Document Type
Presentation
Date of Original Version
5-21-2026
Abstract
Reflective teaching as a community of practice can offer critical support in honing both teacher-librarian identity and classroom management skills. In this session, we will outline how university librarians and MLIS students collaborated to develop a community of practice around reflective teaching. Attendees will hear firsthand from MLIS students about how participating in this community of practice shaped their development and confidence as emerging instructors. Our practice included pre- and post-semester reflections, structured goal setting, regular reflection on one-shot instruction, and periodic cohort meetings to share how reflection shapes future practice. We aimed to create a non-hierarchical approach to reflection that allowed both supervisors and graduate students to be vulnerable together as we openly shared challenges, mistakes, and questions about our teaching experiences. Our iterative reflection encouraged us to articulate teaching strengths and weaknesses and progress toward becoming more effective, intentional instructors.
Recommended Citation
Crego-Emley, Amanda; Vaandering, Alicia G.; Allbee, Mary; Hobin, Lily; and Olson, Hannah E., "Growing Together: Building Communities of Practice for MLIS Students and Librarian Instructors" (2026). Public Services Faculty Presentations. Paper 33.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/lib_ps_presentations/33