Information Technologies in Educational Organizations
I am thoroughly enjoying Pam Berger’s online course this semester at SU, IST611, Information Technologies in Educational Organizations. This course is one of those required for school media students at SU. The focus of the course is to explore the use of Web 2.0 technologies in educational settings, and to investigate collaboration opportunities between library media specialists and other members of the school community. The best part of the class so far has been learning about all the Web 2.0 technologies available for use in a classroom or school library setting. Finally, an alternative to boring PowerPoints! How about a Voicethread or Animoto project? Podcast? Vodcast? Class wiki? Mind Map? The possibilities are endless, and new programs are coming along every day. The two sections of IST611 (Pam Berger’s and Steve Nabinger’s) are putting together a wiki highlighting these technologies, which will be an excellent reference when it is completed.
The course instructors have been creative in designing assignments and delivery methods. We were required to set up facebook and twitter accounts, if we hadn’t already, and are developing collaborative on-site technology projects at libraries where we live. Some weeks our class discussions are conducted using Web 2.0 communication tools such as blogs, Skype, and (coming soon) Second Life. For an example, visit the blog I set up for this course: http://rbuerkett.edublogs.org/. Most of the posts are related to IST611, but I intend to continue using the blog even after the course is complete.
One of the most important takeaways from this course is probably an awareness of not only the technology tools, but also the ongoing professional development opportunities afforded by the various social media tools. I know these skills will serve me very well when I’m a Real Librarian! This course would be useful for MLIS students even if they aren’t on the school media track. Related course for non-schmedia students (those types who get to fit electives into their schedules!) are IST 667 Information Technology for Libraries and Information Centers and IST500 Social Media.
Feel free to comment here or on the Syracuse iSchool LIS facebook page.
Posted by Rebecca Buerkett, Syracuse MLIS distance student, rlbuerke@syr.edu.
May 28th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
[…] posted about Pam Berger’s IST611 Information Technologies in Educational Organizations class before, but I wanted to post a few more links now that the class has ended. First of all, one of the major […]