Jaci Wilkinson

Bio: Jaci Wilkinson is an academic researcher from Indiana University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Lifelong learning & Column (database). The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 3 publications receiving 6 citations.

Bridging the Digital and the Physical User Experience: Analysis of Academic Library Floor Plans

Abstract: In library user experience (UX) literature, physical and digital spaces are often studied separately In academic libraries, different stakeholders often control and operate the logistics of each s

Digital Literacy Skills for Family History Research

Abstract: Objective – In this case study, an archivist and librarian teamed up to teach an introductory course on family history research for adult learners at their university’s lifelong learning centre. In response to students’ relative lack of digital skills, the instructors developed a new set of introductory skills that they believe are essential for genealogy research.Methods – Authors conducted pre- and post-course surveys to determine student expectations and the extent to which the course met those expectations. Authors coded one of these surveys.Results – Course assessment and class activities exposed the need for a set of digital skills that go beyond a literacy framework to assist family history researchers. After analyzing key themes found in pre- and post-course assessment, authors developed a new tool for genealogy instructors titled Introductory Digital Skills and Practices in Genealogy (IDSG).Conclusion – Archivist/librarian collaborations are an excellent way to cultivate needs-based teaching and outreach opportunities in our wider communities, particularly for adult learners. The Introductory Digital Skills and Practices in Genealogy tool is meant to inspire and assist other library professionals who want to teach family history research, serving as a reminder to centre teaching tangible digital skills as a focal point of instruction.

When to Build an FAQ: A Case Study

Abstract: Column description. The Technology column examines current and developing technology topics in libraries. The column?s focus is creative uses of technology, introductions to new technologies, and c...

It’s Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens

Abstract: aimed to attract a more diverse audience of gamers and non-gamers – and to bring video games off the screen and into the living room. While not all games are well suited for multiplayer play – ‘It’s hard to avoid getting in each other’s way and impeding rather than advancing game progress’ (p. 133) – most games are intended to be played while in the room with other people. ‘The Wii is just the latest attempt by Nintendo to bring a version of this kind of social gaming into the living room, closer to arcade parties and karaoke than to, say, bouts of online multiplayer military simulations’ (p. 142). Jones and Thiruvathukal’s book is as much a user’s manual for the potential of the Nintendo Wii as it is an academic and technical deconstruction of the console as a computing platform. Their joint approach to considering the topic works well, but it isn’t until the very end of the book that Jones’ cultural contextual approach really shines. In the final six pages of the sixth chapter (pp. 143–148), the authors consider the paratext of the Wii, as well as the diegetic and nondiegetic elements of video games – and the various layers of the platform and the games, interactions and activities it supports. ‘This social layer of a video game platform is an essential part of what the system means, because it’s the environment in which the platform gets used’ (p. 148). Much of the existing literature on Nintendo – such as Osamu Inoue’s (2010) Nintendo Magic: Winning the Videogame Wars and Jeff Ryan’s (2011) Super Mario: How Nintendo Conquered America – concentrates on the company’s success as a business. The more technical literature to date focuses on the use of the Wii Balance Board, another controller for the platform, in healthcare and therapeutic settings. This text sits comfortably in the middle, Wiimote and Nunchuk controllers in hand, making a valuable contribution to the study of the Nintendo Wii and how technology and culture work together.

An introduction to map design

Abstract: Text is a cartographic incongruity. Lettering and labelling a map can be seen as an untidy, destructive, yet often necessary, additional method of communication. Cartographic labelling is map lettering using attributes of, or data associated with, a given geospatial feature, for example its name or a numerical value. From a technical perspective, lettering and labelling combine to form the rules that govern how an item of text, such as a label, will appear. Existing published maps offer a way of learning which typefaces suit different map types, but it is good practice to test a shortlist of options to see which works best and to check for any undesirable glyphs. Colour can be used as a more subtle variable to size when emphasizing features and creating a visual hierarchy in the map labelling. The placed lettering or labels can be associated to point, line or polygon features, each offering different opportunities for conveying information via the placement of their labels.