Lauren Corder

University of  Washington

Distance Master of Library and Information Science

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Learning and Teaching

The experience in LIS 510 of developing a PowerPoint/Producer presentation led to my volunteering to teach a Boating Skills and Seamanship module as a part of my duties in the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Auxiliarists are civilian volunteers for the Coast Guard. Though they wear a uniform, they are not considered military and are not paid for their service. The Auxiliary's boating courses are taught to the public.

I volunteered to teach the chapter on aids to navigation--the markers, buoys, and lights that guide mariners safely into navigable channels and ports. I presented the chapter's information both using the PowerPoint slides and handmade teaching aids.

I explain the meanings and positions of buoys and channel markers.

My students that evening commented that they learned well what I presented because I had combined the computer learning with a hands-on presentation. (As a high school teacher, I had always felt that students learn best when they are given a variety of ways in which to absorb the information.)

I would not have felt comfortable presenting this chapter without first having learned how to use PowerPoint in my classes at the University of Washington.

Teaching Leads to More Learning

This experience led to a wonderful learning opportunity through the Coast Guard that fortuitously related well with what I was learning in the iSchool. My flotilla commander told me about a Coast Guard "C" school in web site and PowerPoint presentation design and asked me if I would be interested in applying for it. I was accepted to the school and attended in March of 2006. (It was held in Honolulu, Hawaii! Wow, did I luck out!)

During the school, I learned how to design a web site with Microsoft Frontpage--including how to make it compliant with standards for people with disabilities. I have added those features to this portfolio site. (Each photograph or graphic has a text-based description added to it so that visually impaired persons can have the computer "read" the image to them.) In addition, I prepared a PowerPoint presentation that I was required to present to my flotilla once I returned home.

I am working on my FrontPage web site. After successfully completing the course requirements, I received this certificate.

The skills in web design that I learned from the iSchool in LIS 541, augmented with learning how to use Frontpage, enabled me to design this portfolio site. Both learning experiences have proven tremendously valuable to me.

The top two tiers in my learning pyramid remain: leadership and service. Next, we can take a look at leadership.

Growth | Technical Skills | Teaching | Leadership | Service | Goals