[Post Series] Instructional Design for Teaching Information Literacy Online
From April 16-May 7, 2025, Info Literal ran a series on the new book, Instructional Design for Teaching Information Literacy Online: A Student-Centered Approach. Over the course of that month, the authors shared insights into the writing process, reflected on key themes, and offered behind-the-scenes perspectives on what it was like to collaborate on this project!
Series posts
The Accidental (Online) Library Instructor
There is a book (and subsequent movie) called The Accidental Tourist. If you’ve read the book or seen the movie, bear with me. If you haven’t, I’ll explain why I’m mentioning it. It’s a story about tragedy, the grief that comes after, losing love, and finding love again. What has that got to do with library instruction? Good question!
Back to the Start
Thinking about the origins of this book feels like one of those record scratch “yep that’s me moments”, in which we begin with a freeze frame of all of us in new situations than when we began. Between the authors, we have had job changes, degrees started, homes moved, pets adopted, and new classes taught.
One Year and Counting
This post is part of an ongoing series by the authors of Instructional Design for Teaching Information Literacy Online: A Student-Centered Approach. For more information about the entire series and to meet the authors, check out our welcome post.
Writing is Personal
This post is part of an ongoing series by the authors of Instructional Design for Teaching Information Literacy Online: A Student-Centered Approach. For more information about the entire series and to meet the authors, check out our welcome post.
Meet the authors
Janna Mattson is the Online Learning Coordinator and Instruction Librarian at George Mason University Libraries, providing leadership for University Libraries on asynchronous and synchronous online learning, and liaising with Bachelor’s of Individualized Study program. She developed the 2017 ALA H.W. Wilson Professional Development Grant-winning professional development course 13 Things in Blackboard and co-taught an ACRL Online Learning course called 13 Things in Instructional Design. She is also the co-editor of the ACRL six-volume book set Framing Information Literacy: Teaching Grounded in Theory, Pedagogy, and Practice.
David X. Lemmons is the Instruction Coordinator at George Mason University Libraries and a PhD student in Higher Education, also at George Mason. In their work as a librarian, they liaise with English Composition and support undergraduate composition students, as well as supporting other library instructors in developing their teaching skills. As the main author and editor of Info Literal, they provide a platform for practical and approachable advice and ideas about library instruction and life in the academy.
Valerie Linsinbigler is a Business Librarian at James Madison University Libraries, where she supports undergraduate business students in developing their information literacy skills. In her previous role, Valerie worked as an Online Learning Specialist at George Mason University where she designed, taught, and assessed online (synchronous and asynchronous) instruction to teach undergraduates information literacy. She co-taught an ACRL Online Learning course called 13 Things in Instructional Design.
Christopher Lowder is the Education Librarian at George Mason University Libraries, supporting undergraduate and graduate education students. Prior to his current position, he worked as an Online Learning Specialist at George Mason University. He also co-taught an ACRL Online Learning course called 13 Things in Instructional Design.
Purchase our book
If the series piqued your interest and you’d like to check out the full book, head to the Association of College and Research Libraries website to purchase a copy!
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