| Uri Shafrir Leader, Conceptual Curation Cross-disciplinary Research Group University of Toronto
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Bruce Stewart Director, The iSchool Institute University of Toronto |
| Ana Patricia Ayala Instruction and Faculty Liaison Librarian Gerstein Science Information Centre University of Toronto |
Masha Etkind Professor, Architectural Science Ryerson University |
In contrast to the role of curation in the print age, the recent emergence of the digital age gave birth to the novel methodology of conceptual curation that allows learners to engage in Interactive Concept Discovery (InCoD): semantic searches in the Knowledge Repository of a course of study with networked information of a comprehensive collection of full-text digital documents. Such searches make it possible for an individual learner to find, read, compare, annotate, tag, and share, all found documents that are relevant to the conceptual situation under consideration. Therefore, conceptual curation exposes the learner to multiple viewpoints, created by different authors, and allows comparison of multi-semiotic representations of a particular conceptual situation, that share equivalence-of-meaning. This motivates the learner to use his/her own individual learning style to focus on the meaning of the conceptual content being studied, and to develop higher-level thinking and deeper levels of comprehension.
Conceptual Curation and Pedagogy for Conceptual Thinking has been in development since 2002 and has evolved during evaluative implementations in different knowledge domains, including: mathematics, physics, biology, psychology, education, architecture project management, and business. A certificate program in Conceptual Curation and Pedagogy for Conceptual Thinking is now offered by the iSchool Institute of the Faculty of Information at the University of Toronto. It was designed for digital librarians and instructors in secondary and post-secondary institutions, as well as those in professional learning and support programs. The certificate program provides hands-on, experiential learning of practical tools for implementation of Conceptual Curation and Pedagogy for Conceptual Thinking in the classroom, and covers a total of 72 instruction hours.
Meeting attendees interested in participating in a collaborative implementation project of Learning in the Digital Age with Conceptual Curation and Pedagogy for Conceptual Thinking, are strongly encouraged to attend this presentation. This session will also include discussion of a follow-up meeting (time/place to be announced) where the nature of collaboration and organizational issues will be discussed.