Prezentations
This was an interesting and timely thing for me. I have a presentation to present next week at NLA (on RDA) so I decided I would actually try to use Prezi to construct my presentation. I believe that this was used by a keynote speaker at a conference last year, and although I found it a little hard to follow at times it was also pretty engaging.
It was a very interesting exercise. I came to this with a pretty open mind about what I was going to do and now reflecting on what I created it, it is pretty much still a Power Point presentation but the way it was constructed was much less linear. And I was working in a more confined space, as I used a template -- which really made me narrow my focus and words (I also was trying to take to heart we learned earlier about presenting).
I started with a template, as I am not very good at layout with a blank canvas (I need structure -- I can play with the structure but I prefer to have a framework first). The template provided boxes to fill in. The hardest part was working out how to clear some of the existing text. The tutorials provided were very useful and once I started working with it, it worked pretty well.
My presentation (on RDA) can be found here: http://prezi.com/cf1h0ckmpcni/lets-talk-about-rda/
It is all text. No images (I couldn't think of any good ones) and no video (uh, really doesn't apply unless there were some RDA presentation but then we'd all be asleep). I did experiment with putting in a web link but couldn't easily find a way to make it active so I took that out.
There are some interesting tools that I found later that I would consider using at another time, such as the timeline. I also appreciated being able to change the color on the template easily, which I did. I will be interested to see how well this works for my presentation next week.
This is a tool that I will use again. I am not overly fond of Power Point and although Prezi forces me to think in ways I don't normally I found it an useful way to think about presenting.
Friday, September 30, 2011
CPD23 Thing 19
Catching my breath
Whew! What a blessing to have time to catch my breath and reflect, even though this is still late. Work has been so busy that I have not felt that I have had time to work on CPD23.
Which is a pity. I have found that I have greatly enjoyed learning about things, reflecting on them, perhaps trying something out and then writing about it. Some of the things have been ones I have used before, such as Google Calendar, but I learned new ways to use it. Some I have never heard of, such as Zotero or Zing (hmm, why is the Z so appealing in a name?) which offer some interesting possibilities.
What has probably been the biggest influence, so far, though was Thing 3. I had not really considered how I was presenting myself in my blog or through Twitter which are the accounts I use to professionally rather than personally/professionally (as with Facebook). In fact I came into this being rather resistant to the idea of a personal brand. And I still consider that a rather silly or overly corporate idea. However, I have come to realize the importance of considering your online presence. This goes beyond concerns of privacy or being careful what you do in your personal life that gets online to concerns of consistency and professionalism. So I spent some time tweaking and integrating my Twitter and Blog accounts. They do not look exactly the same but I have used similar red backgrounds and have a link to my Twitter feed on my blog. I know that this concept is one I'll keep in mind for the future.
Looking ahead Prezi might be something I'll look into and use for my presentation in October. And I have just realized that we'll be wrapping up soon. But maybe there will also be something to continue. I certainly hope so.
Whew! What a blessing to have time to catch my breath and reflect, even though this is still late. Work has been so busy that I have not felt that I have had time to work on CPD23.
Which is a pity. I have found that I have greatly enjoyed learning about things, reflecting on them, perhaps trying something out and then writing about it. Some of the things have been ones I have used before, such as Google Calendar, but I learned new ways to use it. Some I have never heard of, such as Zotero or Zing (hmm, why is the Z so appealing in a name?) which offer some interesting possibilities.
What has probably been the biggest influence, so far, though was Thing 3. I had not really considered how I was presenting myself in my blog or through Twitter which are the accounts I use to professionally rather than personally/professionally (as with Facebook). In fact I came into this being rather resistant to the idea of a personal brand. And I still consider that a rather silly or overly corporate idea. However, I have come to realize the importance of considering your online presence. This goes beyond concerns of privacy or being careful what you do in your personal life that gets online to concerns of consistency and professionalism. So I spent some time tweaking and integrating my Twitter and Blog accounts. They do not look exactly the same but I have used similar red backgrounds and have a link to my Twitter feed on my blog. I know that this concept is one I'll keep in mind for the future.
Looking ahead Prezi might be something I'll look into and use for my presentation in October. And I have just realized that we'll be wrapping up soon. But maybe there will also be something to continue. I certainly hope so.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
CPD23 Thing 18
Beyond Print Screen
The past few weeks I have been immersed with our new ILS but I wish I had known about things such as Zing and Screen-cast-omatic. I have had to do a few documents to let staff know how to do things in the new system and I can see how Zing or Screen-cast-omatic would have helped immensely in order to show how to use things.
I have looked at the demos for both products and prefer Screen-cast-omatic -- it is simpler and more straightforward. Zing seems to be trying a bit too hard. But I would have to actually use both tools and see which I preferred.
