[Session at ALA Annual Meeting, Anaheim, CA June 28, 2008]
As one of the founding parents of the LITA Top Tech Trends, I am perhaps biased, but….
I’m really glad that this time more “trendsters” participated in part due to the wonders of technology. The inclusion of additional voices, perspectives cannot but help. These sessions [...]
LITA TTT Disappointment
Tom, June 29th 2008
The Future of Libraries, ALA Washington Office Breakout Session
[Session at ALA Annual Meeting, Anaheim, CA June 28, 2008]
Joan Frye Williams:
We’re in the idea business.
Relationship management business, more about relationships than transactions.
“Members” preferred term for what we call users, patrons, customers.
Thinking about what they will want next.
Not just a place to go, a place to do things
not the grocery store, but a kitchen
trust us [...]
Tom, June 29th 2008
Some general thoughts on the Educause Southeast Regional Conference
When I was in Maryland, I attended the Mid-Atlantic Educause meetings. Like those meetings the SER one was focused and pragmatic–useful. It was great to get connected with some more folks in the SE. I’m also always amazed at the people one meets from one’s own institution at events such as this. [...]
Tom, June 29th 2008
Framing the Cyberinfrastructure Discussion on Your Campus
[Session at Educause Southeast Regional Conference, Jacksonville, FL June 2-4, 2008]
Call it what you want, but discussions of cyberinfrastructure requires a shared lexicon so that conversations can be understood in meaningful ways.
Collaboration
Significant change in organizational structure and climate.
Communicating across organizational boundaries (within campuses or among institutions)
It’s not just hardware and software, though it includes those, [...]
Tom, June 29th 2008
Improving Teaching and Learning
[Session at Educause Southeast Regional Conference, Jacksonville, FL June 2-4, 2008]
Description of the University of South Carolina’s development of teaching excellence and tech training
big take home: MOU, bulleted lists of who does what, and who is responsible for what
don’t assume faculty know something in particular
establishing communities of practice
seminars/colloquia, bring in people from on campus and [...]
Tom, June 29th 2008
Collaboratively Transforming an Abandoned Swimming Pool into an Experimental, Interactive Classroom
[Session at Educause Southeast Regional Conference, Jacksonville, FL June 2-4, 2008]
Clemson University renovated an old YMCA building to support engineering and an innovative classroom.
3 projectors that can display 3 different images, instructors station or any of the students
wired and wireless networks
process has been unique in that multiple disciplines are represented and participating, working together [...]
Tom, June 29th 2008
Shakespeare 2.0: The Feasibility of Wikis in Student Research
[Session at Educause Southeast Regional Conference, Jacksonville, FL June 2-4, 2008]
groups of students (3-4) created wikis based on the identities that recur in Shakespeare’s works (also did Milton)
create an online resource for Shakespeare studies, ongoing research guides
gauge effect this medium has on critical thinking in lit, info lit.
Why Wiki?
maximize creative freedom…we learn as the students [...]
Tom, June 29th 2008
The Challenges an Opportunities of Transforming Organizational Culture
[Session at Educause Southeast Regional Conference, Jacksonville, FL June 2-4, 2008]
University of South Carolina
Still moving out of the 1970’s IT approach focused on mainframes.
30 year old legacy systems
maturing staff approaching retirement
lack of timely IT responses
New demands:
competition for the “best and brightest” students (university mission)
lack of services to give a competitive advantage (expecting tech services that [...]
Tom, June 28th 2008
Michael Bolger, CIO, NASA
[Session at Educause Southeast Regional Conference, Jacksonville, FL June 2-4, 2008]
NASA’s IT circumstance: “complex, sprawling, and expensive environment” IT expenses account for 13% of the annual budget. Bolger highlighted their enterprise architecture, a blueprint for where you want to go and a plan for getting there.
They are attempting to address:
security issues
need to [...]
Tom, June 28th 2008
