This section is designed to show where I am teaching and what classes I’m working on. When I was going through Teacher Education classes in music education, I was terrified of teaching and never saw it as something I would enjoy. Now, I adore teaching. I enjoy the ability to share my knowledge and giving new library students that ah hah moment, especially with readers’ advisory is an amazing feeling. I make a difference and to me, that says it all. Suos Cultores Scientia Coronat roughly translates to ‘knowledge crowns those who seek her.’ Well said.
University of Arizona
When Jana Bradley left Syracuse, there were lots of unhappy faculty and students because she is truly an outstanding person, librarian and leader. She then announced that she had accepted a job leading the School of Information Resources and Library Science. I was pleasantly surprised when she contacted me asking to teach readers’ advisory for Arizona online. I usually teach in the Spring Semester of each year.
The classes are a full semester class and that allow me to expand the genres that the class covered and to try something new-an online book discussion. Book discussions are so vital to the RA world and I remembered the fear and confusion when I first starting doing them. The advice I had from my then branch manager was to just wing it-she never read the book or did any research. Ouch! The project has been a success each semester. Each class has been large enough that there are around 4 different titles being discussed and each semester, the students come up with new and inventive ways to make it a success.
I am so lucky to be rewarded with the student’s growth and practical knowledge that they could take out into their work experiences.
Syracuse University
While I was working on my MLS through Syracuse University, I was fortunate enough to have an Independent Study with Dr. Jana Bradley, the director of the MLS program. The focus of the Independent Study was readers’ advisory and it was the first time I was able to study the art and science of readers’ advisory in-depth. A few years after graduation, I was thrilled with the opportunity to teach Readers’ Advisory to the new group of students at SU.
The 2004 class included a weekend residency in Syracuse. I really enjoyed this face to face interaction with the students. The residency involved a lot of hands-on projects, research and presentations. I was very nervous about teaching a group of students that were not far from my age group. I learned a lot in this first semester of teaching on a graduate level. It is critical to be organized and outline each and every expectation including the hard stuff like turning in late work. I found that having a fairly strict policy but being open and willing to help the true exception gives everyone a strong base to start from.
Since 2004, I have taught the class as an online class only. I believe it works well even without the hands-on, face-to-face component. Tho, I do miss traveling to Syracuse and hanging out in the Sheraton with Brian-the best waiter in the world.
