In 2025, the University of Dayton Libraries faculty and staff finalized student learning outcomes (SLOs) that have since guided services library-wide. The SLOs ensure that the appropriate skill level of information literacy, which plays an essential role in student achievement, is integrated into the educational experience. Thoughtfully developed in conversation with professional, university, library and practical considerations, the SLOs are intended to be foundational, transdisciplinary and technology-agnostic.
Our initiative's mascot, SLO the Snail, designed by Ann Zlotnik, helps demonstrate the relationships between the five main goals that shape library services and teaching. “Know” and “ask” are the first and last outcomes. They show the cycle of lifelong learning and encompass “decide,” “practice” and “share,” which cover abilities, habits and information creation. The snail’s shape and speed remind us to take our learning slowly and embrace the circuitous process. Each goal supports students with the tools they need to succeed academically, build confidence and prepare for life after graduation.
Focusing on an outcomes-based approach helped us deliver much-needed instruction in a more flexible way for students. This new approach has woven seamlessly into other updates occurring across the University curriculum. Nine video modules with built-in quizzes launched in fall 2025 to support new introductory humanities classes. Each video focuses on a specific set of knowledge or behaviors that support the development of good research skills and was developed by the team of faculty instruction librarians. In one academic year, 830 students completed the series.
Student feedback suggests that they are achieving the outcomes we’d hoped to see. This includes:
- An enhanced understanding of the Libraries’ roles in supporting their academic development, e.g.:
- “Librarians are willing and able to help find and assess sources of information.”
- "Librarians are available to help me in all parts of my research paper writing process."
- “What they can actually do (a lot). I feel more supported.”
- Technical search skills and strategies, e.g.:
- “Learning how Boolean operators — like ‘and,’ ‘or’ and ‘not’ — are used in search engines to increase or decrease search results was very insightful.”
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“I learned how to effectively find credible and usable sources for my research and how to use libraries better and navigate the web in a better way.”
And, as one student shared, “The library is very cool."
Libraries adapt quickly to change and foster continuous improvement. The custom video series for the humanities classes is just one initiative that ensures information literacy education is accessible and plays an important role in student success.
Pick up a SLO the Snail sticker from Heidi’s Porch, adjacent to Roesch Library’s first-floor lobby, through Dec. 18.