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Roya Koutchekinia wrote a new post on the site Epiphanies 1 months ago
Blog reflection#4- The Power of Stories- Soccer Field Confessions This week’s module deeply resonated with me as I have always believed in the power of stories to broaden our perspectives and reshape our u […]
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Roya Koutchekinia commented on the post, Reflection Blog #3- New Horizons- To Boldly Go Where No One Has Gone Before, on the site 1 months, 1 weeks ago
Thank you for your kind comments! I just checked out Klinenberg’s Palaces for the People from the library (I was inspired by the quote at the end).
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Roya Koutchekinia commented on the post, Reflection Blog #1: Hyperlinked Communities- All Are Welcome, on the site 1 months, 1 weeks ago
Hi Christine,
Thank you for your insights on using nature and technology to create positive feelings for the user. Hunt library is such a beautiful space, and I love that nature is an integral part of the library design. I love the idea of solar powered benches to provide access to wi-fi and library resources. Thank you for highlighting…[Read more]
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Roya Koutchekinia commented on the post, Welcome to Module 10: The Power of Stories, on the site 1 months, 1 weeks ago
@lauraw Glad you enjoyed it. Zameen can mean “earth” or “ground” depending on the context.
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Roya Koutchekinia commented on the post, New Models for Building Community and Mentoring Young People, on the site 1 months, 1 weeks ago
Hi Melissa,
Thank you for sharing your ideas about combining restaurants/bars with a library or bookstore. I remember walking past a cozy bar, that had bookshelves filled with books (I wish I remembered where I saw this, but it may have be somewhere in SF). It was the kind of place where you could enjoy reading a book while sipping on a glass of…[Read more] -
Roya Koutchekinia commented on the post, Innovation Roadmap: Oral History Library, on the site 1 months, 1 weeks ago
Hi Melissa,
I love the idea of having an oral history at the community library! Personal stories can be such a powerful community building tool. I had a similar idea for my innovation road map where I proposed the bringing together of seniors and youth in an intergeneration multimedia storytelling initiative.
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Roya Koutchekinia commented on the post, Welcome to Module 10: The Power of Stories, on the site 1 months, 1 weeks ago
@lauraw. Good question! It’s hard to explain, but I think this may give you some ideas of what I was talking about: https://www.chaiandconversation.com/2014/11-persian-sayings-make-no-sense-english
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Roya Koutchekinia commented on the post, New Horizons: VR vs. IRL, on the site 1 months, 1 weeks ago
I haven’t, but I am putting it on my “to-read list”. I love Ishiguro. Thanks for the recommendation!
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Roya Koutchekinia commented on the post, Reflection Blog #1: Hyperlinked Communities- All Are Welcome, on the site 1 months, 1 weeks ago
Hi Maggie,
What a wonderful idea! As a parent volunteer, I helped 6th graders write a monthly newsletter about their school community. I loved the energy and level of engagement from the kids. I think podcasting would be an even more attractive tool for middle schoolers (I seem to remember much excitement when kids were allowed to make…[Read more]
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Roya Koutchekinia commented on the post, New Horizons: VR vs. IRL, on the site 1 months, 1 weeks ago
Hi Laura,
Very well put! I loved the book “Klara and the Sun”, and I was also reminded of it when I was reading the articles about how children interact with Alexa. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
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Roya Koutchekinia commented on the post, Reflection Blog#2- Hyperlinked Environments and Issues- The Hyperlinked Public Library, on the site 1 months, 1 weeks ago
Hi Laura,
Thank you for your kind comments! It’s so inspiring to see what libraries are doing for their communities!
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Roya Koutchekinia commented on the post, Introduction, on the site 1 months, 1 weeks ago
Sorry it took me so long to reply! Thank you so much! Happy Spring to you , and hope you are enjoying the beautiful weather!
