I'm really looking forward to this semester at school. I'm taking two classes, Research Methods which is a physical class and Information Behavior which is completely online. I started off a little disorganized for the Info Behavior class because I was in Vegas when everything was posted online. Once I got things together I realized I can probably use the same research in both classes this semester. My Info Behavior project has to be done with a partner though, which is alright, I might have to tailor the research to suit their interests too.
Last night I realized that I have a short paper due soon though for Info Behavior. She's calling it an "interaction diary" where I have to record an "information-seeking experience" and write about 8-9 pages about it. I've started taking notes on my Toronto trip, traveling to a new place seems like a good comparison and something interesting to write about. I believe I could probably get about 8 pages on the Detroit-Windsor Bridge alone! Another possible experience to write about is how using something like GPS technology changes the way we move around and find things within an area. I realized when the GPS gave us a different route than I wanted to go that our familiarity with an area can change our decision to rely on the technology or not. We also have less of a dependency on printed maps, or printing directions before we leave. I have also used the GPS to find places to eat or stop for gas along the way, instead of relying on road signs or researching locations before we go.
Information Behavior is a pretty interesting class so far and it's within my specialization too. I enjoy my library classes as well, but I usually enjoy my Information Management classes a bit more. I keep going back and forth about whether I want to continue to work in libraries, if I do I certainly don't want to be in public service anymore. I think that's a general consensus between most of those in IS in the program right now. We all enjoy libraries but none of us want to be reference librarians. That's ok I suppose, there's still plenty of people out there that do.
