I received a request from a professor to show her class the library resources and how to find scholarly information in a world exploded with tons of written materials. I am always happy to demonstrate our online resources, the ones academic institutions pay big bucks to access, articles that are not available through Google searches.
Class was an hour and a half, and I worked quickly to cover all the ground - books, articles, websites, reference works, media, numerous tools, interfaces and a plethora of info about how to cite all these things. At the end of class we had about ten minutes for them to quickly use these resources to find material germane to their research topics. I fielded a few questions and wrapped it up, happy to have successfully been able to stay energized throughout.
Noon. I sure was ready for a break and lunch. Off handedly, the professor asked if I was ready for the next class. Next class? What next class? I had nothing else on my schedule for the day. Turns out, she forgot to send a request for her second section which would be arriving in less than ten minutes. Yikes! I scramble to make arrangements for ref desk coverage while I teach the whole thing again, make a quick potty stop, grab my bottle of water and gear up for the next section. Not that I haven't taught back to back sessions before. Lots of my Composition classes come scheduled that way. Just that I wasn't mentally geared up for a second round.
Grace of God, it worked out fine. Once I am into the teaching, I love it so much I forget about being tired or distracted. I love showing people how to find resources. Thank goodness I didn't have a meeting scheduled, especially one off campus!
Class was an hour and a half, and I worked quickly to cover all the ground - books, articles, websites, reference works, media, numerous tools, interfaces and a plethora of info about how to cite all these things. At the end of class we had about ten minutes for them to quickly use these resources to find material germane to their research topics. I fielded a few questions and wrapped it up, happy to have successfully been able to stay energized throughout.
Noon. I sure was ready for a break and lunch. Off handedly, the professor asked if I was ready for the next class. Next class? What next class? I had nothing else on my schedule for the day. Turns out, she forgot to send a request for her second section which would be arriving in less than ten minutes. Yikes! I scramble to make arrangements for ref desk coverage while I teach the whole thing again, make a quick potty stop, grab my bottle of water and gear up for the next section. Not that I haven't taught back to back sessions before. Lots of my Composition classes come scheduled that way. Just that I wasn't mentally geared up for a second round.
Grace of God, it worked out fine. Once I am into the teaching, I love it so much I forget about being tired or distracted. I love showing people how to find resources. Thank goodness I didn't have a meeting scheduled, especially one off campus!
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