages
students and compels them to respond to her as a character? How will students respond to three presentation
strategies: a lecture-style video, a video with supplemental animations, and a real-time, interactive lesson?
Findings The researchers found that students expressed broad enthusiasm for animation as a medium,
though responses to Jasmyns personality were mixed. The only presentation strategy that prompted unique
responses was the interactive session, although all three focus groups provided revealing commentary about
online learning. Students also identified aspects of the animation and character that could be improved,
and reflected on ways Jasmyn might be integrated into online learning.
Research limitations/implications This study, performed as part of a pilot project, was deliberately
small in scale. Clearer implications would emerge from repetition with a larger group of students.
Originality/value Jasmyn may be the only hand-drawn, custom-made animated character created for
library instruction. No research studies on the use of animation in libraries have been published to date.
Keywords Academic libraries, Distance learning, Animation, Qualitative research, Animated videos,
Instructional technologies
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
Although animation has been used in online education for many years (Moreno, 2004),
its application in library settings has been limited. On the one hand, this is not surprising
considering the high costs and time investment traditionally associated with the medium.
On the other hand, librarians in schools and universities have continuously striven to
expand and adapt their online instructional methods, most recently responding to the
demands of the so-called Millennial Generation (Harris, 2010; Eva and Nicholson, 2011;
Sachs et al., 2013). Librarians have sought to engage this generation with popular visual
media such as comics and graphic novels (Upson and Hall, 2011; Hoover, 2012;
Poggiali and Farrell, 2014), as well as with online games and tutorials (Thistlethwaite, 2001;
Armstrong and Georgas, 2006; Markey et al., 2008) with generally positive results.
This study began with the premise that animation and animated videos may offer an
opportunity to engageMillennial students. Animationtheory posits that animated characters
possess uniqueproperties that cause viewers torespond to them as real,while conjuring an
imaginative, subversive, and entertaining mental space. Animated performancesdraw the
viewer into an active relationship of coanimation that, the researchers supposed, might
engage studentsin an instructional experience. Coulda playful animation, drawn in a familiar
and cartoonish style, prove to be an enjoyable medium for online instruction?
With the help of a $25,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, two
professors at Lehman College, City University of New York, developed and piloted an
animated character for library instruction. Together with a team of collaborators, the
Library Hi Tech
Vol. 36 No. 1, 2018
pp. 29-42
© Emerald PublishingLimited
0737-8831
DOI 10.1108/LHT-12-2016-0149
Received 12 December 2016
Revised 29 August 2017
Accepted 31 August 2017
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0737-8831.htm
29
Student
responses to
an animated
character

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