The Fortuitous Teacher: A Guide to Successful One-Shot Library Instruction discusses how librarians have become accidental teachers in the academic university setting. It covers how (if at all) librarians are prepared by MILS programs to teach, compares typical characteristics of teachers versus librarians, and presents tactics on how to learn effective teaching skills on the job. In addition, readers will learn about the history of library instruction, the different types of library instruction, and the dynamics of one-shot library instruction, classroom culture, faculty buy-in, and collaboration. Examines how MILS programs prepare librarians to teach Compares the typical characteristics of effective teachers and librarians Offers advice for new academic librarians who take on the role of classroom teacher Explores future trends in library instruction and how to apply this to one-shot instruction sessions

We have all experienced fortuitous encounters--those moments in our lives--where a person, place, or thing caused our lives to change in a more positive direction. Our lives are full of what some have called serendipity, strange acts of fortune or causeless miracles. A favorite teacher inspires our choice of career, a chance encounter develops into love, marriage, and a new family. At the time we are most in need of a friend, one appears in our lives. We look at a mountain or the ocean and find meaning and peace, we read a book and an idea is planted in our brains that provides the wisdom we seek. The ability to experience fortuitous encounters is key to learning and growth. The more fortuitous encounters someone has, the better the odds are the person is successful and happy. While fortuitous encounters are by their very nature a product of chance that is beyond our ability to control, Davis and Spears strongly believe, as did Pasteur, that "chance favors only the prepared mind." The intention is not to try to explain chance, or divine intervention in this book, but simply to help the reader, whatever their core beliefs, to understand the power of fortuitous encounters. In this book, you will read firsthand reports of fortuitous encounters of many kinds. These true stories can help you to learn how to prepare yourself to experience your own fortuitous encounters, and experience a lifetime of learning and growth. This wise book will serve as a great companion to help you stay awake to the fortuitous people, places, and things that ultimately shape your days and your life. +

A revised edition of this book on teacher incompetence which, using research information, offers an analysis of the types of administrative response: tolerance of poor performance, salvage attempts and induced exits.