Friday, May 5, 2017

Online Teaching and Learning: A Practical Guide for Librarians



Crane, Beverley E. Online Teaching and Learning: A Practical Guide for Librarians. Rowman & Littlefield, 2016. ISBN: 978-1-4422-6716-9

Designed for experienced librarians, librarians new to the profession, and library school students, Online Teaching and Learning: A Practical Guide for Librarians provides a comprehensive framework that encompasses all aspects of planning, designing, creating, implementing, and assessing online learning for all types of libraries, including public, academic, special, and K-12. It also provides a valuable guide for teachers, administrators, and other educators.

Online Teaching and Learning: A Practical Guide for Librarians features three main sections:

  • Section I: Theory into Practice forms the basis in theory of learning that ultimately influences practice. It includes definition, importance in today’s society, benefits and challenges, and categories and types of online learning with examples to illustrate each.
  • Section II: Creating Online Instruction explores how to create an online course--describing components and stepping through the process using a model on the topic of information literacy. Design and instructional tips for creating other types of online instruction are also given.
  • Section III: Practical Applications provides examples of different types of online instruction and materials in all types of libraries. Then, step-by-step detail explains how librarians can create this type of instruction and/or learning materials on their own. Included are worksheets, handouts, and exercises.

Online Teaching and Learning: A Practical Guide for Librarians puts it all together to provide what the library must consider as it prepares for this new challenge and opportunity. It provides a comprehensive guide instructing online programs how to employ library services as part of their program. It is also designed to instruct librarians to incorporate the skills necessary to build a virtual library environment and teach the skills required to meet the needs of online learners. As the educational landscape changes with blended and online learning taking center stage, new and established librarians need a guide to inform them of skills they will need and show them how to create the resources for their new online audience.