Hello, my name is Jennifer Allen and I am in Jessica Hochman’s Instructional Technology course at Pratt Institute. As a newcomer to blogging and social networking in general, I would like to apologize in advance if this blog often appears confusing, scattered, or ever worst, meaningless. That is not my intention. My goal, as I struggle to understand and let’s even say “master” new technologies, is to provide some sort of assistance to those who have similar questions or lack of understanding with technology in libraries.
I joined this course in hopes of gaining a better understanding of the uses of technology in public libraries. As a self proclaimed “old school” person, I often wonder if public libraries have lost sight of their purpose and role in society while incorporating the latest technology trends. I wonder, “Is it all really necessary or even beneficial.” Whom does it benefit? With this thought, it is my hope to improve my understanding of the various types of technological tools available and how to apply them to public libraries.
Throughout this course, my blogs will primarily focus on the usage of technology in public libraries and how it benefits the public. Questions I will be trying to answer include: Has technology at public libraries gotten ahead of its users? What is the best way technology can benefit a library? How do/can social networking tools (Facebook, MySpace, i.e.) benefit the library? How can you teach an old dog a new trick; In other words, how can an “old school” librarian, such as myself, keep up with the next generation of users and librarians?
You're not alone, as I'm sure you felt in class discussion. Just because it's possible doesn't mean it's necessary, right? Or do we understand the extent of our possibilities? Unexplored we may never and ... let's just say, this class got me playing games online, which confirmed what both Gee and my husband theorized, non-gamers don't like to get things wrong and more often avoid challenges. Don't let technophobia get YOU down! ;)
ReplyDeleteI think it's a good idea to be somewhat "suspicious" of anything being touted as the "most amazing ever" as many people think technology is. I often think that "old school" is really going to come back as the new undiscovered territory. Going back to "basics" will actually be the revolutionary idea of our 21st century.
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ReplyDeleteI agree with your thoughts and concerns. I am also a first time blogger and desperately making attempts to be succcessful. I commend you and all the other public librarians for assisting our students with those difficult class assignments that teachers have given to them complete. I also think that technology is forcing us to reinvent ourselves by assuming roles that we are not fully qualified for. I work with Early Childhood youngsters yet, if a fifth grade teacher or a content specialist is absent or it is test time, I have to assume the role of that teacher or and administer that test as if I am the student's classroom teacher. I must use the necessary skills that I have to deal with any given situation. So in terms of critical literacy, every facet of the school community has a responsibility to expose students to those skills that will allow them to make sense of their world. I am confident that after this class we will be armed with some skills that we can be proud of.
A great list of questions. I would like to humbly suggest an additional query to this inquiry: whether some of the old school goals of a public library can be achieved through new technologies; can library goals help those technologies meet their fullest potential? An important first step: define what you think a public library's goals should be!
ReplyDeleteI think there's an important distinction that can be made between technology trends, and technology that is here to stay--though it can be nearly impossible to tell the difference between the two, sometimes. And it's easy to poke up a nose at technology that seems transitory (or actually is transitory) and use that as an excuse never to get on the technology bandwagon. So I think the challenge is to sort through the stuff that could actually be helpful or meaningful, and the stuff that is kind of just garbage. While I agree that anything being touted as "the most amazing thing ever" is often in the latter category, it would be a shame if a truly worthwhile tool got overlooked because of over-zealous marketing.
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