Lesson Plans for Teaching Spatial Data Management in Academic Libraries through a Lens of Popular Culture

<div>Understanding data management in spatial data science is fundamentally important when ensuring a project’s data is appropriately collected, analyzed, stored, and communicated. However, these concepts are often introduced to learners through compliance (i.e., we do this because we are required to or it is the right thing to do), and as a result can mean learning experiences around spatial data management are viewed less than enthusiastically. Academic libraries are places where engaging learning experiences around spatial data management can be explored and implemented through unique pedagogical techniques. For example, activities teaching spatial data management in academic libraries through a popular culture lens can make these topics more approachable and reduce learning barriers. Here, I present three lesson plans for academic librarians which approach teaching spatial data management through popular culture. The following concepts are represented: (1) understanding spatial metadata through Dungeons & Dragons; (2) learning to write good documentation through drawing Pokémon; and (3) developing good file naming habits with 1980s album covers. <br></div><div><br></div><div>Each of the three lesson plans focus on a specific spatial data management topic framed through a particular facet of popular culture. The spatial data management topics highlighted in the plans were chosen based on the foundational concepts taught most heavily in the author’s own library workshops on data management, and the inclusion/exclusion of principles and techniques in the lesson plans do not signify a hierarchy of certain data management techniques over others. Each lesson plan describes how to take learners through an activity designed around the aforementioned popular culture topics, connecting the activity to themes and recommended practices in spatial data management. <br></div><div><br></div><div>The lesson plans are meant to be enacted in a library workshop or within a course as an instructional session (whether as a visiting librarian or as the instructor of record). The lesson plans are designed to be suitable for any audience seeking educational support in an academic library, including students (undergraduate and graduate), staff and postdocs, and faculty. Each plan offers advice for running the workshop both in-person and in virtual settings.<br><br></div><div>These lesson plans are licensed for full reuse in an educational setting as long as the original lesson plan creator (Gunderman) is cited. <br></div>