Stale to Stellar: How a Community of Practice Ignited a Sea Change
Type of Presentation
Panel (1 hour and 15 minutes presentation total for two or more presenters)
Target Audience
Higher Education
Location
Room 217
Proposal
A Community of Practice was started in the fall of 2014 at Johns Hopkins University that has grown into an enthusiastic group of dynamic thinkers. Initially based on the need to discuss ACRL’s new framework concepts, the team quickly realized that more needed to be done to invigorate some long-held beliefs surrounding library instruction. The group consists of a student engagement librarian, librarian to non-traditional students, a subject-specific librarian and an instructional designer. All share the common goal of improving the understanding of information literacy in the library and campus, while injecting pedagogy and lifelong learning concepts into library instruction. The group created IRB approved surveys that examined librarian and faculty attitudes toward specific information literacy concepts. Through sharing findings, developing workshops and resources,the group slowly gathered buy-in and support from colleagues. The panel will discuss: the surveys created, the cultural climate of the library, challenges faced, resources that developed, and where things stand one year later. The interactive panel will allow attendees to reflect on their institution’s climate, understand the importance of ongoing conversations surrounding IL and identify key players at their institutions so they can engage in such conversations. As the understanding of information literacy begins to shift in the academic world, conversations surrounding how these concepts are communicated will be crucial to student success and faculty collaborations. Building a community of practice is one key way in which dynamic conversations can convert stale classroom practices into stellar resources in order to strengthen our evolving learning environments.
Short Description
A Community of Practice was started in the fall of 2014 at Johns Hopkins University that has grown into an enthusiastic group of dynamic thinkers. All share the common goal of improving the understanding of information literacy in the library and campus, while injecting pedagogy and lifelong learning concepts into library instruction. The interactive panel will allow attendees to reflect on their institution’s climate, understand the importance of ongoing conversations surrounding IL and identify key players at their institutions so they can engage in such conversations. Building a community of practice is one key way in which dynamic conversations can convert stale classroom practices into stellar resources in order to strengthen our evolving learning environments.
Publication Type and Release Option
Presentation (Open Access)
Recommended Citation
Simpson, Shannon R.; Johns, Liz; Oestreich, Sara; and Rizzo-Busack, Hilda, "Stale to Stellar: How a Community of Practice Ignited a Sea Change" (2015). Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy. 17.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gaintlit/2015/2015/17
Stale to Stellar: How a Community of Practice Ignited a Sea Change
Room 217
A Community of Practice was started in the fall of 2014 at Johns Hopkins University that has grown into an enthusiastic group of dynamic thinkers. Initially based on the need to discuss ACRL’s new framework concepts, the team quickly realized that more needed to be done to invigorate some long-held beliefs surrounding library instruction. The group consists of a student engagement librarian, librarian to non-traditional students, a subject-specific librarian and an instructional designer. All share the common goal of improving the understanding of information literacy in the library and campus, while injecting pedagogy and lifelong learning concepts into library instruction. The group created IRB approved surveys that examined librarian and faculty attitudes toward specific information literacy concepts. Through sharing findings, developing workshops and resources,the group slowly gathered buy-in and support from colleagues. The panel will discuss: the surveys created, the cultural climate of the library, challenges faced, resources that developed, and where things stand one year later. The interactive panel will allow attendees to reflect on their institution’s climate, understand the importance of ongoing conversations surrounding IL and identify key players at their institutions so they can engage in such conversations. As the understanding of information literacy begins to shift in the academic world, conversations surrounding how these concepts are communicated will be crucial to student success and faculty collaborations. Building a community of practice is one key way in which dynamic conversations can convert stale classroom practices into stellar resources in order to strengthen our evolving learning environments.
