Now that I’ve finished my LIS degree, I’m applying for jobs and looking for projects across SMU Libraries. Encouraged by my supervisor, I reached out to the Business Library to see if they needed help teaching workshops; we knew that they were swamped with the start of the fall term. I met with one of their instruction librarians, Tracey Rinehart, and learned that they would let me teach some sections of a workshop required for a business class, a workshop that culminated in an assignment graded by one of the business librarians.
I sat in on the same workshop a few times to see how different instructors presented the material, studied the slides and databases discussed in the class, and finally got to present the workshop myself twice. It was nerve-wracking, but overall I felt that everything went pretty well. When I discussed them with Tracey, his feedback could apply to any workshops or drop-in instruction throughout SMU Libraries:
- Be sure to tie content to something pragmatic. Build on previous knowledge within and across workshops.
- Be aware of time management.
- Ask more questions to engage students.
These are lessons to apply to future instruction sessions, whether at the Business Library or elsewhere at SMU.
Southern Methodist University. (2011, November). Kitt Center [Image]. https://blog.smu.edu/campaignnews/2011/12/new-center-provides-experiences-in-investment-and-trading-center-features-interactive-investment-technology/