Blogging for the Distance Librarian

Abstract

Based on user lookups, Merriam-Webster Onlineproclaimed “Blog” the word of the year for 2004.¹ Distance librarianship, until mid-way through 2004, was a subject that was underrepresented in the blogosphere. The inception of a blog called The Distant Librarian: Comments on the World of Distance Librarianshipis chronicled in this article, along with suggestions for how and where to get started, as well as how to incorporate blogs that support library services for distance students.     

Blogging for the Record: A Study of Blogging from an Archival Point of View

ABSTRACT

This article examines the current phenomenon of blogging from an archival point of view. To better understand the nature of blogs, the author conducted an informal survey of bloggers at Princeton Theological Seminary. The results of this survey show that blogs represent a dynamic but ephemeral new form of electronic record and writing practice. This article concludes that blogs have archival value and that archivists should proactively preserve them along with other electronic records.     

Sexual Communication in the Family: Handling a Delicate Topic in the Family Communication Course

Goal/Objective: The overall goal is to allow students to discuss their perceptions of sex and sex education, and realize the importance of these issues as a communicative topic within the family; students will identify and articulate their perceptions about, and experiences with, sex education in family communication interactions

Courses: This activity can be used primarily in Family Communication, but may apply in other applicable courses such as Gender Communication     

Assessing Information Literacy Instruction in the Basic Communication Course

Information literacy is becoming a key component of general education programs nationwide. As a critical part of most general education programs, the basic communication course is on the frontlines of the charge to teach information literacy skills to first-year students. Thus, the information literacy skills of basic course students should be assessed to track the effectiveness of instruction and pedagogical practices. The present study used a pretest/posttest design with experimental and control groups to assess the effectiveness of information literacy instruction in the basic course. As predicted, students in the experimental group outperformed students in the control group on the information literacy measure. Results of the present study have implications for basic course directors and instructors, general education curriculum specialists, and librarians.     

Fostering Civic Engagement in the Communication Research Methods Course

Courses: Communication Research Methods, Senior Capstone.

Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to: ? appreciate the role of empirical communication research in solving social and organizational problems;

? identify issues and needs in the community that can be addressed with empirical communication research;

? choose appropriate research methods for addressing different issues and needs;

? use various communication research methods to address community issues and needs;

? present research findings and recommendations to community organizations;

? demonstrate an increased commitment to active citizenship.

     

数字化文献传播中的法律控制

本文通过对数字化文献的界定,分析了数字化文献在传播过程中涉及的侵权行为以及国内外对数字化文献传播中的法律控制现状和存在的问题,并对我国数字化文献方面的立法问题提出了一些建议。     

数字化文献传播中的法律控制

本文通过对数字化文献的界定 ,分析了数字化文献在传播过程中涉及的侵权行为以及国内外对数字化文献传播中的法律控制现状和存在的问题 ,并对我国数字化文献方面的立法问题提出了一些建议。     

Service-learning in Crisis Communication Education: Revisiting Coombs' Objectives for the Crisis Communication Course

The purpose of this study was to revisit Coombs' suggestions for teaching the crisis communication course using service-learning as a framework. The author sought to assess the effectiveness of using this method in terms of the benefits to both students and the partnering organization and students' perceptions of whether they met the learning outcomes for the course. The results of this study demonstrate that a semester-long service-learning assignment can enhance the practical application of course concepts and overcome the limitations identified by Coombs in his original proposal.     

Blogging in Support of Health Information Outreach

Social media technologies are transforming the way librarians are collaborating, creating, and disseminating information. This article discusses how librarians at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio created a blog to support their health information outreach activities. Launched in 2007, the Staying Well Connected blog was established with the goal of promoting access to biomedical and health information for consumers and health professionals in the South Texas region. Postings highlight relevant health news, conferences, funding opportunities, and outreach events.     

Children's Literature in the Undergraduate Course on Communication Research Methods

Objective: Students will develop positive attitudes toward communication research by linking new values and principles with the familiar values and principles contained in children's literature

Course: Communication Research Methods

Objective: Students will develop positive attitudes toward communication research by linking new values and principles with the familiar values and principles contained in children's literature     

Self-Help Books About Communication and the Communication Course: An Exercise in Assessing Popular Notions of Communication Using Theory

Objective: The objective of this activity is to help students evaluate practical advice about communication with theories of communication

Applicable courses: This activity can be adopted by a variety of different communication courses including: persuasion, interpersonal (family, gender, and/or intercultural), organizational or small-group communication, and other communication courses     

The Social Dimension of Blogging about Health: Health Blogging,Social Support,and Well-being

The study reported here explored the social dimension of health-related blogs by examining blogging as a means to marshal social support and, as a result, achieve some of the health benefits associated with supportive communication. A total of 121 individuals who author a blog dedicated to their experience living with a specific health condition completed the study questionnaire. The number of blog posts made by respondents and proportion of posts with reader comments were positively associated with perceived social support from blog readers. The relationship between blog reader support and two outcomes related to well-being depended upon the support available in bloggers' strong-tie relationships with family and friends. Consistent with the social compensation (i.e., “poor get richer”) perspective, blog reader support was negatively associated with loneliness and positively associated with personal growth when support in strong-tie relationships was relatively lacking.     

SNS对人际传播中行动过程的影响

本文以“社会行动”的视角,从SNS这样一种社交网络在人际传播中的行动、对信息传播行动的影响、促使人际传播的目的理性化、影响了受众对媒介选择的行动和促生了新的公共空间等几个方面来分析了SNS对人际传播中行动过程的影响。     

Student Responses to Contemplative Practice in a Communication Course

This assessment project explored students' responses to contemplative exercises in a required communication course. The contemplative exercises complemented the public speaking aspect of the course, with the intent that students would feel more confident when giving presentations and that they would experience other benefits of contemplative practice. A student survey revealed that half of the students identified some of the exercises as very helpful or as practices they intended to continue. Although the results suggest that some minor changes in the exercises could be made, the contemplative component seems useful to students, in the course and beyond.     

Performing Theory: Singing Theory in a Communication Course

Objective: To appreciate different socio-cultural positions within the telling and retelling of a multiplicity of stories by applying communicative theory through performance

Intended courses: Introductory courses of communication theory, interpersonal communication, and introduction to communication     

History of Communication Technology

Antonio Meucci 1808–1889 by Marco Nese and Francesco Nicotra (Italy/Italy Magazine, 150 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10011—price not given, ISBN not provided)

The Spirit of Independent Telephony by Charles A. Pleasance (Independent Telephone Books, PO Box 321, Johnson City, TN 37601—$29.50, ISBN 0-9622205-0-7)

Video Recording Technology: Its Impact on Media and Home Entertainment by Aaron Foisi Nmungwun (Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1989—$49.95/$24.95, ISBN 0-0858-0360-2 hard, and 0-8058-0622-9 paper)

Communication Satellites: Their Development and Impact by Heather E. Hudson (New York: Free Press, 1990—$24.95, ISBN 0-02-915320-4)     

Academic and Social Integration in the Basic Communication Course: Predictors of Students' Out-of-Class Communication and Academic Learning

This study reports an investigation designed to determine the generalizability of source credibility scales for immediate superiors across organizational contexts. Four meaningful and statistically independent dimensions for the measurement of the source credibility of immediate superiors in an organizational setting are reported.     

To Hybrid or Not to Hybrid,That is the Question! Incorporating VoiceThread Technology into a Traditional Communication Course

Courses: This exercise can be applied to any course or discipline, particularly those that utilize public speaking techniques, interviewing skills, or media

Objectives: ? Students will identify key concepts from course readings and deliver verbal responses to the instructor's question, photo, and/or video example.

? Students will learn to effectively communicate and organize ideas around the course readings.

? Students will engage with technology that will enhance the in-class learning experience.

? Students will produce competent communication dialogue and discussion in an asynchronous online format.