I’ve recently recorded two short videos for Sinclair focused on using AI tools effectively in the research process. In my librarian role at Sinclair I’ve continued to be involved in a variety of projects focused on AI, and I’ve tried to bring a perspective emphasizing information literacy and critical thinking. I think that focusing exclusively […]
How ChatGPT is Affecting My Information Literacy Instruction
I’ve written about AI’s effects on libraries and librarians more broadly, and today I’ll share some thoughts about how AI is affecting library instruction and approaches to information literacy. There there are a lot of credible fears about AI’s propensity to mislead, but I think there are also opportunities to refresh conversations about authority, search […]
Can Microsoft Office Stay Relevant for a Future in the Cloud?
Microsoft Office has remained the industry standard for word processing, spreadsheets and presentations for many years, an impressive feat. But in terms of meaningful innovation, there hasn’t been a whole lot lately. Sure, there have been plenty of Office updates (too many, some would say), but they are mainly cosmetic changes and bundles of new […]
Taking a Virtual Field Trip: What’s the Appeal of Location-Based Apps?
Location-based mobile apps are a hot trend these days. These services allow people to use a smartphone to interact somehow with their surrounding environment, such as earning rewards and discounts for “checking-in” somewhere using the popular platform Foursquare. Other big-name apps that incorporate some location-aware features include OpenTable, Fandango and Yelp. And still others allow […]
Website “Hits”: a Useless Way to Measure Traffic
When you’re working to promote a website, you might hear about how many “hits” the big name bloggers get. And you’ll no doubt be trying to come up with ways to increase your own number of “hits.” But in reality, hits isn’t a metric you should ever give serious thought to. It’s a holdover from […]
Blacklisting Wikipedia and Google as a Credible Source?
In my work as an academic librarian, one thing I frequently teach is how to identify a trustworthy source. For research purposes, Google and Wikipedia have their limitations but they are almost always the first step for students. Because of this, one strategy is to take aggressive steps to prevent students from using them. I […]