Pat's Feedback

My thoughts on the 3 day training programme, devised and delivered by Sangeet, are that it’s probably the most beneficial, practical course I’ve ever attended. One of the most enjoyable too!

I’ve learned new skills, but I’ve actually applied them during the programme itself. This has made all the difference. In my experience, what usually happens after attending training is that copious notes, taken on the day, never really get translated into practical work. The ‘day job’ and time constraints always take precedence. Not this time though.

After day 2 I left bursting with knowledge (on the background & development of Web 2.0) and ideas of how I would use the new tools we’d been let loose on (some of which I’d never even heard of before, let alone used) such as Bubbl.us, Muvee Reveal, Tweet Deck and various widgets (which bloggers call gadgets).

I now know about the importance of using labels to find your stuff and how to successfully embed. I’ve seen many (previously unknown to me) useful websites such as ted.com and videojug and feel the need to get my hands on a Flip video camera. I can’t wait for my mobile phone contract to end - so that I can get a Smartphone & download useful apps such as audio-boo. I could go on . . . (but I won’t).

 A key ingredient in the success of this programme, I think, was to split it up into two parts; with ‘homework’ to complete during the intervening weeks. We had space (with a deadline at the end of it) to show off our newly acquired skills and it was so inspiring to see what the rest of the participants had achieved. We are all using what we learned right now to enhance client support. Amazing.

 I would certainly welcome continued support from Sangeet. She took about 10 minutes, at the end of our last session, to show me how to expertly tweak my project into something much better. She takes a real interest and if left to my own devices, I would probably have taken hours to achieve the same result (or given up trying).

Following the end of the course, we have been given access to numerous, really helpful, resources related to Digital Security. This is a subject that should concern us all and is something I will be raising with students during future LRC inductions.

I would like to keep in touch with WISEKIDS to help me stay on top of Web 2.0 developments; if Cymal are able to provide follow up support sessions, perhaps on an annual basis, I would definitely sign up for them. Brillo!

Cyber Savvy MindMap - ideas around promoting digital safety skills

This is a 'quick and dirty' mindmap of ways in which I might promote digital safety skills with students - back at the ranch . . . .

Care Sciences LRC Blog all set up and ready to go . . .

The start of term madness finally tailored off last week with the last of our inductions and workshops - and I had a chance to work on our new blog. Rob - my job share colleague - has been persuaded (!) that a joint blog would be a good idea and has given me his first post. . . . The blog is looking good, if rather short on content, but I'm sure this will change over the coming months. . . .

I'm looking forward to our catch-up Wise Kids workshop on Monday. Have a few questions to ask Sangeet & new skills to learn . . . http://caresciencelibs.blogspot.com/

New Skills: New Plan

After a brilliant two days with Sangeet, at the Cymal sponsored 'WiseKids' workshops, I am full of ideas!

I work as a part-time Information Librarian, at the University of Glamorgan (Glyntaff Campus) LRC. My role is to support 'Care Sciences' students and lecturers (nursing courses etc.) navigate their way around our range of resources and get the most from them to achieve great results.

I arrange and conduct student inductions, run workshops, source and buy books (increasingly e-books) answer numerous queries, man the Information and Service Desk (ISD), manage a budget, attend faculty meetings etc. -  all on 18.5hrs p.w.! I job-share with my colleague Robert and one of my ideas, following on from Sangeet's course, is to develop a really interesting collaborative Blog, with weekly contributions from myself and Robert (and possibly other LRC staff ). This will be an extra and fun way of supporting students and staff - because it will be interactive and dynamic and definitely not boring. A real human connection, rather than cold functional advice. It will, of course, be full of useful information literacy tools, pointers to really great resources, reminders about current service developments and so on - but it will, hopefully, be so much more . . . . 

Once up and running, I will create a link to my Uni Glam e-mail signature, so that every e-mail I send out will have the link. I also plan to advertise my work in our Newsletter etc., as things develop. I have already discussed the idea with my colleague Rob and he's definitely up for it. With two of us contributing, the task won't be onerous and should be full of excellent content. 

I will be using 'TweetDeck' to help me populate the blog with interesting and up-to-date developments. I do already use Twitter - but the WiseKids course has taught me all kinds of ways to exploit this Web 2.0 tool in more effective ways. 

I could say a lot more here, but, for now, I'm simply going to quote the Nike mantra and 'Just Do It'. Wish me luck and I'll catch up with you guys again in November and hopefully, have something worthwhile to show. . . .   

Pat's Mind Map

My mindmap - which was created really quickly (!) - is simply my idea of how I will use new Web 2.0 technologies to enhance the student experience, in the areas where I offer support (Care Sciences) at Glamorgan University . . .
Different technologies will enable me to connect with students in many different ways - offering support for different learning styles and needs. The mind map is my illustration, of how this may look