Instruction à la carte

I attended at TLT webinar (hate that word!) the other day. One thing that some libraries mentioned they are doing that I thought was very cool was to list a “menu” of instruction items on the web site, and the minimum amount of time required to effectively teach each. It allows profs and others to see what the library can offer (and to suggest things that aren’t listed), and to work with the librarian to create a “customized” class to meet learning outcomes and to select appropriate instructional strategies. It also helps them to understand that it is not possible to “cover” how to find books, articles, Web searching, evaluating information, citing information, etc., etc. etc., in 50 minutes and, as a result, encourages them to integrate IL throughout the curriculum. I wondered if it would also be helpful in identifying prerequisite skills and knowledge.

Roundtables

A colleague and I have been asked to continue Mac’s tradition of holding teaching and learning roundtables for librarians. My colleague Patrick Labelle from Concordia shared some great ideas for similar activities they have done in the past. We’re going to gather ideas from our colleagues, but here are some of mine: effective questioning, pre- and post-testing (this one is stolen from Patrick), alternatives to PowerPoint in library instruction, advocacy, inquiry, problem-based learning, effective and engaging presentation skills (voice, posture etc.), Wikipedia as a teaching tool, what does “hands-on” mean (this was also done at Concordia but I had it as one of my ideas also!), assessment, teaching and learning as a concept, SAILS, diversity in the classroom, PBL, new teaching and learning technologies appropriate to libraries…

can’t wait for the sessions!