Understanding the Undergraduate Workflow: The Student Perspective

The student perspective is a key factor when building a workflow that functions for faculty, librarians, and, yes, students. Thanks to a recent research project on the undergraduate workflow, our four guests gleaned valuable guidance from students on building reading lists. Takeaways included pointing to a particular chapter instead of an entire book, and providing narrower materials to start, then opening up to broader and more complex sources to match the student’s pace. In fact, as our librarian speaker noted, these insights go beyond students to aid the library by helping dictate spending habits and strategize collection spending. In this second episode, our guests—Ian Snowley, Dean of Student Learning Development & University Librarian at the University of Lincoln, Jamie Wood, professor of History and Education at the University of Lincoln, Samantha Sharman, a student at the University of Lincoln, and Matt Hayes, Managing Director at Technology from SAGE—dig into why the student perspective on the undergraduate workflow is so valuable. In addition, our guests delve into a reading list’s purpose, and the particular pain points that arise from differing generational views and attitudes toward student research. The guests also highlight how student needs have shifted in the last few years and the lack of preparation prior education provides incoming undergraduates. Missed an episode? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter, Choice Podcast Updates and check out the Authority File Round-Up on our blog, Open Stacks!