(via Rory Litwin, Library Juice Academy)
Informal Learning in the Academic Library
Instructors: Lauren Hays and Teresa Slobuski
Dates: March 4th through 29th, 2019
Credits: 1.5 CEUs or 15 PDHs
Price: $175
Attendees of this course will be introduced to the concept of informal learning in the academic library. The instructors will discuss specific examples of how informal learning can be supported including through gameplay, makerspaces, space design, furniture selection, and technology. Although not always emphasized in professional standards, informal learning is the primary source for building life skills such as critical thinking, flexibility, collaboration, and creativity, all of which are needed for students to be successful throughout their lives. Additionally, by fostering informal learning, libraries also foster life long learning by validating out-of-classroom learning opportunities.
– Attendees will recognize informal learning opportunities.
– Attendees will analyze their library for ways to increase informal learning opportunities.
– Attendees will have the tools to create an informal learning proposal for their library.
This course can be taken as one of the courses in our eight-course Certificate in Library Instruction, but can be taken as a stand-alone course as well.
Lauren Hays is the Instructional and Research Librarian and the Co-Director of the Center for Games and Learning at MidAmerica Nazarene University. She holds an undergraduate degree in education, a masters in library science, a masters in educational technology, and a graduate certificate in online teaching and learning. She is passionate about the learning process. Her professional interests include the librarian’s role in informal learning and the scholarship for teaching and learning.
Teresa Slobuski is the Head Librarian of the Vairo Library at Penn State Brandywine. In this role, she oversees all operations of the library. Slobuski is passionate about access and social justice and actively works to improve both representation and recognition of all in libraries. Slobuski completed her master’s degree in library and information science at Rutgers University. She has conducted research on a variety of topics such as the impact of non-text media on information retrieval, children’s literature, informal learning and the development of 21st century skills, library space usage, and educational technology topics, especially the use of games.
Read an interview with Lauren Hays, about this class and the other class that the two instructors co-teach together:
This is an online class that is taught asynchronously, meaning that participants do the work on their own time as their schedules allow. The class does not meet together at any particular times, although the instructor may set up optional sychronous chat sessions. Instruction includes readings and assignments in one-week segments. Class participation is in an online forum environment.
You can register in this course through the first week of instruction (as long as it is not full). The “Register” button on the website goes to our credit card payment gateway, which may be used with personal or institutional credit cards. (Be sure to use the appropriate billing address). If your institution wants us to send a billing statement or wants to pay using a purchase order, please contact us by email to make arrangements: inquiries@libraryjuiceacademy.com
For a list of all of the courses being offered next month, please go to: