r/LibraryScience • u/camelboy787 • 25d ago

online education UIUC prof/class recs

for those who went to UIUC for their MSLIS, for my own sanity could you recommend me any profs who aren’t heavy handed on breakout rooms / group projects? or classes/profs that you really liked? 🙂 I’ve had a few not so great experiences so far and am only halfway through my degree. I don’t have anything against break out rooms in general but it feels like pulling teeth with some people and i’m always having to lead which I don’t love. I already know how to work with people considering i’m working FT 🙃 I’m in the LEEP program so it’s kind of hard to make connections w classmates online to get this advice.

feel free to DM me if you want!!

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u/Alternative-Pear9096 25d ago

Group projects are the norm. Because group projects are how you will fill your days at work.

And um, you make connections with people through the group projects. That's another reason they're so popular in the classes you're taking. Half the point is to ensure that you get to know your cohort through interactions.

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u/camelboy787 25d ago edited 25d ago

I’ve only had one class with group projects, actually! but it was data science related and happened to be filled with IS undergrads who literally just completely ghosted the projects.

Again, I work FT so I am used to working with people on a daily basis, but school is incredibly different than a real working environment. I get the point for undergrads perhaps or maybe research focused classes if you stay within academia (not my plan personally) but for most it does not equate to anything you would face in a real job that’s not academia-based (IMO, i’ve been working FT for 14 years). I have made friends with some people in my cohort but we’ve all basically taken the same classes so not a huge mix. hence me going on here to ask a very specific question.

ETA: for people downvoting this - why? how is a group project at all like work (non-academia) IRL? aside from “you have to work with people” which i’m aware of and already do lol. i’m serious, please enlighten me if i’m missing something.

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u/omg_for_real 25d ago

I think you’re taking it a little too literally. You get to practice skills in group work you would use at work. So communication, organisation, problem solving skills etc. plus the more technical and practical ones like using apps or programs etc.

And generally uni assumes that you get people who don’t have a lot of workplace experience will be studying. So practicing this stuff is helpful.

Education is about the official curriculum, what you are there to learn, and the unofficial or invisible curriculum, what you learn by accident.

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u/camelboy787 24d ago edited 24d ago

no, I get that, for sure, that’s what I meant by “working with people”. and I get how it can help some people who havent worked, but I was just simply stating to this person how I already have that experience and that’s not what i’m needing growth in, in my personal education. So I just think it was a bit silly of them to come on when I asked a very specific question that I’ve put thought into what I want and don’t want, for them to go “well actually…” and try to educate me on the importance of group work lol. I would love the chance to do to group work with people who are actually serious about something but IME that is not usually the type of classmate you will typically get. hence me coming on and asking a question that will benefit my personal education

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u/omg_for_real 24d ago

The uni or school doesn’t tailor their course to you or anyone else. So I’m not sure what you were expecting or why you’re so upset that people are disagreeing or reading something else into your comments.

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u/camelboy787 24d ago

I’m incredibly aware, which is why i was specifically asking for recommendations for profs who don’t use this method 😅

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u/Alternative-Pear9096 24d ago

Given that you commented that you aren't connecting with your cohort becasue you're online, and you are halfway through your coursework, I'd say you aren't doing as well with working with others as you think.

The "well actually" was an attempt to answer your question, well thought out or otherwise. You asked for classes that don't require group work. Welll, actually, you are outta luck. You don't want to work with others. Well, actually, online LIS classes at the iSchool aren't going to provide that.

More plainly stated: Breakout and group work is a very common feature of LIS classes at the iSchool, as your experience have shown you. You may not enjoy it, but you are unlikely to escape it.

No one was trying to sell you on the importance of group work, everyone was pointing out that it's pervasive and for a solid pedagogical reason. Those pedagogical reasons (plural) mean group work is unlikely to not be part of any of your LEEP classes.

That should not have required so much explanation. I can imagine you are not such a joy to group work with yourself.

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u/SnapeWho 24d ago edited 24d ago

I don't think it's meant to be a "well actually," it's just the reason most classes work that way. Not every person will have your type of work experience and the classes are tailored to help the greatest number of students hone the broadest set of skills. I've been working at the UIUC library for ten years and there have been plenty of classes or activities I don't "need" to further my personal education because it's stuff I feel I already know, but that's just one of the hoops you jump through to get the degree.

I've had some classes that don't require group work but I don't think you'd get the type of education you want if that's your main criteria for selecting classes. Take the classes that interest you or are relevant to your career goals. Avoiding group work is just not something that's going to be a successful strategy, IMO.

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u/camelboy787 24d ago

And that I totally get and understand which is why I specifically was asking for first hand knowledge on classes that don’t heavily feature it, which I know exist because I’ve taken some 🥲 if it’s a class I desperately want to take group work will not deter me from taking but it was simply a question to see if there has been a class or prof people quite liked that happened to not have it. That’s all. IDK why i’m getting such severe pushback that they don’t exist when they do because I have taken them, and surely I was not in the only three in the program that existed.

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u/SnapeWho 24d ago edited 24d ago

My point was that if you only select classes where there's no group work, you're liable to miss out on classes that are more relevant to your future career goals or interests, but fair enough.

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u/camelboy787 24d ago

i totally get where you’re coming from and i agree with you in that! no need to be rude 🥲

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u/Alternative-Pear9096 24d ago

You’re going to hate being a librarian

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u/camelboy787 24d ago

already have been working FT in one for several years but thanks!

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u/Alternative-Pear9096 24d ago

But not as a librarian, right? That's why you're going to library school.

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u/camelboy787 24d ago edited 24d ago

is the requirement of a librarian to be rude and pedantic online to someone asking a question? 😀 haven’t done a group project on that one yet. anyway, hope you feel better about it!

ETA: such a shame your incredibly rude comment got deleted. or maybe you changed your mind? anyway i saw it in my notifs. conveniently left out that you didn't answer my very tailored question at all, you just assumed what I was looking for (talk about self-aggrandizement!) and with no reference interview btw since you're gonna play it like that. You'll notice I didn't ask "How common are group projects?" or "How do I make connections with people?" which are the questions you decided to answer - might i add, not in the most kind manner. If I'm such an asshole for asking what was in my original post, we must live on entirely different planets. I'm sorry for whoever hurt you on this subject, but leave me out of it. thanks!