Using Technology for Community Engagement

The library can play an important role in sharing community stories!

• Would you like to host a speaker at your library and make the live talk available to virtual audiences, too?
• Can you picture teens in your community interviewing other teens about popular current issues and then sharing the interviews on a regularly scheduled podcast?
• Would you like to create video profiles of local community organizations and businesses, then share them as a community service?

All of these things have been done and are possible at your library, too! Using readily accessible equipment such as a smart phone and free or low-cost software, libraries can develop powerful connections with their community by facilitating the sharing of community stories. Using fairly simple technology you can record and upload videos of local businesses, organizations, and community members. You can interview individuals in an ongoing podcast series. You could also virtually share community conversations and events with a wider audience. The skills developed in this course will help you build stronger community relationships which can lead to meaningful conversations and partnerships.

*Our short format courses are customized to the topic, designed to be started and completed in two weeks and offer practical knowledge and information that can be put to use immediately.

Course Description: Through a combination of two live online meetings, independent assignments, and online discussions, you will learn to create and upload videos, podcasts, and live event broadcasts. In addition, you will create a systematic plan for using technology for engagement in your community.

Online Meetings
Meeting One: Apr 6, 2018 at 9 AM Pacific Time/10 AM Mountain Time/11 AM Central Time/12 PM Eastern Time
Meeting Two: Apr 13, 2018 at 9 AM Pacific Time/10 AM Mountain Time/11 AM Central Time/12 PM Eastern Time

Note: Please make every effort to ensure that you are able to attend these two meetings before enrolling in the course. If this is not possible, archived recordings will be made available.

Course Outline: When you log in to the Infopeople online learning site, you will see weekly modules with these topics:

• Week 1: Creating Videos and Podcasts
  • Why is using technology for community engagement beneficial?
  • How to create and share videos
  • How to create and share podcasts
  • Library examples of videos and podcasts that engage with community
• Week 2: Broadcasting virtual events and creating a plan
  • How to plan and implement a broadcasted event using technology like YouTube Live
  • How to develop a technology engagement action plan for utilizing videos, podcasts, and live event broadcasting
  • How to incorporate virtual technologies in your organization's social media plans or activities

Pre-course Assignment: None

Time Required: To complete this course, you can expect to spend 2½ hours per week, for a total of five course hours. Each week's module contains an online meeting, 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 are interested in creating greater connection and engagement with their community. This course may be particularly useful for those involved with marketing/publicity or outreach.

Online Learning Details and System Requirements may be found at: infopeople.org/training/online_learning_details.

Learner Requirements: For the most engaging experience, learners should have access to a video camera (or at least a phone with video camera capabilities).

After the official end date for the course, the instructor will be available for limited consultation and support for one more week, and the course material will stay up for an additional week after that. These extra weeks give those who have fallen behind time to work independently to complete the course.

Keywords: Community engagement, Outreach, Technology