Immersion '06 Invitation to Apply

Immersion '06
Simmons College
Boston, Massachusetts
July 28 - August 2, 2006

ACRL's Institute for Information Literacy (IIL) is pleased to announce Immersion ‘06. Whether your institution is just beginning to think about implementing an information literacy component or whether you have a program well underway, Immersion ‘06 will provide academic librarians with the intellectual tools and practical techniques to help your institution build or enhance its instruction program.

Immersion ‘06 will be four-and-one-half days of active learning and intensive interaction among academic librarians.

"Immersion was a wonderful experience.  I’ve emerged with new energy and many ideas to try.  I couldn’t recommend it highly enough."
-Immersion '05 participant

"It helped develop my understanding of information literacy and it helped me to understand myself better as a teacher."
-Immersion '05 participant

"Immersion was enlightening on personal and professional levels-I feel that I have been given an array of tools to use in empowering both my colleagues at home, my students and myself as I progress in my career."
-Immersion '05 participant

A faculty of nationally recognized librarians will offer the program. Participation is limited to 90 to ensure an environment that fosters group interaction and active participation. Acceptance to the Immersion Program is competitive; application details are below. 

CURRICULUM
Immersion ‘06 will offer two tracks:

Teacher Track. This track focuses on individual development for those who are interested in enhancing, refreshing, or extending their individual instruction skills. Curriculum includes classroom techniques, learning theory, leadership, and assessment framed in the context of information literacy. Librarians and graduate students in library and information science programs are eligible to apply.  Participants selected for the Teacher Track will prepare a description of an instructional situation and a related ten-minute presentation in advance of the Immersion program. During Immersion, participants will revise the presentation based on feedback from colleagues and faculty.

The Teacher Track is for you if:

• You have little or no experience as a teacher or if you have experience teaching but would benefit from a focus on the fundamentals.
• You want to understand more about learning theory, and how to design lessons and assignments that accommodate different learning styles.
• You want an opportunity to practice and receive feedback on your teaching.
• You need to understand the role of assessment in improving your teaching techniques and the design of lessons and assignments.
• You want to identify and build on your leadership skills.

Program Track. This track focuses on developing, integrating, and managing institutional and programmatic information literacy programs. Participants selected for the Program Track will develop individual case studies in advance of the Immersion program. Change dynamics, systems thinking, institutional outcomes assessment, scalability, and the integration of teaching, learning, and technology will be brought to bear on analyzing the various programmatic challenges presented in the case studies. Immersion participants will be expected to develop the case studies into an action plan for implementation at the home institution, and possible inclusion in a "best practices" report six months after the program.

The Program Track is for you if:

• You have some knowledge of learning theory, pedagogy, and assessment.
• You have some experience as a teacher.
• You currently have (or are soon to have) some program management responsibility.
• You are interested in moving your program from a focus on bibliographic instruction to a focus on information literacy.
• You need to understand the role of assessment related to a whole curriculum and to gaining campus support.
• You want to strengthen your skills as a campus leader for information literacy.

View the Immersion '06 Learning Outcomes and Curriculum.

COSTS
ACRL Members: $1,450
Non-ACRL Members: $1,650

Registration fees include:

• tuition and extensive notebook of program materials and resources
• access to WebCT course
• private electronic discussion forum of all participants
• all meals during the 4.5 day program
• twice-daily refreshment breaks
• special social events. 

SCHOLARSHIPS
Institutional support is an important component of the Immersion program. A limited number of partial scholarships are available for Teacher Track applicants only in the following three categories:

• New librarian (applicants who have been in librarianship for two years or less by the beginning date of the program)
• Minority librarian (limited to those who have been in librarianship for five years or less)
• Librarian employed at an institution serving underrepresented minorities.

Note: Immersion scholarships are typically funded between $400-600.  All recipients of ACRL scholarship funds must be ACRL members, demonstrate a financial need, applying for the Teacher Track, and complete the Scholarship Application portion of the Teacher Track application form.   

ACCOMODATIONS

Campus Housing
Immersion participants will be housed in air-conditioned residence halls on the Simmons campus.  Cost for five nights lodging: Single $300; Double $150

Hotels Options
For individuals who prefer to stay off-campus, there are numerous hotels in the Fenway neighborhood, including:  
Best Western Inn at Longwood Medical
Approx. 5 min. walk from Simmons. 

Hotel Commonwealth
Approx. 10 min. walk from Simmons. 

APPLICATION
The deadline to apply for Immersion '06 was December 2, 2005.  Notifications will be issued in February 2006.

NOTIFICATION
Notifications of acceptance will be issued by late February 2006.

QUESTIONS
Questions should be directed to:
Margot Sutton Conahan
ACRL
50 E. Huron St.
Chicago, IL 60611
msutton@ala.org
312-280-2522