Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Week #1 - Introduction to Course

Welcome to the Western Australia Public Libraries Learning 2.0 Basics program.

Why are we doing this?
What do these technologies have to do with our work? Read this article by Kathryn Greenhill on her reasons why learning emerging technologies is part of every library person's job. At the time she wrote this, Kathryn was working at Murdoch University. She has since been the Emerging Technology Librarian for Peppermint-Grove Libraries and is now a lecturer in Librarianship at Curtin University. I highly recommend her blog as one to follow. (We learn about Blogs in Week 2 and RSS Feeds in Week 4).

So what is it all about?
What is Web 2.0? Well, what do you think it is?


Everyone will complete the self assessment again at the end so we measure our progress as a group. The results are anonymous, so please be honest!

Watch this short video clip Web 2.0 - The Machine is Us/ing Us. It illustrates the rapid development of web based communication and information tools and the way they encourage collaboration. (Hint: to enlarge the YouTube screen look for a small button at the bottom right-hand corner)

So what do we do?
Over the course of the next ten weeks, this course will highlight a selection of these technologies with Discovery and Exploration exercises to help you become familiar with blogging, RSS news feeds, tagging, wikis, Twitter, Facebook, podcasting and video & image hosting sites.

A new post will appear each Wednesday. Each lesson will introduce a technology or application.

There will be two exercises for you to complete each week:

[1] Discover ~ what is it and what can it do?
There will be a selection of areas to Read, Watch, Listen or View to understand what these technologies are and how other libraries are using them.

[2] Explore ~ using the technology and commenting on it.
After watching other people, you will have the opportunity to use these technologies yourself. Each week you will be asked to comment or write a blog post on your thoughts of each technology.

You should be able to complete the program by spending 15 minutes each day working through these activities, or perhaps in a one hour blitz per week.

The managers will also arrange time per week for groups at each branch to get-together to discuss the week's learning or to help each other with any areas of difficulty.

We also encourage you to explore and play with each technology as you learn. Speak to your local Library Representative regarding issues such as allowing access to staff PCs outside of your normal working time (i.e. before work, after work, in your lunch hours or access on your days off).

You may also find Kathryn's post about finding time to do training helpful.

Before we embark on this new online learning and discovery journey lets take a few minutes to review the Seven and ½ Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners as identified by Helene Blowers who created the original Learning 2.0 program.

Seven and ½ Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners
  • Habit 1 – Begin with the end in mind
  • Habit 2 – Accept responsibility for your own learning
  • Habit 3 – View problems as challenges
  • Habit 4 – Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner
  • Habit 5 – Create your own learning toolbox
  • Habit 6 – Use technology to your advantage
  • Habit 7 – Teach and mentor others
  • Habit 7 ½ – PLAY!

Discover: Watch this SlideShare on cultivating a Personal Learning Network. Consider how these tools you will learn each week can contribute to your personal learning network.

Explore: Watch actor Stephen Fry discuss Web 2.0.

So fasten your seat belts, grab your mouse and get ready for a discovery adventure... Be sure to tune in every Wednesday, for the next "thing" or discovery item...or better yet, subscribe to the RSS feed. (Don't panic we'll cover RSS in week 4.)

And remember, if you need help with any of the activities during the course please contact your local Library Representative or cityofswanlibraries@gmail.com.

Next week: Creating your blog so you can begin tracking your journey...

5 comments:

  1. Hi there,

    I have to agree with Kathryn Greenhill, technology should be part of every librarian’s job, but technology skills should also be gained by other library staff. It is important for all library staff to advance in technology. I thought that point 11 on Kathryn’s list is very true. “Fun. If staff are given permission to have fun and be creative as they learn in a supportive environment, it can lift workplace morale”.

    Thanks for this opportunity.

    Regards,
    Lizelle

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  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  3. Hi everyone

    When I click on the the link mentioned below I cannot see any survey , instead survey monkey directs me to create my own survey

    *Please complete our quick self assessment survey

    where is the survey?
    cheers
    Reeti

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  4. Reeti, If someone has done the same survey on the same pc (with the same web browser) before you survey monkey won't let you do it again. If you delete the cookies from the browser, then you should be able to access the survey with no problems.

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  5. Hi Reeti/Lawley

    All surveys have now been updated to allow for more than one survey completion per computer.

    If you still have trouble accessing the survey let us know.

    Cheers!

    ReplyDelete