Creating Connections For Online LIS Students: You Are Not Alone In Cyberspace!

1. Creating Connections For Online LIS Students: You Are Not Alone In Cyberspace!

2. How Anna and Meena connected Anna and Meena met in an online class at Drexel iSchool where they were both LIS students. Anna quickly connected to all New England students, including Meena. Anna realized that we had a small cohort of our own and reached out to Drexel University Special Library Association (DUSLA) to find ways to connect further. She and Meena became regional coordinators for DUSLA and created several networking opportunities for online students living in New England. Anna eventually realized that she needed a more face-to-face context and transferred to Simmons (which offers a blended program) but maintained her professional and personal relationships created while at Drexel.

3. What is Online Learning? Source: Sloane Online Learning Survey, 2012

4. Some Dates & Statistics • 6.7 million students took at least one online course in the fall of 2011, an increase of 8.5% from the previous year • There has been a 150% increase in the number of students selecting distance learning courses as a part of their regular college curriculum between 1998 and 2008. • By 2003, 81% of colleges had at least one online course offered • By 2010, 83% of employers consider online degrees to be as credible as traditional degrees

5. Trends and Key Indicators in LIS… “During academic year 2010-2011, forty-nine of fifty-eight schools offering ALA accredited master’s programs (84.48 percent) offered some form of off-campus delivery of courses...” This figure presents the number of sections of courses offered off-campus via each delivery mode. Internet delivery modes dominated off-campus course offerings. Asynchronous internet courses constituted 53.16 % of sections offered, followed by synchronous internet at 20.39%. Source: Association for Library & Information Science Education. (2012). Library and Information Science Education Statistics Report 2012. Chicago, IL: Danny P. Wallace, ed.

6. Flexibility & Accessibility • Ability to pursue an education that might not otherwise be feasible • Telecommuting: if you don't live near a college or university, online classes are as close as your Internet connection • Flexible pacing: online students can move at a quicker or slower pace than the rest of the class. • Convenience: let's face it - sometimes it's nice to take a class at home in your pajamas. • Cost saving:tuition for online courses can be lower than brick-and-mortar classes. Plus, students mostly eliminate costs like gas, parking, and campus housing and food. • Globalization: you meet people in your field from around the country and around the world - different perspectives! Some Pros of Online Learning

7. More Pros of Online Learning • Seeing librarianship on a global scale • Being able to network worldwide • Self Directed Learning • Trains you to become an independent thinker and thought leader - skills that are valued by potential employers • Online students have to be good advocates for themselves as they have to interact with faculty and administration virtually which can create excellent writing and perseverance skills.

8. More Pros of Online Learning • Technology Skills • Distance learners have the advantage of already knowing how to troubleshoot computer issues • Distance learners are familiar with online collaboration • Perception of employers that distance learners are more willing to be creative in using online tools to be innovative

9. “Working within a virtual environment teaches volumesabout communication, group-work, and time management.” Source: Montague, R., & Pluzhenskaia, M. (2007). Web-based Information Science Education (WISE): Collaboration to Explore and Expand Quality in LIS Online Education. Journal of Education for Library & Information Science, 48(1), 36-51.

10. Some Cons of Online Learning • Schools are encouraging distance learning but not offering support to their online students - basically leaving them to figure it out on their own • Insufficient or lack of awareness of opportunities for professional networking and development • Not necessarily cost effective in terms of tuition • Less chance for students to practice their interpersonal skills which could affect employer perception of their ability to deal with different types of patrons F2F • Employers don’t give as much credence to online degrees as they do to face-to-face

11. How to be Successful in the Online Environment "While online environments provide tools for intellectual and social discourse that support cognitive development, social networking, and community building (Palloff & Pratt, 1999; Preece, 2000), the primary means of online communication today is typed text, which lacks the expressive features of nonverbal communication and voice tone, as well as a shared awareness of context. Thus, some studies stress the importance of face-to-face encounters to promote bonding as a basis for continued interaction and participation online...Whatever the medium of communication, learning should emphasize meaningful activities that engage students and support deep learning through reflection, inquiry, analysis, and synthesis, within a process that is active, constructive, collaborative, complex, contextual, and conversational (Mimirinis & Bhattacharya, 2007)." Source: Yukawa, J. (2010). Communities of Practice for Blended Learning: Toward an Integrated Model for LIS Education. Journal of Education for Library & Information Science, 51(2), 54-75.

