Wednesday, January 7, 2009

20 2.0 Things FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions:

How does this online learning program work?
This is a self-discovery program that encourages participants to take control of their own learning and to utilize their lifelong learning skills through exploration and PLAY. There will be no classes or workshops offered to support this program. Instead, you are encouraged to work together and share with each other your discoveries, techniques and "how to's" both in person and through your blogs.

Who can participate in this program?
This is a pilot version of the 20 2.0 Things program, and is limited to Daviess County Public Library staff.


Do we have to participate?
No, you should only participate if you want. This is to encourage you to become more confident and self sufficient. It is also a test to see if the Daviess County Public Library staff can support a similar program for the Daviess County.

How long do I have to complete the program?
This first run of the 20- 2.0 Things to Be Web Savvy program will start on February 23 and end on April 27th, 2009. We will have a face-to-face Finish Line celebration at the Daviess County Public Library on Tuesday, May 5, where we'll participants will receive coupons for their 4 hours of leave, have some food and get to know the folks behind the screen names. If you cannot attend the May 5, 2009 event, please let me know.

How do I track my progress for each of the 2.0 Things?
Each participant will keep track of their Things in an individual blog, which I will read...diligently. You'll know this because I'll be commenting on your posts as appropriate, particularly if you have questions or concerns. We'll also Register your blog on a wiki have a blog roll (or reading list) of links to everyone's blog on the program site.

If I'm not registered for the course, can I still participate?

Absolutely. However, please understand that the only those registered participants can recieve time off for completion.

Why 20 things instead of the original 23?
Because we wanted to play on the 20 from our address.

Will there be any training or classes offered to show staff how to do this?
No, this is a self-directed learning program. Basic instructions for more detailed activities will be posted to this coordinator blog, but you are encouraged to play and experiment with each tool on your own. If you get stuck, feel free to ask me or other participants specific questions, and read other 20 Things blogs for ideas.

What if I need help - who can I call?

One of the goals of this program is to help you become more self-sufficient and confident in using web tools. If you get stuck, spend some time searching the help pages for an answer to your question. You could also ask other participants if they've run into the same issue and what their solutions were. If you get really stuck, I will be available through comments on the blog and email.

When will the Things be posted?
The posts for the next exercise will be posted by 1:00 AM on the Monday of each week.

I'm not comfortable with just anyone reading my blog. Can I participate anonymously?
Since the program is for Daviess County Library Staff, you obviously can't be completely anonymous. At the very least, I need to be able to read your blog to give you credit for completing each thing. However, since you compose your own posts, it can be as private or as public as you want. You do not need to blog under your real name.

Once I complete all 20-2.0 Things, how do I get my prize?
For everyone who successfully completes the 20-2.0 Things, we will distribute time off certificates and hopefully some food on May19th, 2009. If you are not able to join us that day, please let me know and we can get your reward to you. If your question wasn't answered by this post, please comment here.