What's Up With The Teacher?

 

Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons 

{{PD-1923}} – published before 1923 and public domain in the US.

I have three Master's degrees, so I guess you could say that I love learning and have made it a lifelong endeavor. I have been teaching since 1997; however, the venue has been completely different in terms of the subject matter from the course currently in development. Before becoming a librarian three years ago, I taught college-level composition, writing about literature, and business writing. I still teach critical reasoning and argumentative writing for a community college, and I deeply enjoy instructing first year students. It has always been my belief that students should take away knowledge and skills that translate into the real world. Every class hears me state at the beginning, "I am not here to show you what to think. I am here to show you how to think." I hope to bring that same tenet into this new course.

In terms of creating a Freshman Foundations course with a partner, this is a new experience. We are both passionate about introducing first year students to the elements of information literacy. To better prepare for using the ACRL Framework as the underpinning for the course, as part of our weekly instruction meetings, we have dedicated six meetings to discussing the ACRL frames, one frame per session. As concepts, I feel as if I have a good grasp on them. As the course continues to develop, I hope to create lesson plans that play to my strengths as a face-to-face instructor. I love to facilitate discussion among students, and this course promises to be one that demands a free exchange of ideas. I also enjoy playing the devil's advocate to provoke students to consider opposing viewpoints. Another strength is my use of the the Socratic method. Students know they can't get away with a weak explanation or an additional question is coming their way. No one wants to hear my, "Why?"

I am looking forward to bringing the concepts learned in this course to the development of the class.