LIS Education in a Fully Online World: How to Encourage Students’ Participation in Student Organizations?

Li, Xiaofeng; Ha, YooJin; Aristeguieta-Trillos, Simon

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Description

Title

LIS Education in a Fully Online World: How to Encourage Students’ Participation in Student Organizations?

Author(s)

• Li, Xiaofeng
• Ha, YooJin
• Aristeguieta-Trillos, Simon

Issue Date

2020-10-13

Keyword(s)

• LIS education
• Student governance

Abstract

In today’s interconnected world, fully online LIS programs provide students great flexibility to pursue a master’s degree in library and information science while maintaining other work and family responsibilities. Even though these fully online students have the opportunities to initiate and/or join various student organizations such as ALA student chapters, it is challenging for students and faculty to manage and promote students’ activities in these organizations because current student organizations follow a model established in colleges and universities with large physical presence on campus. However, successful student organizations can help fully online students create a sense of community and belonging. These student organizations can also foster students to build professional connections in library communities. Recognizing the value of student organizations, this study seeks to explore what organizations and activities are offered to fully online students in ALA-accredited master’s programs in Library and Information Studies. We explore the following research questions: 1) what kinds of student organizations and activities are available among students who take fully online LIS programs? 2) in what ways are these student organizations and activities carried out? 3) what are the enablers and challenges in running student organizations and activities? 4) how are the student organizations and activities addressing the challenges of responding to a diverse student population? 6) what role is expected of faculty in facilitating student activities and organizations? This exploratory study examines the website of each ALA-accredited master’s program to identify information about student organizations. The findings of this study will have practical implications for LIS educators and students.

Series/Report Name or Number

• Students
• Continuing Education
• Education Programs/Schools

Type of Resource

text

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