Photo by Marta Murvosh
Tech-Know
My greatest growth as an information professional has been developing my ability to learn about new technologies and incorporate them into my work.
Once, I believed I lacked the ability to think like a technologist. Fortunately, I have much more technical aptitude than I previously realized. I enjoyed building my technology foundation and continued to love expanding my tech-know powers. Understanding that we all start from scratch when learning about technology helps me encourage people who lack tech savvy.
I learned to create a website from scratch, to write commands for old-school database interfaces, such as Dialog, and to design databases. I also combined my new abilities with my journalism skills to use online technology to communicate through book talks, tutorials, and an interactive bibliography. I have posted the online tools on My Links page and a presentation on how to sign-up for web-based e-mail is below.
It was a sign of my tech-know growth that I was willing to undertake the difficult process of learning to design databases. I think that these experiences help me communicate with coworkers who feel uncomfortable learning new technologies because I can remember what it was like to feel nervous about or overwhelmed by changing or new technology.
I believe that it is important to plan for the rapid pace of technology change. I learned with my colleagues Hadley Brown, Melissa Endicott, and Lesley Stimpert to anticipate the future and users needs when we drafted a two-year technology plan (below) for an imaginary four-branch urban library system. I learned to conduct a baseline technology needs assessment, to propose ongoing assessment, and to apply SMART objectives, (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-limited).
Once, I believed I lacked the ability to think like a technologist. Fortunately, I have much more technical aptitude than I previously realized. I enjoyed building my technology foundation and continued to love expanding my tech-know powers. Understanding that we all start from scratch when learning about technology helps me encourage people who lack tech savvy.
I learned to create a website from scratch, to write commands for old-school database interfaces, such as Dialog, and to design databases. I also combined my new abilities with my journalism skills to use online technology to communicate through book talks, tutorials, and an interactive bibliography. I have posted the online tools on My Links page and a presentation on how to sign-up for web-based e-mail is below.
It was a sign of my tech-know growth that I was willing to undertake the difficult process of learning to design databases. I think that these experiences help me communicate with coworkers who feel uncomfortable learning new technologies because I can remember what it was like to feel nervous about or overwhelmed by changing or new technology.
I believe that it is important to plan for the rapid pace of technology change. I learned with my colleagues Hadley Brown, Melissa Endicott, and Lesley Stimpert to anticipate the future and users needs when we drafted a two-year technology plan (below) for an imaginary four-branch urban library system. I learned to conduct a baseline technology needs assessment, to propose ongoing assessment, and to apply SMART objectives, (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-limited).
Web-based e-mail presentation
This presentation is available in both a Power Point and online.
|
| ||
Technological Knowledge and Skills:
Employ current and emerging technologies effectively for communication, and to search for, identify, repackage, and deliver information resources.
