Laffey Taffy

Conversation with a Skeptic One of my closest friends, Katelyn, hates personality tests. Astrology predictions and Buzzfeed quizzes too. “Why do you hate them so much?” I asked. “They’re just fun ways to learn about yourself, right?” “Yes, that’s what they’re supposed to be for, but they’re flawed enough so that people get the results they want no matter what choices they pick. These tests only include positive traits, and the prompts are obvious enough so that people choose the “right” answers for themselves even if they’re incorrect. Two completely different people, let’s say one is good and the other not so much, could take the same test and both say at the end result ‘Oh my gosh, I am a caring friend!’ when for one of them that isn’t true. “What people need to remember is that most of these tests are meant to reinforce what people already know about themselves, and that there are very few personality tests that reveal faults or ways to improve.” I know, she’s really smart. How Acc...

At some point in our lives, we've all been on the receiving end of a class or conference lecture that threatens to put us to sleep. You can hear it now, can't you? The drone of the teacher's monotone voice, the clicks of endless PowerPoint slides with only black text on them, and the stark blank walls all conspiring against you. For most of history , this was how teaching was conducted: information was presented to the students in a uniform way of instructor and receiver. However, as time went on and as education expanded and developed to encompass more people, ideas, technologies, and fields of knowledge, it became evident that simple lectures were not enough to effectively engage students. Enter Active Learning, a new concept developed in the last few years, which allows students to do more than simply sit and receive information, instead enabling them to collaborate with their peers and engage with the material on a deeper level. Instead of focusing on the content being ...

Gen Z and Technology   Growing up in generation Z means that I am fluent in digital technology, have never been confused by its processes, which come naturally to me, and always turn to it for social and emotional support. Or so everyone is inclined to believe. The truth? I'm not as digitally competent as others may think. If there's something wrong with your phone, the only advice I've got before sending you to the Apple Store is to restart it. Once, I spent about ten minutes looking for the "Next Step" page trying to fill out an application form, and I usually need my dad's help when I'm transferring my photos from my computer to my phone. Image Source: Investopedia That being said, I do spend more time than those older than me using the Internet as a way to connect with people, conduct more in-depth research on historical figures, and check at least three movie review sites before committing to theater tickets. But I also do quick searches for words I d...

When most people hear the word "final assessment," research papers and cumulative tests are often the main types of assignments to come to mind. Large projects or finals often serve as a tangible outcome of learning for students to showcase their knowledge. But are traditional papers and formal exams the best way to measure student success? Recent research says no, there are better, more engaging and inclusive ways to foster student learning by allowing for "both student and teacher creativity — and how technology can empower it" (Krueger 2023). Creativity and innovative learning is one such educational trend that has emerged since the COVID-19 pandemic due to the heightened reliance on technology, and a more inclusive way to assess student learning. Think about your own experience as a student: did you perform well in a test-taking environment? Were research papers easy to craft and write? How did your teachers grade your respective work? In my personal experience,...

 Think about your grade school classroom. The type of desks you sat in and how they were arranged, what school supplies you had, and what creative projects were assigned. Did your teacher write on a white board, a blackboard, or a SMART board? Image Source: Wikimedia Commons In the last five years alone, the education landscape has changed drastically, with technology having a far greater emphasis and impact on learning and instruction. As educational technology rapidly develops, educators are required to adapt alongside their new digital resources, but often without sufficient training or experience. I remember most of my teachers struggling to play educational videos, constantly troubleshooting connectivity issues, or having to restart the SMART board, computer, or projector and start over. Administration often makes executive decisions to invest in "new and improved" technology, but fails to properly instruct their teachers on how to effectively use said tech. As a result,...

 Hi folks, My name is Mary Laffey (she/her/hers) and I'm an aspiring librarian currently working at Dominican's Rebecca Crown Library as well as the College of DuPage (and yes I do love Laffy Taffy's). My two current positions are both wonderful, but I'm hoping to land a full-time gig as an instructional librarian at a community college. I grew up with two younger siblings, both of whom simultaneously drive me insane and make my life better, and parents who were teachers and avid readers. As a lifelong learner and a bibliophile myself, I'm excited to learn about new ways to use technology to positively impact other learners, and hopefully feel confident in the ever-changing reality of its nature. Pinterest: Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse Like Spidey, I plan on learning from others as much as I can, especially when it comes to reexamining personal biases, cultivating cultural competency, and effectively implementing technology in the classroom. For some time, naviga...