12. How to be Successful in the online environment • Do not do the minimum! Prove to the school that you are exceptional! • Always network with the students that livein your region • Take on leadership roles both in your classes and in your • Join student branches of professional organizations. Ask for student rates! • Locate and participate in LIS blogs & related social media sites

13. More… How to be Successful in the online environment • Find a mentor. Look to professional organizations that offer mentorship programs or ask a professional librarian that you know if they will be your mentorDemand professional networking opportunities in your area - you are not the only LIS student in your geographic location • Make the most of technology - use collaborative tools, emerging technology, social media, etc (remember it can all go on your resume) • Keep a log of all you do - everything can be used on a resume

14. “Whatever happens, don't get discouraged if your initial online experience is bumpy. In many ways, facing and solving the problems I encountered helped me become a more productive student. I realized that maximizing the parts of the online degree experience that were not online helped me take better advantage of the parts that were. And I can't help but feel that completing the online LIS degree taught me a lot not only about the profession but about how to succeed in today's always connected, increasingly digital world.” Source: Fortin, S. (2007). The Online LIS Experience. Library Journal, 132(12), 58.

15. Why should Online LIS students create professional connections? • Joining a professional organization in your geographic area creates connections where you live - you are not in cyberspace anymore! • Being a distance learner can be isolating and intimidating. Joining local professional organizations and taking on leadership roles enables the student to learn what’s out there and their place in the library world. • It’s a two way relationship - professional organizations want /need new members to can keep abreast of new trends through newly trained professionals

16. Who should create opportunities to connect with LIS students? • All Schools which offer LIS degree programs • Students - reaching out is a two way street! • Career Services • Professional organizations with student chapterswithin iSchools - or even student organizations particularly geared towards online students • State library agencies, ie. Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners • Employers - contact online LIS programs when offering internships, employment opportunities, etc.

17. Some Links to Professional Organizations for LIS Students • ALA Student Chapter Resources • http://www.ala.org/groups/affiliates/chapters/student/resources/stuchapterresources1 • ALA State and Regional Chapters • http://www.ala.org/groups/affiliates/chapters/state/stateregional • ALISE - Association of Library and Information Science Students • http://www.alise.org/ • IFLA - International Federation of Library Associations • http://www.ifla.org/ • U.S. Dept. of Education, Technology and Distance Learning • http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/pi/AdultEd/tdlearn.html • WISE - Web-Based Information Science Education http://www.wiseeducation.org/

18. Professional Organizations: Student Chapters • American Library Association — Student Chapter (ALASC) • Association for Information Science and Technology — Student Chapter (ASIST) • Library and Information Science Student Association (LISSA) • ArLISNAP (Art Library Students and New ARLIS Professionals) • Progressive Librarians Guild — Student Chapter • Special Libraries Association — Student Chapter (SLA) • Student Chapter of ALA International Relations Round Table (SCIRRT) • Student Chapter of the Society of American Archivists (SCoSAA) • User Experience Professional Association (UXPA)

19. Some Links to Blogs & Websites for LIS Students • Librarian blogs and sites internet directory: http://librariansindex.blogspot.com/ • Hack Library School: http://hacklibschool.wordpress.com/ • I need a library job (INALJ): http://inalj.com • The proverbial lone wolf librarian’s weblog: http://lonewolflibrarian.wordpress.com • Deep Librarian (for school librarians):http://www.deeplibrarian.com/top50/ • Top 25 Librarian Bloggers: http://oedb.org/ilibrarian/top-25-librarian-bloggers-by-the-numbers/ • 100 best blogs for librarians of the future: http://www.bachelorsdegreeonline.com/blog/2009/100-best-blogs-for-librarians-of-the-future/ • And for fun see…Mental Floss: http://mentalfloss.com/section/at-the-libraries

