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An Infopeople Online Learning Course

Start:
April 25th, 2017 12:00 PM
End:
May 22nd, 2017 4:30 PM
Pricing
California $125.00
Out-of-state $200.00

Is your library struggling to reach the often-elusive group of emerging adults? Libraries promote themselves as centers of lifelong learning, yet users in their 20s and 30s constitute one of their most underserved populations.

Join instructor Audrey Barbakoff in this 4-week course, designed to guide learners through planning and implementing successful and engaging adult programs. You will build your confidence and develop concrete plans for serving emerging adults in your community by focusing on play, while exploring real-world examples, best practices, and useful tips and techniques that can be applied immediately. Week by week you will walk through creating a targeted, effective program of your own from start to finish, so you can leave with a fully-prepared plan that’s ready to put into action at your library. Additionally, you will be introduced to a strategy for encouraging your teams, boards, and funders to support these non-traditional adult programs.

Course Description: This four-week online course will provide weekly readings, practical assignments, and discussion forums for sharing ideas and experiences. The instructor will provide essential resources, best practices, and useful tips and techniques that can be applied immediately in your library.

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

  • Week 1: Getting started with emerging adult programs
    • Program planning secret to success: working backwards
    • Community assessment: Who are emerging adults?
    • Outcomes: what impact do you want to have on this community?
    • Outputs and inputs: How will you bring this impact to life? What do you have, and what do you need?
  • Week 2: So you have an idea… now what?
    • Who has already done something like this?
    • Identifying resources and needs – time, space, staff, prep time, funds
    • Building partnerships – filling your gaps or stretching further than you can on your own (ID stakeholders, communication plan development, leave your building, be prepared for challenges and opportunities)
    • Conclusion and Assignments
  • Week 3: Programs in action! Having a successful day 
    • Program promotion for emerging adults – how to get them there
    • Making it fun
      • Get Dirty (interest-driven, project-based learning)
      • Get Together (learning is social)
      • Get Out (programs in unexpected places)
    • Integrating reflection – the ripple effect
    • Conclusion/Assignments
  • Week 4: Taking it to the next step
    • Using evaluation to repeat success (SMART goals, KPIs, outcomes based evaluation, forms and other feedback methods)
    • Up and coming models for evaluating and planning – co-design, EDI, etc
    • Slaying the failure monster – failure isn’t fatal
    • Articulate success and grow support for fun adult programs, so you can do more of them! (Align with org values and goals, use language strategically)

Time Required: To complete this course, you can expect to spend 2 ½ hours per week, for a total of ten course hours. Each week's module contains readings and various options for assignments, discussions, or online meetings. 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 program for adults

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

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: Programming, Adult services