There's an App for That: Libraries and Mobile Applications
An Infopeople Online Learning Course
Dates: Tuesday, February 14, 2012 – Monday, March 12, 2012
Fee: $75 for those in the California library community and Infopeople Partners, $150 for all others (about payment)
Instructor: Michele Mizejewski
Smartphones and tablets are everywhere, and there are thousands of apps available. It’s hard to know where to begin or how to keep up! In this course, you will become familiar with apps for reading, productivity, reference, research, and education. Examples are Wunderlist, Overdrive, Evernote, Instapaper, Inkling, and many more.
Michele Mizejewski will help you:
- Explore, test, and evaluate the usefulness of individual apps
- Identify some of the best apps in categories most relevant to libraries
- Understand the key considerations and options for libraries that want to have a mobile presence of their own
- Keep up with new developments in the world of mobile devices and apps
For the hands-on assignments, you will need access to an Apple iOS device (iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch) or a device running the Google Android operating system (this includes the Kindle Fire tablet and many other phones and tablets). Installing apps on the device will be required. We will touch on the similarities and differences between iOS and Android, but the course emphasis will be on apps.
You will leave the course with a good understanding of the mobile app landscape and the knowledge and skills to offer your own workshop for staff or library users. You will also have fun!
Course Description: This four-week course will include weekly readings, video demos, and hands-on practice, to be done anytime during the week. During the course, you will also be doing assignments and participating in discussions. An online meeting with a representative from Springshare will provide an opportunity to hear about Mobile Site Builder. The instructor will provide resources, best practices, and useful tips and techniques that can be applied immediately.
Preliminary Course Outline: Using your web browser and your Internet connection, you will log in to the Infopeople online learning site and complete the following learning modules:
- Week 1: Apps for Reading and Productivity
- Introduction and terminology
- How to write an app review
- Overview of apps for reading books, magazines, and comics
- Overview of apps for note-taking, list-making, and annotating
- Week 2: Apps for News and Reference
- Overview of apps for reading news and social media
- Overview of apps for reference on topics such as movies, real estate, food, language, health, national parks, and measurements
- Week 3: Making Your Library Mobile
- Understanding the options and how to determine the best approach for creating a mobile presence for your library
- Overview of apps for subscription databases
- Week 4: The Future and Keeping Up
- Overview of the many other app categories that we did not cover. Lots more to explore when the course ends!
- The future of apps and mobile sites
- The best ways to stay up to date on apps and mobile developments
Pre-course Assignment: You will be asked to respond to a pre-course online survey about your experience with mobile devices and apps. This will help the instructor to better understand your comfort level and what you hope to get out of the course.
Prerequisites: Use of a tablet or smartphone (iOS or Android) is required. You should have a basic familiarity with the tablet or smartphone you will use for the course and be able to install apps on it. You will also need a current web browser on your computer (Google Chrome, Firefox 6.0 or above, Safari 4.0 or above, or Internet Explorer 8.0 and above.)
Time Required: To complete this course, you can expect to spend 2½ hours per week, for a total of ten course hours. Each week's module contains readings and various options for assignments and discussions. You can choose the options most relevant to your work and interests. Although you can work on each module at your own pace, at any hour of the day or night, it is recommended that you complete each week's work within that week to stay in sync with other learners.
Who Should Take This Course: This course will be of interest to anyone within the library community who wants to gain an overview of mobile apps with a focus on their relevance for libraries. This course is especially appropriate for staff who provide reference and instruction, and those who support technology and the library's web presence. It is geared toward beginning and intermediate users of Apple iOS and Google Android devices.
Online Learning Details and System Requirements may be found at: infopeople.org/training/online_learning_details.
Payment: Your invoice will be emailed to the email address of the person who completed the registration. If that is not the person paying the invoice please forward invoice to the appropriate person. Payment is due before the class or within 30 days whichever is sooner. If you have any questions about your invoice or payment please contact Gini Ambrosino at assist@infopeople.org.
Course Start: This online learning course starts on Tuesday, February 14, 2012.
After the official end date for the course, the instructor will be available for limited consultation and support for two more weeks, and the course material will stay up for an additional two weeks after that. These extra weeks give those who have fallen behind time to work independently to complete the course.
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