University Libraries Presents its Annual Graduate Research Series for Fall 2023
Ohio University Libraries will be holding its annual Graduate Research Series (GRS) on Monday, Nov. 13 at 10 a.m. and Thursday, Nov. 16 at 3 p.m. in Alden Library’s third floor Friends of the Libraries room 319. The GRS event’s purpose is to allow selected graduate students to present to both the OHIO and Athens community their research process and experience each semester. For the fall 2023 GRS, Adelaja Oriade, a doctoral student in media arts and studies as well as Agam Syahrial and Hyunjoo Moon, both doctoral students in instructional technology, will be the presenters. The event is free and open to the public.
Oriade’s presentation will be on Monday, Nov. 13 at 10 a.m. and is titled, “Casting Black Cinema.” His research has focused on the opinions of African Americans and African immigrants on rolecasting in Black history films, and the presentation will further discuss the appropriateness of African immigrants being casted as African American historical figures.
As an international student, Oriade has gone through many challenges both personally and academically such as being away from family and having self-doubts about his work, but his efforts have paid off and have been a reminder of why he’s working on what he does.
“Winning a few awards for my work has been a reassuring reminder that my research is seen as valuable and significant by respected individuals in the academic community,” Oriade wrote in an email. “These high points have provided a source of motivation, pushing me to persist through the challenges and continue striving for excellence in my academic journey.”
One thing that Oriade mentioned to help with his achievements have been the different aspects of Libraries.
“The support and resources provided by the University Libraries has been instrumental in my success,” Oriade wrote. “The libraries have been my sanctuary, providing not only essential materials and assistance but also versatile spaces to suit my different study moods. The Library staff, including the subject librarians and online chat support, have been responsive and resourceful, making research more efficient.”
On Thursday, Nov. 16 at 3 p.m., Syahrial and Moon will be presenting together on a joint research project, “Enhancing Interactivity in Asynchronous Online Teacher Preparation Courses.” The premise of their research is to address the challenges of asynchronous online learning and the issues of engagement and interactivity in online education for teacher preparation courses.
Moon wrote in an email that her and Syahrial’s process through the research journey has been intriguing with results yielding unexpected insights.
“This study has provided us with valuable perspectives from students engaged in online learning, shedding light on areas where improvements can be made in lesson design,” Moon wrote. “As both educators and instructional designers, these findings have enriched our understanding of online learning and ways to enhance the learning experience.”
The pair worked closely with Dr. Chris Guder, head of Learning Services and subject librarian for education, who helped them find many applicable books and articles toward their research, as well as the reference management tool, Zotero, and the Libraries’ website resources.
“Our consultation with Dr. Guder not only bolstered our research skills but also deepened our appreciation for the wealth of resources available to us through University Libraries,” Moon wrote.