School Library Journal Mobile
Log In  |  Register          Free Newsletter Subscription
Subscribe to SLJ Magazine
Email
Learn RSS

All Together Now: A 2.0 Learning Experience   



Link This | Email this | Blog This | Comments (24)


Gearing Up for All Together Now: A Learning 2.0 Experience

July 17, 2008 Greetings All Together Now participants!

This is Michael Stephens, and I'll be posting to this blog for the next few weeks for this Learning 2.0 course.

When Brian Kenney asked me to take this project on, I was tickled. I’ve watched successful Learning 2.0 programs play out all over the world since the summer of 2006 when Helene Blowers launched the original program she created at the Public Library of Charlotte Mecklenburg County. I was lucky enough to be there for the opening day with my writing partner Michael Casey, to speak to the staff about the emerging tools and the excitement of exploring them for libraries. I love the open, playful, and fun attitude this program brings to libraries. All of the tools in the program are free or virtually free!

About Your Guide

First, a bit about me: I’ve been working with technology in libraries for many years. I started as a paraprofessional at the St. Joseph County Public Library in South Bend, Indiana back in 1991 working with technology in one way or another: AV, reference, public computing, IT, training, etc.

In 2003, I discovered blogging and  was hooked! I started my Tame the Web blog then and have enjoyed writing and sharing with people in libraries since. I've also been speaking and working with library groups for the past few years, including a recent trip to Australia to do seven presentations in five cities.

I spent almost 15 years in the public library while finding my way back to school for the doctorate in 2004 so I could teach in a library school. I’ll be starting my third year at Dominican University’s Graduate School of Library and Information Science this fall. I enjoy teaching - classes, workshops, webinars and programs such as this.

To learn more about me, please visit: http://tametheweb.com/about-michael-stephens/

What is Learning 2.0?


It’s a program that will “encourage staff to experiment and learn about the new and emerging technologies that are reshaping the context of information on the Internet today.” It’s based on exploring a series of “things” - emerging tools like blogs, wikis, Flickr etc.

Helene Blowers went on to release the program intiated at PLCMC to the world - so other libraries and organizations could participate as well.  Wired magazine reported on the success of the program, noting that “Libraries all over the world are doing just that -- moving the entire Learning 2.0 program to their own websites. The program has been duplicated by university and community library systems in Sweden, Australia, Canada and Denmark. In the United States, programs are underway in South Carolina, Florida, Maryland and California.”

Helene designed the program for self-directed learning and exploration that will only take a little bit of time for each module. By the end of our course, you’ll be able to say you’ve had experience with:

Blogs
Podcasts
RSS
Wikis
Flickr
Web Toys
Web 2.0 & Library 2.0
Social Networking Sites
Video Sites
Twitter
Tagging
Google Apps

That’s 12 things!

So, we have a great adventure ahead of us. We’ll do our own version of Learning 2.0 - for anyone and everyone that wants to participate, far and wide. Then, you’ll be able to take the content and use it in your schools, libraries, organizations...really, everywhere! Hopefully, some of you will roll the program out for your users/students/faculty/staff as well. As we go along, please ponder how you might use these tools to make your life easier, how it might further  your work, and how you might share with others.

Our work will begin the 21st of July! Starting Monday, I’ll put up a post here -- the first of our “things” - with instructions to explore. The first thing is getting a blog and trying out blogging.

I’ve worked with a lot of libraries doing these programs and folks sometimes confess they are scared to dive in. These tools seem too new or hard to use. This program is designed to alleviate those worries. Work at your own pace. Work with a colleague or friend. I kid you not, this is a perfect time and a perfect place to experience these things. These rules will help:

Explore. Try things out. Don’t worry about “breaking” anything! Ask questions. There are no dumb questions. AND It’s okay to make mistakes.

So please dive in. Explore. Play. And share what you are learning and thinking about!

Posted by Michael Stephens on July 17, 2008 | Comments (24)


Email
Learn RSS


July 17, 2008
In response to: Gearing Up for All Together Now: A Learning 2.0 Experience
Alice Yucht commented:

What is the actual RSS feed for this Learning 2.0 blog? it's not (yet?) listed on the SLJ Feeds page.




July 17, 2008
In response to: Gearing Up for All Together Now: A Learning 2.0 Experience
Lise commented:

Hi from Perth Australia. I'd love to join -how do I go about it?




July 17, 2008
In response to: Gearing Up for All Together Now: A Learning 2.0 Experience
Karen commented:

We're 12 hours in front of you in Western Australia - so now 18th here. I'll definitely be spreading the word here as school starts second semester on 21st July.




July 18, 2008
In response to: Gearing Up for All Together Now: A Learning 2.0 Experience
Michelle commented:

I did a little promoting of this great project to Australian school libraries earlier today but it looks like some of the West Aussies are already bright eyed and bushy tailed! Let's hope lots more get on board next Monday.




