Twitter used in instruction?

A colleague shared this link on a list serve pertaining to the many uses of Twitter in instruction sessions. It is a very fascinating read, indeed! Dunlap, J., & Lowenthal, P. R. (2009). Instructional uses of Twitter. In P. R. Lowenthal, D. Thomas, A. Thai, & B. Yuhnke, B. (Eds.), The CU Online Handbook: Teach Differently: Create and collaborate (pp. 46-52). Raleigh, NC: Lulu Enterprises message posted to web4lib@webjunction.org. Follow this link to view the Blog:
http://mobile-libraries.blogspot.com/2009/12/book-chapter-instructional-uses-of.html

You may even find the entire book useful, as Web 2.0 technologies are discussed indepth. Don't just read, implement!

-Sharon

Twitter or Google Wave?

Assuming that you have not created a Twitter account for your library, yet, which would you rather implement? Twitter in the academic library setting can certainly be useful in updating followers on upcoming events, safety alerts, accessibility issues, interlibrary loan/circulation reminders, and so on. However, Google Wave provides much more collaboration and functionality, far beyond restricted character messages. It seems to be the envy of Facebook users.

PLEASE provide feedback!

Thank you,
Sharon

Information seeking: It is not rocket science, it is treasure hunting!

While pursuing the MLIS, our cohort took a class with Dr. Sonia Bodi. Each of us was to develop our own style of implementing an instruction session while integrating Bloom's Taxonomy with as many of the ACRL's Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education to meet each individual's learning style as possible in a given session.

I chose to use the treasure hunt theme for my session. I have observed that most students have fond memories of treasure hunts. While many may perceive this parallel to the glass half empty or half full scenario, I challenge colleagues to step back and put yourselves in the place of your younger constituents and ask yourselves what would make this information/technology overloaded world easier to navigate? How can we, information professionals, simplify the overwhelming options available, which makes finding the relevant information harder and more time consuming to find? It must seem like a spaceship dodging space junk while traveling at "warp speed." What we know and do, almost second nature is mysterious to those outside of our field.

Let's put a smile on our faces, no matter how silly we think a question or perception is and help those around us. Is that not what our predecessors did for us? Didn't we become librarians/information specialists to help others? After all, these people are our future and they do look up to us to guide them and help them shape their futures.

While my research was interrupted by the re-accreditation process, I am now back at the gaming or blended instruction session topic. Please come back to see what I have discovered as a result of collaborating with a team of spectacular leaders. In the interim, explore this information literacy game, Retrieved November 12, 2009 from http://library.uncg.edu/game/ .

Coming soon...integrate gaming into curricula

Stay tuned. I have been researching how millennials learn. There are numerous tools they utilize, including social networking and gaming components.

If you have an assessment tool or favorite resource to share, please post or comment on this Blog.

Thank you,
Sharon