400 Years Old and Still Cutting Edge: Applying Ignatian Pedagogy to an Online Library Orientation

Abstract

The Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm is centuries old, but its focus on student-centered learning is cutting edge. When the Gonzaga University library was asked to collaborate with an online graduate studies department, the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm provided the guiding framework. The first principle of Ignatian pedagogy is Context, which involves understanding and meeting students where they are. Building on this foundation, the other principles of Experience, Reflection, Action, and Evaluation keep the student at the centre of the learning process. Reflection is the fulcrum of the paradigm, prompting students to think consciously about what they have learned and how it impacts them, thereby taking ownership of the learned material. Applying these principles to a self-paced Online Library Orientation resulted in self-reported student confidence with library resources, and the integration of better sources into their work.