Opting out of "presenting" online

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There's no point in being a damn fool about it.
W. C. Fields

I gave two talks for Libraries 2.0 yesterday and went to bed feeling incompetent. While a feeling of inadequacy is not exactly a rare occurrence in my life, feeling like I'd done a poor job as a presenter is pretty darned rare.

I'm still not quite sure why things didn't feel right. The evening talk was essentially the same one I gave (live) at AASL last Saturday that went well. I've done webinars before that felt positive and useful to participants. The Library 2.0 event itself was well organized.

There were some technical challenges, epecially in the evening session. I could not see the chat window and needed to rely on my moderator (who seemed to often be otherwise occupied) to relay comments and questions to me. No one attending seemed to use the hand raise, smiley/frowny face icons during the talk. I could load only a limited number of slides to the Blackboard platform.  And I have to admit, by 8PM my energy level is not what it is at 8AM which may have been the major problem.

I am tempted to just take a pledge never to attempt another webinar - as presenter, anyway. It doesn't fit my style, temperament, abilities, etc. Just take Fields's advice above and stop being a damn fool about this one thing.

The bigger question is "Do we let all educators "opt out" of a method or tool that does not seem to work with their teaching style? I am tempted to say yes, but I am curious what reader's thoughts might be.

Handouts for AASL restricted?

Turns out that some folks on LM_Net are a little put out that AASL restricts access to the online handouts to those who were registered. Sound "bid-ness," I'm sure, but not exactly a big help to the general over all profession.

Since at least 1998, I have made all my support materials (formerly known as handouts) available on my wiki where they are clearly marked with a Creative Commons license.  When I remember, I bring note cards like the one below that help those attending find the wiki.

This works for me on a number of levels:

1. The support materials are easy to update on the wiki. (Remember that one Internet year is equal to twenty human years.) Easy for me to find as well. 
2. Fewer trees are needlessly sacrificed. What percentage of handouts actually get read? (Not saved, but read and used?)
3. Everybody's suitcase and back are less strained going home.
4. Online handouts support virtual conferences such as Steve Hargadon's Library 2.011. (Shameless self-promotion: I am doing two sessions (Libraries in the Cloud and Changed But Critical) for the conference tomorrow. Check it out since the price is right.)
5. Those who can't afford to attend a conference can still get some goodie out of the support materials.
6. I get to use a smart-ass card like the one above and explain how doing so makes both people who love handouts and people who hate handouts sort of mad.
7. Such cards make good bookmarks for those who still read books made out of cellulose. 

I've never been sure what goes on in collective mind of not-for-profit professional associations when they limit or charge for online materials and services. Heaven knows professional associations wouldn't want to help anyone who can't won't pony up the hundreds of dollars for membership dues, conference and workshop fees, and travel costs. Such educators are probably just blowing their astonomical paychecks on things like rent and food for their children.

That's it. Little rant over.

Special shout-out to Chris Harris who gave the best presentation of the AASL Conference on Friday morning. His talk about e-books was both more useful and his speaking style more engaging than either keynote speaker. (I am also relieved that he admits there are really no great options for libraries when it comes to e-book provision to patrons.)

The "forgetters' table" - a horrifying tale

It's the time of year for telling frightening stories and I heard one yesterday and made my skin crawl.

It seems some librarians create something called the "Forgetters' Table" - a place children must sit if they've forgotten to return their library book while the rest of class get new books. One child who lost a book in kindergarten was still sitting every week at the Forgetters' Table in third grade.

It's tempting to rant here. To condemn a profession. To construct a moral. But the horror can simply speak for itself.

I just hope the kid from the Forgetters' Table runs for school board or becomes a principal at this librarian's school as an adult. Boo!

 

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