July 24-29, 2016. Providence, RI. The Summer Institute in Digital Literacy hosted over 150 participants at the University of Rhode Island’s Providence Campus for Continuing Education for a week of learning, creating, collaborating, and camaraderie. Media Smart Libraries cohort members who completed the digital badge program, were funded by the grant to attend. These library leaders included James Barrett, Kristin Almeida, David Fontaine, Lee-Ann Galli, Carrie Kelly, Karen McHenry, Marianne Mirando, Sue Rose, and Christopher Zanghi. Grant Coordinator Mary Moen and graduate assistants Allison Barker and Alyssa Taft were also in attendance.
The week kicked off with a Sunday evening happy hour event at Bravo in Providence where participants met their peers and conference coordinators. Each day of the conference was a combination of team-building activities, keynotes, and workshops. Some favorites included Renee Hobbs’ Digital Authorship Keynote, Chris Lehman’s Innovation Education Keynote, and Troy Hicks’ various presentations on digital reading and writing.
Media Smart Librarians grant coordinator Mary Moen presented, along with graduate assistants Allison Barker and Alyssa Taft, at a breakout session titled “Maker Mindset: The Art of Letting Go.” This workshop addressed the Maker Movement as a playful disposition not constrained by physical spaces or activities and hoped to inspire educators to embrace the unfamiliar.
Built into the schedule was time for participants to pair up and work on a digital literacy project which culminated in a Friday showcase. These projects were varied in their topics, scopes, and audiences, but the work accomplished in a week’s time was not only impressive but indicative of the collaborative and innovative nature of the institute itself. This showcase was a fan favorite among participants.
The Summer Institute in Digital Literacy is an annual event and Media Smart Libraries encourages all educators and librarians to participate in next summer’s institute. For more information, keep an eye on the Media Education Lab’s website.