Information Science associate professor Jennifer Moore’s computational thinking comes in handy when she aims to ease the tedium of a 10-mile solo training run. She assesses the problem logically (an 8-minute pace means approximately 80 minutes of unprogrammed time that can be relieved by inspiring music) and applies a personal algorithm (her go-to music set list) to compile her audible entertainment for the run.
“I begin every run with ‘2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted’ by 2Pac and Snoop Dogg. I end most runs with ‘Passive’ by A Perfect Circle,” she says. “When I start to feel tired, I'll listen to ‘I Gotta Feeling’ by the Black Eyed Peas or ‘Lose Yourself’ by Eminem. When my knee or hip start hurting, I listen to ‘Parabola’ by Tool or ‘Send the Pain Below’ by Chevelle.”
A native Texan who earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate in information studies from the University of Texas-Austin, Moore spent her early career years as an elementary school librarian and a middle school language arts teacher. For 11 years, she lived in Denton, Texas, where she taught at the University of North Texas and Texas Woman’s University. Recently arrived in Columbia, Moore moved into a century-old house where she can indulge her love of cooking and gardening.
“I am excited to be here in South Carolina,” she says. “I already love Columbia and the USC campus. It’s just so pretty.”
Moore’s research at the University of South Carolina focuses on computational thinking, evidence-based practice, instructional technology in school libraries and youth literacies. In its simplest definition, computational thinking is the process of breaking down complex problems and developing step-by-step solutions in a way that can be logically understood and executed by a computer.
Helping youth become comfortable with computational thinking is an essential mission of libraries in the digital age.
As a child, Moore was academically driven and knew she wanted an advanced degree one day. The context was a little undefined back then until she discovered her passion as an adult.
“When I was a librarian, students came to me for information related to their schoolwork or personal interests, and I really enjoyed helping them find answers,” she explains. She also helped students ask the critical questions, such as whether Google-searched information and its cited sources are accurate and trustworthy. In the rapidly evolving information age, information literacy is especially important.
Ready to Code
The American Library Association in 2016 partnered with sponsor Google to launch the national Ready to Code grant initiative to provide computer science resources to school and public libraries. It makes sense, because libraries, by design, play a key role in helping people learn about and access technology.
Moore had read about the initiative, applied because she was curious and was selected in the project’s second phase. For her extraordinary work teaching instructional technology to school librarians, she was named a recipient of the Libraries Ready to Code Phase II Faculty Award in 2017.
“Helping youth become comfortable with computational thinking is an essential mission of libraries in the digital age,” Moore says. The initiative not only makes young people aware of career opportunities in computer science but, through coding activities, gives them critical thinking and systematic problem-solving skills that can be applied across many fields.
Moore also conducts research on the phenomenon of self-censorship, in which a librarian might independently choose not to purchase a book or might remove a book from library shelves without due process. This is a hot-button issue as educational organizations and libraries across the country contemplate limiting or even banning perceived sensitive content.
“I was raised in a very small town. The library at my school was run by paraprofessionals. It was one of those places you went to pick out a book and leave. There was no talking,” Moore says. “Now libraries are vibrant and interactive. They are about more than books. It’s about technology and literacy. Librarians are always teaching. It’s such a rewarding profession.”
Books and beyond
A love of reading comes naturally for Moore. Even with a broader range of print and digital resources available, she still enjoys old-fashioned books.
“Right now, I’m focusing on work reading, but my favorite authors include Kurt Vonnegut and Jane Austen. I’ve even been to the Jane Austen Centre in Bath, UK,” she says. “Lately, I have been on a horror kick.”
Recently, Moore was recovering from a knee injury and undergoing physical therapy, but hoped to continue training over Columbia’s flats and hills, going the distance. Before the injury, she found ample reserves of energy to help her log mile after mile, often beyond the routes planned.
“After I began jogging, I adopted this attitude: ‘What’s an extra 10 miles?’” she says, adding that moderation is key to avoid injury.