Distance Ed Connecting
People, Remember when paradigms shift, we all return to “ground zero”
Educators in Illinois have been teaching via distance education for many years and along
the way have learned several lessons. Linda Slusar http://www.cod.edu
stated College of DuPage has distance education for library workers through their
extensive Library Technology Program and during the last six years developed the Soaring
to Excellence. What have we learned? Nothing is new, everything is new, and don’t try
to “virtualize the classroom”. What can I pass on to you? Students are way ahead
of us and they want it on their desktop. The best delivery method consists of a variety of
delivery methods (satellite, internet, two way video, and mentors). Distance education is
here, its not going away.
Linda Smith at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign http://leep.lis.uiuc.edu gave the Range of
Possibilities for distance education: Site-specific (assigned locations) vs.
site-independent (Internet), Video technology vs. Internet-based, Synchronous
(interactive) vs. asynchronous (read or post only) vs. face to face (all in one room), and
cohort (everyone doing everything at the same time) vs. flexible scheduling. The Graduate
School of Library & Information Science uses site-independent, Internet-based,
synchronous & asynchronous & face to face, and begins with cohort then switches to
flexible scheduling.
Anne Craig said the Illinois State Library uses teleconferencing and requires some on-site
experience to build connectivity with students and teacher. What works: a maximum of three
locations, chair who has authority (and personality) to keep the meeting going, set
agenda, firm start and ending times, prior education, preparation, and/or discussion on
meeting topics, and ONE CLEAR GOAL. What doesn’t work: Meetings of a serious nature
should be face-to-face; more so than other media people can be uninvolved, uninterested,
peripheral attendees; and hands-on computer skills are difficult to mediate in this
medium.
NOLA Board of Trustees 2000-2001
Academic Libraries
*Lilith Kunkel, KSU, Salem
Public Libraries
Ashtabula Donna Wall, Ashtabula County District Library
Columbiana *Ted Allison, Carnegie Public Library of East Liverpool
Geauga Ellen Leavitt, Geauga County Public Library
Lake Mary Frances Burns, Morley Library
Mahoning Paul Rohrbaugh, YSU, Maag Library
Portage Phyllis Cettomai, Reed Memorial Library
Trumbull *Lois Wynkoop, Newton Falls, Public Library
Representative-At-Large
Nancy Currie, Madison Public Library
Diane Fritz, Girard Free Library
*Ruth Mizik, Hubbard Public Library
Cristina Pope, NEOUCOM
School Libraries
*Jane Ciavarella, Lakeview Local School District
Items submitted by:
Jeannette Martin - Email
NOLA Regional Library System
|
Stephen
R. Covey
ALA closing General Session featured Steve Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly
Effective People, which has sold more than 12 million copies in 32 languages and 75
countries throughout the world. Covey stated only minor changes occur when behavior and
attitude are altered, but rather work on changing how people see the world. History
continues its identity until someone intervenes, then a shift occurs. There are three
constants of reality: change, changeless, and choice (the power to choose your response to
the other two). Power of choice can move your own mind. Power to re-invent yourself or an
institution. This is a paradigm shift. Covey concluded his presentation with what he sees
as librarianship’s core values: intellectual freedom, equity of access, democracy and
service. You as librarians become an agent of change. |
