Being Critical About Being Remote — 2021

Being Critical About Being Remote:
A Workshop and Conversation

Workshop | Monday, May 17, 2021 | 1:30pm – 2:30pm EST

In this workshop, two librarians from Pace University will discuss how their team pivoted to remote learning in Spring 2020 and collaborated to engage students in this new environment. We’ll discuss the challenges that we faced when we first changed modalities (i.e. moving from in person one-shots to synchronous and asynchronous online classes and tutorials), and where we were successful in our teaching pedagogies and praxis (using tools like Padlet and Libwizard; collaborating with other librarians to create engaging content and not just online-triage for basic database demonstrations) – and also how we weren’t successful. This workshop invites participants to learn more about how we developed our tools and critical pedagogy, share their remote learning successes, and to reflect on how theory and praxis can work together to create a more enhanced student centered learning environment.

Presenters: Jessica Kiebler & Gina Levitan

Headshot of Jessica Kiebler inside the Library of Congress in the background

Jessica Kiebler (she/her/hers) is an Instructional Services Librarian at Pace University where she teaches students about the library, the ways we engage with information in our world and how to use research skills to build knowledge. In previous lives, she has worked in project management, public libraries and elementary education which all bring another aspect of information to her work with students in the classroom. Her research interests include disinformation culture and the media landscape, library outreach and expanding information literacy methodologies.

Headshot of Gina Levitan

Gina Levitan is currently the First Year Outreach Services Librarian at Pace University. Her work primarily focuses on critical library instruction and student outreach. Her research interests include critical pedagogy, student engagement in library instruction, and critical information literacy. Gina completed an MA in Humanities and Social Thought at New York University, an MLIS at Long Island University, and a BA in Critical Theory and Media Studies at Hampshire College.