Wenjie Wu, Mingchu Cong, and their fellow group members worked in the HIKS Undergraduate Library to design a health app for a computer graphics course. They used one of the Libraries’ white boards to map out ideas and elements of their app design using a methodology introduced in class.
On August 29th, the Libraries Seminar Committee hosted a presentation by Dr. Andrew Whitworth, Director of Teaching Strategy for the Manchester Institute of Education and the University of Manchester. Dr. Whitworth’s presentation “Xenophilia: The Love of Difference is Essential for Information Literacy” argued that a diversification and openness to different perspectives can positively influence learning through engagement with information. Drawing from theories of learning, networking, technology, and more, Dr. Whitworth described how xenophilia—a love and openness to difference—can help people broker between different information landscapes to learn and take action. He proposed that educators develop their teaching around the principle of xenophilia, where students encounter and navigate different perspectives of information landscapes, in order to help them learn through dialog.
Following the presentation, Dr. Whitworth facilitated two workshops introducing participants to a concept mapping process to uncover different perspectives on an institutional issue. In the first workshop, participants engaged with different types of maps to uncover how we rely on and interpret maps, as well as how they can be powerful tools for helping us make sense of our own information landscapes. In the second workshop, participants put these ideas into practice using Ketso, a specific mapping tool. In small groups, participants collectively discussed and mapped out the goals, assets, challenges, and strategies related to how the new Wilmeth Active Learning Center will change our activities as librarians.
Librarians worked in groups to map ideas related to how they can use the Wilmeth Active Learning Center to advance their practice as librarians.
The Purdue Libraries is hosting the presentation “XENOPHILIA: How the love of difference is essential for information literacy” by Dr. Drew Whitworth.
Date: August 29, 2017
Time: 10:00am – 11:30am
Location: Purdue Memorial Union, West Faculty Lounge
The event is free and open to the public. Please click here to register.
Whitworth’s presentation will argue for an understanding of information literacy as a set of carefully constructed information practices that are informed by the contexts in which they play out. This vision of information literacy is rooted in xenophilia, a love and openness to difference. In this case, information literacy is defined by an awareness and openness to the variances that exist between different information landscapes and their practices. Whitworth will make the case for information literacy as a pedagogy that can enable important discussions of openness and dialog, particularly in today’s socio-political climate.
Drew Whitworth is the Director of Teaching and Learning Strategy of the Manchester Institute of Education at The University of Manchester.
Libraries faculty and staff uphold the Libraries’ information literacy mission statement through various instructional and research efforts.
