AASL, Charlotte, and Web 2.0 July 24, 2008
Posted by Floyd Pentlin in : AASL2009, Conferences, Hot Topics , trackbackA group of us got together recently via Skype to discuss AASL’s great leap forward into the 2.0 world. Specifically we were talking about how the next AASL conference could take advantage of the collaborative and transparent nature of 2.0 to make the conference more available to AASL members as well as make the conference have a life beyond the few days that we would be able to spend in North Carolina in November 2009.
The discussion was pretty spirited as we talked about what it would look like to make the conference more interactive. So much of the conference is lost after the moment and events like the Exploratorium which have so many specific activities taking place within a short period of time could really benefit from additional exposure. The general excitement of the conference could be reflected through postings to Flickr and workshops could be streamed through software like Ustream. It would allow someone in Minneapolis to see the same thing that someone sitting in Charlotte would see. It wouldn’t be the same experience but it would be an experience that someone who can’t attend the conference personally would miss out on completely otherwise. I suppose one could even twitter your comments about the presentation at the same time it was happening. (Be nice!)
Needless to say this brings up all kinds of questions. What kind of technical resources would be required to do this effectively? What are the copyright implications? What might the frustration level be for someone who is trying to participate virtually with little or no technical support? Can we extrapolate from the conference experience data that might be useful in helping the organization know more about its users? How do we extend the use of 2.0 in school libraries when so many school districts filter many of the most popular 2.0 software?
From all of these questions, the group began a philosophical discussion of where all of the 2.0 technology puts the library media specialist. Everyone in the group feels that librarians continue to be in the cross-hairs of a technological revolution that will continue to redefine our position within the educational structure. If we don’t model the use and knowledge of this environment, then someone else will take up the mantle. The fact that 2.0 ties in so closely to a broader interpretation of information literacy means that we have a natural entrée into this world. If that is the case then AASL needs to interlace aspects of the 2.0 world into its next conference. The question is how and in what way?
We are looking for suggestions.
Over to you.
Comments»
AT NECC08 during the SIGMS forum, part of the discussion centered around why librarians NEED web 2.0 tools in order to fully implement and support the new AASL and NETS standards.
You can review the exact comments by going to the SIGMS wiki at
http://sigms.iste.wikispaces.net/ there is an audio file from the forum. The exact comments can be found between minute 25 and minute 48.
There is a video version available on the NECC08 NING http://necc2008.ning.com/ select video then look for videos titled forum(number).
I am not sure that if fully agree that we cannot implement 21st century skills without web 2.0. Is collaboration ONLY as 21st century standard? Can collaboration ONLY be taught with web 2.0 tools. What exactly are the necessary collaboration skills, are they soley technology based?
Debbie Stafford
Interesting comment, Debbie. I’m not sure that implementation of skills needs to take place only within the 2.0 environment. I think it can.
I’m wondering if librarians will get the opportunity to implement 21st century skills without being a leader in the 2.0 environment, however.
Without our leadership in the building (which includes 2.0) I’m not sure our profession will survive because so many of the tasks that have traditionally associated with LMSs are being outsourced — if not to Bangalore then to vendors, clerks, technicians, and volunteers.
Debbie again (not disagreeing but commenting)
Interestingly enough, this comment also came up at the SIGMS forum. At the end of the forum one of the “questions” from the crowd concerned the idea that “our jobs are at stake if we don’t do these things”. The questioner felt that this was the wrong tactic. She felt we should do these things because they are good for kids.
I am not sure that I fully agree. I would agree about librarians being leaders in the school, but not just for web 2.0 but for the whole 21st century skills push.
Debbie
Interesting discussion! I’m not sure it’s an either/or decision. I DO think our jobs are at stake if we don’t take 2.0 on board, but that’s not the reason to do it. Students desperately need training in thoughtful, analytical uses of these tools, and the jobs are at stake because we’ll be increasingly irrelevant if lack the ability to teach them.
I was in grad school getting my LMS last year, and was shocked at how little the students (or program) knew about using Web 2.0 effectively. And it was one of the top-ranked schools in the country.
The people in my graduating class who got jobs were the more tech savvy candidates. Interestingly, almost every interview I had focused on my technology skills, with almost no questions about traditional library areas.
Having said that, I worry that technology becomes the focus, not the means to a better end. My own school requires each teacher to give a “technology lesson” once per semester AARGH! They all come in saying “Quick, I need a technology lesson, what can I do?” rather than using the technology because it’s the best pedagogical method for accomplishing their goals. (Why blog when what you’re really having the kids do is just a traditional journal?”
