Teaching Reference Interview Skills with Improv

Abstract

This study explores the use of improv guidelines and exercises to explore best practices for the provision of reference services. Existing literature indicates that improv skills have applications in many areas of life, are being used in the higher education classroom, and are being used in libraries. The literature supports the idea that improv exercises could be used to teach reference interview skills. Understanding that soft skills are important for reference librarians, but are not always covered in reference courses, the authors sought to experiment with using improv in class. One of the authors included improv activities during one class meeting of the reference course during three sections over two semesters. During the first semester, the class met face-to-face. During the second semester, the two classes met synchronously online, due to COVID-19. Student feedback collected immediately after the improv activities supports using improv as an innovative teaching approach for encouraging graduate library students to engage with the soft skills needed for effective reference services.

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