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Immersion ’08 - TEACHER TRACK
University of California, San Diego
July 27 – August 1, 2008
The Immersion ’08 Teacher 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 presentation in advance of the Immersion program. During Immersion, participants will revise the presentation based on feedback from colleagues and faculty.
The Immersion '08 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.
After participating in the 4.5 day Immersion Teacher Track program, you will be able to:
- Design meaningful instructional activities that address different learning styles, recognizing different student motivations, backgrounds, and experiences, in order to address student learning needs in a coherent and systematic fashion.
- Adopt a constructivist approach to information literacy instruction in order to develop a theoretical perspective and foundation for selecting teaching approaches and learning activities.
- Teach from a learner-centered perspective in order to engage students in the learning process.
- Analyze and assess personal teaching methods, habits, and styles in order to expand pedagogical repertoire and shape diverse learning situations.
- Assess student learning in order to inform and improve practice.
- Develop and articulate a personal perspective of information literacy in order to make its applications to professional and personal life effective and meaningful.
- Capitalize on personal leadership characteristics/potential in order to commit acts of leadership and affect change in institutional/professional practice.
Participation is limited to ensure an environment that fosters group interaction and active participation. A competitive application process will be used to select participants.
Teacher Track Application Instructions
Please note that only applications submitted via the online application form will be considered. Please read through the instructions below thoroughly before you start the application process.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Monday, December 3, 2007 (5:00 p.m. CST)
APPLICATION TIPS
1. Review the Characteristics for Successful Applicants before you start the online application.
2. Writing the essays and responding to questions, arranging for funding and requesting letters of reference and support all take time. You are encouraged to begin early, and to prepare and submit your materials as soon as possible. Once you have begun the online application form, you can revisit your statements as many times as needed until they are complete and ready to submit. The deadline cannot be extended due to last minute illnesses or emergencies.
3. Have the following information prepared before you begin your online application:
- Contact information
- Work experience
- Presentations and publications
- Letters of reference. Two letters of reference are needed. Please obtain an electronic version of the reference letters as you will need to cut and paste the text into the online application form. You will need to indicate the name, title, and e-mail address for each reference. Reference letters should be in English and should be made out to the "Institute for Information Literacy Executive Committee."
1. Reference one. (Librarian Applicants) Letter from your director or current supervisor who can address the commitment of the institution to information literacy, your role in that process, and why you are the person from the institution who should attend
2. Reference two. (Librarian Applicants) Letter from a professor, colleague, faculty member, etc., who can address how Immersion '08 will further enhance your professional development and further institutional goals.
o Teacher Track: (Graduate Student Applicants) Two letters of reference from professors, library supervisors, etc. who can address how Immersion ’08 will further enhance your career plans and professional development.
- Candidate statements
1. Statement one. The Teacher Track focuses on enhancing and extending individual teaching skills. Include a reflective statement on your experience as a teacher and your involvement with information literacy, with particular emphasis on events where you took initiative and then followed through. (500 words)
2. Statement two. Throughout the Immersion experience, participants are active members of a learning community in which they are challenged to look at issues from multiple perspectives and supported by faculty and peers in an environment that encourages creativity and risk taking. Reflecting upon your preferred learning style and any previous experiences in such an environment, how would you benefit from and contribute to this type of group? How might your participation in this learning community influence your approach to teaching? (200-300 words)
3. Statement three. In light of the Immersion learning outcomes, what are the major benefits you hope to derive from Immersion for yourself and your institution? Why did you decide to apply? (200-300 words)
4. Statement four. Explain how the culture of your library and your campus affects the way that you teach and your opportunities to teach. (200-300 words)
4. You may save an incomplete application, and edit or add additional information before the submission deadline date. An ID number and password will be assigned to you when you submit your proposal. Be sure to print your ID number and password and keep them in a safe place. You will need these in order to edit the proposal at a future time.
5. Please note that Immersion is an individual application process, and acceptance into the program is for an individual applicant. There is no institutional ownership of an accepted-applicant slot, and if for some reason, an accepted applicant cannot attend, another person from that institution may not be substituted. The next accepted applicant on the ranked waiting list will be offered the slot.
6. Questions may be directed to Margot Conahan, msutton@ala.org, 312-280-2522; or Tory Ondrla, tondrla@ala.org; 312-280-2515.
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE ONLINE APPLICATION FORM.
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