Happy Open Access Week! Here at the UM Library (where I work part-time), we had two formal events - one small and one large - to celebrate this week of scholarship, information sharing, and participation in open resources. Open Access Week is, "a global event now entering its fourth year, [...and...] an opportunity for the
academic and research community to continue to learn about the potential
benefits of Open Access, to share what they’ve learned with colleagues,
and to help inspire wider participation in helping to make Open Access a
new norm in scholarship and research" (openaccessweek.org).
On Tuesday, we did just that. In partnership with the Copyright Office and MPublishing, I organized a brown bag event to bring together people from all positions in the library to discuss open access, what it means to them, and what it means to higher education and scholarly communication. It was a fairly "easy" event to organize - people from Copyright and MPublishing were more than happy to work with me, and we publicized in the library newsletter and via email to the library. The turnout was perfect for a discussion - we had several folks from different libraries (some librarians, some staff) and several people from the partnering offices. It was an incredible opportunity to hear people directly related to open access issues converse amongst themselves as well as with those of us not quite as familiar with the topic.
For people looking to host events or raise awareness, my experience organizing a brown bag showed me that it was a great way to bring people together to have discussions about issues. It's informal, but provides a space for people to talk - which is often what's needed to start a conversation. Plus, as the organizer, you get to interact with and learn about a subject or topic that you're interested in. Open Access week was a great way to make this happen here.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Starting the search
As November is upon us, April seems far away. That is, until I remember that that is the month in which I will graduate with an MSI, and will want to be employed by then or soon thereafter.
So the job search is upon me, and the idea of it is looming heavier week by week. Of course, I've already set aside time to look for and apply to jobs but, of course, somehow those hours get pushed away by homework, work, instruction prep time, or any other number of things that come up.
But it's time to focus - and focus, for me, happens with motivation. Motivation for the job search happens when I see positions that I want, and want badly. This week, there happen to be three jobs - in the Ann Arbor area - that would be great. There's one that I'm pretty excited about, and the other two are jobs that I could see being extremely fulfilling. I can't be picky as I want to stay in this wonderful state of Michigan and, preferably, in this area, but I don't want to "waste" my investment from graduate school by taking a position with which I won't be satisfied.
That's the balance - wanting (needing) a job but not wanting to settle. Any tips for finding this balance, applying to jobs, (or any leads on job openings!) would be more than welcome....
So the job search is upon me, and the idea of it is looming heavier week by week. Of course, I've already set aside time to look for and apply to jobs but, of course, somehow those hours get pushed away by homework, work, instruction prep time, or any other number of things that come up.
But it's time to focus - and focus, for me, happens with motivation. Motivation for the job search happens when I see positions that I want, and want badly. This week, there happen to be three jobs - in the Ann Arbor area - that would be great. There's one that I'm pretty excited about, and the other two are jobs that I could see being extremely fulfilling. I can't be picky as I want to stay in this wonderful state of Michigan and, preferably, in this area, but I don't want to "waste" my investment from graduate school by taking a position with which I won't be satisfied.
That's the balance - wanting (needing) a job but not wanting to settle. Any tips for finding this balance, applying to jobs, (or any leads on job openings!) would be more than welcome....
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Networking...Pay it forward
I've been really lucky to have supervisors who have helped me begin networking. One of my former bosses was well connected and put me in touch with an administrator at a nearby library. Immediately after the initial email introduction, I emailed the contact and expressed interest in visiting the library and observing instruction. As this was over the summer, I received a prompt reply with an invitation to come sometime in the fall, when more classes would be happening.
And.... it's fall. Of course the semester caught up to me, and I realized I'd better not lose this contact by getting back in touch too late. So, Sunday afternoon I sent the message, and Monday morning I had a reply in my inbox by the time I got to my email. By today, a Thursday, I have a visit set up, including observation and at least one meeting.
There are a couple lessons I've learned from this situation.
1) It doesn't hurt to ask: Before my old supervisor left her job, we discussed my future and she immediately put me in touch with those she knew in the area. Had I been afraid to have this conversation, or afraid to email the administrator, this opportunity would not have happened.
