I was initially disappointed when this year’s ODU Summer Institute was moved online due to Covid, but after seeing how well things were done virtually in my LIBS 677 (Knowledge Organization and Access) class this spring once the pandemic hit, I was reassured that it would still be rewarding experience. I was proven correct almost immediately as I found the information and discussion in the Program Advising session with Dr. Kimmel on Tuesday afternoon extremely helpful. I am learning that while face-to-face interaction is what I am most familiar and comfortable with, virtual experiences can be very rewarding. This is a crucial lesson for teachers right now, I believe, as we need to focus on all the ways we can create meaningful content and experiences for our students in a remote learning environment.
I also attended the ePortfolio session with Dr. DiScala on Wednesday and felt that it was an excellent resource for that particular aspect of the MLIS program. In Foundations (LIBS 608), we dipped our toes into creating our own ePortfolios, but this session provided more clarity about all of the aspects of this requirement. In fact, I think that both of the above mentioned sessions were very helpful to those of us still fairly early in our coursework in learning in-depth about specific program requirements that we will encounter soon.
Despite not meeting face to face, I think the entire MLIS program does an excellent job of helping us connect with each other and several aspects of this Institute are great examples of that! For one, I love the ways that Flipgrid is being used. I had fun playing two facts and a wish, and I appreciate the ability to continue discussions or ask questions on a grid specific to that topic. Another great opportunity to connect with others in the program was provided by the scavenger hunt ALA chapter – I’m so glad I popped in!
The Wakelet of all of the tools we evaluated as a class (“Cool Tools for Librarians and Libraries”) is great, and I enjoyed looking through those presentations to make certain I have good, strong grasp of the tools we’ve explored in this class in terms of what they offer and what their strengths and limitations are.
July 17, 2020 at 7:10 pm
I also thought the MLIS department did an amazing job of making the Summer Institute engaging, inspiring, and informational despite the fact that it needed to be moved to a digital platform.I really like your thought about focusing on creating meaningful digital content. It is so important to pick a few tools you are comfortable with to create activities and lessons that are useful to patrons rather than trying to use them all. Using just a few tools will make your content more meaningful because the stress of learning the tool is gone and the focus is on what is best for the viewer.
July 19, 2020 at 10:12 pm
Thanks, Claire!
July 19, 2020 at 1:25 pm
I think that your observation that this is a good experience for us to apply to virtual learning for students is a great one. We got to have a taste of learning virtually and the experience of a normally in person education opportunity done in this way. We can apply the difference in experience, the benefits and the drawbacks, the disappointments and the exciting learning to empathize with our students or patrons (present or future, depending on where one works now) and to help make their experience as good as it can be.
July 19, 2020 at 3:50 pm
The MLIS department did an amazing job with the virtual institute. I was also looking forward to attending in person, but we have to adjust to a new normal. Dr. Kimmel’s session gave me insight with all that is included on the Blackboard platform. I had no idea all of the information we need is available there for our convenience. I thought Blackboard was just to get to our courses but surprise! All of the online tools included in the institute will most definitely be helpful to us as we start this school year. My district will be completely virtual during the first semester so I am very appreciative to this institute for displaying some virtual learning features.
July 19, 2020 at 6:07 pm
I too enjoyed interacting through the Flipgrid two truths and a wish. It was fun learning about other librarian students’ experiences and background before they came into this program. I also enjoyed looking through the other presentations about resource tools so I could see features that I may have missed about that particular tool and different ways to use the tool. In particular I learned that hyperlinks can be added into a word art which I was unaware of before. Thanks for sharing!
July 26, 2020 at 7:13 pm
Yes, I also really enjoyed the Summer Institute. The presentations gave us great outlines on what we need to do to be successful LIBS students and librarians