Auxin Resources 2022

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26 July 2022

Creating information smart students – librarians and their hidden role in the teaching agenda at Stellenbosch University
Mrs Elizabeth Moll-Willlard & Mr Jeremiah Pietersen

Recommended reading:

Gilman, N.V., Sagàs, J., Camper, M. and Norton, A.P., 2017. A faculty–librarian collaboration success story: Implementing a teach-the-teacher library and information literacy instruction model in a first-year agricultural science course. Library Trends, 65(3), pp.339-358. Available here.
Bowles-Terry, M. and Donovan, C., 2016. Serving notice on the one-shot: Changing roles for instruction librarians. International Information & Library Review, 48(2), pp.137-142. Available here.
Bury, S., 2016. Learning from faculty voices on information literacy: Opportunities and challenges for undergraduate information literacy education. Reference Services Review, 44 (3), pp. 237-252. Available here.

Being able to navigate the world of information is a necessity at university level for students and staff alike – understanding how to do research, the resources that are available and being able to evaluate the resources in your own context is a skill that many need to master to be able to make it through their university degree. It is sometimes assumed that this skill is learnt as a by-product of assignments and results, but it should be highlighted that the university has a (hidden) treasure trove of expertise to teach these crucial skills: librarians. Librarians are involved at the request of lecturers to help improve students’ ability to find, understand and evaluate information, amongst other information literacy skills. These skills can equip students to excel in their studies from first year, if the faculty involve librarians. We would like to showcase how librarians have been involved in teaching within the university, and share some of the successes and skills that perhaps are not widely known to inspire more faculty to collaborate successfully with their librarians. We would also like to share these so that faculty realise they do not need to be experts in this field, and that they have support in teaching skills such as referencing, reading academic information, evaluating information and more. Through such partnerships, not only do the faculty and the library benefit from it, but the students feel more equipped to be able to navigate. To quote from the majority of students after their first session with a librarian: “Why wasn’t I taught this in first year?”

isiXhosa
Ukukwazi ukuzula-zula kwihlabathi lolwazi kuyimfuneko kwinqanaba leyunivesithi kubafundi nabasebenzi ngokufanayo– ukuqonda indlela yokwenza uphando, izibonelelo ezifumanekayo nokukwazi ukuvavanya izibonelelo kumxholo wakho sisakhono ekufuneka abaninzi basazi ukuze bakwazi ukuphumelela kwisidanga saseyunivesithi. Maxa wambi kucingelwa ukuba obu buchule bufundwa njengemveliso evela kumsebenzi omiselweyo kunye neziphumo, kodwa kufuneka igxininiswe into yokuba iyunivesithi inobuncwane (obufihliweyo) bobuchule bokufundisa ezi zakhono zibalulekileyo: oonocwadi. Funda kabanzi apha...

24 May 2022

Developing theories for narratives in teaching and learning, based on an example of Black women's academic experiences
Dr Jean Farmer

Educational institutions should be spaces for staff and students to engage in knowledge-building and creation as well as to address social justice concerns (Farmer, 2021). In order to create a space that is conducive to effective and enhanced teaching and learning, many students and staff may need more than to hear the word “welcome”. Qualitative studies are necessary to know that not all individuals experience a context in the same way (Ellis, 2007; Johns & Marlin, 2010). Differences in experiences and perceptions include issues such as a sense of self/identity and belonging; all of which play a role in the success of learning and teaching.

These factors affect individuals’ interaction within the institutional cultural milieu and can either enhance or inhibit relationships and individual growth (Farmer, 2021). For a shift in institutional culture where not everyone feels welcome, differences in teaching and learning of students and academics entering universities must be taken into account (Behari-Leak, 2017). Addressing inequality and various discomforts at multiple levels in the context of the institution can aid in shifting institutional culture. Staff involved in teaching and learning may need to start considering their roles and their engagement with those with whom they share teaching and learning spaces.

Critical reflection about our interactions on various levels is a vital part of teaching and learning, especially where practitioners aim to interrogate their agency (Farmer, 2021; Herman, 2015; Kahn et al., 2012). Reflection is not only thinking; it is also actively speaking, conversing, writing and drawing.

I propose that staff may find autoethnographic or reflexive activity can play a significant part in building their portfolios to “move beyond theory” in their “professional learning” (Leibowitz et al., 2016; Winberg & Pallitt, 2016) and learn new ways to engage their students’ thinking. Various modes of reflection can encourage interrogation of practices and interactions and that we all can impact how higher education evolves (Farmer, 2021).

12 April 2022

Portfolios as a pedagogical choice for assessment as learning: insights from a teacher education programme
Dr Zelda Barends, Ms Agatha Lebethe & Dr Anthea Jacobs

Recommended reading:

Gravett, S. 2012. Crossing the “Theory-practice Divide”: Learning to Be(come) a Teacher. South African Journal of Childhood Education, 2(2):1-14.
Klenowski, V., Askew, S & Carnell, E. 2006. Portfolios for learning, assessment and professional development in higher education. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 31(3):267-286.

29 March 2022

Educational Interpreting as part of ‘pedagogically sound’ teaching and learning practices in a multilingual university lecture
Dr Carmen Brewis

Dr Carmen Brewis recommends the following reading:

Brewis, C. et al. (In press.) Perceptions of educational interpreting at SU: Towards a more informed and supportive interpreting service.
Brewis, C. 2017. The value of Actor-Network-Theory as an ethnographic research strategy for the investigation of educational interpreting at Stellenbosch University. Stellenbosch Papers in Linguistics Plus (SPiL Plus), vol 53: 3-24.
Foster, L. & Cupido, A. (2017). Assessing spoken-language educational interpreting: measuring up and measuring right. Stellenbosch Papers in Linguistics Plus, 53:119-132, doi:10.5842/53-0-736.

22 February 2022

A Gay Agenda: Troubling Compulsory Heterosexuality in a South African University Classroom
Prof Dennis Francis

Prof Dennis Francis recommends the following reading:

Francis, DA. (2021) “And I would ask myself, what's being gay got to do with this anyway?": Constructions of queer subject positions in student's stories, Education, Citizenship and Social Justice; https://doi.org/10.1177/17461979211048670
Francis, DA. (2021) A Gay Agenda: Troubling compulsory heterosexuality in a South African University Classroom, Sociology Teaching, 2021;49(3):278-290. doi:10.1177/0092055X211022472