The Teaching Librarian in Education: Strategies for Skills

Development

Claire McGuinnessSchool of Information & Library

Studies, UCD

Session Outline

1. Changing role of academic librarians

2. Skills & knowledge for effective teaching

3. Professional development

Academic Librarians“To complement the hybrid libraryenvironment, academic LISprofessionals have evolved to becomenew hybrid information professionals,encouraged by a process of workassimilation between disciplines andacross professional boundaries, posingquestions about the true professionalidentity of contemporary academiclibrarianship”

(Wilson & Halpin, 2006, p.79)

Your View....

2 minutes...

• What, in your experience, are the key factors currently driving change in information work?

Drivers of Change

Dealing with Change

Fear of extinction – adapt or die

“On the one hand, librarians require the dynamic, ruthless pursuit of newroles if they wish to survive. On the other hand, they require empathy, tirelessdedication to a cause, commitment, and a service for free orientation – if notfor the survival of librarians, then at least for the benefit of society at large”

(Fourie, 2004, p.62)

“We live in a post-modern environment in which the traditional concept of anacademic library is increasingly becoming something of an anachronism”

(Biddiscombe, 2002, p.228-9)

Dealing with Change

Go with the flow – but don’t get swept away

“Although still intermediaries, [librarians] are moving away from beingthe traditional facilitator in the library context, but applying the sameenabling skills on a broader canvas. They are using these enabling skillsin novel ways to bring enquirer and information together”

(Biddiscombe, 2000)

“the complexity of both the information landscape and theorganisational arena demand both breadth and depth in skills andknowledge for jobs that require cross-functional and highly-specialisedcompetencies”

(Corrall, 2010, p.584)

Academic Librarians’ Perceptions

Beliefs about Core Library functions in 5 years time:

• Teacher of information literacy and related skills (82%)• Subject-based information expert in library (74%)• Custodian of print and digital archives (73%)• Administrator dealing with purchasing of info. services (69%)• Manager of IRs and digital information (61%)• Facilitator for e-learning /virtual learning (50%)• Manager of metadata issues (43%)

*307 academic librarians responded to survey

Source: RIN & CURL (2007) - Researchers’ Use of Academic Libraries and their Services.

Recent CommentsThe Guardian, March 22nd 2012 – results of a live chat panel reacademic librarian’s role

• Role of librarian is basically unchanged – support institutions in delivery of research and learning strategies

• Libraries are about supporting study, rather than storing books• Librarians must become good marketeers• Relationships & collaboration with academic colleagues paramount• Libraries must demonstrate their value• Communication skills are key• Professional education for librarians is out-of-date quickly• Librarians must challenge negative perceptions of role

(Contributors quoted were Simon Bains, Jo Webb, Andy Priestner, Ned Potter, Ann Rossiter)

Teaching • “Librarians teach. [...] the subject of much

angst, soul-searching and self-justification by academic librarians [...], this statement would now be accepted almost without argument both within the library world and largely by our colleagues in the wider academic community” (Powis, 2008, p.6)

• Corrall (2010) identifies awareness of information literacy and recognition of the teaching role of librarians as two of the key trends influencing the academic librarians’ role

The “Blended Librarian”

“We define the “blended librarian” as an academic librarian who combines the traditional skill set of librarianship with the information technologist’s hardware/software skills, and the instructional or educational designer’s ability to apply technology appropriately in the teaching learning process”

(Bell & Shank, 2004)

Blurring of boundaries between the responsibilities of librarians, IT professionals

and other academic support services

Your View...

3 minutes....

• What skills do we need now?• What skills will we need in 5-10 years?

Skills needed NowSkills currently used in role*

• Interpersonal Skills (90%)• Customer Service Skills (89%)• ICT Skills (85%)• General Management Skills

(73%)• Info Evaluation Skills (72%)• Training Skills (71%)• Info Management Skills (70%)

• Online Communication Skills (66%)

• Marketing Skills (60%)• Business Skills (53%)• Decision Support Skills (50%)• Teaching Skills (50%)• Cataloguing Skills (47%)• Classification Skills (46%)• Web Publishing Skills (32%)

*Sample size 3240. Librarians across all sectorsSource: CILIP. Defining our Professional Future, July 2010

Skills needed in 10 years time

Skills used a lot or a little more*

• Online Communication Skills (88%)

• ICT Skills (83%)• Business Skills (81%)• Marketing Skills (78%)• Info Evaluation Skills (72%• Web Publishing Skills (71%)• Info Management Skills (70%)

• Fundraising Skills (65%)• General Management Skills

(64%)• Customer Service Skills (63%)• Training Skills (63%)• Decision Support Skills (60%)• Teaching Skills (58%)• Interpersonal Skills (50%)

