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ARLD Day @ the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum - Keynote
April 25, 2008 01:26 PM | Professional OrganizationsMichael Scott, Assistant Director
The Academic and Research Libraries Division of the Minnesota Library Association held their one-day meeting on Friday, April 25, 2008 at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chanhassen. The theme of the day was "Riding the Swell: Effectively Reaching our Students."
The keynote presentation was entitled "Why Do they Act that Way" and the speaker was Erin Walsh from the National Institute on Media and the Family. Her presentation discussed the brain development of the under-25 year old students, their media-use habits, and how these factors impact the services that academic and research libraries provide and shape the interactions between these students and the libraries. Erin's father, Dr. David Walsh, found the Institute nearly 12 years ago.
Erin's excellent presentation really helped highlight the challenges that parents and librarians face with the current generation of adolescents who are making their way onto college campuses. Erin discussed brain development in children and adolescent (in a way that wasn't too far over anyone's head!) and that the wiring is still be developed, even in 20 year olds. She advocated that any caring adult can become a surrogate "prefrontal cortex" (the part of the brain that helps with impulse control and reducing conflict-seeking behavior, among other things). She suggested as part of this surrogacy such things as making expectations clear and consistent or carrying through and enforcing consequences. She also gave us tips on working with this group of students, including lots of listening, modeling good communication skills, avoiding getting caught up in power struggles, and yes, expect to deal with a little mouthiness!
All in all, her presentation was enlightening and helped me see why the way that they are is both genetics AND experience.
