Intentional Reference: Intentional Reference: A Mindful Approach to A Mindful Approach to Making Good Even BetterMaking Good Even Better

Dale VidmarInformation Literacy and Instruction Coordinator/

Education, Communication, Health, Phys. Ed. & Leadership LibrarianSouthern Oregon University Library

http://www.sou.edu/library/dalevidmar@sou.edu

http://webpages.sou.edu/~vidmar/lnet2010/vidmar.ppt

Oregon Virtual Reference SummitPortland, Oregon

May 7, 2010

Why Are We Here?Why Are We Here?

Intentions:•Improve L-Net and Virtual Reference •Promote the Service•Become more mindful

about our practice

Virtual Reference can provide both teachable moments as well as

opportunities for librarians to perfect their craft.

Consider your approach to reference with the same

diligence you would consider classroom teaching.

Librarians Teach!!!Librarians Teach!!!

The Intentional LibrarianThe Intentional Librarian

A primary characteristic of an outstanding

teacher/librarian is intentionality–

Having a purpose with which to cultivate

informed reflection.

When you think about your virtual reference,

what do you think about most often?

Be specific!

ReflectionReflection

Intentionality:Intentionality:What Do You Mean?What Do You Mean?

• Purposeful• Directed• Pointed towards or attending to a target or objective• Mindful• Present• Prime characteristic of being outstanding at what we do

Intentional Reference:Intentional Reference:Making Good BetterMaking Good Better

• Good Virtual Reference is not an accident!• Think about what you intend to do before you do a shift.• Be mindful or intent about what you do when you act.• Reflect upon what happened afterwards.

The Cycle of ReflectionThe Cycle of Reflection

• What am I doing?• Why am I doing what I do?• Is what I am doing effective?• How are individuals responding to what I do?• How can I improve what I am doing?

Intentional/ReflectiveIntentional/ReflectiveCycleCycle

Collegial ConversationsCollegial Conversations

Think about your next virtual reference

session.

What do you intend to do to make the session more productive and

meaningful?

Think – Pair – ShareThink – Pair – Share

Critical IncidentsCritical Incidents

• Critical incidents (Brookfield) – a vividly remembered event that is unplanned and unanticipated• Opportunities to examine and better understand what we do and how we do it in order to initiate change and improvement

Why Reflection?Why Reflection?

“Experience itself is actually the ‘greatest teacher,” . . .

What Does Our Experience Say?What Does Our Experience Say?

Why Reflection?Why Reflection?

“Experience itself is actually the ‘greatest teacher,” . . .

not

“we do not learn as much from experience as we learn

from reflecting on that experience.”

- Thomas S.C. Farrellfrom Reflective Practice in Action:

80 Reflection Breaks for Busy Teachers

References and References and ResourcesResources

• Brookfield, S. D. (1995). Becoming a critically reflective teacher. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.• Costa, A. & Garmston, R. (1994). Cognitive coaching: a

foundation for renaissance schools. Norwood, MA: Christopher Gordon. • Farrell, T. S. (2004). Reflective practice in action: 80

reflection breaks for busy teachers. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

• Slavin, R. E. (2006). Educational psychology: Theory and practice. Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.

• Vidmar, D. J. (2006). “Reflective peer coaching: Crafting collaborative self-assessment in teaching.” Research Strategies. 20 (3), 135-148.• Vidmar, D. J. (2010). “Collaborative Peer Conversations: Sample Questioning Strategies.”

Intentional Reference: Intentional Reference: A Mindful Approach to A Mindful Approach to Making Good Even BetterMaking Good Even Better

Dale VidmarInformation Literacy and Instruction Coordinator/

Education, Communication, Health, Phys. Ed. & Leadership LibrarianSouthern Oregon University Library

http://www.sou.edu/library/dalevidmar@sou.edu

http://webpages.sou.edu/~vidmar/lnet2010/vidmar.ppt

Oregon Virtual Reference SummitPortland, Oregon

May 7, 2010