CPD23 Thing 18 - Thing 23

Week 12 
Step (Thing) 18 - Jing / screen capture / podcasts


Jing History
Screen capturing tools enable us capture image and video. These tools are useful for creating library tutorials on searching and retrieving information using search engines, databases, OPACs etc.  I use Jing for annotating my presentations. The images I posted on CPD23 Learning Path are screen captured and annotated using Jing. If we hover over the sun and click History, we can view  the history of our screen capture, image or video or both (see Image Jing History).

Week 13 
Step (Thing) 19 - Catch up week on integrating 'things'

I am glad that I have been moving on a constructive learning path since 20th June. Learning activities enabled me to put the CPD things to practice in the intended manner. 
I liked the concept "profersonal". Glad that I could blog about the Indian Library Associations I'm associated with and also about LIS Education in India

I would like to include Evernote, Mendeley, Zotero in Information Literacy instruction programmes. Evernote enables students to collect, organise and share notes. Notes synchronization process is advantageous for students for accessing notes anywhere and anytime.  
Introducing reference managers Mendeley and Zotero to students would simplify their resources collecting, organising, citing, and sharing process. Web importer feature of Mendeley and Web connector feature of Zotero are useful for students to import web resources in to their accounts. And also sync process of both the reference managers enables students access their resources anywhere. Students find highlighting and annotating feature of Mendeley helpful in their research writing. 

Week 14
Step (Thing) 20 - Library Routes

I find both the Library Routes Project and the Library Day in the Life project interesting. These provide a platform for newbies and experienced library and information professionals for sharing benefits and challenges of LIS profession. 
I'm happy indeed to have chanced upon LIS profession wherein I could make a difference wherever I worked.  I believe library career is the right profession for those who are passionate about learning and sharing. 

I started my career as the librarian of a polytechnic college and designed and developed Library Database using CDS/ISIS.  Working with CDS/ISIS gave me the needed confidence for automating library operations.  Later, I joined ICFAI University as a Faculty Member and involved in designing and developing courseware for B.L.I.Sc. and M.L.I.Sc. distance learning programmes. Developing courseware for UG and PG programmes though challenging in the initial days, empowered me with the knowledge, skills and attitude required for a life-long learner. ICFAI experience not only fetched me opportunities for  developing and reviewing Self-Learning Materials for  Dr. BR Ambedkar Open University but also enabled me to do my Ph.D. in Open Distance Learning.  Now, I'm a volunteer co-facilitator for Integrating Technology  and researching on how to convert print modules into e-learning modules and also how to embed library components in Moodle courses. 

Step (Thing) 21 - Promoting in job applications and at interview
Capitalising on my interests and skills:  Jobs I worked so far gave me ample scope for implementing my interests and skills. Designing and developing a database for library at KES Polytechnic College was my first career achievement. Learning about course design process on the job at Academic Wing, ICFAI University gave me immense satisfaction. Being an integral part of course development team enabled me not only to learn new developments in the LIS domain but also to develop skills required for course planning, designing, developing, implementing and evaluation (both the courseware and learner's performance.
I'm fortunate enough to capitalise on my interests - Instructional Design, Information Literacy, Library Automation, e-Learning even after leaving ICFAI. Lifelong learning is my USP and it drives me towards setting and achieving new goals every year; that's how I'm able to meet the desirable criteria listed in the JD. 
Applying for a job: I always customise my CV and cover letter as per the JD, highlighting the key skills required for the job I'm applying to. In order to keep a CV short and simple, I hyperlink additional information available in my professional electronic portfolio or my online profile (my WikiEducator Page), wherein I showcase my strengths, achievements, publications, professional development programmes I participated etc.
Being an LIS educator, it is desirable to acquire e-learning skills as Universities expect us to design and develop innovative programmes using Instructional Tools. And I'm happy that I'm volunteering my services as an online course facilitator for Integrating Technology. Coming to references, my previous employer and my professors are happy to endorse my candidature to the job I'm applying to. 
Interviews: My preparation for an interview would start with learning about the organisation, its departments and its requirements. Being an experienced professional, I rarely come across awkward questions in an interview. I prepare myself with my USPs and how these helped my previous organisation to achieve set goals and meet challenges. Preparing with USPs help me not only in showcasing my achievements but also in convincing the panel how these USPs would help in fulfilling the requirements of the organisation.

Week 15 
Step (Thing) 22 - Volunteering to get experience
http://integrating-technology.org/
After ICFAI (my previous employer) I started volunteering my services to IT4ALL as a co-facilitator for online courses on Moodle. Volunteering my services to IT4ALL enabled me not only to moodle efficiently but also to develop competences require for designing and facilitating an online course. Undoubtedly, my volunteering experience is a value addition to my CV. People approach me for help for creating and delivering courses online  using Moodle. Now I'm in a position to guide educators for creating courses on Moodle and LIS professionals who wish to embed librarian role, library resources and services in Moodle courses. Wishing to use my moodle competences design and develop online professional development programmes for LIS professionals. Hope my volunteering service would fetch me greater rewards in the near future.

Week 16
Step (Thing) 23 -  Reflection - What next?

To sum up my CPD23 itinerary in 6 words “Constructive learning path in 23 steps”. Learnt about 23 Things in simple steps. Things I find useful are: Evernote, Dropbox, Google Calendar, Zotero, Mendeley and Prezi. Evernote has become my profersonal note-taking tool, useful for my teaching and learning activities. Decided to incorporate Mendeley and Zotero in Information Literacy online courses. Planning to design similar programmes for Indian LIS professionals incorporating Blog, Twitter, Dropbox, Wiki, Google Doc, Google Calender, Evernote, Mendeley , Zotero, Screencasting into the course, in addition to other Web 2.0 tools.
Step by Step
My short term plan is “Designing and developing Online Courses on Information Literacy”. And my long term plan is converting Print modules I've written into online learning modules. For converting print modules into online modules I need to redesign and re-purpose the courses. I need to decide on: how to convert print resources into multiple media; what learning activities I should integrate to engage learners in reflective and constructive learning; and what should be the criteria for formative and summative assessment.