A few thoughts about using such products. First, is the need to work out carefully what you are going to be presenting. I am used to communicating by writing but not so used to communicating by video. It requires some differences in thinking, in planning and presentation. Second, I wonder what is required by others to view these screen casts. It is implied, but not directly stated, that they do not need to download the products. I hope not. Third, is there a time limit on how long your screen cast can be?
Screen casting is a great development for online teaching. We have used it in the past to help our patrons learn how to search, place holds and such. I hope we will continue to do so in the future. We have not made such use of podcasting but I know that some libraries do so. Or they use podcasts like a little radio show or blog post.
We still tend to operate very much in the written word I wonder how long it will take us to begin to operate more in the spoken words and dynamic visuals?
The past few weeks I have been immersed with our new ILS but I wish I had known about things such as Zing and Screen-cast-omatic. I have had to do a few documents to let staff know how to do things in the new system and I can see how Zing or Screen-cast-omatic would have helped immensely in order to show how to use things.
I have looked at the demos for both products and prefer Screen-cast-omatic -- it is simpler and more straightforward. Zing seems to be trying a bit too hard. But I would have to actually use both tools and see which I preferred.
A few thoughts about using such products. First, is the need to work out carefully what you are going to be presenting. I am used to communicating by writing but not so used to communicating by video. It requires some differences in thinking, in planning and presentation. Second, I wonder what is required by others to view these screen casts. It is implied, but not directly stated, that they do not need to download the products. I hope not. Third, is there a time limit on how long your screen cast can be?
Screen casting is a great development for online teaching. We have used it in the past to help our patrons learn how to search, place holds and such. I hope we will continue to do so in the future. We have not made such use of podcasting but I know that some libraries do so. Or they use podcasts like a little radio show or blog post.
We still tend to operate very much in the written word I wonder how long it will take us to begin to operate more in the spoken words and dynamic visuals?
CPD23 Thing 16
On Being a Library Advocate
It is very hard to be an effective advocate for libraries. Most librarians and library staff are pretty happy to tell others about what we do and the services we have to offer. I know that I have often embarrassed my family by chatting about our databases when talking with others. Databases are one of the most underused library resources and so hard to get people to use but they can be so valuable.
However, we cannot just promote library services to people. No matter how great they are. The existence of libraries all over is threatened. Many question whether we need them. Those of us who work in libraries need to determine for ourselves how important the library is and whether we are willing to speak up and be heard.
We can participate in activities such as writing letters or email messages and sending them to federal, state and city officials. In Nebraska we have a Legislative Day where library staff are encouraged to take their local senators to lunch and educate them about the library. There is also a national legislative day and action that can be taken on that level.
We can go to the city council hearings and speak up. We can encourage our patrons to go to those hearings, tell their stories, and write their representatives. We can encourage them to join Friends of the Library groups and encourage those groups to be advocates. We have to be willing to put ourselves out there and encourage others to do the same.
It is very hard to be an effective advocate for libraries. Most librarians and library staff are pretty happy to tell others about what we do and the services we have to offer. I know that I have often embarrassed my family by chatting about our databases when talking with others. Databases are one of the most underused library resources and so hard to get people to use but they can be so valuable.
However, we cannot just promote library services to people. No matter how great they are. The existence of libraries all over is threatened. Many question whether we need them. Those of us who work in libraries need to determine for ourselves how important the library is and whether we are willing to speak up and be heard.
We can participate in activities such as writing letters or email messages and sending them to federal, state and city officials. In Nebraska we have a Legislative Day where library staff are encouraged to take their local senators to lunch and educate them about the library. There is also a national legislative day and action that can be taken on that level.
We can go to the city council hearings and speak up. We can encourage our patrons to go to those hearings, tell their stories, and write their representatives. We can encourage them to join Friends of the Library groups and encourage those groups to be advocates. We have to be willing to put ourselves out there and encourage others to do the same.
CPD23 Thing 15
Even Introverts Can Enjoy Conferences
I have been a frequent conference goer from ALA and PLA to our local state library association's annual conferences. I have also been a conference presenter both in large and small venues.
First, conference attendance. I generally enjoy conferences -- whether there are interesting sessions to attend, vendors to browse, speakers to listen to, tables to staff, committee meetings to sit through, colleagues to catch up with. I also end up totally drained by the end of the conference. I love the ideas and the energy but all that interaction with others -- honestly, it gives me a headache. So I find ways to rest up and restore -- if I can I room by myself just so I can get some alone time. Otherwise I might sit somewhere in a crowded room and try to isolate myself (pouring intently over the conference program often helps to keep others at bay).