*Sample Size 3037-3175. Librarians across all sectorsSource: CILIP. Defining our Professional Future, July 2010

Typical Teaching ActivitiesConroy & Boden, 2007*

• On the spot support (93%)• Small group teaching (92%)• Writing training guides (91%)• Delivering presentations (85%)• One-to-one sessions (83%)• Large group sessions (71%)• Staff development (10%)• Online support (5%)• Mentoring (3%)

*Sample Size 463Libraries across all sectors

Bewick & Corrall, 2010*

• On the spot support (94%)• Writing training guides (93%)• Small group teaching (91%)• One-to-one sessions (90%)• Large group sessions (79%)• Other forms (15%)

*Sample Size 82Subject librarians in UK HE Institutions

Teaching Skills Needed?

Library & Information Science Education in Europe: JointCurriculum Development and Bologna Perspectives, Aug. 2005

It is essential for LIS students:

• To be aware of information literacy as a concept• To become information literate themselves• To learn about key aspects of teaching information literacy

(Kajberg & Lørring, 2005, p.67).

Teaching Skills Needed?An instructional module for LIS professionals should cover:

• Curriculum design and planning • Understanding learners and learning theory

• Understanding basic concepts, theories and practice of teaching

• Understanding the context for teaching and learning

Kajberg & Lørring, 2005

Teaching Skills Needed?ACRL Standards for Proficiencies forInstruction Librarians and Coordinators,2008

1. Administrative skills 2. Assessment and evaluation skills 3. Communication skills 4. Curriculum knowledge 5. IL integration skills 6. Instructional design skills 7. Leadership skills 8. Planning skills 9. Presentation skills 10. Promotion skills 11. Subject expertise 12. Teaching skills

Reflective Practice

“A teaching programme aimed as a preparation for professional practice has [...] to accommodate more than a definitive statement of the subject, it must be an introduction to thinking, asking questions, and interpreting, and should instil the same critical thinking skills that are prerequisites for information literacy”

(Foster, 2006, p.492)

Learning to Teach

How skills were developed:*

• Trial and error (72%)• On-the-job (59%)• Non-accredited course

(31%)• Accredited course (30%)

*n=463 librarians across all sectorsBoden & Conroy, 2007 (UK)

How skills were developed:*

• No training (32%)• One or half-day course or

seminar (43%)• Weekend course 5%• Module within professional

degree programme 15%• Full teaching qual 7%

*n=74 academic librariansMcGuinness, 2009 (Ireland)

Instructional training not usually a core element of professional education for LIS professionals

Learning to Teach• “Professional education for librarians has to anticipate

changes and developments in professional tasks, roles and expectations, both at the macro level of the profession as a whole and the micro level of different library specialties [...] The challenges facing educators are significant, with some employers and graduates questioning the value of academic preparation for professional practice, while others see both initial and continuing education as a worthwhile investment, but want flexible, tailored provision, not just a standard offer.” ”

(Corrall, 2010, p.568)

CPD MethodsFormal Informal

StructuredFull educational programmes (e.g. diplomas, certificates, etc)Short coursesWorkshops or seminarsOnline learning modules

Communities of practiceProfessional learning communitiesMentoring

Self-Directed Mentoring/buddyingJournal ClubsPublishing articles in the scholarly or professional literaturePeer evaluation of teachingDelivering conference presentations or attending conferencesWriting grant applicationsParticipating in group funded projectsApplying for teaching awardsStaff development committees

BloggingJournal-keepingDeveloping a teaching portfolioReading the scholarly or professional literature“Following” relevant persons on TwitterSubscribing to blogs, RSS feeds, social sharing sites, etc

Reflective Approaches• “Reflective professionals should thus be able to draw on, or

contribute to, many sources of evidence, and use them to inform their teaching practices” (Pollard, 2008, p.11)

• Blogging• Journal-keeping• Developing a teaching portfolio• Peer evaluation of teaching• Reading the scholarly or professional literature• Publishing articles in the scholarly or professional literature• Presenting at conferences

Blogging

Teaching Portfolios

• “A collection of evidence about your teaching and your students’ learning and a reflection on that evidence” (Biggs & Tang, 2007, p.266)

• A way to “clearly communicate our teaching successes to those outside our immediate field” (Hochstein, 2004, p.141)

• Introduction• Teaching

qualifications/achievements• Teaching Philosophy• Design of Teaching/Approaches• Enactment of Teaching, including

work samples• Teaching outcomes, including

evidence from students/colleagues• Other professional activities

related to teaching• Reflection• Additional Evidence

Library Association of IrelandContinuing Professional Development

“The Education Committee has recommended that all LAI membersshould engage in 25 hours CPD per annum. The CPD activity mayinclude:

