Request for SoCal IL Observation Sites

            ***Cross-Posted to a number of lists. Apologies for duplication.***
 
Dear Southern California Librarians,
 
Please help… Once again, UCLA Department of Information Studies graduate students will be enrolling in IS 448, "Information Literacy Instruction: Theory and Technique," to be offered in Spring Quarter 2012, beginning April 3d.  The goal of this 10-week-long 4-unit course is:
 
         By the end of this course, students will be able to identify and analyze
         information literacy instructional needs, design, implement, and evaluate
         appropriate instructional responses, and make revisions as necessary.
 
Joan Kaplowitz and I proposed this course in 1989 and first taught it in 1990. It requires students to complete a number of different assignments that incorporate both practical and theoretical aspects of Information Literacy Instruction (ILI). One of these assignments is an "Instruction Report." Between April 3d (the first day of class) and May 8^th (due date for the assignment), students will need to interview a librarian and then observe and comment on her/his synchronous (live) group ILI session, online or in person. In addition, they will review and comment on an ILI web site.
 
My students will be using the database of Southern California librarians willing to have their instruction sessions observed by others, maintained by the ACRL California Chapter’s SCIL--Southern California Librarians group. Students need to fill out a form and SCIL will try to match their requests with librarians who have volunteered to be listed in this database. http://www.carl-acrl.org/ig/scil/
 
However, if you have not listed yourself in this database, please let me know if you would be willing to have students observe one of your synchronous group ILI sessions in April 2012. These could be any of the following:

·         standalone sessions offered independently by the Library
·         course-integrated one-shot sessions developed in conjunction with a teaching faculty member
·         one class meeting of a credit IL course taught by librarians
·         any other synchronous group information-literacy-related session involving at least one librarian.

I will instruct students to keep your names and your institutions completely confidential in their reports, though you may request a copy of the student's paper from the student, if you would like. 
 
Students will contact you directly to make appointments for a brief interview and to observe one of your sessions. During the interview they will ask you about your instructional experience as well as the context and expected learning outcomes for the session they will be observing.
 
If you would like to volunteer, please email me the following information:
            1. Your institution's name
            2. Your name or the name of the contact person who can make these arrangements
            3. Your email address & phone number, including area code (for appointments and
            other information)
            4. Type of instruction that may be observed
            5. Dates, times and places when your ILI sessions will be offered
            6. Any other pertinent information you would like to offer
 
Students may call or email you to set up an appointment any time beginning the first day of class, April 3, 2012. Their Instruction Report is due May 8, 2012, so I would be grateful for any and all responses.
 
Please share widely, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions: estherg@ucla.edu
 
Thank you in advance for your help!
            Best,
                        Esther
 
Esther Grassian
Adjunct Lecturer
UCLA Department of Information Studies