April 26, 2006
LSO Survey Comments
More professional activities - like the brown bag lunch or talks from professors - that happen on the weekends. During the week, I work during the day & take classes at night. I have no time for extra development until the weekends
technology seminars -- how to get your SIRLS portfolio to do what you want it to do. My biggest problem with LSO events is that I don't have time to attend. I'm working, raising children and keeping a husband. My own progress through SIRLS is very focused, so I really only show up when there is something that directly involves my area of interest. I think the LSO is important (I paid the dues) but I'm so snowed under that I can't see over the drift. I like the idea of a mentor. I may contact you about that in the future. I have been lucky in that through the professional relationships I have and through my interaction with the librarians I have worked with at SIRLS, I have made a number of contacts that will help me in the future.
As an undergrad, there was a . . . "program"/class where a graduate
student (assistant of the professor) would host practice sessions. Where the day
before the class (at night, in this case) students could go over with other
students and the "assistant" professor about answers, how to get the problems
done. It was not mandatory to show up but it was always held. I think for some
classes it might be an idea to have these sessions, because sometimes D2L and/or
email doesn't always cut it.
You might want to have more than one mixer
as a way to promot the club. I think it would help if the teachers backed it up
and mentioned it in class or something, or even allowed LSO memebers to pass out
flyers or make annoucements. . . .
Communicate with each other on issues surrounding courses, recruiting and course offerings to see if we are all on the same page.
LSO does great work in a program where 'connectedness' is a difficult thing.
I've never seen a student group with members spread over literally hundreds of
miles. I attended the conference last semester and it was amazing!
There are so many talented SIRLS students.
This is actually a pretty good survey! =) Kudos. I've actually wanted to attend the LSO and get involved but I normally work nights and the events invariably fall on days where I'm working until close . . . let me know how I can participate without physically being there, I'd like to help.
shadowing, mentoring. This is a great first step! In the intro class 504, it
would be good to have someone pop in and talk about the various student
organizations for new students, so they know what is out there. It would be also
great to have a d2l page or blackboard page for SIRLs students, where
announcements are posted, club news, job stuff, etc. I love the idea of online
chat for students to connect. thanks
Perhaps have an blog which we do not
sign to submit suggestions re:teachers to take, teachers to avoid & why.
Blogs which we do sign re: exchanging compiling classnotes, sell books to
students taking courses after us...advising the new on our experiences...
Chat sessions sound like a good way to involve those of us distance students who are farther away than Phoenix
1. ePortfolio assistance program (Dream weaver workshops etc.)
2. Career
fairs, recruiters visiting sirls etc
3. regular happy hours/social events
In other professional professions, alumni are 'tight' post graduation, referring people to each other in times of need. It sounds impossibly World Peace, but, it would be idealisic for UA grads to showcase each other toward employment and professional achievement.
Make more events available for people who work full time.
I found the LSO Symposium and enormously rewarding experience. It was a great challenge presenting virtually, but well worth it. I could not have done it without the tremendous support of the LSO and especially the Distance Student Liaison, Juliann Couture. I would like to say, if I may, that SIRLS students on site should know that just because distance students live far away, doesn't mean we don't care, or don't invest a massive amount of time in our studies, or don't want to get to know other students in the program better. Other students are an incredibly valuable resource in the program. Thanks.
I think you leaders and organizers of our local chapter here are doing a
great job to keep a mix going for all students, both on the professional and
social levels. Those of us who are working part or even full time jobs in
addition to attending classes just don't have enough hours in the day left over
to be more involved and support your great work! But please keep it up!
I will try to get more active in volunteering to help out with activities
when I get more of my coursework completed and my fulltime work hours reduced.
Include some advice on the LSO and/or SIRLS website about
scholarships/financial aid and full-time vs. part-time status. As an
out-of-state student, I'm paying about $3000 per class--ouch! I accepted a
part-time library job when I first started in SIRLS, because it was an unusual
opportunity, and didn't find out until later that I had no chance for any
SIRLS/UA scholarships or the WICHE assistance unless I was also willing to take
9 hours a semester.
I would be interested in mentoring with someone further about archiving or who is operating as independent information specialist sometime in the Fall 2006 or Spring 2007.
non-traditional student (especially those coming into program from other
professions) breakout,brainstorming/networking sessions for internships, future
career paths and moral support.
more interaction with SIRLS alumni for
professional and academic mentoring
Meetings to commiserate, sympathize, celebrate, encourage.
Commuter students need an advocate with SIRLS program. Clear and concise information about housing (dorms, hotel room sharing), ride sharing and other resources (parking permits)would be most helpful. For the Winter Session 504 course students were given a list of Bed and Breakfast/Inns and hotels in the $100-150 per night range. Many of us rented cars for a maximum of less than 50 miles at a cost of $200 for the week. Since the staff seem so concerned about liability issues??? I encourage the LSO to take an active roll in sharing this vital information with students.
Share more information about developmenmt in Children's/Youth Services Librarianship.
