Creating your own reading

group / club
1

HIN4803 THEORY OF INFORMATION

SCIENCE
2021

Open Rubric
 2

You will be expected to do

Content extensive reading for your
studies at an intensive level.
• Reading and your
studies Book or reading groups can
• The online platform promote interaction,
• Virtual chat collaboration and cooperation:
meetings
 Natural discussions that lead to critical
• Physical meetings inquiry and thinking.
• The blended format  Exposure to diverse responses and
perspectives.
• Getting started
 Encourage reflection and self-
• Ideas
evaluation.
• Sources
 Reading and your studies
3

 You have to become familiar with the key works, central figures,
ideas, concepts and trends in Information Science as well as those
who contribute from outside the subject field.
 This requires constant and dedicated reading throughout your
studies.
 Typically, students form study groups. Additional to such study
groups, other group activities can be formed.
 The suggestion for such a focus group is to start a reading (or
research) group, similar to the book club idea.
 The purpose is to prepare and discuss reading done for the module
in particular and Information Science in general.
 The discussions, for example, can take the form of open-ended
conversations about a theme or source, or can be guided by a
specific focus.
 The following slides include tips and ways to start organising your
group or club.
 The Online platform
4

 Communication takes place full online and requires

access to technology needed.
 Digital media in a text format is not limited to a
specific time or place, it does not take place in real-
time and can be done via social media.
 Visual and audio online chats, on the other hand,
will have specific time and platform parameters.
 Virtual meetings
5

 The virtual platform is fully online and requires

access to the technology needed.
 Communication takes place in real-time.
 This can take the form of video chats, webinars, etc.
 It can take place from anywhere and sessions can be
recorded based on the settings of the app and
permissions granted by participants.
 It has a specific time limit, incurs data costs and
depends on connectivity quality and speed.
 Physical meetings
6

 Communication is face-to-face and less technology depended.

 It may include the use of handheld devices, such as e-readers,
tablets.
 The technology needed will be determined by whether or not
physical meetings are combined with online platforms.
 It offers direct contact and immediate feedback.
 It is limited by time and place, as well as by social distancing
regulations.
 This will depend on your individual circumstances, distance,
access and limits on whether gatherings will be possible.

Pay close attention to what is allowed under

Covid-19 pandemic regulations.
 The Blended format
7

 The blended format combines online text chats with

online visual and auditory communication formats.
 It can be combined with a physical meeting, if
possible or practical to do so.
 The combination of platforms will determine the
time and place.
 Getting started
8
Who, what, where
 This is not a public forum and should
only be open to fellow students who
opt in.
 Consider using more than one type of
platform to enable as many members
as possible to participate. Should this
not be possible, look for ways to best
share the chats (e.g. recorded
sessions, presentations).
 The myUnisa platform offers tools
that you can implement – the benefit
is that all Unisa students must
activate and make use of the
myUnisa website, including the
myLife email account.
Rules/Guidelines
 Agree on the general rules to adhere to
that will benefit the group and its
activities.
 Make the date, start time and time
duration of each session clear. This is
especially important for video meetings.
 Plan the sessions in such a way that they
do not become social gatherings at the
cost of meaningful sharing about the
reading under discussion. There are other
platforms for socials, should the need
arise.
 Under no circumstances may bullying
behaviour or any other instances of
abusive language and conduct, whether
overt or covert, be tolerated.
 Ideas
9

Story maps or sequencing Informal sharing

 Give each member of the group one aspect  Organise ‘book chats’ – you
of an article or book to review and
evaluate. As each member retell their part, can schedule chats by listing
the parts can be reassembled into one the times on the relevant
‘story’. This can be followed up with an platform.
online video discussion, accompanied by a
presentation.  Consider also sharing the
 If a member has read an interesting article reading of sources outside the
or book, they can share their thoughts
with the rest of the group on an online domain of Information
forum, such as a blog. It can take the form Science.
of a written review that includes a
summary of the main ideas and your own  This can include other
view/take on it, or illustrate it by making a
short video.
disciplines, sciences and also
 This allows other members to read/watch/
fiction, that enrich and
listen to it, give comments, make challenge, contribute to
suggestions, compare it to other sources,
ask questions, etc.
understanding and meaning,
and broaden our horizons.
Examples of ways to communicate and get together
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 Webinars, video conferences: These are typically

conducted live and last for 45 minutes to an hour,
often available afterward for replay. This allows
you to watch it again and pause where needed.
 There are various virtual meeting apps available
(e.g. Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams). Look for
apps that are secure and offer functions such as
recording and in-video messaging.
 Pre-recorded videos: Whichever recording tool you
choose (e.g. Vimeo), try to limit videos to 10
minutes or less.
 Sources
11

Piper, A. 2012. Book was there: reading in electronic times.

Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
BookBrowse. 2020. How to start and run a book discussion
group/book club. BookBrowse.com.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/bookclubs/advice/index.cfm/
fuseaction/starting_club