UNews - Heather Nicholson

Library debuts series of online tools

trevor.kenney — Tue, 03 May 2011 15:41:10 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Library continues to seek ways by which it can further serve its students. The latest example of this is the development of a number of online modules designed to help students become more familiar with the research process and Library resources.

In January, the library strengthened its existing partnership with Academic Writing by launching a series of online learning modules for students enrolled in Writing 1000 (Introduction to Academic Writing). The modules include videos, worksheets, and quizzes, with content that covers topics such as narrowing down a research question, using library databases, evaluating information sources and formatting citations.

"Good academic writing goes hand in hand with good research, with information literacy," says Academic Writing Program co-ordinator Cliff Lobe. "We've been pleased to work with the library to help students develop both skills simultaneously."

Information literacy, the ability to recognize when information is needed and be able to locate, evaluate, and make effective use of information, is becoming increasingly recognized as an essential skill.

Over the last few years, it has become common practice for a librarian to visit each section of the Writing 1000 class at least once per semester to introduce students to finding and evaluating key library resources to support the successful completion of the course's major research paper. While the partnership has been a positive one, both the writing instructors and librarians felt that students were not getting all they needed to become proficient researchers. There was simply too much material to cover over the time presented by a three-credit course.

The library had discussed putting more instruction resources online, and with the advantage of having a full-time intern with a background in education on staff this past term, the project took shape. Intern Librarian Heather Nicholson, with support from librarian Rumi Graham, has largely been responsible for developing the online modules.

The added advantage of the online component is that students can work through the material at their own pace and return to topics later on for review. These tools also provide additional library support to the growing number of U of L students enrolled in courses in Calgary and Edmonton. Looking ahead, the plan is to work over the summer to modify the modules based on student feedback and work to make them available on Moodle and through the Library's website for the fall semester.

Librarians are always eager to have the opportunity to work with faculty to provide information literacy instruction to students. This latest initiative is in addition to the two credit courses taught in library science each term and the many library instruction sessions taught in faculties across campus.

Instructors are encouraged to contact their subject liaison librarians to arrange instruction sessions for their individual classes.

This story first appeared in the Legend. For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Library debuts series of online tools

trevor.kenney — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 21:15:17 +0000

Instructors are encouraged to contact their subject liaison librarians to arrange instruction sessions for their individual classes.

For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Library looks to engage with students

trevor.kenney — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 18:15:34 +0000

PechaKucha was introduced to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge campus recently as the U of L Library's Student Engagement Team (SET) hosted a PechaKucha event as part of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's International Week.

Seven presenters, including faculty, staff and one international student, spoke on internationally-themed topics ranging from a winter road trip to Alaska to anthropological field work in Indonesia.

The Student Engagement Team was formed in the fall of 2010 to provide leadership within the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Library on all services and activities that support the strategic direction of enhancing the student experience. The group is interested in finding new ways to engage students both academically and socially.

"When the International Centre for Students asked us to be a part of International Week we were eager to participate," says event organizer Heather Nicholson.

She adds that SET was particularly interested in finding an activity that would engage international students. Nicholson and SET co-chair Nicole Eva had read about PechaKucha and were looking for an opportunity to put it into practice.

PechaKucha, a term derived from the Japanese word for chit-chat, is a simple presentation format where 20 images are shown for 20 seconds each. The images forward automatically while a presenter speaks to them. The presentation style was developed by two architects in Tokyo in 2003 who wanted to provide a space and an opportunity for designers to share new ideas, but in a fast-paced and entertaining format. Since 2004, PechaKucha events have been spreading to other cities around the world. Currently there are regular PechaKucha nights running in more than 260 cities worldwide on an unlimited number of topics.

While PechaKucha is not well known around Lethbridge, all participants and attendees expressed enthusiasm about the event. One particularly moving presentation was given by ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Librarian Glenna Westwood, who spoke about her emotional voyage to Ghana in May 2010. Westwood and her father (retired U of L professor Bill Cook) made their first return journey to the West African country after spending five years there in the 1970s.

PechaKucha Night is trademarked and run by a global foundation. For more information about PechaKucha visit www.pecha-kucha.org

For a look at the March issue of the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Internship a benefit to all

trevor.kenney — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 17:27:41 +0000

If you've been in the library lately, you may have noticed a friendly new face: Heather Nicholson.

Nicholson is a co-op student from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Western Ontario (UWO), where she is studying for a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree. She is here at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge for one term to gain some practical, hands-on experience in a library setting.

"This is a great learning experience, and a great way to supplement what I've learned so far in school," says Nicholson. "Working at a smaller institution like the U of L has given me the opportunity to gain experience with a wide variety of library work."

The library gains from this relationship as well, by getting an enthusiastic short-term employee with new ideas able to help out with special projects. It's not unlike the opportunity U of L students readily take advantage of when they participate in similar co-op placements.

The UWO co-op program is, like the U of L's program, an optional add-on to the degree. Students can choose up to two co-op terms of four months each. And, like the U of L program, many students may eventually find permanent employment with their co-op sponsors – something Nicholson would love to see happen.

Nicholson was previously a junior high school teacher for five years in her hometown of Edmonton. She then taught junior high language arts and social studies for three years at a newly opened Canadian school in Qatar, returning last June to begin her studies at UWO. Helping to develop the collection for the school library in Qatar piqued her interest in library science.

Throughout her teaching career she realized the importance of teaching students solid research and critical thinking skills. Becoming a librarian dovetails nicely with her interest in teaching, while providing her with an opportunity to assist students in developing information literacy skills. Working in the U of L Library, with its emphasis on personal service, leads her to believe she's made the right choice.

"I love the teaching aspect of being a librarian," says Nicholson. "I also enjoy the other parts of the job – working on the reference desk, developing collections, and constantly learning new things as you support faculty and students in their research. It's the wide variety of the job that really appeals to me."

At the U of L, Nicholson has been involved with a variety of projects, including teaching classes, co-ordinating the movement of the collection during renovations, weeding parts of the collection and analyzing the library's print and electronic serials holdings.

"Thanks to my work here at the U of L, I have been able to see the practical application of concepts we've discussed in class, and there's no substitute for actually experiencing how real-world libraries work," she says. "The library staff has been very generous in sharing their knowledge and experience with me."

UNews - Heather Nicholson

Library debuts series of online tools

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