again with the new

I’ve just signed back the contract so it’s probably safe to tell you: I’ve signed on as a Lecturer at The University of Western Ontario’s Faculty of Information and Media Studies (FIMS). What will I be teaching? A special topics course: “Social Software and Libraries”. Starts this Fall.

I’m brimming with excitement! I’ve been heartily enjoying teaching courses about social software through the Education Institute for the past two years (two years already!) and I look forward to continuing with those (if they’ll have me), but lately, I’ve found myself thinking more about the theoretics of it all, stuff that really doesn’t belong in a hands-on, professional development course. Things like social network theory, the dynamics of online social networks, and what place the library occupies within those networks. My own reading and research has led me down this path, so I relish the opportunity to flesh out these concepts and ideas in a graduate class, alongside the technical and hands-on components.

A big part of the initial excitement for me was the fact that a library school has realized the importance of including this discussion and these tools in the MLIS curriculum. How cool is that? Rock on, FIMS!

Wow! I think the course sounds amazing. I wish it was available back when I was at Western. I have taken one of your courses through Education Institute and I’m signed up for the next one that starts at the end of the month. Way to go!

WOW! Congratulations! What a cool course to teach and how cool of the administration there to realize the need for it! I wish I’d had a course like that when I was in LIS school.

Kudos!!

[...] Also, I have some news. Posted by amanda Filed in librariana, me, reading/listening [...]

Congrats!

That sounds like a fantastic class, and a fantastic job! The theoretical background behind the social software movement is important, but there’s not much being said about it. I look forward to reading what you post regarding the class and what you cover!

Congratulations!

COOL! I am soooo excited for you!

Congratulations, Amanda. Western’s students are very lucky to have you. FIMS is a pretty innovative concept in itself, so I’m sure there’ll be a good deal of support for your work. Am looking forward to your new course. I too signed up. Cheers!

Congrats! That is great news, indeed!

That sounds like an awesome class, congrats!

Rock ‘n’ roll, Amanda, well done. Good luck with this, you are the perfect person to teach this course. Any chance it will offered online?

wow, thanks everyone! To answer a few of the questions I’ve been getting:

- yes, it’s in addition to my current job!
- yes, it’s an online course (no travel!)
- yes, I’ll be putting the syllabus back up — I realized after the fact that the one I originally posted was a draft version and I can’t seem to put my hands on the final version at the moment. Will dig it out after CiL, promise!

Hi, Amanda:

Congratulations, and welcome aboard. I am the Subject Librarian for FIMS which is a great and very dynamic faculty. I found your news because I attended your OLA presentation about Instant Messaging and I have been asked to report on it briefly at an upcoming meeting.

I had intended to ask you where the presentation is posted, but I just realized that you had already listed the URL on your handout, so I am all set.

Just give me a shout if you would like a tour of Weldon or if there are materials that you need for the course that we don’t have. FIMS also has its own Resource Centre as well so there should be no problem getting whatever is required.

Fran Gray
fgray@uwo.ca
519-661-3162 (84823)

Tramadol….

Tramadol….