I have always gotten something out of a conference. I may not get something out of every session I attend but overall attending is worthwhile. Sometimes I attend because I have committee meetings I have to go to but generally it is because of the sessions offered. On reflection some of those sessions, even the ones that haven't been directly related to my job, have been pretty worth while. I still remember a session given by the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library about Friends and Foundation groups at PLA nearly 4 years ago. It was a very well done presentation, very engaging and entertaining, yet informative. My library director had asked me to go to that one and I am glad I did. And many keynote sessions I have attended have been really interesting whether hearing from a Google staffer on how to search and it's algorithm or Mary Pipher talk about immigrant populations in Nebraska.
I started presenting at NLA annual conferences a number of years ago. That first year I was rather terrified. I was part of a panel and I read what I had written. I am sure it was not very engaging. Since then, I have become comfortable in this small setting, where I often know at least some of the participants. I have been pretty good at coming up with conference sessions for TSRT to sponsor at NLA. Last year was one of the few years I didn't present. But I am back in the saddle again and will be working on a RDA panel presentation for NLA in October.
What I have found far more daunting and don't really care to go do again, is presenting at PLA. For the past two years I was part of a group of presenters that presented Dangerous Ideas at PLA. In Minneapolis we were in the conference center's auditorium -- it is a big space. When it was my turn to speak I couldn't really see the audience. I did not have a large part to play but did my part okay. I have a soft voice and am not very experienced with microphones so I may not always have been heard. Last year's PLA was in Portland and we were again in a large space, a ballroom, or two. I put together a powerpoint slide show that told a story (about passive aggressiveness in a library) -- I used images with a little text and had notes to speak from. I did better than the last time, but I know that I was hard to hear at times. I started with a joke (My name is Deirdre and I am non-confrontational passive aggressive), at least it got a laugh.
But I am really not comfortable in front of such a large group. I do well with the NLA audience. I can talk on a subject I have some knowledge and perhaps expertise with and not need a script (or a microphone). I am glad I have done the presentations at PLA -- it is good to know that I can do them but also good to know that I don't want to do it again. Like going down the enclosed slide at Coco-Keys.
I have been a frequent conference goer from ALA and PLA to our local state library association's annual conferences. I have also been a conference presenter both in large and small venues.
First, conference attendance. I generally enjoy conferences -- whether there are interesting sessions to attend, vendors to browse, speakers to listen to, tables to staff, committee meetings to sit through, colleagues to catch up with. I also end up totally drained by the end of the conference. I love the ideas and the energy but all that interaction with others -- honestly, it gives me a headache. So I find ways to rest up and restore -- if I can I room by myself just so I can get some alone time. Otherwise I might sit somewhere in a crowded room and try to isolate myself (pouring intently over the conference program often helps to keep others at bay).
I have always gotten something out of a conference. I may not get something out of every session I attend but overall attending is worthwhile. Sometimes I attend because I have committee meetings I have to go to but generally it is because of the sessions offered. On reflection some of those sessions, even the ones that haven't been directly related to my job, have been pretty worth while. I still remember a session given by the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library about Friends and Foundation groups at PLA nearly 4 years ago. It was a very well done presentation, very engaging and entertaining, yet informative. My library director had asked me to go to that one and I am glad I did. And many keynote sessions I have attended have been really interesting whether hearing from a Google staffer on how to search and it's algorithm or Mary Pipher talk about immigrant populations in Nebraska.
I started presenting at NLA annual conferences a number of years ago. That first year I was rather terrified. I was part of a panel and I read what I had written. I am sure it was not very engaging. Since then, I have become comfortable in this small setting, where I often know at least some of the participants. I have been pretty good at coming up with conference sessions for TSRT to sponsor at NLA. Last year was one of the few years I didn't present. But I am back in the saddle again and will be working on a RDA panel presentation for NLA in October.
What I have found far more daunting and don't really care to go do again, is presenting at PLA. For the past two years I was part of a group of presenters that presented Dangerous Ideas at PLA. In Minneapolis we were in the conference center's auditorium -- it is a big space. When it was my turn to speak I couldn't really see the audience. I did not have a large part to play but did my part okay. I have a soft voice and am not very experienced with microphones so I may not always have been heard. Last year's PLA was in Portland and we were again in a large space, a ballroom, or two. I put together a powerpoint slide show that told a story (about passive aggressiveness in a library) -- I used images with a little text and had notes to speak from. I did better than the last time, but I know that I was hard to hear at times. I started with a joke (My name is Deirdre and I am non-confrontational passive aggressive), at least it got a laugh.
But I am really not comfortable in front of such a large group. I do well with the NLA audience. I can talk on a subject I have some knowledge and perhaps expertise with and not need a script (or a microphone). I am glad I have done the presentations at PLA -- it is good to know that I can do them but also good to know that I don't want to do it again. Like going down the enclosed slide at Coco-Keys.
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