Engaging People, Engaging in Service: A Case Study of a Community Garden

community garden, Slow Food, local food, agricultural literacy, Agribusiness, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

Analyzing Resources for the Production of High-Value Agricultural Products in the California High Desert

Urbanization of previously undeveloped land is a critical concern in Southern California. Housing development brings with it several potentially detrimental effects, among which are hardening of the landscape (pavement), diminished water absorption into the soil, and increased harmful runoff into the Pacific Ocean. The High Desert Region of San Bernardino County, California is an area currently experiencing significant development pressure. It is our belief that the development of agricultural production could, to some extent, substitute for residential and commercial development, and that agricultural production is a more sustainable use of the land in this area. This report examines and inventories resources of an unincorporated area near the Cajon Pass and Silverwood Lake, and assesses how they might best be utilized to introduce production of high-value agricultural products. A conclusion is that although water may be a limiting factor, the production of deciduous tree fruits (e.g., apples, cherries, pears, peaches, apricots, and nectarines) should be considered in this area. Small scale agricultural enterprises are more likely to achieve success. Implications for public policy and areas for future research are also presented.High-value agricultural products, resources, desert, California, strategic planning, sustainable agriculture, Demographics, Direct marketing, Farm Management, Production Economics,

Teaching Information Literacy Skills to Nontraditional Learners

Different teaching methods should be used when instructing adults versus those used to teach children. Adults have many life experiences, they have a need to know, and they are often highly motivated to learn as it relates to career growth and personal advancement. In this paper, the author discusses andragogy and how adult learning theory affects the learner. The principles of andragogy provide the librarian instructor with a foundation for how to teach the adult learner. Suggestions for how to apply the principles of andragogy are listed in the paper. The paper will also benefit those working in public libraries who work with lifelong learners

A Newcomer’s Perspective on the Changing Academic Library: Library to Learning Commons

Academic libraries are undergoing a great deal of change as they transform themselves from a traditional library to a learning commons. These changes are driven by an increased focus on assessment, data-driven decisions, the need to reach students, and a focus on teaching information literacy. Library schools are responding to transformations in the field through changes in recruitment practices, advising strategies, technology integration, and curriculum. The combined goal of these activities is to ensure that schools can create a diverse group of graduates who are prepared to meet the pedagogical, technological, and administrative challenges of the changing academic library environment. Through partnerships library school faculty and practicing librarians can learn to create research, curriculum, and practical applications. Academic librarians and library school faculty should work together to create curriculum that is up-to-date and meets the needs of students who will enter the academic library fiel

Teaching Computer Science: An Exploration of Habits of Mind

Previous research has indicated that many K-12 computer science teachers do not have a background in computer science education. This means, computer science teachers are not necessarily using established habits of mind they learned from their own studies. The purpose of this study is to understand more about the habits of mind needed by computer science educators, and students, who often have varying levels of ability and knowledge of computer science. We answer the following research questions: How do teachers of computer science use teaching strategies to develop the habits of mind needed for computing? What habits of mind do teachers of computer science name as important for teaching? What habits of mind do teachers of computer science name as important for learning? To answer the research questions, we used narrative analysis. Findings showed that the backgrounds of computer science teachers greatly impacted their pedagogy and the habits of mind used

Academic Instruction Librarians’ Teacher Identity Development Through Participation in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

Teaching is a primary responsibility of many academic librarians. However, despite the job duties, many academic librarians do not see themselves as teachers. To determine how participation in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) impacted academic instruction librarians’ teacher identity the authors conducted an explanatory sequential mixed methods study. Using the theoretical framework, Communities of Practice, results from the quantitative survey demonstrated participation in SoTL did impact academic librarians’ teacher identity. The qualitative interviews explained the quantitative data. Study findings have implications for academic developers, Library and Information Science graduate programs, and academic library administrations

Classroom Management and the Librarian

As librarians take on more instructional responsibilities, the need for classroom management skills becomes vital. Unfortunately, classroom management skills are not taught in library school and therefore, many librarians are forced to learn how to manage a classroom on the job. Different classroom settings such as one-shot instruction sessions and for-credit courses require different management techniques. Also, individuals are often more comfortable with certain strategies compared to other strategies for managing a classroom. With different course settings and personalities of instructors the need to learn classroom management strategies must be recognized for its importance in successful classes taught by librarians

Catching the SoTL Bug: An Interview with Librarian Lauren Hays

This interview with academic librarian, Lauren Hays, offers insight into the relationship between librarians and the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL). In this interview, Ms. Hays discusses her doctoral work regarding academic instruction librarians’ involvement with SoTL and how it affects their teacher identities and instructional strategies. While sharing her own research on the topic, Ms. Hays also offers background information regarding SoTL, including such influential educators as Pat Hutchings and Ernest Boyer. Ms. Hays proposes SoTL as an ideal way for librarians to learn about teaching in higher education, and recommends SoTL as an avenue for librarians to practice and improve their teaching methods