The Miracle of LIS 560
I've been carrying a horrifying secret . In my entire time as an undergraduate - I was never asked to write a research paper. Really. Upon entering the MLIS program I went from 0 to 60 - quickly. I feel quite good about most of my work, but I have chosen one in particular that was most significant to me - for me it sealed the deal on my belief in my ability to research and write and contribute to a body of knowledge.
The Elderly and Computers
My final project for LIS 560 (Instructional Design Methods) was Public Library Computer Instruction for the Elderly. This was an enormous undertaking for me as the amount of research involved, from collecting census information to undertaking a literature review, from collecting direct personal observation to learning about adaptive technology to developing lesson plans based on all the the above (and more) , was by far my most complex endeavor and my most satisfying. Upon re-reading this paper, I was somewhat objectively impressed with the value of the document as a comprehensive overview of the learning needs and desires of the general population of elderly folks and amazed at the copious and authoritative citations. Here it is.
Feedback
While the paper speaks for itself, I was delighted to received this feedback:
Melissa--Wow! This is a superlative piece of work. Your lit review and
needs assessment are a model not just for this assignment, but for this
topic (it's one frequently covered by 560 students), your classroom plans
are meticulously detailed ... and you've not only addressed all of the
parts of the ARCS model in each part of your workshop, but you've
used them as a means to add depth and breadth to your planning. This
will serve as a benchmark for this assignment in the future. Thank you!
Do I really need to tell you that this is a 4.0?
Trent Hill, Lecturer