What would Jean-Luc Picard do? Practicing no win situations in the library classroom with the Kobayashi Maru: Librarian Edition, an interactive role-playing game.

Short Session Description:

The Kobayashi Maru is a training exercise in the Star Trek universe designed to test the character of Starfleet Academy cadets in a no-win scenario. This Instruction Librarian edition of the Kobayashi Maru helps us start thinking on our feet when we’re presented with classroom challenges. In the spirit of the Kobayashi Maru – there are no winners. Just like any instruction session that goes badly, there’s no quick fix. The goal of this exercise is to be comfortable with failure; the librarian works to ensure the disruptions don’t affect their teaching goals and the other members of the classroom.

Session Format & Style:

This will be a hands-on workshop providing a brief overview of this instructional development tool and then attendees will have the opportunity to break-out and participate in the Kobayashi Maru: Librarian Edition. Audience members will have the opportunity to role play as students in a class and the option to come prepared with a 10-minute lesson that includes one active learning activity for students (other attendees) to complete. As a group, the collective will decide whether they would like to draw from the Student Persona deck, or the Scenario deck – for librarians who want an extra challenge, both decks can be entered into play. Between each play we’ll have a short wrap-up discussion about the completed round. The workshop will conclude with a discussion about how this activity can help us become more comfortable with stressful no-win situations in the classroom and adapting lessons on the fly.

Takeaways:

Participants will leave with practical ideas for dealing with unforeseen stressors in a library instruction sessions. They will also go back to their home institutions with the knowledge of how to run this activity with their colleagues and a link to download the PDF of the Kobayashi Maru: Library Edition playing cards for their own use. One lucky librarian will also win a complete, laminated set of the Kobayashi Maru: Library Edition playing cards via a raffle.

Organization:

We have a fully formed team of organizers for the workshop, but will put out a call for participation for those interested in being an instructor in the Kobayashi Maru: Library Edition.

Contact Information:

Alexandra Flores - adflores@wm.edu

Mary K. Oberlies - mkoberliles@wm.edu

Paul Showalter - phshow@wm.edu