20. Collaboration & Networking at its Best! Simmons & Drexel LIS students attend a Resume Workshop hosted by Simmons GSLIS

21. References ALA Accredited Programs. (n.d.). American Library Association. Retrieved April 18, 2014, fromhttp://www.ala.org/accreditedprograms/ Akanegbu, A. (2012)). 50 Striking Statistics About Distance Learning in Higher Education. EdTech Magazine. Retrieved April 20, 2014, fromhttp://www.edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2012/07/50-striking-statistics-about-distance-learning-higher-education Allen, E. & Seaman, J. (n.d.). Changing Course: Ten Years of Tracking Online Education in the United States | The Sloan Consortium. Changing Course: Ten Years of Tracking Online Education in the United States | The Sloan Consortium. Retrieved April 20, 2014, fromhttp://sloanconsortium.org/publications/survey/changing_course_2012 Are online LIS students doomed? (2013). Hack Library School. Retrieved May 4, 2014, fromhttp://hacklibschool.wordpress.com/2013/11/13/are-online-lis-students-doomed/ Association for Library & Information Science Education. (2012). Library and Information Science Education Statistics Report 2012. Chicago, IL: Danny P. Wallace, ed. Bace, M. A., Hall-Ellis, S. D., & Kinney, A. J. (2008). Making the Connection: Focusing on the Disconnect Between LIS Education and Employer Expectations. Journal Of Education For Library & Information Science, 49(2),91-92. Beldarrian, Y. (2007). Distance education trends: Integrating new technologies to foster student interaction and collaboration. The American Journal of Distance Education, 27(2), 139-153.. Fortin, S. (2007, April 15). The Online LIS Experience. Library Journal, 132(12), 58. Garrison, D. R.; Cleveland-lnnes, M. (2005). Facilitating cognitive presence in online education: Interaction is not enough. The American Journal of Distance Education, 19(3), 133-148. Kazmer, M. M. (2007). How do student experiences differ in online LIS programs with and without a residency? The Library Quarterly, 77(4), 359-383. Librarians. (n.d.). Stats and Graphs: Biases Against Online Library School. Hiring Librarians. Retrieved April 15, 2014, fromhttp://hiringlibrarians.com/2013/09/28/stats-and-graphs-biases-against-online-library-school/ Montague, R., & Pluzhenskaia, M. (2007). Web-based Information Science Education (WISE): Collaboration to Explore and Expand Quality in LIS Online Education. Journal of Education for Library & Information Science, 48(1), 36-51. Stacey, E. (2002). Social presence online: Networking learners at a distance. Education and Information Technologies, 7(4), 8-16. Sorenson, A. (2010). Online Education Facts Infographic. Education Today RSS. Retrieved April 15, 2014, fromhttp://www.classesandcareers.com/collegelife/online_education_facts/ Yukawa, J. (2010). Communities of Practice for Blended Learning: Toward an Integrated Model for LIS Education. Journal of Education for Library & Information Science, 51(2), 54-75.

22. Many thanks to... • Drexel DUSLA (for creating the position of regional coordinator among their officers and for offering support and resources for Anna & Meena) • Simmons SLA (for organizing student oriented programs and collaborating with online LIS students from other institutions) • Eileen Abels, Dean, GSLIS Simmons College • Terry Plum, Assistant Dean for Academic Initiatives, GSLIS Simmons College • Jeanne Wallace-Buckley, Administrative Manager, GSLIS Simmons College • And a very special thanks to Linda Watkins,GSLIS Librarian, Simmons College