Redesigning an online information literacy tutorial for first-year undergraduate instruction

Abstract

Between spring 2018 and fall 2019 four librarians in the University Library at California State University, Los Angeles developed and launched an interactive online information literacy tutorial for first-year undergraduate students. The Library Research Tutorial for First-year Introduction to Higher Education Courses updates the functionality and content of the University Library's previous 2015 tutorial. Backward design and predictable understandings and misunderstandings were the conceptual frameworks for developing the tutorial. This article describes the development and implementation of the tutorial, which included obtaining grant funding from the University Library, selecting authoring software, scriptwriting, and conducting usability testing. Fall 2019 student performance data for the tutorial are also presented. The authors offer recommendations to future creators for embarking upon a tutorial project.