Discussions

Your Name and Title: Laura Loveday, MLIS, Librarian

School or Organization Name: Southwest Florida College

Co-Presenter Name(s): N/A

Area of the World from Which You Will Present: Tampa, FL, US

Language in Which You Will Present: English

Target Audience(s): Librarians / Media specialists, English teachers, or instructors of research and college skills 

Short Session Description (one line): Exploring how educators can use 21st-century social media to engage students and shift learning from the classroom to the world.

Full Session Description:

Students and patrons are interacting with others outside of their local community on a daily basis, sharing similar interests in places around the globe. Their chosen means of digital communication may include YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Vine,  Instagram, or others rapidly expanding in size. As educators in our respective fields, it is vital we ensure our students are using media in positive and enlightening forms. We can guide how our classes interact with students and researchers worldwide, improving their global awareness.

Today’s information literacy requires teaching discernment to students in their research process, whether it occurs in a physical library or searching Google. 21st-century information literacy embraces Facebook to share relevant material or Twitter to post a 140-character thesis statement and gain knowledge from others around the world. This session aims to encourage the use of social media in the school or library setting, and explores its practical uses in effective information literacy and fostering passion in diverse collaborations.