LOL–of course none of this answers the question of how best to include non-attenders in the AASL conference experience. I attended NECC this year, but not last year. I got pretty lost in the plethora of blogs, twitters (I still don’t get the point of that!) Flickr posts, etc.
With my above rant in mind, I think limiting options to meaningful content may be the best route: provide a wiki list of people blogging the conference, with descriptions of what specific events/workshops they’ll be blogging. Then also have a site for streaming video or podcasts of particularly meaningful workshops/speakers. A less is more approach, only focusing on the 2.0 tools that actually deliver meaninful content. People into the Twitter and Flickr aspect will find it on their own.
IMHO!
I have been thinking about ways AASL can support personal member learning through web 2.0 in conjunction with the Charlotte conference since the conversation began last week. After mulling this over, I think the most practical thing we can do is work to share the conference backchannels that really differentiate an experience like NECC. We need to be proactive in developing taxonomies to organize the content and also in creating some truely open online spaces. We need to publicize these tools, online but also with some sort of printable cheatsheet with “best bet” applications, prior to the conference. But the key to a really robust online conference presence is really encouraging participation from the entire community.
I think, as Jeri saw among her LMS classmates, there is a huge gulf dividing our profession right now. There are the really visible leaders who know all the intricacies of hundreds of online applications and have huge content vaults on their webpages versus those who still haven’t grasped that Wikipedia is user-generate content. We can really disenfranchise members by referring to too many applications without really describing how they help to organize information and support learning.
I think we need to give the LMSes a safe place to practice their emerging literacies in addition to having the same excellent, competent voices reporting from the conference through official channels. We can use the 2.0 technologies to bring all those voices together, and model how the tools can extend learning, But I think unless we explicitly invite everyone, including those at home, to the party, it will remain a small minority (of the AASL members who go to the conference, of the minority of LMSes who are AASL members) who contribute to this aspect of the conference.
The Teacher Librarian NING http://teacherlibrarian.ning.com/ might be one such “safe” place.
Debbie.
I think the Ning’s a good idea, though I wonder if it would only catch those who are already reasonably advanced technologically? I think we need to be careful about spreading the content across too many platforms. I’m pretty tech savvy, and I’m finding myself floundering these days as I try to keep up with my Reader, the Ning, the NECC bits, my two blog efforts, etc. And somewhere in there I need to find time to actually do my job! (grin)
I’m finding I make far too many assumptions about what people know. The above poster made an excellent point about the growing void in the profession between the tech leaders and the, let’s face it, technologically illiterate. When I was showing the faculty Goole Docs last year, what actually astounded many in the workshop was that you could get a free email account online !!! It never even occurred to me people wouldn’t know that!
Several issues need to be considered re AASL09 online coverage:
1. FREE internet access throughout the conference venue.
2. LOTS of “reporters” — either via the AASLblog, or on their own blogs — need to be recruited in advance.
3. GET Sponsorship of podcasts, etc., similar to Apple’s support of podcasts from NECC (see http://edcommunity.apple.com/ali/collection.php?collection=2956 )
Bottom line: Get started now, with the Fall Forum, to test/demonstrate the possibilities!
I would also like to see offered streams of sessions using the newer tools (UStream, Elluminate, more…) and the integration of backchanneling tools as well, like a UStream Chat, Chatzy, and Cover it Live. As a member who plans to attend, I would be willing to offer this service using my own equipment (of course after ensuring permission by AASL and presenters.)
Just wanted to let you know that we are reading and listening to what you are saying. Joyce Valenza and Robin Williams are the technology co-chairs for the conference.
We have our first site meeting this weekend and will be talking about these great ideas.
If you are interested in serving in a volunteer capacity, send Joyce or Robin (or even me or Jay) your email letting us know your interests.
We are looking forward to a great conference in Charlotte in 2009. I have worked with many of you before and appreciate your insight and intuitiveness.
Keep the ideas coming in. Thanks for the input!!!
Just wanted to let you know that the Charlotte conference committee made a site visit to see the venues and work on refining the content and delivery for the conference.
You can view pictures in Flickr with the tag “AASL2009″ Enjoy!
We are pleased with the city and feel that the venues are “technology friendly”. The technology chairs have everything under control and are looking forward to a progressive virtual conference or “unconference” as Joyce calls it.