The Authority File Wrap-Up 2023: Most Listened To Episodes

To close out another excellent year for The Authority File, the Choice team collected the top 10 most listened to episodes of 2023. These picks touch on student success, citation guides, artificial intelligence, and more, exemplifying the diverse topics enjoyed by our audience in higher education and publishing. Thanks for listening!

Episode 315: Building Skills for Student Success: Characterizing Success and Today’s Learning Environment

Ceceilia Parnther of St. John’s University, María Evelia Emerson of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Amber Eakin of Strayer University, and Andrew Boney of Sage offer their own definitions for student success, such as completing a degree, achieving economic mobility, becoming media literate, or receiving the equitable support needed to attain their goals. Our guests also summarize how technology has impacted content, as shorter, more flexible, and more interactive resources become the new norm. Read more and listen here.

Episode 332: The History and Archaeology of the Iroquois du Nord: Introduction to the Book and the Mystery

Published in March 2023, The History and Archaeology of the Iroquois du Nord delves into the Iroquois du Nord, a series of Haudenosaunee settlements on the north shore of Lake Ontario in the 17th century. Ronald Williamson, co-editor of the title and Founder and Senior Associate of Archaeological Services Inc., discusses the lack of published material on the archeology of these sites and how he hopes this book will act as a starting point for future study and discovery. Read more and listen here.

Episode 359: The Intersection of Critical Thinking Skills and AI: Benefits, Pitfalls, and Setting the Scene

Released in November, this series looks at the collaborative element of critical thinking, and how that characteristic can guide users’ approach to AI by building thoughtful prompts and checking (seemingly) authoritative sources. Our guests chat about the significant flaws in current generative AI and reflect on the lack of consensus over whether AI helps or hinders critical thinking. Surfacing the emotional aspect of using AI, they highlight the excitement, wonder, and fear that these tools inspire in both students and faculty. Read more and listen here.

Episode 323: How Librarians Are Helping to Build the Connected, Global Scholarly Community: The Evolution of ScholComm

Barbie Keiser, information resources management (IRM) consultant and Reference and Instruction Librarian at Northern Virginia Community College, explains how ScholComm has evolved over the course of her career, offering insights into the effects of social media, increased teamwork, and the COVID-19 pandemic on library services. She speaks to a key strength of librarianship—being quick to recognize and adapt to change—and why the academic community can fail to acknowledge this strategic asset. Read more and listen here.

Episode 308: Supporting the Sustainable Development Goals: Creation and Evolution of Springer Nature’s SDG Programme

Nicola Jones, director of Springer Nature’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Programme, chats about the complexity of her role and how she has approached its broad scope. She also provides background on why the SDG Programme was created and how it united differing publishing groups under one roof. Read more and listen here.