Thursday, March 14, 2019
a core concept of Computational Thinking
Last fall, the Public Library Development Team was selected to participate in the first cohort of the three year IMLS funded YALSA Transforming Teen Services Train the Trainer project, T3 for short. The Wisconsin T3 Team participating in this project includes Caitlin Schaffer from Oconomowoc Public Library in the Bridges Library System, Laurie Freund and Angela Meyers from the Bridges Library System, and Tessa Michaelson Schmidt from the Public Library Development Team. The Wisconsin team attended an in-person training in Chicago in October 2018 on the topics of Connected Learning, Ages & Stages, Computational Thinking, and Facilitation Skills. Since October, the team has been working with pilot state peers (AL, ME, MN, RI), YALSA staff, and a personal team coach to develop trainings for Wisconsin library staff.
The main training events in Wisconsin for 2019 are two workshops hosted by SEWI -- Sequences and Stories, Part One: Connected Learning and Sequences and Stories, Part Two: Computational Thinking. The workshops are connected, and participants will be encouraged to attend both parts. Mini-grants for technology and/or professional development will be an option for dual attendees. The first workshop will be held on April 23 and the second on September 23, both at the Franklin Public Library (Registration details). Library staff serving youth in the SEWI region, or anywhere in the state, are invited to attend. Note: While the YALSA grant emphasizes teen services, we will be adapting the content for the range of ages (0-18) served by Wisconsin public library youth services staff.
On the horizon, the Wisconsin T3 Team will be looking for at least one other system or region to host these workshops in 2020. The Wisconsin T3 Team will work with hosts to customize the content and offerings to meet the needs of youth services staff in different areas of the state.
Written by:
Tessa Michaelson Schmidt
Public Library Development Team