Digital Commons Network^™

Selection Of Spring And Fall 2024 Master’S Project Posters, Stacy L. Creel, Ph.D.

SLIS Connecting

Students are required to create academic research posters on their capstone research project and present them in class. The following selection of the Master’s Project Capstone Posters are from LIS 695 in the Spring 2024 and Fall 2024.

Interview With Cyndee Landrum: Usm Slis Graduate And Acting Director Imls, Gabriel Morley, E.D.

SLIS Connecting

Cyndee Landrum, a 2006 graduate of the School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) at The University of Southern Mississippi was named acting director of the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), an independent federal agency charged with supporting and empowering the country’s libraries. Dr. Morley interviewed her history and her perception of the future.

Website Accessibility In Mississippi Public Libraries, Jennifer Vance, Mlis

SLIS Connecting

The Americans With Disabilities Act was signed into law in 1990, significantly increasing the disabled community’s access to public life. Since then, life has branched out into digital and physical spaces. With this shift came the need to integrate accessibility considerations into web design, in the same way an architect would consider accessibility when drawing up plans for a new building. However, while buildings are usually designed by professionals, websites are often not. Libraries are no exception, as many may not have dedicated staff to design and maintain a website. In cases where they do have dedicated staff, they may …

Teen Programming On Virginia Public Library Websites, Melissa Howley, Mlis

SLIS Connecting

communities they serve. As such, teen programs offer an assorted range of experiences tailored to the interests and needs of the local teen population. The state of Virginia, with a diverse geographical landscape, presents a unique case study from which teen programming can be examined. This study examined teen programming in public libraries across six different public library regions, as recognized by the Virginia Library Association (VLA) (The Library of Virginia [LVA], n.d.). Exploring these regional variations revealed valuable insights into how public libraries effectively adapt teen services as well as how these services can be enhanced to empower teens …

Internet Archive Website: Pulp Fiction Mystery Collection Analysis, Ramona Elder, Mlis

SLIS Connecting

Detective magazines were a source of entertainment and fascination for the working-class readers of the early 20th century (Smith, 2000). Their illustrated covers drawn by pulp artists, such as Dalton Stevens and Jerome Rozen, were made to be attractive. Caronia (2019) tells how weekly periodicals continued to circulate as the rise of detective stories grew in popularity before the first detective magazines were printed and published. It was the American writer Edgar Allen Poe who is credited with having written the first detective story when he published The Murders of the Rue Morgue in Graham’s Magazine in April 1841 giving …

Lgbtq+ Content In The Ala Top Most Challenged Books, Kaelynn Edmondson, Mlis

SLIS Connecting

2,571 titles were challenged in 2022, double what was recorded in 2021, but it was noted that 45.5 percent of all those titles were LGBTQ+ books (Perfas, 2022). The rise in challenges and the fact that almost half the books contained LGBTQ+ topics indicates that, within recent years, there has been a shift in the type of content and the speed at which challenges are happening in the United States. Books like Obie is Enough by Schuyler Bailar are banned in states that do not allow books that discuss gender identity, and in turn, these books cannot reach the audiences …

Graphic Novel Censorship, Tiffany Buono, Mlis

SLIS Connecting

Graphic novels have been growing in popularity and demand since they were first introduced as a format in 1978 by Will Eisner with his publication of A Contract with God (“Will Eisner”, n.d.). Graphic novels (GN) are a format of writing and illustration that spans fiction and non-fiction genres with many classic works being adapted into the format to encourage more young adult engagement. Yet, many libraries nationwide, including school and public libraries, lack a strong graphic novel collection. The American Library Association (ALA) is a national authority on issues related to intellectual freedom including the increase of challenges and …

Historical Use Of Libraries In Inpatient Psychiatric Treatment In The United Kingdom, Jessica Buckey, Mlis

SLIS Connecting

In the 19th and 20th centuries, libraries were a common amenity in psychiatric hospitals, particularly private ones. This paper sheds new light on the history of these libraries in inpatient psychiatric treatment centers. The prevailing medical philosophy held that occupation and moderate intellectual stimulation were important for recovery, a mode of thought culminating in the 20th century bibliotherapy movement. This is not a clinical study, and it assumes no stance on the therapeutic value of reading. Instead, it is a historical study of libraries in inpatient psychiatric centers: how these libraries were curated; how patient libraries, throughout their history, responded …

Mental Health And Well-Being In Academic Libraries: A Bibliometric Survey Of Scholarly Publications, 1994-2024, Rebecca Arthur, Mlis

SLIS Connecting

Academic libraries are crucial pieces of the higher education system; national accreditation standards for colleges and universities require the existence of accessible library collections and knowledgeable, trained staff. Traditionally, the academic collections, both physical and digital, of these libraries have been their focal point, and the importance of the academic library on campus has been derived from its ability to provide instructional materials and support to students, faculty, and staff. However, the educational paradigm of academic librarianship has shifted as higher education has evolved throughout the twentieth century. Previously long-established pedagogies have become insufficient in the face of changing technologies …

From The Gas: Publications, Congratulations, And Presentations, Stacy L. Creel, Ph.D., Teresa S. Welsh, Ph.D.

