Today I will co-instruct my last workshop at the UM Library. It's hard to believe that just over a year ago today was my first Word for Dissertation session. I wrote about that experience on August 5, 2011 and here it is August 10, 2012; boy does time fly!
When I first started teaching, I was much less confident than I am now. Now, I'm ready to go in and show graduate students the best ways to format their dissertations, in a way that will make the process easier for them. I'm comfortable working with another co-instructor and watching her teach the workshop in a different way than I did. It's great to know that there is someone else stepping in who can help mentor the person who may become their co-instructor.
I'll take my instructing technology experiences, and try to use the skills I've learned in a transferable way. I'll know that staying excited and upbeat during sessions or presentations is critical; that making the participants feel comfortable asking questions and following along; that everyone learns and processes information differently. It will be valuable to have experience instructing on a variety of things from technology, to databases, to freshmen orientation. And, it is wonderful knowing that I can always re-connect with co-instructors for tips and feedback.
Instruction has been a very interesting and fun part of my appointment at the library. It's something I've truly enjoyed and hope to do more of in different ways in my next position. And it's something that I've been fortunate enough to have time to reflect upon with mentors and colleagues who are constructive and encouraging. So for now, here's the last library instruction post... thanks for following this piece of the blog!
Friday, August 10, 2012
Friday, August 3, 2012
Everything I want to write, I can't
I'll use the rain analogy again for this week, even though we've had another dry spell. When it rains, it pours. And unfortunately, at this time, I can't share any details about the weather.
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Ok.. enough of the vague comparisons to precipitation. But seriously, when life happens, it happens. It's weird that way. And right now, it is happening. Like, everything. Personal, professional, future... lots of it is on the move right now. And I can't say a word about it.
It's weird how life happens. Everything I want to write about, I can't. Until probably next week. Maybe.
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All I really know is that I am cleaning out my office of two years today. One more step in this crazy transition. Question is... what to keep and what to throw away (recycle)? What notes do I need from the last 24 months? What will be useful in the future? More inquisitions lead to fewer answers.
And that's ok. That's my my life right now, as it's happening - and it certainty is...
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P.S. I promise in a few weeks this blog will become more substantive again :)
---------------------------------------------------------------
Ok.. enough of the vague comparisons to precipitation. But seriously, when life happens, it happens. It's weird that way. And right now, it is happening. Like, everything. Personal, professional, future... lots of it is on the move right now. And I can't say a word about it.
It's weird how life happens. Everything I want to write about, I can't. Until probably next week. Maybe.
---------------------------------------------------------------
All I really know is that I am cleaning out my office of two years today. One more step in this crazy transition. Question is... what to keep and what to throw away (recycle)? What notes do I need from the last 24 months? What will be useful in the future? More inquisitions lead to fewer answers.
And that's ok. That's my my life right now, as it's happening - and it certainty is...
---------------------------------------------------------------
P.S. I promise in a few weeks this blog will become more substantive again :)
Friday, July 20, 2012
raining and relief
It finally rained yesterday. Any readers in the Midwest (and so it seems based on articles like these about the drought from the Weather Channel, other readers too) will understand the gravity of that statement. It finally rained! We've experienced incredibly hot, dry weather so far this summer and so rain yesterday was a huge deal.
And, as they say, when it rains it pours. That it did. It also brought some much needed relief to some of our smaller plants. And to me.
Now you're saying, "this isn't a blog about the weather..." however rain and relief very much relate to my post on the Unknown last week. It seemed that pressure was mounting on many levels - environmentally and mentally. After the rain yesterday - while nothing in my future is figured out for sure - I actually feel better. I woke up this morning to bright, clear blue skies, crispy cooler air. Life is kind of "pouring" right now, but with the cooler weather, it's literally easier to breathe.
This week, I'm thankful for the opportunities coming my way, and grateful for the relief surrounding my life. I'll take a break next week and be back in August. Until then, wishing you relief in yours.
And, as they say, when it rains it pours. That it did. It also brought some much needed relief to some of our smaller plants. And to me.
Now you're saying, "this isn't a blog about the weather..." however rain and relief very much relate to my post on the Unknown last week. It seemed that pressure was mounting on many levels - environmentally and mentally. After the rain yesterday - while nothing in my future is figured out for sure - I actually feel better. I woke up this morning to bright, clear blue skies, crispy cooler air. Life is kind of "pouring" right now, but with the cooler weather, it's literally easier to breathe.
