“Active Reference Review: Using Virtual Reference Transcripts to Fine Tune Your Reference Skills.” Michigan Library Association Annual Conference, Lansing, MI. November 2013. Presented with Rachel Minkin.
Handout and Presentation
In this hands-on program, experience two ways to use virtual reference transcripts to improve virtual reference skills. Then, take these methods back to your institution to use to train other librarians. Use pen and paper for this training or learn how to use Socrative, a student response system, to make the training interactive. First, use our Madlibs method to turn a virtual reference transcript into a teaching tool. During this first portion of our session, the audience will collaboratively recreate the librarian portion of a regional award winning chat transcript as a way of reviewing virtual reference best practices. After this best practices review, we will give you two high quality chat transcripts to work with in small groups. Each small group will choose a winner and the whole group will vote via Socrative for the best transcript.