About this Event

Codes of journalistic ethics have guided information production for decades, and citizens have been able to rely on fairly straightforward methods of evaluation - including locating original sources or searching for author affiliations and credentials. The process of evaluating information and determining how it can be ethically used is a central aspect of critical thinking, and challenges students to consider their own positionality and that of the author. For decades, research projects have helped students to hone these skills.

As students increasingly rely on generative AI as a starting point for their inquiries, it's crucial for us as educators to adapt and redefine our approaches to information literacy. This panel will not only highlight the complexities introduced by AI but also illuminate pathways to empower students in their critical evaluation of sources.

PANELISTS

Nancy Karibjanian 
Nancy Karibjanian is a journalism instructor and director of the journalism program in the Department of Communication at the University of Delaware. She teaches courses in broadcast news writing and field television news production, bringing 30 years of experience in broadcast journalism to the classroom. 

Karibjanian's broadcasting career includes anchoring, reporting, producing and news staff management. She has covered presidential campaigns, elections, and moderated numerous Delaware political debates; including the 2010 U.S. Senate debate which received worldwide attention. Karibjanian has interviewed members of the U.S. Congress, governors, corporate CEOs, and countless Delaware newsmakers. She also is known for her reporting on remarkable Delawareans outside the limelight. She is part of the core group of journalists who founded Delaware Public Media and launched the state’s first native NPR station, WDDE. A 1980 graduate of the University of Delaware, Karibjanian earned her degree in communication and was inducted to the Alumni Wall of Fame in 2011.

Maria Barefoot
Maria Barefoot is a co-author of "Once upon a time in the academic library: Storytelling Skills for Librarians" and the Online Learning Librarian at the University of Delaware. She has worked as an academic research librarian for 16 years and has presented on the intersections of AI, research, and writing in a variety of settings. She has two forthcoming book chapters in the ACRL publication "The AI and Library Instruction Cookbook" and consulted on AI applications for the text "Research Methods in Psychology: Evaluating a World of Information." She continues learning and teaching AI applications for the research process in English Composition and Education and Human Development courses at UD.

Shara Compton
Shara Compton is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry. She integrates information literacy into her general chemistry courses by examining how chemical concepts are discussed in the popular media and incorporating use of primary scientific literature. Her research interests are in the area of enzyme reaction mechanisms and translating complex biochemical concepts into accessible, affordable lab activities for undergraduate students. Shara received her BS in Chemistry from Purdue University and her PhD in Biophysical Chemistry from the University of California, Davis.

Panel Moderated by Meg Grotti, Associate University Librarian for Learning, Engagement and Curriculum Support.