Maryland Library Association 2008 Conference Creating a Technology Petting Zoo

Creating A Technology Petting “Zoo” Facilitating a “learning-by- play” environment for effective technology training Maryland Library Association Virtual and Live Conference May 2008

Presented by: Annette Gaskins, Technical Resources Librarian Harford Co. Public Library 1221 A Brass Mill Road, Belcamp, MD 21017 [email_address]

Presented by: Maurice Coleman Technical Trainer Harford Co. Public Library 1221 A Brass Mill Road, Belcamp, MD 21017 http://baldgeek.wordpress.com im/twitter: baldgeekinmd

Links

http://hcpltechfair.blogspot.com

Links to HCPL 23 things blogs here.

On Flickr: baldgeekinmd

Maurice’s blog : http://baldgeek.wordpress.com

Best Buy http://www.bestbuy.com

Circuit City http://www.circuitcity.com

About our system Over 1 mil. Volumes 11 Branches/Two Service Vehicles Almost 4 mil circ Amish, Rural, Farm, Suburban and Urban patrons. For FY 07

What region are you from?

Why Petting Zoo? YA Comm . Staff Survey Learning 2.0 High Buy-In Tech Fair/ Petting Zoo

First Steps..

Get organized & Get help

Get buy-in & Get excited

Use the Tools

Content –These Six? Wikis/Open Source – Work Tool Gaming – Part of Collection Streaming Media – Info Source IM/Myspace – Reference Blogging – Expert Knowledge MP3’s/IPods – Patron Use (Audiobooks)

Which technologies would you use in your region?

First Step – Support

Visible Support from Top

Realistic Scheduling around Fair

Financial Support

Taking Shape – Timing

Hey, we open late on Wednesdays

One hour lecture- two hour lab

Class of 36

6/6/20 and overlap

Be aware of time

Taking Shape – People

Two For The Show/Two Trainers (at least)

Station Masters & Host/Hostesses

Station Staff

Geek and Facility Support

Partnership with Big Box Store

Taking Shape – Finding People

Early Adopters

“ Techie Types” at all levels

Pages/Teen/Younger Adult Staff

Staff with kids and teens

Trainers in the system

The Curious Learner

Can you think of the folks in your system that fit these categories?

Taking Shape - Space Adequate size and parking Space to move and hear Electronic Infrastructure Good flow

Preparation - Equipment

Computers/Keyboards/Mice

Projectors/ Projection Surfaces

Cords /Cables /Connections

Do a DRY RUN!

Label, Label, Label

Preparation – People

Overlap/Breaks / Lunch

Minimum/maximum numbers

Team skills and personalities

Communicate again and again

The luxury of the floater

Running the Fair – One Practice and practice some more Do a Full Scale Dry Run Plenty of equipment is good Sign, Sign, everywhere a sign Patience is a virtue HAVE FUN!!!

Running the Fair – Two The other shoe will drop & Learn to let go Troubleshooters Identified Tell the people where to go. Tell the people how to get there. Tell them what to do when they get there.

Potholes Change in Technology Equipment and Connections Presenters comfort

Really Big Observation

The gaming station drew a lot of interest because it was more fun and exciting, and it served as a break from all the “serious stuff.”

People occasionally needed to be herded along to the next stop.

Observations

Keep people moving

Blog as you go

You can’t please all the people all the time

Handouts

Document the Zoo

Blog

Photograph

Survey

Anecdotal

Expected Outcomes Introduction and comfort with new stuff. Chance to try hands on. Meet 23 Things and Learning 2.0. Relate to staff at all levels. Emphasize key concepts.

Results and Outcomes