The final session that I attended at WILU was entitled "Mobile Technology and Learning: Information Literacy Beyond the Classroom", presented by Robin Canuel and Chad Crichton.
The presentation began with a thought provoking discussion on determining the needs of the end users which is something that we are very concerned with in libraries. Their argument - does Steve Jobs ask us what we want or does he tell us what we need?
They then briefly demonstrated types of technology that could be incorporated into the library such as Google Goggles, GPS and QR codes.
The next portion of their presentation focused on the challenges of utilizing technology which they identified as:
- expertise
- cost
- competing priorities
- perception of librarians as perhaps technology illiterate
- licensed vs. owned content (DRM)
- speed
- coverage
The opportunities:
- engage students with the use of compelling technology
- harness the librarian's expertise (I am not sure in which context I wrote this comment down - but I like it - so I am leaving it!)
- the ability to re-emphasis traditional information literacy skills
They stated by the end of their presentation, members of the audience who didn't already own a smart phone would be inticed to run out and buy one. Hmmm... I don't own a smart phone, I found their presentation compelling, but I am not sure if I am ready to make that leap just yet!
* As a side note: I played whirly word on my friends' iPhone for several hours last weekend. That game is only available for iPhones - now I feel the need to have a smart phone!!!
** I love their idea of QR codes. I think I am going to add them to the stacks where I work and see what happens.
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