Induction At Loughborough University: the CEPHALONIAN Method

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Induction At Loughborough Universitythe
CEPHALONIAN Method

• Tracy Marshall
• Academic Librarian- Loughborough University
• T.M.Marshall_at_lboro.ac.uk

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Outline of Todays Talk

• Loughborough University Induction
• Background to Joint Induction
• Using The CEPHALONIAN Method
• The future of Induction at Loughborough

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Background to Joint induction at Loughborough

• Joint induction
• - 45 minute long lecture
• - In the first week of term
• - mainly to large groups
• - delivered by academic librarians and
  computer services staff
• Self guided tour leaflet

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Joint induction- the problems

• Problems for students
• No interaction/activities during the session
• Students talked at all day long
• Often in same room
• Problems for Library staff
• No interaction between students and library staff
• Session repetitive (library staff will deliver
  the same session many times)
• Boring for all!

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The solutions

• Reviewed literature
• Murder mystery night
• Audio tours
• CEPHALONIAN induction
• Academic Librarians meeting
• There was a heated debate but finally an
  agreement to use the CEPHALONIAN method

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CEPHALONIAN Method in Brief

• Developed in 2002 at Cardiff University by Nigel
  Morgan and Linda Davies
• For Medical and Biological Science students
• Uses music to set scene
• Colour and audience participation
• Students given cards with humorous questions
• Students read them out
• Library staff answer them
• MORGAN, N and DAVIES, L., 2004. Innovative
  library induction- introducing the Cephalonian
  Method Sconul Focus, 32, pp.4-8

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Developing the CEPHALONIAN Method at Loughborough

• Main Issues
• Staff attitudes
• -dislike of change
• -fear of interaction with students
• -fear of unpredictability
• Joint Presentation of induction
• -difficulties meeting deadlines
• -computer services department have other
  priorities
• Writing good questions
• -took a long time
• -eventually written by a few interested
  staff

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The CEPHALONIAN method at Loughborough (1)

• Joint presentation with computer services
• No music
• We would used acetates not PC
• Questions would be divided into four themes and
  printed onto coloured card
• Question cards would be distributed to students
• Students ask the questions on the cards
• Session still lasts for forty five minutes
• Time for extra questions

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The CEPHALONIAN method at Loughborough (2)

• Themes for questions
• Computing services
• How to solve IT problems and ethical use of
  computers (Red Cards)
• Library
• How to borrow books and find information (Pink
  Cards)
• Cross departmental
• Where to find computers and passwords (Green
  cards)
• Study skills
• Where to find advice sheets and workshops
• (Orange Cards)

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My friend says I can borrow as many books as I
like, for as long as I like.Is this true?
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How it went

• Not all staff were willing to use CEPHALONIAN
  method
• 33 of inductions were traditional
• 66 CEPHALONIAN method
• Library staff who used the new method found it
• More fun to present
• Students looked less bored during the sessions
• Students interacted and asked more questions
• Even Computing Services staff preferred it
• Our main problem was losing question cards!

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Future for Induction at Loughborough

• CEPHALONIAN Method now used for
• PHD induction
• taught Masters courses
• Will be used for joint induction next year
• Questions need to be re-written
• Reluctant presenters need coaching
• We are also looking at other ideas for induction
  such as Library Bingo