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Convening an Emerging Technologies Working Group in an Academic Library. Debra Riley-Huff, Erin Ellis and Tami Albin University of Kansas. Emerging Technologies. Introduced at a phenomenal rate Relevancy in higher education Relevancy in Instructional Services Expectations and new modes.
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Convening an Emerging Technologies Working Group in an Academic Library Debra Riley-Huff, Erin Ellis and Tami Albin University of Kansas
Emerging Technologies • Introduced at a phenomenal rate • Relevancy in higher education • Relevancy in Instructional Services • Expectations and new modes
Administrative Go Ahead • Must have administrative endorsement • Communicate and connect with stakeholders • Prepare for resistance • Variety of definitions • Various ways of creating, implementing and holding accountable an ET working group
Administrative Go Ahead • Have rationale ready for justification • Be clear (be very clear, be crystal clear) about focusing on user needs and enhancements • Discuss possible collaborations or impacts on other campus services • Full administrative support for ET working group
Convening the Working Group Contemplating Group Composition
Consider Library Size • Are you from a small library? • Are you from a large library? • Interested and Qualified
Select experts Potential testers Splinter groups Appointments and volunteers Rotating members Experts and novices Give opportunity! The Core Group
Avoid Clique-type Behavior! • Transparent • Open • Supportive
Research Methods Let’s take a look at some tools that can help us keep abreast of what is going on!
Core members of your group. Instructional Services person Web development person Instructional Technology person Geek Identify others Know who your experts are in certain areas Blackboard, games, blogs, etc. Programming, scripting Web services Two pronged approach
Specific needs vs. Horizon awareness • Specific needs will generate a charge • Horizon awareness will most likely be more casual.
Tools of the trades… • There is much overlap between LIS tools and Instructional Technology tools. • Libraries are a place of learning • Journals, websites, blogs and conferences
Library Science ACRL News ITAL Computers in Libraries Reference and User Services Quarterly Instructional Technology AACE Journal IJIM Learning, Media and Technology Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks Journals
Conferences • LITA • Educause • Internet Librarian • Computers in Libraries
Looking at the technologies • Need based choices • Research based choices • They both need to be well informed. • Be sure you are not missing anything viable.
Develop a testing plan • Make sure you have covered your bases • Security/Administration • Who else needs to know? • Prevent shut downs by writing that into your group charge!
Four possibilities… Lightweight Instant Messaging Clients (LIMs)… Massive online role playing games (MMORPGs) … Podcasting… Voice over internet Protocol (VoIP)…
Lightweight IM client • Helping students on their terms outside the reference structure. • Collaborative use.
MMORPG… • 3-D learning and lecture environment • Interactivity • Using existing environments • Waiting for off the shelf solutions.
Podcasting… • Literacy instruction • Self guided tours • Assignment support
VoIP environments Method of synchronous instruction Collaborative tool Presentation tool
Other benefits of testing groups! • Team building opportunities • The chance to collaborate across departments. • Working with colleagues you many not normally get to work with. • New perspectives and understandings. • Different learning styles and ways of knowing
Implementation How to get these new technologies implemented to benefit your users!
So you think you have a winner… • Before you approach your administration… • Have you done all your homework? • Costs • Training • Support
Presenting your findings… • May depend upon the size of your organization. • May depend upon the project.
Present to win approval! • Live presentation • Demonstration • Vendor visit • Q and A • Discussion Website or Blog. • Be Honest!!
Things to present • Costs and Benefits • Security Issues • Learning Curves and Training • Timelines • Marketing strategies • Stakeholders • Again…be honest!
Assessing failure… • Remember… your charge and the work you have done gives you permission to assess failure.
What is holding up the project and why? • Power struggle by an individual or group? • Confront it because it is a barrier to service. • Competence issues? • Find ways to get the necessary help or shift duties. • Pooh-Poohed and later resurrected? • Commit to confronting ethical dilemmas as a group!
Getting it implemented! • Get those team and testing participants on the bandwagon. • Support of past participants. • Support of the users with need.
Thank You! Created Spring 2006 by Tami Albin, Erin Ellis and Debra Riley-Huff for LOEX (Library Orientation Exchange) University of Kansas Libraries