1 Undergraduate Peer Research Coaching Program
Donna Dean
Learning Objectives
- What are research coaches? Defining their role in the library service landscape
- Why peer research coaching? Purpose of peer-focused programs in higher education
- Research coach hiring and training: The process
- Who are research coaches for? Support and Audience
Future Goals: Path to College Reading and Learning Association Certification
What Are Research Coaches?
Peer Research Coaches are highly trained Texas State University Students with a background in public services and/or tutoring and education. The University Library relies on these students for support with reference questions and research inquiries.
Typical learning spaces in higher education lean on peer-led services. Studies exemplify this learning model as one that offers unique perspectives and lived experiences.
Purpose of the Peer Research Coach
Research and evidence for meaningful student connections. Other factors include social learning, and the contextual factors that influence confidence and accuracy. Peer to peer learning also helps alleviate anxiety and empowers students to feel like they are independent researchers.
Peer research coaches offer an opportunity to enhance basic information literacy skills among other students. Student-driven initiatives are pedagogically studied and proven to benefit learning outcomes, and many Research Universities are leveraging students as a proponent of their library’s student success initiatives. “Cognitive advantages of peer learning include immediacy, simplification, prevention of overload, modeling and problem identification, while affective advantages include identification, bonding, modeling of enthusiasm, self-confidence and reduced anxiety.” (Bodemer, B. 2013)
Strategic Imperatives of University Library
“Empower student success by enhancing the student experience to increase sense of belonging and career readiness through dynamic co-curricular programming.” (https://www.library.txst.edu/about/strategic-plan.html)
Mission of University Library
“We empower our communities to learn, create, and discover with our learner-centered services and spaces” (https://www.library.txst.edu/about/strategic-plan.html)
The peer research coaching program empowers students to feel empowered to teach and learn from each other and create communities of information.
The Triage Method and How Library Service Points Use it
Level 1 – Questions that any staff or student employee can answer. Example: directions and wayfinding
Level 2 – Inquiries that are slightly more advanced. How to use a database, start a research assignment, about a book search, what to do about lost items, how to find a book on the shelf, and more
Level 3 – In-depth, highly specialized questions that should be referred to a librarian
Hiring And Training Process
Texas State uses Handshake to post jobs for students. The job posting and description can be found in Appendix A. For the first round of hiring s