[Baynet] Infopeople's "Web 2.0: Using Social Software with Teens" workshop

[Linda Rodenspiel]

There is a lot of buzz in the library press about Web 2.0 and its 
impact on libraries. The California State Library believes that Web 
2.0 has tremendous transformational potential, perhaps second only to 
the introduction of the Internet itself. In recognition of the 
importance of Web 2.0, the State Library has made a special grant 
award to Infopeople for a series of free training events titled 
"Moving Libraries Forward to Web 2.0". The following workshop is part 
of the Web 2.0 series.


Title:  Web 2.0: Using Social Software with Teens

Dates and locations:

Monday, September 17, San Francisco Public Library
Friday, October 5, San Diego County Library Headquarters
Friday, October 19, San Jose, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
Monday, November 5, Buena Park Library District
Friday, November 30, Fresno County Public Library
Friday, December 14, California State Library
Monday, January 14, Los Angeles Public Library

To register for this workshop:  Use the online registration form at
http://infopeople.org/workshop/352

Fee: Thanks to a special LSTA grant award from the California State 
Library, Infopeople is able to offer this workshop to the California 
library community free of charge.



Yeah, I know. They are always congregating around the computers 
looking at that MySpace site again. Oh no, this time they are all 
making a tremendous amount of noise laughing while they are watching 
those YouTube videos. What is it about all of this? We could go on 
and on couldn't we? It is a different world. Come to this workshop to 
learn about this new world and how to connect with those who live in it:

--Experience social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook
--Learn the basics of social networking as it relates to teen services
--Develop guidelines for safe and effective usage of social networking sites
--Create programs and interactions with youth/teens at your library 
with various social networking sites


Workshop Description: This all-day hands-on workshop will provide 
students with resources, knowledge, time and a supportive environment 
to learn, play and explore the social computing realm of teens. 
Through individual and group exercises we will set up various social 
computing experiences for each student. By the end of the day you 
will have completed at least one social network profile page, created 
an avatar, explored virtual worlds, set up and posted to your own 
blog and/or created a Library Thing profile. The instructor will 
provide samples, templates, cheat sheets, a webliography, as well as 
practical, useful tips that can be applied immediately.

Pre-workshop assignment: Students should have a digital photo of 
themselves and/or a representation of themselves on a USB flash drive 
or CD to bring to class.


Preliminary Course Outline

Social Software Overview
--What is social software, social networking?
--Take a look at LibraryThing as an example.
--Why are teens so interested in it?
--How are teens using it?

Safe and Responsible Use of Social Software
--Social influence techniques used in online environments.
--Various Internet and Social networking sites safety measures.

Profile Sites: MySpace & Facebook
--Examine MySpace & Facebook
--Demonstrate safe methods in setting up profile accounts.
--Set up profiles at MySpace & Facebook

Blogging, Photos & Video
--Tour, and then setup a personal blog.
--Tour, and then setup an account with Flickr.
--Tour YouTube.

Virtual Worlds & Avatars
--Virtual worlds and games discussion.
--Avatars: What are they? Why are they important?
--Tour Second Life & Teen Second Life.
--Examine avatar creation sites: Yahoo, IMVU, Second Life.
--Create an avatar.


Instructor:  Matt Gullett.  Matt is the Emerging Technology Manager 
for the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. In his 
role he creates new services and experiences around the expansive 
world of digital culture. Currently, he is also the co-director of 
the Teen Second Life project, Eye for You Alliance. He speaks and 
writes about youth and technology. In 2006 he was named a Mover and 
Shaker by Library Journal for being a youth advocate and trendsetter.

Who Should Attend: Anyone from the California library community with 
an interest in youth, teens and young adults.

Prerequisites:

General requirements: This course requires that students be 
comfortable with basic computer skills, including using a mouse, 
navigating the web, and basic keyboarding. For help with these basic 
skills, we recommend the New Computer Users section of the Infopeople 
Resources Guides, at infopeople.org/resources.

Requirements for this course: Basic understanding of the web and its 
usage within libraries is necessary. An email account (Yahoo or 
Google mail are fine) is needed. A digital photo or some sort of 
representation of attendees is preferred. Basic file management 
skills, i.e., how to upload a file onto a website, are useful. Basic 
to intermediate understanding of how to use Office software 
applications will come in handy.

Other Logistics:

*On-site check-in is from 8:30-9:00 AM;  instruction is from 9:00 AM-4:30 PM.

*Maps, directions, and parking information are available on the 
Infopeople Web site at http://infopeople.org/WS/workshop/Directions. 
Infopeople does not validate or pay for parking.

*Infopeople does not provide refreshments or lunch.  Since some 
training locations do not have in-house or convenient food service, 
Infopeople recommends that participants bring a sack lunch.

To view a complete list of Infopeople workshops and for general 
information about Infopeople training opportunities, go to the main 
Infopeople Workshops page at http://infopeople.org/WS/workshop

If you have questions about registration or scheduling of workshops, 
please contact Linda Rodenspiel, the Infopeople Project Assistant, at 
assist at infopeople.org or by phone at 650-578-9685.