Teaching philosophy series: Life after graduation

In the “Life after graduation” section, I reflect on my academic journey, highlighting my unconventional path to higher education. I share how my passion for libraries led me to excel in the program and secure a placement at Carleton University Library, which ultimately propelled my career forward. Here I emphasize the significance of finding one’s passion and the impact it can have on personal and professional success.

Teaching philosophy series: Pursuing university via the Enriched Support Program

In the “Pursuing university via the Enriched Support Program” section, I recount my acceptance into the Enriched Support Program (ESP) at Carleton University, which provided me with the opportunity to gain eligibility for university admission while earning first-year university credits. Despite initial uncertainty about my future, the program turned out to be a supportive and influential experience, shaping my instructional design process in a profound way.

Teaching philosophy series: Navigating my path to university

In the “Navigating my path to university” section, I describe my unconventional journey into the world of academia and university life. As the first student in my family to attend university, I broke the mold and took a less conventional route. This experience has influenced my teaching philosophy by emphasizing the importance of understanding the needs and interests of both students and faculty, fostering critical thinking, and helping new university students acclimate to the academic environment.

Teaching philosophy series: An introduction

Explore a librarian’s growth from a Carleton University library technician, overcoming challenges to develop an inclusive teaching philosophy. Witness the evolution towards dynamic, collaborative instructional sessions that foster critical thinking. Delve into the personal journey of overcoming obstacles, guiding students to become discerning information consumers and adapt to the academic environment.

Why is front-page news so disheartening? Teaching historical newspaper searching

Okay, so maybe ALL front-page news isn’t disheartening… but let me give you some context. As the Communication and Journalism Librarian, I am preparing for a first-year workshop. In first-year journalism courses, I typically cover the following: Basic library instruction This workshop will cover the basics of library instruction (webpage, … Read more

Blogs are raw…

A 16-bit style header image for a blog post, featuring a pixelated geode at the center, split open to reveal vibrant, colorful crystals inside, symbolizing the depth and richness of thoughts. Surrounding the geode are icons representing the act of writing and metacognition, including a pixelated brain, thought bubbles, a pen, and a keyboard, all set against a digital, textured background that evokes a sense of openness and introspection. The overall design celebrates the raw, unpolished beauty of sharing one's personal reflections and ideas with the world in a classic video game aesthetic.

When someone I know stumbles upon my blog I’m really embarrassed. I don’t claim to be a good writer, in fact, I don’t think I am. One of my research interests lies in metacognition, which Seth Godin (2009) describes as “thinking about what you are going to say”. I’ve written … Read more

Ask Me button, a reflective exercise

As the new fall term starts, it might be a bit early to start on the work we do. However, I think it’s the perfect time to do so. The other day a colleague of mine saw me wearing our institution’s Ask Me pin, part of an initiative to make the campus … Read more

Mastering the art of teaching in oddly configured spaces

Teaching is a challenging skill that demands adaptability and resourcefulness. I’m always interested in developing my teaching and one of the most memorable and impactful was reflecting on my physical teaching spaces. As educators and library instructors, we often find ourselves in situations where we have to teach in oddly … Read more