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Assessment - tech skill level of staff and patrons
9:52 AM EDT 4/27/06
We follow the Just In Time philosophy for training here in Delaware too. Seems to us that proper (and regular) assessment of trainees is imperative to know what needs/interests are surfacing. Please share with us how you determine what is needed Just In Time.
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Re: Assessment - tech skill level of staff and patrons
2:52 PM EDT 4/27/06
as a reply to Kathy Graybeal.
Kathy,
I find this to be one of the most difficult aspects of my job. I am very interested in what are doing to gather this information. I try regular assessment to find out needs and interests and sometimes the classes I put together based on this info work and sometimes I have 2 people sign up.
Please help me on this! It would sure be great to find out what has been successful for others.
Thanks for asking this, Kathy.
~ Cassandra
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Re: Assessment - tech skill level of staff and patrons
6:54 PM EDT 5/9/06
as a reply to Kathy Graybeal.
Here in Arizona, for our statewide Continuing Education program, I conduct a yearly training needs assessment survey. I use zoomerang.com to make the survey available online. One question I ask is: "List the topics of five training programs you would attend if you could." I then categorize the responses to see which topics are most requested. We also include on all our workshop evaluation forms, "What other workshops would you like us to offer." And finally, I ask our county librarians (we have county, not regional systems here) for training needs and also have a metro CE committee that is absolutely wonderful and helps with planning for our larger libraries.
I've also started offering a 3 hour Emerging Technology workshop to provide basic information on blogs, wikis, and other social technologies. My inspiration was Brenda Hough for these workshops! It is a very fun workshop and I make sure they have time for hands-on exploration of these tools. I had someone ask me recently if I'd do this every year. Of course that means I'll have to stay on top of things!! Good to hear from you! --Stephanie
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Re: Assessment - tech skill level of staff and patrons
9:41 AM EDT 5/10/06
as a reply to Stephanie Gerding.
Hi, Stephanie
Thanks for this info! It was very timely for me. Our department just had a long range planning meeting and talked about doing a needs assessment. Is there any way I could see what questions you are asking?
Also, the class on emerging technologies sounds interesting. Do you have any materials on that that you could share?
Thanks--Linda Gens
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Re: Assessment - tech skill level of staff and patrons
11:30 AM EDT 5/10/06
as a reply to Linda Gens.
Linda, thanks for asking Stephanie to share...saved me the effort. :-)
I have been toying with the idea of employing a matrix similar to the RsLS Continuum for staff/patron self-assessment. The concrete examples listed under the various stages help us to be more objective about our skill level. Has anybody out there tried something like this?
Also, I picked up a brochure at our DE Instructional Technology Conference entitled Computer Skills Growth Chart. Based on the National Education Technology Standards, it outlines computer proficiency expectations for K-8 for email/internet, network/computing, word processing, graphics/presentations, spreadsheets/databases. Maybe pull from it for staff/patrons Growth Chart? BTW, for spreadsheets...I'm in 5th grade.
Kathy
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Re: Assessment - tech skill level of staff and patrons
12:52 PM EDT 5/10/06
as a reply to Kathy Graybeal.
Kathy, I was intrigued by this, so I did a quick search for it. Is this the brochure to which you are referring: http://www.dcet.k12.de.us/instructional/skills/? This looks/sounds fascinating. (I'm 4th grade in spreadsheets  ) I think the matrix idea is a great one. ~ Cassandra
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Re: Assessment - tech skill level of staff and patrons
2:42 PM EDT 5/10/06
as a reply to Cassandra Osterloh.
That's it, Cassandra. Thanks for sharing the doc address with all. What do you think?
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Re: Assessment - tech skill level of staff and patrons
9:54 PM EDT 5/10/06
as a reply to Kathy Graybeal.
Kathy,
I like the concept. It seems fairly simple to read, understand, and follow. Thanks for sharing.
~ Cassandra
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Re: Assessment - tech skill level of staff and patrons
12:35 PM EDT 5/11/06
as a reply to Cassandra Osterloh.
Chiming in here to let all of you know much I appreciate your discussion on assessment, what you are offering, and the computer skill chart or rubric. Great example of collaborative sharing of information across the country.
Have you seen the assessment survey for staff skills in TechAtlas? It's not a chart or rubic but an online survey that allows staff to assess their own skills based on simple questions of what they can do or not do.
Ellen, Maine
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Re: Assessment - tech skill level of staff and patrons
1:06 PM EDT 5/19/06
as a reply to Ellen Wood.
I just asked our TechATlas guru, Jeff Hall, if it was possilbe to see a [url http://webjunction.techatlas.org/tools/staff_skills_survey_edit_v2.asp?id=23215&wljd92=15275&email=hallje@oclc.org ]sample of the survey for staff skills[/url]. Assessment is such an important piece in identifying training needs. I like to see as many examples as possible. Thanks for this conversation.  ....Betha (WJ) Message was edited by: blg3 --to embed the url so it doesn't make the window expand to the right, which is one of those little message board quirks that really bugs me. :>
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Re: Assessment - tech skill level of staff and patrons
11:29 AM EDT 5/19/06
as a reply to Kathy Graybeal.
I presented this past spring at Computers In Libraries with Travis Bussler the Network Administrator for the Chippewa River District Library. He and his department have created a self-assessment for staff that is really great. It asks each staff member to assess their skills and indicate in which areas they would like training.
Documentation and a sample assessment can be found on the Computers In Libraries 2006 presentations page. Go to:
http://www.infotoday.com/cil2006/presentations/
Scroll about half way down the page to our presentation:
Session C202 Training for Staff & Patrons in Public Libraries
You will see the pdfs for the form and documentation.
Hope this helps.
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Re: Assessment - tech skill level of staff and patrons
1:09 PM EDT 5/19/06
as a reply to Janie Hermann.
Janie, I would have liked to hear your presentation, but this is the next best thing. Would it be acceptable to attach the pdf's directly here?
I'm very curious to know what types of training people choose. Do you have any numbers to indicate the strongest preference --is it f2f classes or self-paced or ...?
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Re: Assessment - tech skill level of staff and patrons
6:55 PM EDT 5/19/06
as a reply to Betha Gutsche.
I will contact Travis to see if he minds us attaching the pdfs here on WebJunction... better yet, I will try to get him to join.
My part of the presentation dealt with Patron training. The handouts are all his. I can't answer your question, but will see if Travis can.
I am going to be adapting Travis's handout for use in our own library. I will let you know how it goes.
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Re: Assessment - tech skill level of staff and patrons
4:41 PM EDT 5/3/07
as a reply to Janie Hermann.
I would like an assessment test for computer competencies for staff. I expect all staff to be able to help patrons with simple skills such as bold, center, save, email, print but I am finding staff are not able or want to.
If I cannot find a test maybe a check sheet such as all staff must be able to: 1. print, 2. create an email, 3. add an attachment to the email, 4. bold
It would have to be more detailed but something to find out where everyone is at.
I am sure there is some sort of computer competency test out there for human resources.
thanks
Jackie
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