This week, I'm thankful for the opportunities coming my way, and grateful for the relief surrounding my life. I'll take a break next week and be back in August. Until then, wishing you relief in yours.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Unknown
When the end of a journey is near, various feelings move fluidly day by day and week by week.
My position ends August 31, and I'm moving into the unknown. All I know about Sept. 1 is that I will be starting my final semester of school (ever) on Tuesday, September 4 and will complete my Master of Arts in Higher Education in December. And that's it.
The librarian in me is a planner and organizer. I like to know what's going on, when it's happening, and the extent to which I'm involved (anyone who has seen my calendar can attest to this). But that isn't always realistic and I'm realizing that I can't always be in control. And it's stressing me out.
However, this is a great learning and growing experience for professionalism and life in general. In the past I've been able to control things; I controlled my schedule, the amount of time I put into work and projects, and upcoming life stuff seemed to be in place. Now, my fall and beyond are up in the air and I'm struggling to relax, even though I know that most likely, everything will turn out just fine.
This is a great learning experience because there will be many times in my future where things are out of my control. I won't be able to control my schedule, my work, and life stuff that happens. And I need to still be able to be productive, deal with it, and have a good, positive (and less anxious) attitude.
I've been incredibly lucky in life so far, and this experience (as mere and slight as it is) helps put things into perspective - whatever my situation, I've got it good. The "issues" which I'm experiencing are minor in terms of the world and what others go through every day. So while I don't know where I'll be Sept. 1, I can trust that it will be fine. And I keep telling myself that, and where I will be will probably be better than fine - because it will be a learning experience from which I can grow professionally and personally. So that's my new attitude and I'm sticking to it. :)
My position ends August 31, and I'm moving into the unknown. All I know about Sept. 1 is that I will be starting my final semester of school (ever) on Tuesday, September 4 and will complete my Master of Arts in Higher Education in December. And that's it.
The librarian in me is a planner and organizer. I like to know what's going on, when it's happening, and the extent to which I'm involved (anyone who has seen my calendar can attest to this). But that isn't always realistic and I'm realizing that I can't always be in control. And it's stressing me out.
However, this is a great learning and growing experience for professionalism and life in general. In the past I've been able to control things; I controlled my schedule, the amount of time I put into work and projects, and upcoming life stuff seemed to be in place. Now, my fall and beyond are up in the air and I'm struggling to relax, even though I know that most likely, everything will turn out just fine.
This is a great learning experience because there will be many times in my future where things are out of my control. I won't be able to control my schedule, my work, and life stuff that happens. And I need to still be able to be productive, deal with it, and have a good, positive (and less anxious) attitude.
I've been incredibly lucky in life so far, and this experience (as mere and slight as it is) helps put things into perspective - whatever my situation, I've got it good. The "issues" which I'm experiencing are minor in terms of the world and what others go through every day. So while I don't know where I'll be Sept. 1, I can trust that it will be fine. And I keep telling myself that, and where I will be will probably be better than fine - because it will be a learning experience from which I can grow professionally and personally. So that's my new attitude and I'm sticking to it. :)
Friday, July 6, 2012
Instructional Transition
Back from a break... relaxed and ready for what's next... when I figure that out :)
As for now, since instruction is one of my few duties left at the library this summer, it's something I may write about more often than not.
As I'm sure I've said before, I've learned that instruction is a continual learning process and there is always something new to take away from the experience at any stage. And now I am in a different phase. Because I am transitioning out of my two-year term-limited position in August, there is a gap to fill in what I teach at the library. An incoming second-year School of Information student showed interest in teaching, so she will be helping to instruct some of the Word for Dissertation workshops that I taught over the past 12 or so months.
This puts me in a different position; having been in the same situation as she just over a year ago, I am now observing her and providing advice and encouragement before her first workshop next week. This experience reminds me about the importance of observation (as noted in previous posts) and the need for constant reflection.
I learned a lot from observing my new co-instructor's teaching style. Having never instructed the class, I was struck by her calmness, her straight-forwardness, and her no-frills approach to teaching dissertation formatting. Her style made me consider something new: formatting dissertations really is a no-frills thing. It is an important, yet not fun part of the dissertation process; why try to make it more than it is? Of course there is an argument for trying to make it fun too, but seeing this teaching style was a good reminder that there are indeed many approaches to instruction.
As for now, since instruction is one of my few duties left at the library this summer, it's something I may write about more often than not.
