The Library as Inquiry Learning System: Defining the Issues

This is the first of a series of columns on the emerging new role of the academic library as a center for learning—but learning in a new sense, with a new focus on what the student actually actively incorporates rather than on teaching method. The new perspective is captured in the concept of student-centered or inquiry-based learning, with special emphasis on reading and better utilization of the extensive print resources carefully collected by academic libraries over the decades.     

TEACHING GERONTOLOGY VIA DISTANCE EDUCATION: VARIETY IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS

Teaching gerontology via distance education is growing in popularity. Yet, many challenges are encountered by those teaching gerontology at a distance; some technological and others pedagogical in nature. Successful strategies for structuring and teaching televised gerontology courses are presented in this paper. Strategies focus on types of teacher preparation, use of pedagogical tools, development and maintenance of rapport with students at remote sites, and ways to improve teaching of distance education classes in gerontology. It is argued that workload and compensation for instructors teaching distance education need to be addressed by administration in order to develop high quality distance education programs.