Comments on: Maintaining Your Instruction Mojo

By: Library instruction « MissCybrarian

Library instruction « MissCybrarian — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:29:00 +0000

[...] 11, 2009 by cybermaven I found a really great post on the ACRL blog recently, called “Maintaining Your Instruction Mojo.” It spoke to me because I’ve had lots of classes latelyÂ Although instruction prep can be [...]

By: Catherine

Catherine — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:54:13 +0000

In my many years as an academic librarian (and nearly all of them as a Director), I have refused to be in a situation where I don’t “do” public services. I work the Reference Desk, I work the Circ Desk, and I engage tours and classes. That’s why I became a librarian! I understand that this won’t work in all situations and that at some level of the food chain, direct public services work drops off the job description. Thankfully, I’m right where I want to be–in the middle of the food chain; a medium fish in a medium pond.

In the classroom (or at the service desk), I make an effort to smile, establish eye contact, express enthusiasm for the Library and its resources and for their research/class topic. If I come across as a bit geeky, that’s OK. I also seek out professional development opportunities focused on improving the practice of teaching. We just didn’t get enough of that in Library School or at library conferences!

SO, I applaud you, Steven, for making the effort to keep that invaluable connection with your students.

By: stevenb

stevenb — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:26:51 +0000

Gerrit – I don’t think it much matters whether you wear a tie or not when you are the instructor. I could just remove my suit jacket and there I’d be with a shirt and tie look. I think you can do well with a casual business look – try going no tie – but a sport jacket. You’ll probably still be better dressed than the course instructor and you’ll get that professional look you desire. But I fully support your suggestion to get to know student names. I’ve been doing that in my sessions for years.

By: Gerrit

Gerrit — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:00:44 +0000

There is a danger in dressing down in today’s society, though. There still needs to be a boundary between teacher and buddy. I make it a point to wear a shirt and tie when I teach (I must admit I have never worn a suit coat though, and don’t plan to.) just to be more professional. I have noticed that when I wear a shirt and tie to a classroom as an observer, the professor often starts to wear one, too, by the end of the semester. No lie. It is not a competition between me and the professor so much as an invitation to be more professional. Some will never be caught dead in a tie and that’s just fine. I think there are some others, though, who are just looking for an excuse to be a little more professional.

But from a library standpoint, our students and our society as a whole need more visual reinforcement that librarians are not cardigan-wearing, pointer-finger-shushing 20th century librarians. We are different. We are shiny new librarians with a sunny disposition and a strong desire to foster collaborative learning; if not, we should be (fake it till you make it).
Instead of concentrating on the tie/no tie and librarian image dilemma, #4 Rapport can really be easily attained by actually trying to learn students names (and laughing and not being embarrassed when you forget, because you will. Often. ). This really goes far. When we ask questions, ask respondents’ names the first time they comment. The next time they raise their hand, call on them by name. This works wonders in the instruction room.

By: Sandy Tidwell

Sandy Tidwell — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:29:41 +0000

This article came “just in time”! Thanks!

By: StevenB

StevenB — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:54:23 +0000

Great job finding the link to that article Pam. You can always count on a librarian to come up with the link. I must have read a condensed version of this longer article – in The Teaching Professor. Actually I’m glad readers will have access the full article – and I’ll add the link to the original post. Thanks again for your help on this one.

By: Pam Morgan

Pam Morgan — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:23:47 +0000

Great post!

Is this the full article?

http://www.drtomlifvendahl.com/Millennial%20Characturistics.pdf

By: Joe Murphy

Joe Murphy — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:54:31 +0000

Your comment about suit and tie speaks to me. I’ve noticed that, on my campus, suit and tie is getting less and less common among the male faculty. I happen to be comfortable in it, and like the look… but it seems to be quickly becoming “period costume.” If I’m trying to blend in with the faculty, it’s not working. (Although neither is the encroaching grey hair…)