SLIS Connecting

Includes book reviews by the graduate assistants for Gigi Shin Is Not a Nerd, Wild Dreamers, and The Blonde Dies First. Highlights what SLIS faculty are reading, alumni updates, faculty publications and presentations, and student congratulations.

Beyond Fear: Opportunities And Positive Use Of Ict Among Children And Adolescents, Mariana Buenestado-Fernández, Rosa García-Ruiz, Estefanía Jiménez-Iglesias, Rosario Barba-González

Journal of Media Literacy Education

This study aimed to understand the advantages of digital connectivity in children and teenagers up to 18 years. Utilizing the PRISMA protocol, a decade’s worth of literature was reviewed, analyzing 128 articles from WOS and Scopus databases. The research highlighted five key areas where digital connectivity can exert a positive impact on children: 1) Entertainment, information, and communication; 2) Emotional and social development; 3) Healthy lifestyle; 4) Citizen participation; and 5) education. Recent trends show a rise in studies related to education and training, mainly employing qualitative methods, and predominantly focusing on European adolescents (12 to 18). The research’s goal …

“I Had Not Really Considered This At All”: Preservice Teachers Critique Media Creators Using Five Key Questions, Johnny Allred, Lauren Mcclanahan

Journal of Media Literacy Education

We have a responsibility, now more than ever, to develop media literacy skills and to help the younger generation develop them as well. This essay tells the story of how two teacher educators invited their preservice teachers to use the Center for Media Literacy’s (2009) Five Key Questions to critically analyze and reflect on the media and messages they interact with on a regular basis. The authors suggest that classroom activities like this can help future teachers—and, in turn, their young students—develop habits of mind to become more critical consumers of digital media.

Media Literacy, Trust In Government And Vaccine Readiness: A Study Among Vietnam’S Youngsters, Van T. Vu

Journal of Media Literacy Education

This study examines the correlation between youngsters’ media literacy and their trust in government, support for anti-pandemic regulations, and vaccine readiness during the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam. The findings show a statistically significant positive correlation between youngsters’ media literacy and their trust in government, support for anti-pandemic regulations, and vaccine readiness. The more media literacy youngsters have, the more likely they trust the government, comply with anti-pandemic regulations, and take the COVID-19 vaccines. The findings emphasize the importance of media literacy and media literacy education as the core solution to construct a media-literate society, in which youngsters use media for …

Exploring Critical Thinking Of Smartphone Use From Elementary School Students In Kosovo, Muhamet Jahiri, Gëzim Qerimi, Dren Gërguri

Journal of Media Literacy Education

This study examined smartphone usage behaviours of elementary school students and media literacy. Data were gathered from a survey with a sample of 450 students from different schools in seven main regions of Kosovo, aged 10-15. There is no difference between males and females in smartphone access, while there is a slight difference between them in time spent using smartphones. This research clearly shows that elementary school students’ smartphone use is very high, but on the other side, it is not reflected at all in the school curriculum. There is a low level of getting advice from parents and a …

Vulnerability Profiles And Educational Demands Of Spanish University Students In The Face Of Fake News, M. Esther Del Moral Pérez, Jonathan Castañeda Fernández, Nerea López-Bouzas, M. Carmen Bellver Moreno

Journal of Media Literacy Education

This study is part of the Surfing the Waves of Fake News (SURFake) project, involving 543 Spanish university students. Its purpose is to understand the variables related to potentially risky practices students engage in on social media and their educational shortcomings. An opinion questionnaire was used to establish levels of vulnerability to fake news. The results show that the most vulnerable are the youngest and those who spend more time exposed to social media, limit themselves to consuming content, read their news superficially, and lack specific education or training. Respondents who are aware of their limitations request training to recognize …

“That’S Plagiarism!”: The ‘Filmed Vs. Found Footage’ Continuum In A Pedagogical Video Composition Teacher Professional Development Program, Nathan Smith Jones