I wish that as a part of each distance learning class there was a requirement to meet for a causual dinner once a month (Phoenix students in Phoenix, Tucson students in Tucson, etc.). This could replace one or two of those stupid chat sessions we have to do and perhaps a few of the not-so-stupid discussion forums. I feel most connected in my class that is hybrid (online-3 weekends in Tucson) because I know my classmates, at least a little. I would like to know the classmates in my other class, even if just a little, so that we can support one another and create networks.
In this distance heavy program, I think that it is important that we reach out to our fellow students for support and to strengthen the SIRLS community. As other SIRLS students graduate and enter the workforce, we will have the opportunity to learn from their experiences. Although we may be competing for some jobs, we can still learn from each other. We have so much to learn from each other, it's a shame that we are going through most of the program in isolated pockets.
I would like to see more active communication...I'll try to clarify what I mean by that one of these days, not today! :)
Perhaps try more meetings or get-togethers in the evenings. I have not been able to attend many SIRLS functions because they start too early. Does SIRLS have a chat room or a blog or a help forum to post Q and As about classes, events, requirements, etc.?
Software use classes -- Dreamweaver, FrontPage -- and databases, such as Dialog. Modification to answer #13: I know LSO has twice offered Dreamweaver courses this year, but the were both in Tucson and I can't get there. I know a lot of SIRLS students are in the Pheonix area, but perhaps finding a room to use that has adequate technology is a problem. Any technical training that could be offered in Phoenix would be GREATLY appreciated.
I really appreciate the classes I have taken that require group projects. Working with others has been very helpful.
I am graduating this May so I don't really have much time to become involved in LSO, but I just wanted to say that I have been to a few events sponsored by LSO over the past two years and have enjoyed them very much. There are many more opportunities available than I have been able to take advantage of but I have a family and work part-time (in addition to classes). I just wanted to let you know that I think LSO has been doing a great job--if my life wasn't already so full, I would have loved to participate more. As a soon-to-be alumni, please keep me informed of future activities!
Perhaps try more meetings or get-togethers in the evenings. I have not been able to attend many SIRLS functions because they start too early. Does SIRLS have a chat room or a blog or a help forum to post Q and As about classes, events, requirements, etc.?
Professional Development specifically in the East Valley
Networking is the best way I have already experienced help from other SIRLS students. Helping each other with classes or possible job opportunties has been a great way to provide support to each other. Since I live in Phoenix, have a family, work full-time, it is really difficult for me to get involved in extras.
used book exchange
An online space (other than the listserv) where students can post questions and others can answer. We all have a lot of helpful information that others don't know about. We should share our knowledge!
I would love to be involved in LSO on many levels, but I hold an executive
poition in my current career field and I am taking 6 very tough units of study,
so I do not have extra time for any extra curricular activities. Additionally,
because I'm just starting the SIRLS program, I'd prefer to have taken a few more
classes before considering a mentor program. I'll consider these opportunities
again next Spring.
Networking is essential! It really helps to share
ideas and traumas....
Moral support; advice about specific classes and
professors; job leads; info about different work environments
Maybe students should be paired up with one another to provide support and help each other along in the program. This would especially help virtual students.
Since so many courses are virtual, it would be nice to have a weekly or monthly meetings where students past, present and future get together to share notes, thoughts, experiences and feedback about specific courses and/or professors.
Maybe set up some type of online textbook resale site. We could save a lot of money by buying used textbooks from each other. Those selling could probably get more money than reselling them to the bookstore, which takes a cut. It could just be a person-to-person transaction; the LSO wouldn't actually be handling any books.
Perhaps try more meetings or get-togethers in the evenings. I have not been able to attend many SIRLS functions because they start too early. Does SIRLS have a chat room or a blog or a help forum to post Q and As about classes, events, requirements, etc.?
Sharing experiences during classes alleviates a degree of stress. Hearing about particularly good or particularly problematic classes and teachers is a godsend. If you could set up a textbook exchange perhaps acting as a clearinghouse, that would also be fabulous since many classes use the same texts one semester to the next. Similarly, helping put together students who could *share* the same textbook in the same class would also be great -- while obstensibly any of us could ask a classmate to share, that'd be pretty embarrassing in real-life practice. If you set up a locus (web board, email list) where students could say "I'm in class X, Y, and Z and am looking to split textbook costs with one other person" then it would be win-win on all sides.
Be more open to others ideas and perspectives. Not everyone comes fromt the same background.
I would love to have someone I could talk to about simple technology related questions. Many of the students at SIRLS are young and seem to breathe knowledge about html, Dreamweaver, podcasts etc. I am an older student and while not uncomfortable with that stuff, I am just ignorant and inexperienced. Having someone to ask dumb questions (and not embarass myself to the professor) would be great. This is also true of some of the library terminology and concepts that have been confusing at first. For example, I still get confused about some of thosed 504 terms I learned about at my first semester at SIRLS.
We could maintain a central textbook and other works library (!) at SIRLS that students can temperarily borrow and then bring back (not for one person to use an entire semester instead of buying one).
Further comments, questions, or concerns, please contact:
Lynne Collins
LSO Program Coordinator
coll7777@email.arizona.edu
Thanks to all!
See the general demographic information from the survey.