Elizabeth South | Library Blog - Indiana University East

Elizabeth South

World Bee Day

Elizabeth South, holidays, online information, sustainability May 16, 2022 Library Resources, Research mdilwort

One of the most important aspects of getting food from the farm to the table is the necessity of bees to pollinate many of our crops. “Almost 90% of wild plants and 75% of leading crops depend on animal pollinations,” and bees are one of our most important pollinators (WWF-UK). In the US, bees pollinate approximately 130 different agricultural crops, including fruits, vegetables, and nuts, and add nearly 15 billion dollars in improved crop quality and yield. However, many bees are facing significant threats and extinction due to climate change, habitat loss, invasive plants, chemical pesticides, and disease and parasites. The U.S. honeybee population has declined by 60% since 1947 and the rusty patched bumblebee was the first bee to … Continued

Sustainability at IU East: Climate Teach-In and a World of Wonders

Elizabeth South, environment, sustainability March 14, 2022 outreach, Programs mdilwort

Spring break is this week, and with spring comes a renewed energy to appreciate nature, as flowers and trees begin to bloom and butterflies, bees, and other insects return to our gardens. Warmer weather also signals a return to many events and days dedicated to protecting Earth’s natural resources and spreading awareness of the effects of climate change. To learn more about climate change and ways you can get involved in sustainability efforts, here are a few events happening at IU East and around the world that you can take part in. Acknowledge and Participate in Earth Hour March 26th 8:30pm-9:30pm Earth Hour is a global movement that was started by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) in March … Continued

Fair Use: What is it?

To celebrate Fair Use Week (February 21-25, 2022) the IU East Campus Library is highlighting what fair use is and resources available that can help researchers determine if fair use applies to a given situation. What is Fair Use? In US copyright law, fair use is the legal doctrine that allows brief excerpts of copyrighted material, under certain circumstances, to be quoted verbatim for purposes such as criticism, news reporting, teaching, and research, without the need for permission or payment from the copyright holder. Fair use is vitally important to creativity, teaching and scholarship, and innovation. It is a fundamental right, and thanks to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, it is considered by the Supreme Court to be a “first amendment … Continued

Open Educational Resources (OER): Adding Diversity and Inclusion to the Classroom

diversity, Elizabeth South, multicultural, Open Education Resources January 17, 2022 outreach, Website mdilwort

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a day of reflection and inspiration. It has us thinking more closely about equity and inclusion in our work in the library, and in particular, how we can support classroom endeavors in this cause. One way we can do this is to support the use and development of Open Educational Resources. We often discuss how Open Educational Resources (OER) can be easily adapted to suit the needs of the students and the instructor and how they can be a more affordable (free!) option for students in comparison to traditional textbooks. However, it is also important to highlight that because OER can be remixed, revised, and shared freely, they can be used as an agent … Continued

Open Pedagogy: create and collaborate

Elizabeth South, open access, Open Education Resources, teaching, textbooks December 13, 2021 Library Resources mdilwort

Open Pedagogy is a concept in teaching that overlaps with other schools of pedagogical thought, especially as we now work, create, and learn in a digital environment and engage more with collaborative work, such as: Constructivist Pedagogy – learning based on the idea that we construct our own knowledge through direct experience (Hands-on learning). Critical Digital Pedagogy – focuses not just on the tools we use in teaching, but how we are connecting as human beings. Connected Learning – active participation in learning, collaboration with peers, mentors, etc. The term Open Pedagogy was first cited in 1979 by a Canadian named Claude Paquette and he “outlines three sets of foundational values of Open Pedagogy: autonomy and interdependence; freedom and responsibility; … Continued