Journal of Media Literacy Education

This paper describes a qualitative case study conducted in the Intermountain Western United States during the Fall of 2020. Though a few years old, the study remains relevant due to its esoteric subject within research on media production professional development education. Study’s purpose was to explore the processes and participants of an independent, pedagogical video composition (PVC––a.k.a. educational filmmaking) teacher professional development (PD) program. The primary sources of data were interviews of staff of the PD program and teacher graduates of the PD program. This paper focuses on a conclusion from the study: an alarming discrepancy between the attitudes of …

Ela And Social Studies Teachers’ Perspectives On The Importance Of Media Literacy For Student Learning, Hillary Gould, Sam Von Gillern, Matthew Korona, Alicia Haywood

Journal of Media Literacy Education

In this study, researchers aimed to develop an understanding of how English Language Arts and social studies teachers of middle- and high-school students perceive the value of media literacy skills and competencies for their students. The research team reviewed how these teachers rated various media literacy skills utilizing a set of 15 media literacy strategies categorized into three constructs, authors and audiences, messages and meaning, and representations and reality, in a survey demonstrating their perspectives on aspects of media literacy and their importance for student learning. The 860 teachers overwhelmingly recognize the importance of media literacy competencies for their students. …

How To Design An Effective Mooc To Promote Media Literacy: A Study Based On The Educational Design Research Approach, Lílian Tropiano, Pedro Reis

Journal of Media Literacy Education

The research aims to establish a conceptual framework to design a MOOC to promote media literacy in the context of information disorder. Information disorder is a phenomenon that mainly occurs from the large flow of false or incorrect content posted on the internet. Promoting media literacy is a way of helping citizens to face the challenges of disinformation processes. The educational design research involves the development of a MOOC prototype based on the literature review and improvement through successive iterations with groups of experts and MOOC participants. The first stage of investigation is the literature review for the development of …

Subvertising In The Classroom: A Comparative Study On Fostering Critical Media Literacy, Inés Leal-Rico

Journal of Media Literacy Education

Subvertising, traditionally linked to counterculture and anti-consumption, is utilized in education to reveal the manipulative strategies of corporate messaging to students. Classroom use of cut-and-paste methods deconstructs advertisement messages, fostering an understanding of how needs and desires are constructed through appropriation, incorporation, and transformation tactics. This research aims to comprehend fully the implementation and impact of subvertising workshops in educational settings by analyzing six scholarly articles on applied workshops. The data, sourced from a previous scoping review on subvertising, enabled a comprehensive evaluation of methodologies and effective techniques. The study compares these cases to the ten key steps proposed by …

Children Negotiating Meanings In Kidfluencers’ Channels, Patricia Digón-Regueiro, Concepción Sánchez-Blanco

Journal of Media Literacy Education

YouTube is a commercialised digital environment that provides profitable opportunities for content creators. Children’s channels have proliferated in recent years on this platform. Children YouTubers become kidfluencers when they reach an important number of subscriptions and brands start to show interest in their channels. Following a qualitative methodology with focus groups, in which 263 primary education pupils participated, we examined these pupils’ use of social media and their relationships with the influencers followed, together with their media literacy skills and negotiation of meanings upon watching a Spanish kidfluencer’s channel. Pupils were encouraged to express and communicate their experiences, thoughts, feelings …

Attack On Titan Anime Memes: Possible Meanings And Interpretations By Young Adults., Yee-Lin Teo, Sze Seau Lee, Xin Jie Lim

Journal of Media Literacy Education

Memes have unpredictable and diverse interpretations because of their tendencies to be parodies, remixes, or mashups. This study aims to examine the possible meanings which memes may express and the interpretations of memes by young adults within the affinity space of Attack on Titan anime memes. The two-phase methodology involves analysing the memes using Shifman’s analytical dimensions of content, form, and stance, before conducting in-depth interviews with ten young adults who represent insiders and outsiders of the affinity space. The findings discuss how Attack on Titan memes normalise sexualisation, violence, and struggles such as suicidal intentions in young adults. The …

Educative Leadership Of Curriculum Development Reconceptualized As Leadership Of Personal, Group, Institutional And System Learning, Reynold Js Macpherson

Journal of Curriculum, Teaching, Learning and Leadership in Education

This paper reconceptualizes educative leadership as leadership of learning, integrating advancements in curriculum development, epistemological diversity, and ethical imperatives within a holistic pragmatic framework.

