EVALUATIVE REPORT

Evaluation Report

The learning objectives of this subject have been met throughout the OLJ by evaluation, reflection and the discovery of social media technologies.  In particular, the 3 OLJ activities will be highlighted to document my experience through my information discovery of social media networks, tools and policies.  During my study of INF206, I have developed a good understanding of a variety of social networking (SN) technologies and the features of various tools.  Of particular interest to me is how they can meet the users’ information needs as well as organisational goals. 

PLN

As I have described in my personal learning post, Utech (2008) proposes the 5 stages of adopting personal learning networks as immersion, evaluation, know it all, perspective and balance. I believe that I have passed through the immersion stage mainly because as part of the INF206 subject the goal has been to engage ourselves with social networking technology.  Furthermore, in my previous CSU subjects I have created blogs which is according to social technographic terminology, I have become a creator, although true to nature I am mostly just a spectator & collector which involves me subscribing and reading a variety of blogs and other social media’s. I have become a conversationalist with great gusto due to this subject and my other CSU subject (Bernoff, 2010). For this subject INF206, Facebook has been conducive to knowledge sharing, the highlight has been joining my other CSU subject Facebook page and other Survivors of CSU Facebook, the result is an enormous support network.

  As a result of this, I believe I have reached evaluation and skipped straight through to perspective.  I predominately want to learn about social media use in library organisations. Some I have willingly adopted, LinkedIn I believe will help me in my professional world and Yammer as part of my work network.   From an Information professional perspective, I am an active subscriber of blogs such as Stephens Lighthouse, Hey Jude and now recently David King.  I am a fan on ALIA new grads Facebook page and of course my local Library page. I am a lurker on Yammer and Twitter, with the latter I have started to follow a few professional people recently I have met in our industry. I chose Pinterest rather than Delicious to play with for this assignment, which I have found great for personal use as well as my other CSU subject to find genre books for my assignment.   Although, I enjoy being a member of an online community, I realise I am going have to start participating by writing responses, something in which I lack confidence right now.

4 C’S

In my blog post about Arizona State University (ASU) I reviewed whether the University has been able to reach the 4C’s of Web 2.0.  The 4 C’s of Social Media have been described as the following collaboration, conversation, community and content creation (Hay & Wallis, 2013).  ASU have embraced Web 2.0 technologies in their goal to provide a relevant and timely service.  In an attempt to foster engagement with students and opening the conversation channel’s, The Library Channel page has a ‘Get Help’, tab which provides various options, such as ask a librarian and a suggestion box.  Although this does invite conversation, as a way to build on this Farkas (2007) suggests that using the suggestions box and publishing in a blog as a way to facilitate conversations. Collaboration is about building participation with the user. Casey & Savastinuk (2006) suggest collaboration requires the librarian to facilitate customer input regarding services and then implement changes.  There is little evidence in this site of collaboration between the University and students except the invitation of feedback.   It would appear that the content creation is limited to the staff of ASU through the video posts.  It is important to point out that Library minutes are informative and engaging a great way of creating a sense of community among students and staff through social media. Using these clips is an excellent way to provide information to students, because contemporary research indicates that people engage more with video posts (King, 2013). Although ASU has a positive Web 2.0 presence in their provision of support and services, I don’t believe they have successfully achieved the 4 C’s of Web 2.0.

SHIFTING TRENDS

In my blog posting Shifting Trends I identified trends which are changing the way people behave as digital citizens.  It makes sense from a strategic organisational point of view to advertise where the clients are.  The statistics provided in this video clip indicates a decline in traditional means of media and advertising.  Interestingly, this is because people are connecting and sharing and digesting this information through hand held devices, phone apps, e-book readers and social media, consequently readership of traditional formats has decreased. As Qualman (2013, ix) says "we don't find the news the news finds us".

 Social media technologies have created the opportunity to advertise on a global scale, reaching out to potential audiences never before imagined.  Research indicates that mobile social networking is on the increase, providing access and delivery channels with over 16.2 million people have mobile phones with internet connection (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2012).  Feather (2006) makes the important point that, “The idea that information comes from a specific place or through a particular person is in its dying days (p.5).  The video makes the interesting prediction that by 2020 mobile phones will be the world’s primary connection tool.  To illustrate how academic institutions are meeting that user behaviour change.  Bond University has introduced a phone app which provides seamless access to ilearn (student information hub), iTunes (tutorials), Library (Yaye!), News/Events and basic what’s happening information.

Digital newspapers, magazines, books, music, television and video’s can be accessed through the internet.  In libraries, the digital and online access is provided through ebooks, databases, catalogues, Libguides, podcasts, blogs have become so expected that it is a core service provision. 

In this rapidly changing digital environment, it is important to stay relevant by gauging what is the latest technology being used. According to this video clip, 250 million visitors to 3 large social networking platforms every month- these did not exist 6 years prior to that.  To illustrate, the 2010 Pew study revealed that blogs are being used 50% less by young users since 2006 (Agosta & Abbas, 2011). Implementation of Web 2.0 technologies needs to be undertaken with careful analysis of client demand. This can be achieved by establishing transparent feedback mechanisms and continuous evaluation of any services and programs implemented.

