A Strengths Approach to Research

Abstract

Strengths U is an established initiative at the University of Minnesota. Using Clifton’s StrengthsFinder®, this initiative is designed to support the undergraduate experience and Student Learning Outcomes. Amy Riegelman and Kate Peterson, librarians at the University of Minnesota, and both members of the Teaching and Learning Coordinators, met with the leadership of the Strengths U Initiative to learn more about the program and eventually connected the 34 unique Strengths with library research suggestions. The information is now displayed on a library web page, and cards with each unique strength and mapped library research tips were disseminated at an orientation event. The content on the poster includes sample Strengths with coordinating research suggestions written by Riegelman and Peterson. Also, Riegelman and Peterson explain why this approach is effective; research on metacognition that has shown that having an awareness of your strengths before you begin a task or project may help you to learn more effectively.