Critical communication pedagogy and service learning in a mixed-method communication research course

ABSTRACT

Course: Mixed-Method Communication Research Methods

Objective: The purpose of this semester-long activity is to provide students with opportunities to cultivate mixed-method communication research skills through a social justice-informed service-learning format. Completing this course, students will be able to: recognize the unique strengths of quantitative and qualitative research methods; locate, evaluate, and utilize scholarly literature for a literature review; conduct an original research project using quantitative and qualitative research methods to gather and analyze data; and raise self and community awareness about a social issue through collaboration with a community organization.     

Library-Based GIS Labs

Abstract

Increased use of geographic information systems on college and university campuses has prompted libraries to ask the question: Where and how can libraries fulfill these digital needs? This paper describes the actions taken by the Syracuse University Library to implement GIS and geo-spatial data services to the University community. Discussion will focus on the planning, administration, public services, collection development, and management issues pertaining to a networked multi-Station GIS lab.     

Introducing computational social science for Asia-Pacific communication research

ABSTRACT

Computational social science has caused a shift of research paradigm in social science in general and communication in particular. The special issue brings together a community of active researchers to introduce computational social science for Asia-Pacific communication research. The special issue outlines major computational methods closely related to communication research and demonstrates how computational methods can be applied to address theoretical and practical questions in Asia-Pacific societies. The advantages and limitations of computational methods have been conceptually discussed and/or empirically illustrated. Finally, the special issue provides a guideline of conducting computational research for communication researchers in Asia-Pacific societies and beyond.     

Leadership and Social Justice

ABSTRACT

Leaders have tremendous influence not only in their organizations but for the profession and within the communities they serve. Librarianship has strong core values that are the foundation of our services but librarians also create an environment that supports diversity of opinions. How does a library leader balance social justice while serving the broad needs of a community? Is there an inherent conflict between personal perspectives and the encompassing multiple viewpoints? Library leaders may face difficult decisions in determining social justice issues within their libraries considering personal beliefs, institutional responsibilities, and community impacts. Every library leader has opportunities to address social justice issues within libraries and in so doing, will advance community goals of inclusiveness of all members.     

Assessing Effective Partnerships in Intercultural Education: Transformative Learning as a Tool for Evaluation

Objectives: The goal of the Intercultural Partnership Project is to introduce students to issues surrounding language and cultural identity, with the ultimate goal of helping students see themselves as engaged participants, rather than observers, in a multicultural community. For students in the intercultural communication class, this goal echoes the overall purpose of the course. For students in the ESL class, this goal seeks to improve their communication skills through interaction with members of the target language community.

Courses: An upper division intercultural communication course and an English as a second language (ESL) class that focuses on academic skill development, with an emphasis on written communication.     

Reference Services and the International Adult Learner

Summary

International adult learners are a growing patron constituency. They share a number of common characteristics, notably their unfamiliarity with many library services. In addition, barriers such as language and communication differences as well as functional issues present challenges to effective service. Libraries can better meet the needs of International Adult Learners by determining what their needs are. In so doing they will be able to provide better programming and improve library instruction. In addition, libraries can partner with other community agencies and institutions to improve service for International Adult Learners. Staff training should also be undertaken to improve the ability of library personnel to interact with this particular user group.     

A critical examination of communication textbooks

ABSTRACT

Courses: This single-class teaching activity was designed for courses on critical communication pedagogy (CCP), gender and race, communication education, research methods, and visual communication.

Objectives: By completing this activity, students should be able to (1) describe the principles of CCP, (2) examine critically how race and gender are represented in communication textbooks, and (3) identify how textbooks reproduce and reflect dominant assumptions about the study of communication, race, and gender.     

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.

     

The door opens to a thousand blossoms: A preliminary study of communication and rural development in China (1979–88)

The economic reform underway in China from 1979 has brought remarkable change to the country, particularly in rural areas. What role do communications play in the process? What kind of communications via different media occurred in the consequential rural change? Does it have something to offer about communication and development? What can be improved and what should be continued with regard to communications in rural China? The purpose of this paper is to try and find answers by looking at the communication activities in rural China, with data from newspapers, personal observations and other literature. The analysis is based on existing theories followed by conclusions and implications for policy and planning. It is pointed out that concerns about basic human needs are the fundamental guideline for communication for development. Communications would greatly enhance development when basic information needs are met, which leads to fulfilment of basic human needs.     

P-value Club: Teaching Significance Level on the Dance Floor

Courses: Beginning research methods and statistics courses, as well as advanced communication courses that require reading research articles and completing research projects involving statistics

Objective: Students will understand the difference between significant and nonsignificant statistical results based on p-value     

Relational Framing Theory and Coming-Out Narratives: A Data Analysis Activity

Courses: This single class activity would be most useful in interpersonal, family, gender/sexuality communication, or research methods courses. This activity facilitates better discussion in a small or seminar-style class with students who have had pervious exposure to or who are in the process of learning about interpersonal communication theory or research methods.

