Checking in

A new year calls for a quick update! Since I last posted:

  • I became a graduate student in George Mason University‘s College of Education and Human Development. I am pursuing a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Assistive Technology. In the fall, I took Introduction to Assistive Technology, Assistive Technology for Individuals with Sensory Impairments, and Software and Mobile Applications for Individuals with Disabilities; this semester, I’m enrolled in Augmentative Communication, Assistive Technology Assessment, and Universal Design for Learning. Being a full-time student while working full-time is incredibly challenging, but I’m thrilled that Mason’s well-regarded AT program is offered 100% online, allowing me to earn my degree while continuing my work at UA.
  • My first book chapter was published! I was thrilled to contribute “LibGuides: Creating Accessible User Experiences” to Integrating LibGuides into Library Websites.
  • I joined the expert panels for the NMC Horizon Report > 2017 Higher Education Edition and the NMC Horizon Report > 2017 Library Edition. The NMC Horizon Project “charts the landscape of emerging technologies for teaching, learning, and creative inquiry,” and I’ve greatly enjoyed contributing to two publications so valuable to my work and the work of my colleagues.
  • Speaking of the Horizon Report, I’m looking forward to presenting on the 2017 Library Edition at the ACRL 2017 Conference. Melissa Mallon (Vanderbilt), Rachel Thompson (UA), and I will present a panel session examining, through the lens of accessibility, the important developments in technology presented in the report: how they are expected to transform teaching and learning and their potential to enhance and diminish accessibility and learning for students with disabilities.
  • Last, but certainly not least, I have moved to the Libraries’ Gorgas Information Services department. While we’re still working out the details, for now, I’m continuing to offer instructional support for academic technologies while taking on some additional reference and instruction responsibilities. GIS is familiar territory, as I previously worked as a Research & Instructional Services Librarian in the department.

That’s all for now! For more regular updates, you can follow me on Twitter.