Tips for Varying Information Skills Instruction (adapted from Small & Arnone, 2000)

• Use a variety of teaching techniques such as mini-lectures, discussions, brainstorming, role-playing, etc.
• Vary your voice to emphasize important concepts and change the pace of the instruction.
• Vary the media used in instruction such as print handouts, posters, videos, computer software, etc.
• Use various student grouping methods such as individualized learning centers, small cooperative group projects, large group activities, etc.
• Varying specific instructional strategies within a lesson can also help to maintain student interest. For example, describe each of the search tools students will use by displaying visuals that represent concepts or skills to be learned. Use a giant poster of a pizza cut in large pieces labeled with steps in a research model to track how often students use one fo the represented skills. Each time a student uses one of these skills, give the class a point. By collecting a certain amount of points, the class may earn a pizza party.
• Sprinkle instructional materials with humor, where appropriate. Add some relevant cartoons to instructional materials to make them more interesting and fun.
• Inject cueing statements that alert students to important information. ("This is particularly important" or "Pay close attention here.")