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Roya Koutchekinia commented on the post, Open Hearts, Open Minds Project, on the site 1 months, 1 weeks ago
Hi Laura,
Hi Laura. Bravo! I loved the idea of fostering better relationships between the homeless and police through the use of games, with the eventual idea to expand to other segments, like social services. While I was looking through your report, I was reminded of observing a policeman on his bike, holding a long conversation with a young…[Read more]
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Roya Koutchekinia commented on the post, E-waste recycle Event on Earth Day, on the site 1 months, 1 weeks ago
Hi Christine. I really enjoyed looking through your innovation report. I love the idea of libraries being a partner in being responsible stewards of our environment. One area that your report made me think about was the ongoing excessive food waste in our country, while so many people are going hungry. I did a quick search and found out that many…[Read more]
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Roya Koutchekinia commented on the post, Reflection Blog #3- New Horizons- To Boldly Go Where No One Has Gone Before, on the site 1 months, 1 weeks ago
Thank you Maggie. My experience with ChatGPT is that it is good for brainstorming ideas, and could be a decent tool in the initial stages of a project, but it is very superficial and definitely not to be relied upon as a credible source.
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Roya Koutchekinia commented on the post, Welcome to Module 10: The Power of Stories, on the site 1 months, 1 weeks ago
@michael. Your discussion of emojis in this week’s lecture reminded me of a conversation that I had with a friend. We were talking about how the persian language is so difficult to learn for non-speakers because it is filled with so many unique idioms, and expressions. Persians often quote lines of poetry when discussing a certain story to…[Read more]
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Roya Koutchekinia wrote a new post on the site Epiphanies 1 months, 2 weeks ago
Reflection Blog #3- New Horizons- To Boldly Go Where No One Has Gone Before As I was reading about the technological advancements on the horizon this week, I was filled with both excitement and trepidation for the […]
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Hi Roya,
Thanks for your illuminative thoughts on New Horizons for libraries. I really appreciate the way you applied the ACRL’s framework to thinking about ChatGPT. I have been actively avoiding ChatGPT but need to get my head out of the sand and accept that it will be part of our digital lives from now on. Your perspective provides a good entry point for me to focus on. Much appreciated!
–Maggie-
Thank you Maggie. My experience with ChatGPT is that it is good for brainstorming ideas, and could be a decent tool in the initial stages of a project, but it is very superficial and definitely not to be relied upon as a credible source.
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@royaflin This is such a thoughtfully presented exploration of the current state of… everything really! This so resonated with me at the end:
We must also recognize that to retain our humanity, we must also provide places for people to connect and form communities in real life. Libraries and librarians are uniquely positioned in our society to advocate for an ethical and critical evaluation of the digital information infrastructure as well as provide the “social infrastructure where people gather, bonds form, and communities are strengthened” (Klinenberg, as quoted in Peet, 2018).
Libraries are in an amazing posoition to offer spaces and programming to help folks make sense of the world. I hope we keep moving toward that goal.
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Thank you for your kind comments! I just checked out Klinenberg’s Palaces for the People from the library (I was inspired by the quote at the end).
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The future of technology evokes both excitement and concern. While advancements hold promise for improving healthcare, education, and addressing global challenges like climate change, there’s a risk of technology dividing us and eroding our humanity. We must adopt a “meta layer of awareness” in our relationship with technology to understand its effects fully. Concerns arise with tools like ChatGPT, which lacks transparency and may reinforce biases. Librarians play a vital role in fostering critical thinking and ethical evaluation of emerging technologies. Additionally, while AI and virtual reality offer opportunities, they can’t replace genuine human connection. Libraries serve as essential community hubs, advocating for both technological literacy and the preservation of human interaction.
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Roya Koutchekinia commented on the post, Hyperlinked Communities: Linking Communities through Collections, on the site 1 months, 2 weeks ago
@michael. For some reason, I had a lot of difficulty responding to your comments on Canvas. Thank you and it’s now posted on my blog (I was trying to embed the file, but it was too big, so it ended up as a link to my file).
