Won't our work address the issue Mr. SLoan is talking about here?
________________________________
From: B.G. Sloan <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Fri, January 8, 2010 3:10:37 PM
Subject: Re: 2010 Forum on Library Education
This announcement asks: "Is there a chasm between LIS education and professional practice?"
As Yogi Berra once said, "It's like deja-vu, all over again." Isn't this question asked just about every year? And don't we wind up with one group saying "Yes, there is a chasm", and another group saying "No, there isn't a chasm"? Then there's some heated debate, and maybe a report. Then people get tired of talking about the question and it gets put on a back burner until the next round.
It sure would be nice to put this question to rest once and for all by actually answering it. I remember John Unsworth's suggestion last summer in the iSchool/iCaucus response to the ALA Library Education Task Force report:
"As deans of the iSchools, we suggest that the most efficient means of achieving the outcomes that you desire would be to conduct empirical research leading to a genuine understanding of the needs of the profession and to consider how those needs are, or are not, being met by programs such as ours. We envision this work being conducted in an atmosphere of mutual respect between those who teach and those who practice, and would willingly engage the expertise and resources of the iSchools in the achievement of such an outcome."
To the best of my knowedge, no one (on either "side") ever took John up on his suggestion.
I, for one, am really tired of the "chasm" debate. It always seems to end with both sides each convincing themselves that their position is correct.
Bernie Sloan
--- On Thu, 1/7/10, Patricia Antrim <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>From: Patricia Antrim <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: 2010 Forum on Library Education
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Date: Thursday, January 7, 2010, 2:55 PM
>
>
>The following announcement is sent on behalf of the ALA Committee on Education.
>
>2010 Forum on Library Education
>
>The American Library Association (ALA) Committee on Education and the
>Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE) will
>present a forum on Library Education. The forum will be hosted by ALISE
>and held during the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Boston, (MA) at the Boston
>Park Plaza Hotel & Towers, 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 15,
>2010.
>This year's theme will be: "Learning Outcomes: Methodologies for
>Connecting Communities"
>
>Representatives from Library & Information Studies (LIS) education and
>ALA divisions will discuss the following issues of learning outcomes in
>LIS education and how the professional community views LIS graduates:
>What is a Learning Outcome? How might the new competences impact LIS
>education? What relationship do the new competences have to established
>division competences? Is there a chasm between LIS education and
>professional practice?
>The forums on library education are annual events and are venues for an
>open exchange of ideas and ongoing dialogue between LIS educators and
>library practitioners on current topics related to library education
>matters.
>Speakers: Rachel A. Applegate, Indiana University - Indianapolis; Lynn
>S. Connaway, OCLC; Sara Kelly Johns, Lake Placid Middle/High School
>(NY); Dan O'Connor, Rutgers University and Scott Walter, University of
>Illinois - Urbana.
>For updates and additional information about the Forum, please visit the
>website:
>http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/hrdr/abouthrdr/hrdrliaisoncomm/c
>ommitteeoned/libraryeducationforum.cfm
>
>Lorelle Swader
>
>
>
>**Please include the history of email correspondence in your reply**
>
>Dr. Patricia Antrim
>Chair, Educational Leadership & Human Development
>Lovinger 4102
>University of Central Missouri
>Warrensburg, MO 64093
>Phone: 660-543-8633
>Fax: 660-543-4164
>