Objectives: The goals for this activity are to (a) practice data analysis utilizing a specific theory, (b) identify the presence of relational frames and judgments to become more familiar with the interpersonal dimensions of coming-out interactions, (c) appreciate a multiplicity of data interpretations through the practice of group coding, and (d) practice evaluating the quality of data interpretations.     

Understanding the scope of a field: Using awards to enhance graduate student socialization and network building

Graduate courses are designed to help students learn discipline-specific knowledge, theories, and methods, but also to socialize them into the larger professional network. The awards assignment in this paper is designed to familiarize students with a wide variety of scholars and research within a field of study, to engage them creatively with synthesizing and assessing a field of study, to build strong arguments, and to enhance their socialization and networking opportunities.

Course: Any graduate-level survey course focused on a particular area of communication studies (e.g. instructional communication, health communication, family communication).

Objectives:

• (1)?Understand the historical, philosophical, and foundational roots of a field of study, including people, concepts, theories, and research studies.

• (2)?Critically evaluate scholars, constructs, theories, and research.

• (3)?Develop sound and supported arguments regarding critical evaluations and decisions.

• (4)?Socialize students into a field of study.

• (5)?Begin building students’ scholarly networking opportunities.

     

The IFLA Fax Guidelines

ABSTRACT

Self-Serve Reserve is an application developed at the Kreitzberg Library of Norwich University to meet five needs. The system was to: ? be easy to use (without Librarian intervention)

? reduce or eliminate the need for paper copies of reserve reading articles

? deliver imaged documents (including maps, graphics and other images as well as text in a graphical medium)

? require modest start-up costs for hardware and software

? be scalable (from an initial stand-alone workstation configuration to full network access)

In its first semester of student use, Self-Serve Reserve is meeting these goals.     

Evaluation of the Role of Society-Based Library in Empowering Surabaya City People

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this research is to evaluate the role of society-based library or Taman Bacaan Masyarakat (TBM) in empowering Surabaya City people. Society-based library will be a place of Surabayans’ live-long learning according to the Law on Even Distribution of and Rights to Education. This research adopts a quantitative approach with qualitative data analysis. The sample of the research is fourteen TBMs that have an empowerment program or is near to a small and medium enterprise. Findings of the research include: (1) that TBM role in community empowerment is beginning to be noticeable in their empowerment programs such as trainings for local community, (2) that empowerment programs at TBM are conducted informally and intermittently, such as trainings of producing aromatherapy candles, beads, flannelette, and waste recycling, and (3) the TBM are constrained by shortage of collection and funding for programs. The research recommends that: community empowerment programs should be increased through TBM programs; TBM personnels should be encouraged to innovate; and collection development should be tailored with local needs.     

Going the Extra Mile

Abstract

Even though every library, whether research, academic, public, special, or school will tailor their service to accommodate the specific needs of their customers or community, a common thread-our attitude toward customer service-bonds all librarians. How can we improve our desire to serve with a smile? Does a smile make a difference in customer service? What are some libraries doing to motivate their employees? How can we help one another on the job? This article will explore these and other related questions. Today's libraries are competing with a variety of information sources, some of which are easily available to the user through the Internet. In order to help preserve our most valued asset-our customers-libraries need to incorporate a well-developed, quality customer service program in their operational plan and budget.     

Serving our Communities with Public Speaking Skills

Course: Public Speaking

Objectives: (1) To develop communication skills through practical experience that provides a service to the community; and (2) to inspire and equip students to use their public speaking skills for positive societal influence.     

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     

Access to the Working Papers of State Supreme Court Justices

SUMMARY

Two former Texas Supreme Court justices recently offered to donate their personal court files to the Tarlton Law Library, University of Texas at Austin. These offers forced the Law Library, the Texas Supreme Court, and the State Archives to confront several issues. Should such files ever be made public? If so, what would be an appropriate waiting period? What research value, if any, do such papers have? These working files would be valued not only by legal historians, but also by litigants, voters, and political opponents, raising some sticky access issues.     

Teaching health campaigns by doing health campaigns

Courses: Health Campaigns, Health Communication, Communication Campaigns, Public Relations Campaigns, Persuasion.

Objectives: Students will demonstrate their ability to work effectively both individually and in teams to apply health communication theory to emerging, practical, on-campus health issues via formative research, multimodal message development, community engagement, and effective presentation of findings.     

Blogging in the Communication Technology Course

Courses: Communication Technology or New Media; could also be used in Broadcast Journalism, Print Journalism, Public Relations, Advertising, or other communication courses

Objectives: By creating and maintaining a blog, students will improve their research and writing skills, participate in collaborative learning, and acquire the digital literacy skills necessary for success in rapidly changing media and communication industries