What do you do for professional development? Attend conferences? Read professional literature? Linda Braun on the YALSA blog would argue that you’re not doing enough! She points to a discussion that recently took place over Twitter related to going beyond just the library world and also learning at other education forums.
“If you think about it, getting out of the library silo for professional development is really another way of learning about the community.” – Linda Braun
Braun tells us to “seek out opportunities to connect digitally and face-to-face with those outside of your library community. Read about educational trends that go beyond Common Core. Try a conference that is not sponsored by a library organization.” All these are great ideas but you could also set aside time to learn a new technology. The Minnesota Multitype’s 23 Mobile Thing program is still available for self-paced learning so take a moment and step outside the library silo.
It’s the last 23 Mobile Things spotlight, and we hope you’ve enjoyed looking at them as much as we have. Remember the end date to complete all 23 Mobile Things is June 15th, so keep blogging about those Things and make sure to collect those badges!
Galaxie Tab 4
Badges: If you haven’t already, don’t forget to let us know when you’ve earned a badge (at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 23 Things completed)! Just email minn23@gmail.com with your blog name, multitype region (CMLE), and how many Things you’ve completed. We’ll add your badge to your region’s blogroll and send you one you can display on your blog to share your progress. We will enter CMLE finishers into a prize drawing based on the badges we see!
All finishers will receive an incentive prize! And, CMLE staff will also enter all finishers from our region in a drawing for either a new Galaxie Tab 4 OR a new iPad Mini!
iPad Mini
Appropriately, this week we take a look at Thing 23, Evaluation of the 23 Mobile Thing Program. Current finishers in the CMLE region offered some great posts from which to choose and share. All bloggers were asked a few questions to summarize their impressions of the program and here are some of the best responses.
Go back to your thoughts/ideas about mobile devices and apps. Has anything changed as a result of this experience?
The bloggers agreed that they had learned a lot about their mobile devices and the apps on them. One of the best quotes came from Sarah about her experience, “I would say the #1 thing that changed for me was my view of mobile devices not just as a personal tool, but as a tool that could be used professionally as well.”
What were your favorite Things and discoveries?
In her Thing 23 post, Zoma did a great job of summarizing all of the Things and what she liked. Others apps that seemed to be recurring favorites were: Pinterest and Instagram.
How did you connect with others doing the 23 Mobile Things?
Several bloggers mentioned how the program helped develop relationships for them – both online and at their library. One blogger “loved following the blogs of people I know, as well as discovering new ideas and friends via Twitter. Oftentimes when I was stuck on a specific Thing, I would troll others’ blogs for inspiration.”
Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
Holly’s unexpected outcome turned a negative into a positive. “The fact that I got to try out apps that I didn’t like was also helpful. If a staff member comes to me asking about something that didn’t work so well, I can look back to my blog and remember why.”
How would you describe your learning experience in one word or in one sentence, so we could use your words to promote 23 Things learning activities to others?
We think Kathy’s quote might summarize the program for you. “Taking this course made me feel less like a digital immigrant and more like I can hold a conversation with a digital native.” OR maybe Duane’s works better for you: “In my position as media specialist, I’m expected to be on the forefront of technology and to share that technology with other teachers. This course has helped fulfill both of those criteria in addition to improving my relevance in an ever-changing library environment.”
CMLE would like to thank all participants and remind you that the 23 Mobile Things Program will be available after the June 15th deadline. If you’re not able to finish by then, you can always revisit the program at your leisure.
Tip: See what people are saying on Twitter about 23 Mobile Things by following the hashtag #23ThingsMN and join the conversation!
It’s the second to last 23 Mobile Thing spotlight, and we hope you’ve enjoyed looking at them as much as we have. Remember the end date to complete all 23 Mobile Things is June 15th. Next week we will be announcing prizes for finishers of this program, so stay tuned! This week we take a look at Thing 11, Library and Reference.
In her Mobile Learning Upsurge blog, Roxanne Backowski looked at two different library mobile websites. First she looked at ELM. “I thought ELM’s mobile site was laid out well and was happy to see the Ask a Librarian/AskMN option,” she said. “That makes it quick to ask questions from a mobile device!”
After ELM, she moved on to SCSU Library’s mobile website. She found the site easy to use “and even placed an inter-library loan request on the mobile site.” Imagine the possibilities! College students checking out materials from their class after a professor suggests them, or even from their dorm room in their pajamas.
In this case two mobile websites were used instead of a specific library app. Looking at this list of mobile website advantages, it might make more sense for some libraries instead of an app.
For other great library/reference ideas, or for any of the Things, check out the other CMLE participant’s blogs from this page: http://23mobilethingsmn.org/cmle/
For those that are in the program, we encourage you to continue blogging, tweeting, and posting about your experiences. If you’re struggling for motivation, feel free to skip around. Find that mobile thing that motivates you. Remember the end date to complete all 23 Mobile Things is June 15th. If learning more about mobile devices isn’t enough, we remind you that registered Minnesota participants are eligible for prizes! Keep up the great work and make sure to collect your badges.
Tip: See what people are saying on Twitter about 23 Mobile Things by following the hashtag #23ThingsMN and join the conversation!
This week the CMLE office shines the 23 Mobile Things spotlight on Thing 21, Free-for-all.
With this Thing, participants were tasked with blogging about an app they love but wasn’t included in the 23 Mobile Things program. There were many good posts by CMLE bloggers and many were passionate about the apps they love.
One blogger, Carolyn Avaire, in her 23 in ’14 blog, shared a great quote app. We can all use some great inspiration in our lives! “It was tough finding an app that also included info on the quoter,” she said. “I like to read about the people behind the quotes almost as much as the quotes.” The Android app was called Brilliant Quotes and is worth its addition to your mobile device.
For those that are in the program, we encourage you to continue blogging, tweeting, and posting about your experiences. If you’re struggling for motivation, feel free to skip around. Find that mobile thing that motivates you.
Remember the end date to complete all 23 Mobile Things is June 15th. If learning more about mobile devices isn’t enough, we remind you that registered Minnesota participants are eligible for prizes! Keep up the great work and make sure to collect your badges.
Tip: See what people are saying on Twitter about 23 Mobile Things by following the hashtag #23ThingsMN and join the conversation!
This week the CMLE office shines the 23 Mobile Thing spotlight on Sharing Photos, Thing 10.
CMLE Board member and Sauk Rapids Media Specialist Maria Burnham expressed her love for Instagram. “I love, love, love Instagram,” she said. On her post, she demonstrated how Instagram can be used easily and quickly at any moment. While on a student walk, she just held her camera in the air and took a picture. By applying a filter to the picture, she was truly able to capture the mood. “Everyone’s a professional photographer with Instagram!”
How are you sharing photos at your library or school?
For other great photo sharing ideas, or for any of the Things, check out the other CMLE participant’s blogs from this page: http://23mobilethingsmn.org/cmle/
For those that are in the program, we encourage you to continue blogging, tweeting, and posting about your experiences. If you’re struggling for motivation, feel free to skip around. Find that mobile thing that motivates you. Remember the end date to complete all 23 Mobile Things is June 15th. If learning more about mobile devices isn’t enough, we remind you that registered Minnesota participants are eligible for prizes! Keep up the great work and make sure to collect your badges.
Tip: See what people are saying on Twitter about 23 Mobile Things by following the hashtag #23ThingsMN and join the conversation!
Partnering with libraries for visioning, advocating, and educating
What do you do for professional development? Attend conferences? Read professional literature? Linda Braun on the YALSA blog would argue that you’re not doing enough! She points to a discussion that recently took place over Twitter related to going beyond just the library world and also learning at other education forums.