July 18, 2008
In response to: Gearing Up for All Together Now: A Learning 2.0 Experience
Susan Mello commented:

I heard about this through our state school library association...but it seems to be an international endeavor. I have just graduated with my MLIS and start my first job as teacher librarian in September. I hope to incorporate technology into our little elementary school. Just as a side note: I am leaving Massachusetts for a visit with my daughter in Australia on July 27th...so I am international too!




July 18, 2008
In response to: Gearing Up for All Together Now: A Learning 2.0 Experience
lisa commented:

how do I join? thanks
seelisa@gmail.com




July 18, 2008
In response to: Gearing Up for All Together Now: A Learning 2.0 Experience
vshall commented:

I can't wait to get started on the 21st. This is exactly what I have been looking for. I was hoping our school district would offer training like this, this summer. Thank you for offering it here!




July 18, 2008
In response to: Gearing Up for All Together Now: A Learning 2.0 Experience
Sue P commented:

How do Ibecome part of this?




July 21, 2008
In response to: Gearing Up for All Together Now: A Learning 2.0 Experience
stefan.c commented:

Hi! I want to participate (join) to 2.0 course .How is that posible? Thanks stefan.academie@yahoo.com




July 21, 2008
In response to: Gearing Up for All Together Now: A Learning 2.0 Experience
MRone commented:

Sign me up! Please! mrone@oxford.k12.ms.us




July 21, 2008
In response to: Gearing Up for All Together Now: A Learning 2.0 Experience
Doug A commented:

I'm interested too! How do I sign up? Thanks.




July 21, 2008
In response to: Gearing Up for All Together Now: A Learning 2.0 Experience
Julie G commented:

This is great!...I would love to sign up... let me know how? Thanks!!!!!




July 21, 2008
In response to: Gearing Up for All Together Now: A Learning 2.0 Experience
Michael Stephens commented:

No need to sign up...just follow the directions in each THING we post here!

It promises to be fun.... :-)




July 22, 2008
In response to: Gearing Up for All Together Now: A Learning 2.0 Experience
marie commented:

wow, thanks for setting this up. finally i can learn these things without being embarrassed in front of a class!




July 22, 2008
In response to: Gearing Up for All Together Now: A Learning 2.0 Experience
jhendricks@wcpss.net commented:

Sign me up as well. It's the 22nd; but I still don't see info to join.




July 22, 2008
In response to: Gearing Up for All Together Now: A Learning 2.0 Experience
Phyllis commented:

WOW! This is a GREAT opportunity! Thank you for offering your expertise...and for FREE. I will be participating more over the next week or two. I am embarrassed to say that I still have dial-up access at home, so it is not much fun from here. Will be doing more from my school computer access. Looking forward to all that is ahead on this journey!




July 22, 2008
In response to: Gearing Up for All Together Now: A Learning 2.0 Experience
Michael Stephens commented:

jhendricks -

There is no sign up...just follow along. Start with Thing #1 Blogs!




July 22, 2008
In response to: Gearing Up for All Together Now: A Learning 2.0 Experience
Marie Baker commented:

I just dropped out of a class on blogs and wikis because it was geared toward classroom teachers, not librarians. I'm so happy to have found this opportunity to learn about web 2.0 within a library context!




July 22, 2008
In response to: Gearing Up for All Together Now: A Learning 2.0 Experience
Barbara A Genco commented:

This is great! I needed to update my skills--to keep up with my students and new colleagues. This seems almost painless...and fun.




July 22, 2008
In response to: Gearing Up for All Together Now: A Learning 2.0 Experience
Allison commented:

Many thanks to SLJ for coming up with this excellent idea! Can't wait to learn more as we go...




July 23, 2008
In response to: Gearing Up for All Together Now: A Learning 2.0 Experience
Shelley Worman commented:

I love to blog with my students. I have had several book blogs and research blogs, but in my new school system blogs aren't allowed. This is a great way to communicate on a specific topic with your students while guiding their learning. Be positive, be accepting and enjoy.




July 23, 2008
In response to: Gearing Up for All Together Now: A Learning 2.0 Experience
kcochrane commented:

I hope I'm not too late to take part!




July 25, 2008
In response to: Gearing Up for All Together Now: A Learning 2.0 Experience
M.Vraz commented:

Am I too late?




July 30, 2008
In response to: Gearing Up for All Together Now: A Learning 2.0 Experience
nancy commented:

Can I still join? How do I start?





POST A COMMENT
Display Name or Registered Users Login Here.
Please restrict submissions to less than 7,000 characters (including any HTML formatting).

Change Image
Before submitting this form, please type the characters displayed above.
Note the letters are NOT case sensitive.

Advertisement

Advertisements





©2009 Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
Use of this Web site is subject to its Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
Please visit these other Reed Business sites