IS 40430: PROFESSIONAL ISSUES IN LIBRARY AND INFORMATION CAREERSWeek 5: Participatory Action Research, Reflective Practice, and ePortfolios

17 February 2011

TODAY’S CLASS

Group project check-in Diversity and Cultural Competence Back to e-portfolio concepts and labwork

DIVERSITY AND CULTURAL COMPETENCEIn theory and in practice

MONTIEL OVERALL

“LIS professionals will need to fully understand cultural issues affecting minority and

underserved populations, and how cultural issues affect perceptions of libraries.”

“This article argues that greater understanding of cultural issues

will result in increased library use.”

ARTICLE’S OBJECTIVES

summarize current understanding of cultural competence

fill in the gap in the literature on this topic in library and information science

establish a basis for moving forward the discussion of cultural competence within the LIS profession

CULTURAL COMPETENCE

Conceptual framework for cultural competency as a construct

Need for CC: increasing numbers of immigrants, low library usage among them Lack of cultural relevance Collections Language barriers Library perceptions

Draws from other disciplines, profession with CC framework

Beyond sensitivity, empathy, or even respect

CULTURAL COMPETENCE MODEL FOR LIS PROFESSIONALS

IS CC FEASIBLE OR REALISTIC?

Too many cultures/changing complexion Resources to become multi-lingual

Librarians Collections

Culture is … Intangible Not monolithic

ISSUES YOU RAISED

Isn’t this already happening? Librarian ethics Immigrant collections

Too idealistic or aspirational? Role of self in process

Too theoretical- how is it applied? Examples? Connection to EBLIP

Applicable across contexts? More ethnic diversity Ireland

IDEAS

Ideal application for EBLIP- what actually works?

Lack of community engagement re: information needs Connection to Participatory Action Research

EPORTFOLIOS

PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIOS (FORDE)

“Collection of material put together in a meaningful way to demonstrate the practice and learning of a practitioner”

For reflection, learning, and assessment For yourself and others

PO

RTFO

LIO

OU

TC

OM

ES

Click icon to add pictureWHY?

WHAT WILL I GAIN?

WHAT CAN IT SHOW?

WHY NOW?

ELEMENTS OF PORTFOLIO

Planning- where are you going? Description- what can you do, what do you

know? Evidence- tangible demonstrations Reflection- on your practice and development

PORTFOLIO CONSIDERATIONS (FORDE)

PORTFOLIO CONSIDERATIONS (2)

ELEMENTS OF PROFESSIONALISM

Knowledge in field Ethics Understand people and respond to needs

Accountability: to clients, colleagues, organization

ELEMENTS OF PRACTICE

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING

Reflective practice Evidence

informed practice

Collaboration

Collegiality

MODELS OF PRACTICE

1. Three elements Know why Know what Know how

2. Novice to expert continuum Novice Advanced Beginner Competent

Proficient Expert

3. Professional standards Categories of knowledge, skills, outcomes,

proficiencies

STEPS FOR USING WORDPRESS THROUGHOUT THE PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT PROCESSMaterial from Dr. Helen Barrett

EPORTFOLIO USING WORDPRESS/BLOG