Developing Best Practices for Innovative Technology Programming

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Developing Best Practices for Innovative
Technology Programming
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Media MashUp

• Institute of Museum and Library Services
• Nation of Leaders Demonstration Grant
• November 2008 June 2010
• An Outcome based project that
• the library community can learn from

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Rethinking Programs

• Do our programs respond to emerging needs of
  youth and education in 21st Century society?
• What do we give up? Always painful choices keep
  an eye on participant outcomes.
• Do our library policies and plans support new
  programs?
• Do our administrative practices support new
  programs, especially those that involve
  technology?

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All it takes is a little
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Benefits

• What are they?

Who gets them?
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Libraries

• Support youth development
• Provide leadership opportunities
• Maintain safe spaces for youth to express self
  and experiment
• Build community of new users
• Expand understanding of library role
• Encourage literacy skills of all kinds

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Kids

• Learn to solve problems
• Get a new idea of what a library can be
• Engage in collaborative work
• Find a new group of friends
• Learn to work outsidecomfort zone
• Explore their creative selves

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After all, its for the kids
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• Make it happen at your library!

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All it takes is
Technology Tools
Technology Capacity
Staff Skills
Community of Support
Communications
Marketing
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Attributes

• Flexibility and Problem Solving
• Courage
• Willingness
• Humility
• Enthusiasm
• Helpers

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Location and Support

• Program hardware and software
• Time to gather materials
• Program place
• Time to plan
• Scheduling support
• Tolerance

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Plan for Success

• Set a goal
• Low key, semi-structured
• Age appropriate icebreakers
• Culture of and expectation for sharing
• Instruction, trials and exploration
• Acknowledge kids who emerge as leaders

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Then bring on the kids
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Teaching Techniques

• Ask relevant questions
• Redirect frustrated kids
• Listen to needs
• ENCOURAGE!
• Model problem-solving strategies
• Be a co-learner, make mistakes

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Ranier BeachSeattle Public Library
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Wilmette and Hennepin County Libraries
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Imaginon at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
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Memphis Public Library
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It wont work at my library!

• Off desk time
• Volunteer recruitment
• IT policies
• Selling the program
• Staff skills
• Money
• Space and equipment

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Leverage Resources

• Community Partners . . .
• SIM in Memphis, Library Foundation in
  Philadelphia, YMCA in Seattle, County Corrections
  in Charlotte, Science Museum in Minnesota

Community Volunteers . . . Teen and adult
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Find out more

• Media MashUp
• check out the projects newsletters, reports and
  documentation
• Scratch at MIT
• see what its all about, download the software,
  join the community

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Contact us