Strengthening CE Content for Libraries
What is the Strengthening Continuing Education Content for Libraries project?
Funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and
driven by WebJunction in partnership with Infopeople, the Strengthening Continuing Education Content for Libraries project stems from a resounding theme in the library field: if libraries are to effectively respond to the rapid changes in technology and society, then library staff must embrace continuous learning, and their institutions must support the learning that will drive organizational success. Library-focused CE providers are challenged to find effective and sustainable models for delivering training opportunities that meet ever-changing demands for new skills and knowledge.
This project seeks to address current needs by updating library competencies with 21st century skills, identifying high priority topics for libraries, and piloting new, practical models for training content development and delivery. The Training Institute will build the skills and capacity of CE providers to rapidly and collaboratively design and deliver high-quality content on topics essential to the field.
Project Activities
WebJunction and Infopeople are collaborating on the design and delivery of a training program that will focus on the value of online learning and strategies for producing quality, cost-efficient, learning content that can be built, shared and sustained via online tools and platforms. As project leads, WebJunction and Infopeople are piloting models for the rapid creation of online learning objects that are geared to be replicable. They will share these models with participants in the Training Institute, who will then work collaboratively with the each other to produce additional learning objects.
Library CE Training Institute
Up to 12 CE providers will be selected to receive training on best practices for designing and delivering online learning. Training participants will be selected through an application process that will seek to involve trainers who have expertise with general training principles and experience delivering library-specific training, but who may wish to develop their competency in online training design.
This training will be delivered as a blend of live online workshops, self-paced tutorials, and an in-person session. There will be two online sessions in early April and a two-day in-person session May 6–7; at least two more online sessions will be hosted after the in-person meeting.
Participants will learn together and work in teams to create new learning objects on high priority topics for building library staff skills. The online learning objects that institute participants create together can be used within their own organizations, and will also be shared openly throughout the library field by WebJunction.org. All activities will be completed by August 2014.
