Category Archives: library

Jun 30 2011

Too Much Going On….

Summer study, teaching, and statistics….wow.  I completed my Stats I course and am heading into multivariate analysis – think of me.  I also participated in a wonderful poster presentation with Caroline McDonald on “Gaming in Libraries” at the Metrolina Library Association.  What a great conference and a wonderful opportunity to work with my graduate assistant and UNCG MLIS student.

I am also heading to the Library of Congress to do some research…woo hoo!!!!  Margaret Mead, informal learning, and so much more…

Mar 13 2011

Homecoming and informal learning

It is always nice to be home…I’ve been thinking about my experience in Nashville and the ways it can shape my instruction.  That sounds crazy perhaps but I experienced so much – often through informal learning.  Libraries are integral to informal learning – and my experience at the library and museums told me so much.  In addition the spoken word – visiting places such as the Opry and Loveless allows me to hear people discuss history, what/who shaped them as people, musicians, and there is so much that can be harnessed for formal learning – ways we can take these traditions and inform our students.

It was a wonderful, transformational week.

 

Feb 26 2011

Transformed…140 Characters

I am a librarian – I love to find information.  I also realized that at times I am too complacent…google scholar or an academic database is all I need to use.  Well…My technology and transformative learning lit review seemed stalled – I was looking for the theoretical underpinnings of the two areas.  I’ve used these keywords:  transformative learning, ICT, educational technology, educational theory, technology, distance education, online education in a myriad of databases.  Found articles that skirted my topic but I was not quite satisfied…then I decided to search twitter.

Wow!

I used the search transformative learning….found a tweet from @veletsianos about a special issue of Educational Technology that is all about transformative learning – it was posted 2/25/11.  @veletsianos is Dr. George Veletsianos is Assistant Professor of Instructional Technology at the University of Texas, Austin.  His blog is wonderful and you should check it out here http://www.veletsianos.com/.

So this took me on a new path…opened up so many doors and still led me to the scholarly articles I need.  Environmental scanning to me is a key tool in finding information – and that includes using what some would consider unconventional tools.  I keep hearing we need to teach in places where the students reside…we should also search in places that scholars reside.

 

Feb 17 2011

Opportunity for a new book chapter

I am so excited that two fellow librarians have asked me to contribute a chapter to their upcoming volume!  The volume is a practical guide for those who are new to librarianship.  I cannot wait to get started!

I also need to focus on publishing some of my papers….I’m a little nervous so I hope the AERA session will help me flesh out my topic.  I’m looking at Adult Education through the lens of Baudrillard.  It was a fun paper to write, but it needs to connect the theoretical to the practical – making those connections can be difficult for me sometimes.  I will get there though…Any suggestions are welcome!

Feb 15 2011

The Library and Otherness

” The Other is an individual who is perceived by the group as not belonging, as being different in some fundamental way. Any stranger becomes the Other. The group sees itself as the norm and judges those who do not meet that norm (that is, who are different in any way) as the Other.“  Thank you Lila Melani at Brooklyn CUNY for the above quote.  Check out her information – she gives a nice summation of the other.

I think libraries are very open to “removing” the other; however, are we reaching out to marginalized communities?  I want to investigate libraries and information agencies on ways they deal with “otherness”.  Some of it can be seen in safe zones for the LGBTQI community but what else are we doing?  Are we addressing the other in our collections, through our services?  What are we missing and can we ever alleviate all effects of the other?