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Library instruction brain crack

Ok, I've had some instruction sessions hanging over my head recently. I freely admit it usually takes me a while to develop and figure out what I'm going to do for a class. But sometimes it goes the other direction. I come with ideas or things I'd love to integrate, but can't figure out how to or can't find the right class. I realized it's time to let some of that brain crack out in the world. If you don't know what I'm talking about when I say brain crack, you should watch Hank Green's video here.
  • I would love to find a way to integrate Mad Libs in library instruction. I feel like it might be a good fit for keywords, but I just haven't found the right class. Like coming up with some sort of story or something and then having the students give you synonyms for terms and then reread the story to show how even changing one word changes the meaning (and the search results) you get.
  • This one is really more Amy's idea, but it's been bouncing around in my head since she mentioned it. She suggested "speed dating" a research topic. I love this idea. I'd love to take it a step further and write wanted ads for them. Or maybe conversly..maybe writing wanted ads for databases and then having students speed date them to pair them up? (Writing these out has got the juices flowing...now if only I had the class this would work for...)
  • I'm a bit of a reality tv fan. My coworkers and I have done what I would call a "mise en place" race from Top Chef; they called it the Amazing Race. I've sort of always wanted to do something like Chopped: give the students pieces they have to use to build the whole. Like 3 articles they have to make into a thesis? Or pics, quotes, and video clips they have to create a presentation. I love Project Runway too, but how I make that IL I'm not sure.
I'm not entirely sure how I'm going to use any of these. If you've got ideas let me know, or if you'd like to use any of these, go for it. I'd love to hear what you do with them. I really just need to get these ideas out there so I don't get addicted to them. For more of my library instruction ramblings, look here.

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