Leadership of learning positions leaders as facilitators of dynamic educational ecosystems that align curriculum goals with pluralistic epistemologies, practical solutions, and contextual relevance. Recent curriculum trends—such as personalized learning, competency-based education, cultural responsiveness, and socio-emotional learning—reflect an embrace of constructivist and critical approaches, emphasizing inclusivity and adaptability.

Holistic pragmatism strengthens these developments, advocating for curriculum designs that are theoretically sound and practically relevant, fostering co-construction of knowledge through active engagement.

Organizational development (OD) theory enriches this …

“I Endeavored To Give A Pen And Ink Panorama Of The War As I Saw It”: Lieutenant E.W.B. Morrison In The South African War, Tim Cook, Hanna Murray

Canadian Military History

Employing eyewitness accounts to explore the experiences of Edward Whipple Bancroft Morrison, this article examines his wartime service in the South African War (1899-1902). A prominent journalist and later major-general in the Great War, Morrison served in South Africa as an artillery officer with D Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery. This article contextualises several of Morrison’s rare sketches from the collection of the Canadian War Museum, shedding new light on his service and that of Canadians in the long campaign.

Usant de témoignages pour explorer l’expérience d’Edward Whipple Bancroft Morrison, cet article se penche sur ses années de service militaire pendant …

Telling The Stories Of Airwomen In The ‘Forgotten Decade’: 1952-62, Rebecca Hartley, Allan English

Canadian Military History

The Royal Canadian Air Force’s centennial represents a time for reflection. While thousands of young women served in the RCAF during the 1950s, many of their stories have since been overlooked or forgotten. Joining the air force meant access to international travel, new social connections, and valuable vocational training — all of which were relatively unattainable for many women at this time. By studying the photographs, memoirs and collected paraphernalia of Leading Aircraftwoman Ruth Doreen Wright (née Tower), this paper reconstructs an airwoman’s typical RCAF career and her perceived value of her RCAF experience on the rest of her life.

Student Perceptions Of Campus-Integrated Therapy Dogs: Best Practices And Impact On Well-Being And Campus Belonging, Laura Poleshuck, Olivia Griffin, Caroline Winiecki

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

College/university students are revealing concerning levels of anxiety and depression, as well as extremely high levels of loneliness, which interfere with their success in higher education (ACHA, 2022). A plethora of research has demonstrated that animal-assisted intervention (AAI) provided through interaction with trained therapy dogs has a positive effect on student well-being (e.g., Crossman et al., 2015; Grajfoner et al., 2017; Ward-Griffin et al., 2018). The InterProfessional Animal-assisted Wellness (IPAW) Collaborative, a campus-integrated therapy dog program with postsecondary students on a university campus, is a novel approach to AAI. The campus-integrated therapy dog program described in this study incorporates Pet …

Full Issue - Excelsior, V17-1

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

No abstract provided.

Playful Learning In Higher Education To Inspire Playful Learning In P-12 Classrooms, Norline Wild

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

Playful learning has immense potential and relevance across all educational levels, from early childhood to university settings. However, play is often dismissed as an activity reserved only for young children and is ignored in higher education The purpose of this practitioner article is to share instructional strategies and insights in order to demonstrate the immense potential of play at the university level. The goal is not only to inspire teacher educators to be critical thinkers and to creatively interweave playful learning into their pedagogy but to provide concrete examples through modeling of how this can be done. Initially, a dedicated …

Invent A Kid Project: Fostering Creative Reflective Practice In Teacher Candidates, Karen Poland, Mary Ellen Bardsley, Paul Vermette

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

A primary goal of teacher education programs is to equip teacher candidates with the necessary skills to navigate the social and cultural realities and complexities of the classroom while seamlessly integrating theory and practice. As our classrooms become more socially, economically, and culturally diverse it is important for teachers to evolve into developmentally and culturally responsive individuals who can incorporate a variety of teaching strategies to meet the unique needs of each student. However, novice teachers often face challenges in meeting the individual needs of students due to their lack of experience, classroom management challenges, time constraints, the complexity of …

Front Matter And Letters From President And Editors

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

No abstract provided.

There Is Real Life Here: Centering The Body In Teaching And Learning, Ryan Ambuter

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

Bodies have everything to do with teaching and learning, yet are often overlooked or diminished as sites of meaning-making in educational contexts. The goal of this article is to foreground the body in teaching and learning, and identify the transformative potential that embodied pedagogy opens up. Rooted in intersectional critical theory and frameworks, this article explores the importance of centering bodies in education, contextualizes the invisibility and silencing of bodies in education historically and today, and identifies the possibilities that a focus on bodies in education can offer. Action steps that teachers and teacher educators can apply to their practice …