2) Pay it forward: Besides for the good of the profession, there is no good reason for this administrator (who must be VERY busy) to go out of her way to not only contact me initially but also to respond within 24 hours to a request from me. I believe that people are inherently good and that it would be hard to turn down a student who wants to visit your library, but I also have to believe that there is a sort of "pay-it-forward" attitude that led to my success in getting this visit set up. And, really, it all is for the good of the profession. Presumably, this administrator and my former boss have been in contact and have helped each other in various capacities during their careers; attending to my request for a visit was one way that the administrator paid forward something my former supervisor may have done for her. To me, this is a wonderful example of networking - knowing you can contact colleagues and make "asks" while being assured that they would do the same for you in a heartbeat.
I'm very lucky with the colleagues I have here at UM, and I will remember these experiences as I move forward in my career to continue to strengthen the library field.
And.... it's fall. Of course the semester caught up to me, and I realized I'd better not lose this contact by getting back in touch too late. So, Sunday afternoon I sent the message, and Monday morning I had a reply in my inbox by the time I got to my email. By today, a Thursday, I have a visit set up, including observation and at least one meeting.
There are a couple lessons I've learned from this situation.
1) It doesn't hurt to ask: Before my old supervisor left her job, we discussed my future and she immediately put me in touch with those she knew in the area. Had I been afraid to have this conversation, or afraid to email the administrator, this opportunity would not have happened.
2) Pay it forward: Besides for the good of the profession, there is no good reason for this administrator (who must be VERY busy) to go out of her way to not only contact me initially but also to respond within 24 hours to a request from me. I believe that people are inherently good and that it would be hard to turn down a student who wants to visit your library, but I also have to believe that there is a sort of "pay-it-forward" attitude that led to my success in getting this visit set up. And, really, it all is for the good of the profession. Presumably, this administrator and my former boss have been in contact and have helped each other in various capacities during their careers; attending to my request for a visit was one way that the administrator paid forward something my former supervisor may have done for her. To me, this is a wonderful example of networking - knowing you can contact colleagues and make "asks" while being assured that they would do the same for you in a heartbeat.
I'm very lucky with the colleagues I have here at UM, and I will remember these experiences as I move forward in my career to continue to strengthen the library field.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Pure Observation
And it's Thursday again, and we're back. It's been another intense week, but a very good one. A colleague and I taught our second iteration of a Dissertation workshop, and it was awesome just how easily and effectively we were able to work together. Fantastic!
The real highlight of this week, though, was my observation a class. Pure, simple observation. It's been a long time since I sat in a classroom without floating or teaching, so it was a great time to actually reflect on instructional practices without actually being involved.
This experience helped me realize that pure observation can lead to a different type of reflection than I talked about last week, when I was reflecting on my own teaching. The observation of others allowed me to step outside myself and think about the instructional practices instead of how I, personally, was instructing. It helped me focus on the content and praxis of the lesson, and how students reacted to it. When I was reflecting on my teaching, I had been using a prescribed lesson plan, so most of my reflection was internalized - me thinking about how I was teaching.
After this experience, I can see now that both are extremely valuable. I could see how, as an "experienced" instructor who gets caught up in their job, one could forget to sit back and observe others. I will try to remember this experience as I move forward in my instructional career, so that I can continue to evaluate and reflect on myself as well as others to be the most effective professional possible.
The real highlight of this week, though, was my observation a class. Pure, simple observation. It's been a long time since I sat in a classroom without floating or teaching, so it was a great time to actually reflect on instructional practices without actually being involved.
This experience helped me realize that pure observation can lead to a different type of reflection than I talked about last week, when I was reflecting on my own teaching. The observation of others allowed me to step outside myself and think about the instructional practices instead of how I, personally, was instructing. It helped me focus on the content and praxis of the lesson, and how students reacted to it. When I was reflecting on my teaching, I had been using a prescribed lesson plan, so most of my reflection was internalized - me thinking about how I was teaching.
After this experience, I can see now that both are extremely valuable. I could see how, as an "experienced" instructor who gets caught up in their job, one could forget to sit back and observe others. I will try to remember this experience as I move forward in my instructional career, so that I can continue to evaluate and reflect on myself as well as others to be the most effective professional possible.
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