Future job musings part two.

Whilst thinking about what area I would like to head into, so that I can get my skills together in that area, I thought I would keep an eye out for relevant job specifications with interesting bits. And pull them together here, in the one place. So, in no particular order, and in the knowledge that this will be added to and modified over time, I present:

• Investigation of emerging technologies relevant to materials' management and customer services.
• Improved awareness and use of a wide variety of technological solutions by library staff and customers.
• A planned and integrated approach to the use and deployment of technology that will enhance library services and facilities in conjunction with corporate strategies.
• Proven expertise and experience in the application of information technology in the library environment, including the ability to develop and implement innovative programs, effective actions within broad policy guidelines and a commitment to quality improvement practices.

My dream job...

I've been thinking that I need to get more organised with regard to my Professional Development. So, the first step I'm undertaking is completing the PD kit from ALIA (available for ALIA members from http://membership.alia.org.au/lib/pdf/education/pd/kit.fulltext.2005.pdf)

The first thing that I decided to do is to look at what is my "dream" job... This is something that I've suggested to other people, but not recently looked at for myself. And it has changed since the birth of three children! So, here goes (and not in any particular order)...

• Flexible hours (both the number and the timing)
• Decent dollars (money is not a major driving force but I'd like to be paid what I'm worth, and enough to be able to justify working :))
• Constantly learning/challenging myself (but self paced)
• Helping people (that's part of my job satisfaction)
• Using 'new' technologies (and having decent technology to work with)
• Working in a team but responsible for my own 'stuff'
• Passing on knowledge/adult education
• Recognition by peers would be nice, but from 'clients' is more important
• Flexible location (ie possibilities of telecommuting) would be nice :)

I'm sure there are more things that should be here and that I'll be adding to this list but that's what springs to mind right now.

Interesting that there isn't anything that screams 'library' as such. But that's still where I feel drawn to be, if possible. And my current weekend reference shifts at Murdoch University library tick quite a number of these boxes - just not all :)

Thing 23 - Second Life

Introducing Buji Balazic :) I have to admit, I like the name OK but have seen some just wonderful ones from other people.

Like a number of the 23 things, I've found it fun & reasonably easy in the workshop, but don't seem to be get back to "play" in more depth. Well, I've logged on once and managed to get myself lost while trying to work out how to teleport :) For this non-game-player it's not all that intuitive once I get past the basics.

But I WILL continue to find out more about Second Life and similar tools - just perhaps not for a while - perhaps those very early morning baby feeds in a few months time when I will just possibly get some quiet time to be able to take it in! (If I can stay awake of course).

I'm a bit sad the 23 Things have come to an end - I liked Kathryn's recent post about the things she is hoping to learn about in 2009, and will continue to follow this and a number of other blogs to try to piggy-back on the learning of others... I've been pleased with the way I've been able to take some of my existing skills and discover that I can reasonably quickly adapt to these new technologies. Trying to keep up is going to be difficult with a new baby but there are shortcuts available (ie the piggybacking) so I'm hoping that my brain won't atrophy too much!

Thing 22 - Gaming

How might we adapt our instructional material to better engage digital natives?

I have found this a really interesting area and have done a little more reading on it - enough to know that there is a lot yet for me to know! But some of the points that I have picked up on so far include:

From: Engaging Digital Natives http://www.slideshare.net/cliotech/engaging-digital-natives accessed 19/12/2008

* used to receiving information really fast
* parallel processing & multi-tasking
* prefer graphics before text
* work best in networks
* instant gratification & frequent rewards
* prefer 'games' to 'work'


From Van Eck, Richard. Digital Game-Based Learning: It's Not Just the Digital Natives Who Are Restless in EDUCAUSE Review, vol. 41, no. 2 (March/April 2006): 16–30.

* require multiple streams of information,
* prefer inductive reasoning,
* want frequent and quick interactions with content, and
* have exceptional visual literacy skills

Must be engaged to retain information

” For gamers, learning “is consumed in very small bits exactly when the learner wants, which is usually just before the skill is needed” (Beck & Wade 2004b, 159)
Beck, John C., and Mitchell Wade. 2004b. in Got game: How the gamer generation is reshaping business forever. Boston: Harvard Business School.

* risk taking,
* data immersion, and
* trial and error

"It’s a rapid cycle of hypothesis, experiment, and analysis. And it’s a fundamentally different take on problem-solving than the linear, read-the-manual-first approach of their parents” (2006, 111). Wright, Will. 2006. Dream machines. Wired 14 (4): 110-112.

Basically, they don't want huge screeds of information that they think may or may not be of use to them in the future - they want shortcuts for things they are already using, and the ability to quickly find the exact answer to their exact query - at the point they have it.
So, rather than some of the more traditional lecture type situations, hands on involvement (preferably in a fun format) and comprehensive searchable material (that covers all possibilities) for later reference seem to be more appropriate to their learning style. Still thinking on this & it's implications - obviously we're already part way there (at least in what we attempt), but some of the preparation could be hugely time consuming (some examples of educational games required huge dollars as well). Hmmm...

Thing 21 - Ustream and the impact of ubiquitous video

I watched Kathryn's demo of Ustream with interest but would have liked to see the chat functionality in action. I've now registered and will have a play at home, away from the security restrictions (well, hypersensitive IT-savvy husband aside) to see how that side works.

Thing 18, 19 - Join Twitter, Tweet for a Week

The Twitter registration process was quite simple and clear - pity I was meant to tweet the week that I only had one day at work :) But I've been enjoying reading other's tweets, and also found out quite a bit more about some people's roles.
I also read something quite interesting:


Terrorist 'tweets'? US Army warns of Twitter dangers

Not that this is a new idea or unique to Twitter - as others have written, the whole point of many of these new technologies is to enable faster communication. Most technologies can be used for positive or negative results depending on the outlook of the users...

Thing 20 - Slideshare.net & YouTube.com

I wasn't sure what to search for, but was having a pang of regret at not being in the Top End, so searched for & found a short video about a section of Litchfield National Park. This shows a section near the Buley Rock Holes - a FANTASTIC swimming spot we visited regularly. This video was taken in the wet so it's not the normal sedate plunge pools but it still brought back great memories :)



I found the embedding process very simple and I have seen a number of instances that this has been a very useful way of sharing information.