As I begin to wind down my marathon of classroom Media Orientation presentations, I’m wondering about the value and efficacy of this time. On the positive side:
- For me to have face-to-face contact with students across the campus is a reward in and of itself, so that alone might make the visits worthwhile.
- Another immediate feedback in evidence is the increased circulation of books - though I don’t do formal booktalks, I bring appropriate materials to “show off” some of the available resources.
- Using interactive techniques to prompt discussion and feedback has sometimes yielded absolutely dynamic and relevant conversation about digital citizenship and information literacy.
- Instructors have often remarked how much they have learned from the presentation themselves, which is a ‘win-win’ indeed.
- Modeling technological tools (’clickers’ and online links to wikis) and creative commons licensing sets the stage for faculty and students to increase content creation.
The need to improve is also evidenced by:
- The same interactive techniques that prompted ‘dynamic and relevant conversation’ in some classrooms brought deadpan stares or inappropriate off-task chatting in other classrooms.
- A few instructors sensing the opportunity for my classroom visit to allow them planning time rather than participating in the presentation.
Time will tell whether or not the message of searching, evaluating and using information ethically makes an impact. I’ve recently asked faculty to provide a bit more formal feedback via an online survey which may yield additional and more specific information. In addition, I’ll continue to try to adapt what I’ve learned from this experience and plug it into the cycle of improvement.
Photo credit to John Morton at Flickr
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1 response so far ↓
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Jeanette
// Sep 19, 2007 at 7:04 pm
For what it’s worth, as a non-classroom-teacher and non-student in this case, I think the value of these orientations is immeasurable. Take a look at those positives you identified… making connections w/students; making connections w/teachers; expanding awareness of the media center, media specialist, and resources; modeling useful technologies; helping to honor the value of literacy and continued learning by virtue of the orientations and what they imply.
The foundation this helps to lay for ongoing collaboration, conversation, and learning is absolutely enormous. No amount of deadpan stares can detract from that.
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