summer

summer

Research After College

Research After College

, , Library Resources, Library Services, Matt Dilworth, outreach
Graduates of IU East have learned a lot in their coursework about media literacy, critical thinking, and how to select and evaluate the best sources. Those skills can be applied anywhere – from television programs and newspapers to social media postings.  Trustworthy, vetted content may seem more difficult to find after college.  The free web is full of unsubstantiated opinion, bot-generated drivel, vacuous and repetitive fluff, and outright manipulation. Fortunately, resources that the library has curated, such as the Fake News libguide, remain available to graduates for guidance. For residents of Indiana, the main source of vetted, academic databases is Inspire, offered by the State Library.  Anyone with an Indiana IP address can access dozens of databases freely.  Familiar tools … Continued
Keep Your Mind Sharp with Puzzles

Keep Your Mind Sharp with Puzzles

, Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
During summer breaks, students can forget part of what they learned in the preceding year.  This phenomenon is referred to as the ‘summer learning loss’ or ‘learning slide’.  There is a significant body of literature on it, particularly as it affects K-12 students.  Estimates of the severity of the loss differ greatly depending on the test design, but it is a risk worth preparing against.  One proposed solution calls for eliminating or reducing summer breaks. Locally, Richmond Community Schools now schedules a two-month summer vacation.  Other proposals include having more frequent, but shorter, breaks spaced throughout the year; or using summer school to bolster at-risk kids.  Absent a comprehensive community solution, however, a good strategy is to keep your mind … Continued
Children’s Reading

Children’s Reading

, , , books, Library Resources, Matt Dilworth, outreach
With summer reading programs at many nearby public libraries in full swing (for example, those at Morrisson Reeves, Centerville, and New Castle), parents are on the lookout for lots of quality books for their children to read.  Many local reading programs have a space exploration theme this year, and our library holds many relevant titles, in addition to any other topic of interest to a young reader. The main purpose of the IU East Library’s expansive juvenile collection is instructional – it supports education, child development, and psychology majors in learning how to teach and understand children.  But this focus, different from a public library’s emphasis on the most popular material, makes it a treasure trove of unique books that … Continued
Relaxing Reading

Relaxing Reading

, , books, Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
Chances are, your summer will include books. From ‘beach’ literature to just catching up on a favorite author you didn’t have time for during the semester, immersing yourself in a good book is a time-tested use of your summer or vacation. Normally, you might think of the college library as being a place for academic literature – not exactly the kind of books you’d pack for a vacation. But we have lots of lighter reading, as well – in plenty of genres. Are you interested in comics? Our collection includes dozens of graphic novels (from superhero stories like Wonder Woman and the X-Men to more substantive fare like J Edgar Hoover, or acclaimed titles like Persepolis, Habibi, and Pride of … Continued
Log Off, But Don’t Shut Down

Log Off, But Don’t Shut Down

, Matt Dilworth, outreach
The end of another school year will soon be upon us! Some of you might have a few classes scheduled for summer school. But for many, these months are ones of complete academic freedom. Lethargy can be an enemy, though. Studies have shown that learning is lost over the long break (particularly in the sciences), wasting time at the beginning of a semester re-learning content. And while these effects are documented far more on the K-12 level, the risks are real at the collegiate level, too. Of course, the summer break gives you time for trips or experiences that would be impossible during the normal school year. And taking those opportunities is something to be encouraged. But still, for the … Continued