Dr. Margaret Mackey Addresses Learning Commons Conference

Dr. Margaret Mackey presented one of two plenary addresses to the Sixth Canadian Learning Commons Conference in Calgary, Alberta, on May 8, 2012. Addressing the topic of new literacies and new ways of learning, her talk was entitled, "Common Ground, Divergent Eco-Systems: Mediating New Learning in the 21st Century." Abandoning the notion of digital natives and digital immigrants as unhelpful categories, she chose instead to highlight the contrast between digital rule-followers and digital improvisers. At different times, the same person may occupy each of these stances, and librarians would do well to acknowledge the strengths and preferences of each as they scaffold new forms of learning.