Informed learning in action

Tivoli Student Center, Auraria Campus (originally a brewery)

Amazing that I've been here over 3 weeks already. In some ways the time seems to have flown by, though in others it seems much longer as so much is happening. But all good! Lots of meeting people, planning and preparation for Denver-based activities, arranging visits and travel to other universities, and now teaching. People on campus and around town are friendly and I'm working with interesting people of greatly varying backgrounds and professional responsibilities.


Last week saw the first week of semester and start of the academic year. It was exciting to see the campus come to life. The library is now jumping as it serves 40,000 odd students who are spread across the 3 HE institutions on the Auraria campus. Last Friday I had my first class with new (freshmen) students taking the course (unit) Learning in the 21st Century. I’m co-teaching with Dr Carole Basile and An Nguyen, a 5th year student peer advisor. Lots of fun as we’re on the same wavelength and the students are responsive. The course really supports informed learning, which we’re discussing and modelling explicitly with the students. Among other things, the students will create a map (any format) of their informed learning journey through the course and develop an ‘informed learning chest’ (any format) to gather their information and reflections throughout the course. Be interesting to see how this journey unfolds for all of us.

Meanwhile, the librarians are progressing well information literacy initiatives drawing on informed learning principles. They have decided to convene an Informed Learning Circle of key stakeholders and will also hold regular Chocolate and Conversations for informal discussion based around selected readings. (If nothing else, it seems like we’ve started a healthy Coffee and Chocolate tradition, Christine!) On Weds this week I attended the Library’s Open Forum, where speakers from Technical and IT Services helped me develop greater understanding the library’s complex operations - rather nice to re-tend my info professional roots! It was also an opportunity to offer further explanation to the library personnel about my FB program and intended outcomes. And not forgetting some enjoyable informal interaction at the Library’s End of Summer Pot Luck lunch last Friday. Further confirmation that librarians the world over are good at food.

For the first two weeks it was pretty hot, 92-96 degrees F, but a dry heat and more bearable than Brisbane's humidity. Fall now seems to be on its way. The last few days have been cooler, the mornings are getting a little darker and the trees are starting to show hints of brown. I'm told that in about 6 weeks we'll have first snow of winter.

I’ve continued to explore Denver with Denver and also on foot. There are spectacular views of the mountains, with patches of snow on the high peaks. Denver has an appealing mix of contemporary and historic buildings, wide streets, stiking and entertaining public art, tree-lined streets and everywhere very clean. Generally there’s a prosperous feel about the place, although I’ve noticed a distressingly high number of homeless people holding cardboard signs on street corners. Spanish is spoken almost as much as English around Denver.

By walking around the neighborhood and eating lots of wonderful fresh vegies I'm getting fitter and losing weight (an unexpected bonus of the residency!) However, the weight loss may take a turn as I‘ve just discovered the delight of Einstein Bros bagels! There’s one Einsteins rather too conveniently located on campus.

It’s been great keeping in close contact with the family via email and ventrillo. Fortunately all seems well at home, even though Stoke City are not yet performing up to potential this season. Go the mighty Potters!

St Cajetan's, Auraria Campus,
former parish church of the (now dispersed) Hispanic community