Libr 203 Unit 5 - Personal Skills

I am one of those students who has strong computer skills in various programs, operating systems, and applications. I typically figure out and utilize new versions on my own as I do my work. For example, when my work computer was updated to Windows 7 and MS Office 2010, I didn't have time to ask where a feature was moved to; I had to find it, understand it, use it, and get my ILL work done. (As my ILL colleagues know, ILL demands wait for no one, especially in an academic institution.)

In retrospect, I believe my skills and abilities - considering abilities are different from skills - are the result of my exposure to various disciplines as I mentioned earlier in my bio. I use to think that a broad portfolio of skills and training wasn't good for career building, whereas a narrow skillset and specialized expertise was better. But now, in light of the "web revolution", greater experience in and exposure to etechonologies and different schools of knowledge are viewed as helpful tools for every professional, particularly the esavvy librarian (Stephen, 2007).   This desire to build strong computer competencies is evident through institutions such as San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) whose educational leadership sees the need to pre-assess their students with an "online learning readiness assessment" (SDCCD, 2009).

Another benefit gained is understanding that collaboration and teamwork are keys to an organization's success as Dr. Ken Haycock suggested in his presenation, Working in Teams (2007).  In particular, progressive library organizations function by this credo since people are the basis for their existence. But even more, the realization that individuals have their own skill sets, learning curve, and fears to overcome when diving into the social computing and etechonology sphere is crucial.  With all this said, I think student collaboration in an online learning environment helps those who may not yet "know or do" discover and build new skills and confidence in the every changing etechnology and web environments. Furthermore, this collaboration helps those that "do know" reinforce their skills, work better as teamplayers, and broaden their understanding of people's needs - a great skillset for librarians.

Pour Les Etudiants de Bibliothecaire - For Student Librarians

As a new student of library science, I am very excited about what information, research, techniques, theories, approaches, and principles I will learn about in the  SJSU MLIS program.  Although, I don't know what to expect, I do know that what I will learn will be "all good".  For me, this experience is like anticipating the start of a vacation. I know where I'm going topically. But I really won't know what it's all about - the essence and depth of it - until I experience and live it - joys, toils, expectations, surprises, and all.

Grad Students, Let's Talk Study Abroad

I was a late bloomer when I first studied abroad. I went to Egypt as a M.Ed. student attached to the UNLV MBA program. The experience was awesome; however, the regimen was somewhat oppressive for the more mature students including myself who were well accustomed to independent lives.  I used the experience for my research of Astin's theory of student involvement for grad students while enjoying a trip of a lifetime - Giza, Sphinx, Valley of King, Nile cruise, etc.

Have any of you studied abroad as grad students? If so, tell us about your experience. Was it helpful to your grad studies or was it a vacation with likeminded folks under the auspices of your institution? If you went as an undergrad, how did this experience compare? And if you are thinking about going, what are your expectations, concerns, apprehensions? Share your responses to these questions or any thoughts on the subject.