LIBRARY TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE, PART 4: FAST, CHEAP AND OUT OF CONTROL

Any library can host a technology workshop for youth, you don't have to be a technology expert or have a lot of money. Lots of great free software is available. Don't put pressure on your self to understand something "perfectly" before you teach it. The presenters recommend a collaborative approach where teacher and student learn together. Some people need to be constantly reassured, while others prefer to do things themselves.

Hennepin County Library has trained teen volunteers so that they are now able to teach the classes. Other teens feel comfortable coming up to them and asking questions, while younger kids look up to them.

The main program they teach is Scratch which is a fun and easy animation program. We learned to use it in 30 minutes. Here is my project.



Other recommended free software for workshops:

• Sam animation--stop motion animation


• Artrage (not technically free, but can have an endless free trial with some features disabled)--drawing


• Audacity--audio editing


• Picasa--photo albums


• Gimp--photo editing


• Pivot--stick figure animation


• Kodu--video game creation

Optional equipment:

• Drawing tablet


• Digital camera


• Tripod


• Microphone

Handouts for the pressentation are available here.



--Andrea @central