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Roya Koutchekinia wrote a new post on the site Epiphanies 1 months, 2 weeks ago
Innovation Strategy & Roadmap- Echoes of Time: An Intergenerational Multimedia Storytelling Initiative Here is the link to my Innovation Strategy & Roadmap: Echoes of Time: An Intergenerational Multimedia Storytelling initiative.
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@michael. For some reason, I had a lot of difficulty responding to your comments on Canvas. Thank you and it’s now posted on my blog (I was trying to embed the file, but it was too big, so it ended up as a link to my file).
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@royaflin Sorry about the Canvas thing! Let me know if it continues. You can always message here or email me. Thanks for posting this!
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Roya Koutchekinia commented on the post, Hyperlinked Environments & Issues: Connecting Communities Solar Benches Illuminate the Path to Digital Inclusion, on the site 1 months, 2 weeks ago
@brobinson Beautifully put! This line really stood out to me: “They are more than just pieces of technology; they are symbols of empowerment, inclusion, and resilience”. Thank you for highlighting solar benches as “beacons of connectivites”.
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Roya,
I loved this! You always seem to bring the reader back to the big picture of this shared human experience and the need for understanding and compassion. Thank you for the book recommendation, “Far from the Tree.” When I have more time to do reading outside of the program, I will take a look. I am also going to pass it on to a parent at work who shares his struggles with me regarding helping his transgender child with learning challenges.
Lovely post. I always make sure to stop and read what you have added to the discussion.
@emmizo Thank you so much! The “book Far From the Tree” expanded my horizons and dramatically shifted my perspective. It can be a potentially life-changing book for parents struggling with the best way to parent their kids.
@royaflin It is amazing how making a connection to someone who is going through something difficult can make it easier. Knowing that you’re not alone and someone has a similar story to yours can be lifew changing.
I can especially empathize when it comes to our children. My son has had multiple medical issues in his life, and when I was first learning about them, I always felt better meeting someone who went through a similar experience. I now have been the parent to pass along my (and my son’s) story to others. I love when I can help someone else with what I learned during my struggles. If I can make things a little easier for someone else, that makes everything worth wild!
-Laurel
Thanks for taking the time to share your story. I think most can empathize with or identify with such struggles with Family members or friends.
@deltoro87 Hi Rodrigo, Thank you for taking the time to read my reflection. It’s funny; up until when I started sharing my struggles with parenting my neurodivergent kids, I thought other parents couldn’t possibly be going through the same things. Being vulnerable and sharing made me feel more connected to the community.
@royaflin Thnak you for such an honest and thoughtful exploration of your story as a aprent and how it all relates to the big picture. The nbook you suggested sounds amazing and so useful for understanding others’ stories.
@michael Thank you for your kind comments! The book is fantastic. It reminds me of the “point of view” gun in the movie Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, where it makes the victim see things through the shooter’s perspective. I could easily imagine myself in each of the situations the author discusses.
@royaflin Wow!
@laurele Isn’t it amazing how life’s burdens become lighter when shared? I love that you are passing your story and wisdom to other parents to help them feel less isolated and more empowered to tackle their challenges. Thank you for your comments!
Your reflection beautifully captures the transformative power of storytelling and vulnerability. Your journey through challenging times, finding support in your book group and on the soccer field, highlights the profound impact of genuine human connection. Integrating insights from authors like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Andrew Solomon, and Brené Brown, you underscore the importance of embracing diversity and vulnerability for true connection. Initiatives like the human library and partnerships with StoryCorps demonstrate the pivotal role libraries play in fostering dialogue and community engagement. Your mention of narrative inquiry in libraries highlights the value of amplifying individual stories to better understand community needs and adapt programming. Overall, your account eloquently illustrates how storytelling nurtures empathy, transcends boundaries, and builds bridges across differences. Thank you for sharing your journey and insights with such honesty and depth.