As I'm sure I've said before, I've learned that instruction is a continual learning process and there is always something new to take away from the experience at any stage. And now I am in a different phase. Because I am transitioning out of my two-year term-limited position in August, there is a gap to fill in what I teach at the library. An incoming second-year School of Information student showed interest in teaching, so she will be helping to instruct some of the Word for Dissertation workshops that I taught over the past 12 or so months.
This puts me in a different position; having been in the same situation as she just over a year ago, I am now observing her and providing advice and encouragement before her first workshop next week. This experience reminds me about the importance of observation (as noted in previous posts) and the need for constant reflection.
I learned a lot from observing my new co-instructor's teaching style. Having never instructed the class, I was struck by her calmness, her straight-forwardness, and her no-frills approach to teaching dissertation formatting. Her style made me consider something new: formatting dissertations really is a no-frills thing. It is an important, yet not fun part of the dissertation process; why try to make it more than it is? Of course there is an argument for trying to make it fun too, but seeing this teaching style was a good reminder that there are indeed many approaches to instruction.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Settling into the second half of summer
We never know what comes next, but time off can help bring peace and renewed enthusiasm for the future. Here's to hoping the second half of summer is as exciting and invigorating as the first.
That said, I'm off blogging again this week until July. Wishing you all a restful, relaxing week and Independence Day.
That said, I'm off blogging again this week until July. Wishing you all a restful, relaxing week and Independence Day.
Friday, June 22, 2012
Instruction: Back to the beginning
It's been a while since I wrote about instruction, which was one of my first major blog topics (you can see some of my older posts on my first instruction experience, the value of observation, some overall reflections and and my most recent instructional post).
And the one thing I've really learned about instruction is that there is always more to learn. Just yesterday I had yet another new experience... developing a workshop outline from the ground-up by myself and teaching it. (Well, I didn't develop the outline just yesterday, but the instructional session was yesterday.)
The University of Michigan has recently begun officially using Google Apps, which includes Google Docs. I've not written much about Google, but if you know me personally, you know that I am kind of obsessed with Google for work and personal productivity. I make spreadsheets and docs for *everything* (even my book club) and have started a Google Calendar with my girlfriends for easier scheduling purposes. That said, when I was asked to develop and teach this workshop, it was exciting.
Then I sat down to do it. I know Google Docs pretty well, simply because I use them. So I decided to "go with what I know" and not make the workshop too structured, because the best way to learn to use Google Docs is to do it. I wanted to teach the various features and options within Docs while allowing the workshop participants to play. I had feedback from my supervisors, and a friend who had taken a Docs workshop a couple of weeks back. So I felt fairly confident that the workshop I planned was on track.
But now here's the thing. I think it went well. It was so difficult to tell. When teaching Word for Dissertation - a workshop with a specific purpose where you can tell if people are following along - it's a bit easier. I never expect workshop participants to walk away remembering everything but it's good to know they learned something. In the Google Docs workshop yesterday, people were asking questions, playing around with Docs while I was talking (which was great!), and some stayed after to ask questions. So I think it went well.
But how to tell? Just another challenge in instruction. :)
And the one thing I've really learned about instruction is that there is always more to learn. Just yesterday I had yet another new experience... developing a workshop outline from the ground-up by myself and teaching it. (Well, I didn't develop the outline just yesterday, but the instructional session was yesterday.)
The University of Michigan has recently begun officially using Google Apps, which includes Google Docs. I've not written much about Google, but if you know me personally, you know that I am kind of obsessed with Google for work and personal productivity. I make spreadsheets and docs for *everything* (even my book club) and have started a Google Calendar with my girlfriends for easier scheduling purposes. That said, when I was asked to develop and teach this workshop, it was exciting.
Then I sat down to do it. I know Google Docs pretty well, simply because I use them. So I decided to "go with what I know" and not make the workshop too structured, because the best way to learn to use Google Docs is to do it. I wanted to teach the various features and options within Docs while allowing the workshop participants to play. I had feedback from my supervisors, and a friend who had taken a Docs workshop a couple of weeks back. So I felt fairly confident that the workshop I planned was on track.
But now here's the thing. I think it went well. It was so difficult to tell. When teaching Word for Dissertation - a workshop with a specific purpose where you can tell if people are following along - it's a bit easier. I never expect workshop participants to walk away remembering everything but it's good to know they learned something. In the Google Docs workshop yesterday, people were asking questions, playing around with Docs while I was talking (which was great!), and some stayed after to ask questions. So I think it went well.
But how to tell? Just another challenge in instruction. :)
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