Sign up sheet for Spring 2019:
[UPDATE LINK] https://docs.google.com/document/d/12VF0M3zKTYuMaVeymIR-Od4hfkRSHMAuvoPYOe7W2UI/edit
During the semester, as a group, we will develop the concept of connections development alongside collection development in libraries.
- To flesh our the idea that collection development is not just what a library owns but is also what it provides access to.
- To explore beyond databases and collections of ebooks what libraries of all types are currently doing to build access to the rich resources across the globe that would target needs of the library's patrons.
- To develop actual projects that individuals and groups in the class could do to push the idea of connection development out to the profession as a whole.
- To develop the concept of topical collection and connection development as opposed to traditional collection development practices of building collections format by format.
- To try to discover ways that library staff could launch and sustain connection development practices and projects in their own libraries or participate in consortia of library systems or collaborative groups anywhere to crowd source connection projects.
Projects we might entertain as a class:
- Our own "Wikipedia" open to the world about the topic and all the projects we create.
- Reviews of the literature of connections projects already in existence.
- Short papers examining futuristic proposals in the library and information world but also from other quarters where connection building is or has been proposed.
- Examinations of the role of "LibGuides" or other bibliographical efforts at connections development.
- Actual topical collections of links in experimental formats that would be of practical use by the patrons of our library patrons.
- A proposal for a collaborative connections development project with a starter sample to a consortium of libraries or to a library system.
- To explore the whole of the online catalog or other mechanisms to publicize the existence, use, and evaluation of connection development projects.
We will also explore ways to draw attention to our class project. Perhaps some can publish an article in the literature; perhaps we can present our findings at a conference...
Examples from the Fall 2016 class
During the Fall semester, we invited students to form groups ab build together websites open to the public on topics that might be widely useful. These websites were to contain lists of high quality OERs (Open Educational Resources). The result was excellent! Here are some that were created:
Previous classes developed a full year curriculum about CA History for Grade 4 out of OERs at:
https://sites.google.com/site/cahistoryforkidsgr4/
About 60 folks worked on this one.
In cooperation with my instructional design class, we just got started on this STEM and STEAM Treasury. This one needs a lot more work:
https://sites.google.com/site/stemandsteamtreasury/
Project report due to gain 20 points on Canvas: The professor asks you to write a brief account of what you did on the connections development project and how much time you spent doing it. Due by the end of the semester. The professor is expecting you to spend about five hours on this project.