Reflective Statement

Completing Inf206 has provided me with a much more comprehensive understanding of the social media landscape and the application to information organisations.  This has allowed insight into how social media fosters the ability through technology to communicate, collaborate and build a community effectively (Schrier, 2011).  What has changed regarding my view of the role of Web 2.0 technologies is the realisation of the plethora of technologies that are available. Yes, I have had my head buried in the sand.  The questioned poised at the beginning of the semester was describe what you expect to learn from completing INF206.  My answer was in short, learn how organisations can co-exist successfully with Social Medias (SM) and learn about best practice in academic settings.

At the beginning of this session, I have openly admitted to anyone that would listen to my aversion of social media. Although I have been open and keen to learn to see how exactly Web 2.0 worked in organisations, I have found it hard to shake my cynicism about organisations invading the world of social spaces.

With regards to my personal learning network, I see the development of a PLN as essential for my working portfolio, I will definitely be building upon my knowledge in my blog and using it as way to collect relevant resources in my journey as an information professional.  Highly relevant to my current workplace has been learning about effective and ethical use of social media technologies in organisations.  Of which the importance of policies and guidelines in place to safeguard both employees and customers.  Policies can also reinforce our awareness of issues such as copyright and crediting sources, which are and always have been important issues for Librarians. With information so easily shared knowledge of rights and responsibilities, both personally and in terms of our organisations becomes essential.  

On a personal note, social networking sites provides me with the ability to connect with friends, share common interests as well as a place where I can promote myself professionally and academically.  In the course of this subject I have signed up for and threw myself back into a plethora of technologies.  From Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter (found some interesting characters to follow there), Delicious, Pinterest, reignited Flickr, but love Instagram more and found some new blogs to subscribe to as well as working on my own.  It has become clear, through this semester that immersing myself in social technologies was the best way to go to discover what works best for me both professionally and personally.

In conclusion, participating in this subject has encouraged me to reflect and develop my own view of social media technologies,  personally, I feel that as a student of Library science learning about all the aspects of SM has been an amazing journey.  Something that has particular resonated with me was the Ted talks and the democratisation of Web 2.0.  As an informational professional, I realise the importance of remaining abreast of emerging technologies and seeing what role they can play in the information provision landscape.  As Stephens (2007,p.1) succinctly states, “Learn to learn, adapt to change and scan the horizon”.  I believe once I have finished this degree I will have more time to fully explore these technologies from an implementation point of view and making sure we fulfil student needs.  Moreover, one that takes into account teaching of information skills, social interaction, community & facilitating and maybe when I graduate I can achieve this.

References

Agosto, D., & Abbas, J. (2011). What do public librarians really do with social networking? Profiles of five public libraries. In D. Agosto & J. Abbas (Eds.), Teens, Libraries, and Social Networking : What Librarians Need to Know. Retrieved from Ebook Library.

Australian Bureau of Statistics.(2011).Household Use of Information Technology (No8146.0). Canberra: Author.

Bernoff, J. (2010). Social Technographics: Conversationalist get onto the ladder. Retrieved 15 August 2013, http://forrester.typepad.com/groundswell/2010/01/conversationalists-get-onto-the-ladder.html.

Casey, M. & Savastinuk, L. (2006). Library 2.0: Service for the next-generation library, Library Journal. Retrieved from, http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6365200.html

Farkas, M.(2007). Building academic library 2.0.[video file]. Retrieved from, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_uOKFhoznI

Feather, J. (2006). The context of change: information professionals and the information professions in an information society. Health Information & Libraries Journal, 23, 3-9.

Hay, L. & Wallis,J.(2013). Social networking for Information Professionals [INF206, Module 3]. Retrieved August 01, 2013, from Charles Sturt University Website: http://interact.csu.edu.au/portal/site/INF206_201360_W_D/page/e55201b2-9a17-4c37-00e6-90bc87200117

King,D.(2013). Five tips to reshape your social media plan. Retrieved 01 August 2013, from http://www.davidleeking.com/2013/01/08/five-tips-to-reshape-your-social-media-plan-in-2013/#.UjZxz381cTA

Qualman, E.(2013). Socialnomics now: social media changes the way we live and do business (2nd ed). New Jersey:John Wiley and sons.

Schrier,R.A. (2011). Digital librarianship & social media: the digital library as conversation facilitator, D-Lib Magazine, 17(7/8) July/August 2011. Retrieved from http://dlib.org/dlib/july11/schrier/07schrier.html

Stephens, M.(2007).Tame the Web : Libraries and Technology, Retrieved 15 September 2013,from http://tametheweb.com/2007/02/learn_adapt_scan_point.html

Utech, J.(2008). Stages of PLN adoption. Retrieved 16 August 2013 from http://www.thethinkingstick.com/stages-of-pln-adoption/