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My "two cents" on being an old fashioned librarian in the digital age.
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Thursday, February 23, 2012

Bibliography

This is an "under-construction" bibliography for the workshop I am presenting at the ACL conference in June.  I'll be adding to it (even after the conference!), so check back!

BOOKS

Cain, Susan. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking. New York: Crown Publishers, 2012. Print.

Jeffries, William C. True to Type: Answers to the Most Commonly Asked Questions About Interpreting the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Norfolk, VA: Hampton Roads Pub. Co, 1991. Print.

Jung, C G. Psychological Types. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press, 1971. Print. 

Keirsey, David, and David Keirsey. Please Understand Me II: Temperament, Character, Intelligence. Del Mar, CA: Prometheus Nemesis, 1998. 

Kolb, David A. Experiential Learning: Experience As the Source of Learning and Development. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1984.

Kolb, David A. The Kolb Learning Style Inventory: LSI Workbook. Boston, Mass: HayGroup, 2007. Print. 

McHugh, Adam S. Introverts in the Church: Finding Our Place in an Extroverted Culture. Downers Grove, Ill: IVP Books, 2009. Print.

Michael, Chester P., and Marie C. Norrisey. Prayer and Temperament: Different Prayer Forms for Different Personality Types. Charlottesville, Va: Open Door, 1984.

Myers, Isabel Briggs, and Peter B. Myers. Gifts Differing: Understanding Personality Type. Palo Alto, Calif: Davies-Black Pub, 1995. 


WEBSITES

Myers-Briggs Foundation




Monday, February 20, 2012

Too much or too little?

I've been thinking about my teaching pedagogy again, and trying to decide what makes sense.  When you teach a one-shot, fifty minute class you're up against a lot of obstacles from the get-go.  The students don't know you, so you haven't developed a rapport.  They don't think "the librarian" can teach them anything.  They'd rather goof off on facebook - hey, it's the first class they've had in the computer lab so why not take advantage of it?

I started off by trying to hit everything, at least briefly.  Searching for books, searching for articles, search strategies in general, different databases, lots and lots of content.  But you know what?  I don't know that more than a tiny handful of students took anything away from that, other than "yeah, I think I might recognize the librarian" and "databases are complicated, so I'll stick with Google".

So I've modified my pedagogy.  I've decided that there are three main things I want the students to take away from my time class.  1) There are folks who can help you.  2) There's lots of great stuff out there.  3) Databases are not scary. 

So I spend the first part of class talking about the library, and how they can get help.  I tell them how to contact me, and how to contact other librarians though a whole host of social media, chat, text, and tweets.  I started including lots of suggested database links on my guides.  I don't go into detail, but I point them out as great starting places.  And then reiterate - over and over and over - that I am there to help them, whenever they need it.

Finally, I compare database searching to Google searching.  I try to show them that - just like Google - they can jump in feet-first and still get good results.  I show them helps; tell them that ... just like Google ... they can play around with searches and use the links on the left to narrow results.

And you know what?  I think it's working!  I've had more students this semester request books, ask for research help, and actually use library services.  And I'd like to think that in the classes I'm getting at least a few nods of appreciation (instead of blank stares).

Breakthrough!