Welcome to OCLS Learn 2.0 - Week #1

Watch this video: New Technology (plug in your headphones or speakers)
Listen to this podcast: Week 1

This course is all about SELF:

Sharing and Collaborating

Exploration

Lifelong Learning and

Fun in the workplace

Sharing and Collaborating - Sharing and collaborating are a large, LARGE component of this course. Why? Because none of us work alone. I am sitting here at my desk typing this, but Jim Elder is working on the graphics, Emily Wallace is looking for interesting weblinks, Rashal McElderry is our podcaster, and Chris Zabriskie is the person that makes the A/V magic happen. We have all collaborated to make this project happen. Technology is the key to opening up our collaboration circles. By broadening the circle, we can tap into more talent and skill, which makes work easier and the end results better. Without the team that helped with this project, you would have been reading this in a very flat, plain, boring email message. Please feel free to connect with someone at your location and work through this course together. Form a team, a study group, a lunch group, however it works for you is great!

Exploration - Trying new things is what makes life exciting. Don’t be afraid to try any part of this course, even if it doesn’t work. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Trying is the important part. Remember how you learned to ride a bike? Remember how many times you fell? You were determined and committed and you kept trying!! That’s what we need here.

Fun – Our work is serious by its nature, having fun at work should be a mandatory requirement, like taking a lunch break. In an article titled “Humor and Fun in the Workplace” (weblink to article source) Mary Rau-Foster mentions Southwest Airlines:

“SouthWest Airlines has departed from the typical approach to passenger service and has been rewarded for it. The flight attendants were named number one among the flight attendants of all the airlines.” “…In addition, they are encouraged to use humor in their customer service — which the passengers seem to appreciate (this one in particular.) Does the playfulness of the attendants impact their credibility with the passengers? Apparently not, as evidenced by the laughter and positive comments that follows some humorous remarks by the attendants.”

If you have ever flown SWA, you know that they are a “different” airline. In a recent flight from Buffalo to Orlando, I was asked to sing the Mickey Mouse theme song for first-to-board privileges. I honestly didn’t know all of the words, but the gate guy rehearsed with me and I pulled it off. Lucky for me, Simon wasn’t in the crowd! Should you have patrons sing out their Dewey decimal requests? I don’t know what is right for you, but I know that if our patrons see us enjoying our work, they will be drawn to us, and more likely to visit.

Lifelong Learning (yes I know, when spelling “SELF” the “F” should be after “L” but it doesn’t flow as well that way here) Lifelong learning means that the dog is never too old to learn new tricks. I hope that all of you are ready to learn a few new tricks. Exploration, experience and learning are all parts of lifelong learning and growth. Think of yourself as a knowledge pirate, exploring new worlds and seas, only without the plundering and killing part.

This course will be taught asynchronously, meaning that I will present learning information on a regular interval and you can stop by and use the materials when you like. This type of learning gives you the power to learn when it is best for you. As we all know, life has a great way of changing our best plans. Asynchronous learning gives you flexibility to deal with the issues and learn when you want. Remember the Burger King commercial – “Have it your way”?? You have the power to learn anytime you want. Can you feel the power??!!


eXplore – 7.5 Habits activity – View the presentation and create your own learning goals. (a direct link to download the learning contract is on the link list on the upper right side of this page)


Share – Take a moment and post a comment to this blog about your experience with blogging, even if this is your first time. You can also share your expectations for this course. To leave a comment, click the word “comments” at the bottom of this page. When you click, a text box will open; enter your comments into the box. In the Choose Your Identity field, feel free to be anonymous or click the other button and use your own name. You don’t need to create a Google/Blogger account at this time. When you are finished, click the “Publish Your Comment” button and you are done.


Adventure –We will have our first Adventure activity next week.