• Post-qualification academic courses ( further degrees, single modules)

• Attendance at courses/conferences/workshop• Publications • Professional association activities• Professional reading”

Source: http://www.libraryassociation.ie/education-committee-cpd/continuing-professional-development-learning-portfolio/

CILIPContinuing Professional Development

CILIP Qualifications• Certification (information and library assistants ) &

Chartership (practising librarians and information managers)

• Involve identifying a mentor, and creating Personal (Professional) Development Plans

• Collecting evidence of CPD and submitting a portfolio

Blended Approach to CPDDevise a personal blend of formal & informal activities

E.g. • Attend one formal training opportunity per year (e.g. ANLTC workshop,

weekend course, etc)• Attend two conferences per year – one at home, one abroad (if funding

available) OR present paper/poster at one conference per year• Read two scholarly/professional articles per month – identify relevant journals

and check ToC regularly• Set up RSS feeds from blogs/sites of professional interest/set up relevant

“follows” on Twitter• Set up “Google Alerts” for articles on topics of interest• Start own blog and update regularly (e.g. monthly) or post contributions to

other blogs• Join one CoP or committee and commit to that• Gradually build up a Teaching Portfolio over one year

Thank you!

Contact details

• claire.mcguinness@ucd.ie• Twitter @cmcguinness• Web: http://www.ucd.ie/sils/staff/drclairemcguinness/

References• Aharony, N. (2009). Librarians and information scientists in the blogosphere:

An exploratory analysis. Library & Information Science Research, 31(3), 174-181

• Anyangwe, E. (2012, March 22nd). Professional development advice for academic librarians. The Guardian. Accessed at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/higher-education-network/blog/2012/mar/22/professional-development-for-academic-librarians

• Bell, S.J. & Shank, J. (2004). The blended librarian: A blueprint for redefining the teaching and learning role of academic librarians. College & Research Libraries News, 65(7), 372 375‐

• Bewick, L., & Corrall, S. (2010). Developing librarians as teachers: A study of their pedagogical knowledge. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 42 2), 97-110

References• Biddiscombe, R. (2002). Learning support professionals: The changing role of

subject specialists in UK academic libraries. Program, 36 (4), 228-35

• Biddiscombe,R. (2000). The changing role of the information professional in support of learning and research. Advances in Librarianship, 23, 63-64

• Biggs, J. B. and Tang, C. Teaching for quality learning at university. (3rd ed.). Open University Press/Mc Graw-Hill Education, 2007

• CILIP. (2010). Defining our Professional Future. Accessed at: http://www.cilip.org.uk/about-us/cilipfuture/Documents/Defining%20Our%20Professional%20Future%20-%20Report%20to%20CILIP%20Council%20July%202010.pdf

• Conroy, H. & Boden, D. (2007). Teachers, Trainers, Educators, Enablers: What skills do we need and where do we get them? Presentation given at Umbrella, 29 June 2007. Accessed at: http://www.cilip.org.uk/get-involved/special-interest-groups/personnel/Documents/PTEGTeachersTrainers.pdf

References• Corrall, S. (2010). Educating the academic librarian as a blended professional: A

review and case study. Library Management, 31(8/9), 567-593

• Foster, A. E. (2006). Information literacy for the information profession: Experiences from Aberystwyth. Aslib Proceedings, 58(6), 488-501

• Fourie, I. (2004). Librarians and the claiming of new roles: how can we try to make a difference? Aslib Proceedings, 56 (1), 62-74

• Hochstein, S. (2004). You mean you teach? I thought you were a librarian! Using teaching portfolios to think about and improve instruction in academic libraries. In Thomas, D. B., Tammany, R., Baier, R., Owen, E. & Mercado, H. (Eds.). Reflective teaching: A bridge to learning. (pp. 139-144). Ann Arbor, MI: Pierian Press, 2004

References• Kajberg, L. and Lørring, L. (Eds.). European Curriculum Reflections on Library

and Information Science Education. Copenhagen: The Royal School of Library and Information Science, 2005. Accessed at: http://www.library.utt.ro/LIS_Bologna.pdf

• McGuinness, C. (2009). Information Skills Training Practices in Irish Higher Education. Aslib Proceedings: New Information Perspectives, 61(3), 262-281

• Pollard, A. Reflective Teaching (3rd ed.). London: Continuum, 2008

• Powis, C. (2008). Towards the professionalisation of practice in teaching. Relay: The Journal of the University College and Research Group (CILIP), 58, 6-9.

References• RIN & CURL (2007). Researchers’ Use of Academic Libraries and their Services:

A report commissioned by the Research Information Network and the Consortium of Research Libraries.

• Wilson, K. M., & Halpin, E. (2006). Convergence and professional identity in the academic library. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 38(2), 79-91