Applying the Relational Frame

I just came across Andrew Whitworth's article in the J. of IL about how he uses the relational frame described in the 6 frames of information literacy (see Bruce, Edwards, & Lupton) to design learning activities in a course he teaches at the University of Manchester. He nicely explains the need to bring the perspectives of each of the 6 frames into view. He notes the importance of the content and competency frames, which he associates with scientific ways of knowing (information is objective). Combined with the other frames in which information is understood either as subjective or intersubjective, a more comprehensive understanding is made possible. Quite interesting!




Whitworth, A. (2009). Teaching in the relational frame: the Media and Information Literacy course at Manchester. Journal of Information Literacy, 3 (2), 25-38.

What Does the Future Hold?

I have been thinking today about the future of librarians. I hear a lot of murmuring about whether our roles are diminishing (due to our students ability to find ALL on the internet), or conversely expanding (due to the evolving complexity of the information landscape). Will our work be really different down the road a piece? Will there be libraries on college campuses, or just study centers? What title would the future "me" have in an academic setting and what would I actually do? No one who knows me will be too surprised to learn that I think the role of consultants and teachers who help people learn to use information will grow.

Here's what I see the future me doing with my work time:

• Designing learning activities that attend to the ways we use information
• Helping others to understand the evolving information landscape
• Teaching people how to use information to learn
• Teaching about the information landscape (as the content)
• Researching aspects of the information landscape and our engagement with it

Of course, much of this I do already. I guess what I am thinking is that the need to further develop this work will actually increase over time - particularly if this need can be articulated well to the parties who stand to benefit, e.g., students, teachers, administrators, parents, etc.

I would love to hear others thoughts on this too.

Clarence

Getting the Word Out

Some days I have to look for the inspiration... particularly long about the end of February. But I usually manage to find it. My uplifting March moment came this year when I was asked to work with Glynis Asu, the Coordinator of Information Literacy at Hamilton College, to do a workshop on informed learning for some of the librarians at Hamilton and a few visitors. The workshop, based on the one Hilary Hughes did at Colgate, will focus on the 6 frames model for understanding different pedagogic approaches and how to leverage them to enable students to learn to use information as well as subject content. I am very excited at the idea of planting more informed learning seeds out in the world and see what comes of that. Much to be gained for learners I think!