KT Lowe

KT Lowe

Family Research Tools

Family Research Tools

, , Programs, Research, Uncategorized
Every family has a story to tell.  Sometimes, however, those stories are found only through research and study.  Libraries have a variety of resources to assist. To highlight strategies for family research, the IU East Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and the Campus Library are hosting a workshop with Thomas Hamm, Professor of History and Quaker Scholar in Residence at Earlham College.  Campus and community members are welcome to attend on Tuesday, September 13 at 2:00 PM in the Community Engagement Commons, located in the IU East Library, Hayes Hall. Genealogy is the study of generations, particularly of a family.  It involves the use of several different tools, such as censuses, newspaper searches, and databases, to discover the full … Continued
News Media Know-how

News Media Know-how

, , , , Research
Different sources of information are good for different purposes.  Despite its glaring security issues, TikTok is increasingly being used as a way to search for more socially important information, such as where to find a restaurant or comparing two similar items.  But social media has no filters to determine the accuracy of its content.  For assessing information from non-academic sources, a good grounding in media literacy is essential. The SIFT Method One of the more accepted tools in basic media literacy is the SIFT Method.  Developed by Michael Caulfield of the University of Washington, the SIFT Method consists of four sections: Stop Investigate the source Find trusted coverage Trace claims to their original source The first step, Stop, is the … Continued
The National Federation of State Poetry Societies

The National Federation of State Poetry Societies

, Research
The Ohio Poetry Association (OPA) hosted the annual conference for the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS) in Columbus, OH from June 22 to June 26. It was the first in-person meeting for both OPA and NFSPS since early 2020. One hundred and fifty poets from 29 states attended, partaking in workshops, performances, and open mic events. An eco-poetry hike was a special event in Highbanks MetroPark. Eco poetry refers to poems that discuss the interactions between humans and nature and can range from deeply personal to deeply political works. These poems are concerned with environmentalism, sustainable farming, recycling and other processes that people can undertake to preserve the world around them. For this event, poets were stationed at … Continued
The Practical World of Optical Illusions

The Practical World of Optical Illusions

, , Other
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but the perception of the viewer matters.  Optical illusions focus on the science of optics, which is concerned with both physical and psychological perceptions of light.  Far from being just a game or a party trick, however, optical illusions play an important role in a number of professional fields, including dentistry, entertainment and computer programming and security. Let’s start with false teeth.  Historically, dentures have been made of a variety of materials, such as bone, metal, porcelain and other people’s teeth.  Today, however, many dental implants, bridges and other devices are made of resin, a sturdy substance which can be colored and molded to fit the needs of the patient.  However, commercially … Continued
Digital Gardening: Instruction Librarian KT Lowe shares her first-person perspective

Digital Gardening: Instruction Librarian KT Lowe shares her first-person perspective

, , , Research
In December 2021, I was fortunate to be a member of the inaugural class of Digital Gardening Faculty Fellows at Indiana University. Thirty-five faculty members from throughout the IU system were selected to participate in the Digital Gardening Initiative, which aims to pull together faculty from diverse IU institutions and backgrounds to help them develop digital literacy pedagogy. The Fellowship consisted of a series of required workshops and meetings every two weeks, plus additional workshops and speakers that were voluntary.  The required workshops covered topics such as Adobe Express and the Information Literacy Online Toolkit, while voluntary sessions brought in both student and professional presenters on topics such as Minecraft for Education. All IU East faculty, staff and students  have … Continued