Trending Tech Services: Library and IT Curriculum Integration, Part II: Supporting Learning Through Virtual Computing

Abstract

Teaching students in library and information science programs involves weaving together technical, organizational, and operational content with the goal of helping students understand the role of information in complex organizations. Through core courses such as Information Organization, Information Seeking, and Information Technology students “dive deep” into the content of a particular part of the field and learn the complex aspects of information practice. This emphasis on content separated into “core” courses can have the unintended consequence of making it difficult for students to integrate course content into their broader understanding of the profession. In this two-part column the author explores the use of curriculum integrated support with cloud-based instructional technology resources to create an active and hands-on setting that also helps students see relationships and interconnected aspects of information work. In discussing this approach the author explores issues of student technology literacy and learning fatigue and discusses a technical framework for implementing technology-rich integrated curricula using a cloud-based virtual computing lab platform that maximizes positive aspects of an integrated curriculum while avoiding downsides associated with teaching in technology-rich settings.