Course Instructor: David Lee King
These days, libraries are all about change — especially technology changes. Are you successfully navigating the rapids of technology trends or struggling in white water?
During this course you will see how technology trends affect libraries in general and your library specifically. You’ll look at innovation cycles in consumer technology and how they influence your library and your community. As you learn how to move from trend to task, you’ll be able to envision how trends can be implemented in a library setting, as well as how to improve on existing technology.
With the instructor and your colleagues, you will explore:
- Whether technologies are emerging or submerging
- Plans to incorporate a new technology
- Process reviews to improve existing technology
- Five key technology trends affecting libraries right now
- How to follow and filter trend watchers and trend setters— inside and outside the library world
As a result, you’ll be able to build your own personal strategies for staying on top of technology trends and feel better prepared for technology changes now and in the future.
First offered a year ago, this popular course has been updated. Those who took the previous course commented that it "got me thinking in a new direction...helping me be open to new technology, keep up with it, and consider how it can relate to our library and its users. Invaluable!"
Course Description: During this online course you will learn how rapid technology change affects libraries and about five key technology trends that are currently affecting libraries. You will be able to identify tools and techniques for dealing with the potential overload of technology changes. Depending on your level of work responsibility, you’ll have opportunities to develop a plan to incorporate a new technology or a process review of an existing technology.
Course Outline: When you log in to the Infopeople online learning site, you will see weekly modules with these topics:
Time Required: To complete this course, you can expect to spend 2½ hours per week, for a total of ten course hours. Each week's module contains readings and various options for assignments and discussions. You can choose the options most relevant to your work and interests. Although you can work on each module at your own pace, at any hour of the day or night, it is recommended that you complete each week's work within that week to stay in sync with other learners.
Who Should Take This Course: Library staff who want a greater understanding of coming technology changes and how to deal with emerging technology trends.
Online Learning Details and System Requirements may be found at: infopeople.org/training/online_learning_details.
Course Start: This online learning course starts on Tuesday, July 8, 2014.
After the official end date for the course, the instructor will be available for limited consultation and support for two more weeks, and the course material will stay up for an additional two weeks after that. These extra weeks give those who have fallen behind time to work independently to complete the course.
Keywords: Technology, Trendwatching