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Book Reviews  163

163

Book Reviews

Brandt, D. Scott. Teaching Technology: A
How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians.
New York: Neal-Schuman (How-To-
Do-It Manuals for Librarians, no. 115),
2002. 215p. alk. paper, $55 (ISBN
1555704263). LC 2002-2406.

In this age dominated by electronic infor-
mation, individuals are bombarded with
numerous information resources, both fil-
tered and unfiltered, making it difficult
to evaluate and understand information
before it is internalized. With the number
of online indexes, databases, digital col-
lections, and interactive Web sites esca-
lating daily, individuals need to use a
combination of computer and informa-
tion literacy skills. Librarians and infor-
mation professionals alike hungrily seek
serviceable concepts and practical tech-
niques to create more effective courses,
workshops, and modules to instruct in the
use of these online resources. Teaching
Technology, from Neal-Schuman�s popu-
lar How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians
series, provides a blueprint to do just that.
D. Scott Brandt, professor of library sci-
ence and technology training librarian at
the Purdue University Libraries since
1993, follows the philosophy of instruc-
tional systems design (ISD) to provide a
simple and effective approach to teach-
ing. ISD is grounded on the �inter-rela-
tion of analysis, design, development,
implementation and evaluation, a for-
mula often referred to as �ADDIE,�� which
Brandt adapted �to give not only struc-
ture, but also form and function, to the
process of teaching library and informa-
tion science.�

 At first glance, the book�s title may
suggest that it is a manual for teaching
the mechanics of computer software and
hardware. Technology, according to
Webster�s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary,
is a scientific method of achieving a prac-
tical purpose, and this is a fitting descrip-
tion of what Brandt has accomplished

with his instructional program.
Teaching Technology is composed
of three main sections. The first,
�Developing Technology Train-
ing Courses Using ADDIE,�
analyzes learning, lesson plan
design, instruction, teaching,
and the evaluation of results. The second,
�Building Effective Technology Training
Programs,� discusses how to build a pro-
gram and how to make it work, includ-
ing examples of actual programs that
have succeeded. The third, �Sample Tech-
nology Training Materials from Success-
ful Programs,� offers hands-on resources,
such as an instruction guide for a one-
hour lecture/demonstration on searching
indexes and a syllabus for an information
literacy course. The reader is presented
with a step-by-step guide for the devel-
opment of a solid instruction program.

 Acknowledgment of students� varied
levels of learning should be the first step
in developing an information/library in-
struction program. Instruction based on
the learner �s �knowledge/skill needs,
current depth of knowledge/skill, and
their attitudes and approaches to learn-
ing� will help ensure that the instruction
is successful. The ADDIE formula is a
simple and effective approach to teach-
ing. Brandt�s presentation of the ADDIE
formula, and its application to library and
information science is appropriate. This
very useful resource outlines practical
strategies accompanied by helpful fig-
ures, illustrations, and templates. After
reading Teaching Technology, �you should
be able to create effective learning from
start (analysis and design) to finish
(implementation and evaluation).��
Ayodele Ojumu, SUNY College at Fredonia.
Finkelstein, David. The House of Blackwood:

Author�Publisher Relations in the Victo-
rian Era. University Park: Pennsylvania
State Univ. (Penn State Series in the