Upcoming Courses: Professional Learning Centre, Faculty of Information Studies, University of Toronto

I had a couple of messages today from my friend Eva Kupidura at the FIS PLC at the University of Toronto with an update on courses. There are two new course being introduced, plus space still available in three others for March.

One of the classes is my own Social Networking Tools. I have been teaching this introductory survey course on a regular basis since last August. Demand is finally starting to slow up for it. If you still want to catch it, I suggest signing up for the March 28th class. If you can't make it that day, there is one more scheduled for May. We're not sure if there will be enough demand after that, so don't miss out on your chance!

I have to say the other courses here look topical and excellent. I have taken the Information Audit and Mapping Course and can't say enough about it--I found it invaluable to both my work in the law firm and in my understanding of other areas of management.

New--just added:

E-MAIL MANAGEMENT: PRACTICAL GUIDE AND BEST
PRACTICES TO SUCCEED
May 13, 2008
1 day (6 hours) - 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Instructor: Penny Clayson
Fee: $240.00

Is your organization facing the challenge of trying to manage it's ever growing email? This interactive course will help you to recognize and understand practical ways of handling your organization's email, improve effectiveness and efficiency, reduce risk, and enhance your compliance in the changing legal environment.

New online course:

ADVOCATING FOR YOUR LIBRARY: SUCCESSFUL POSITIONING WITH DECISION-MAKERS (LIBRARY ADVOCACY AND LIBRARY ISSUES)
24 Mar 2008 - 11 May 2008
7 weeks; online
Instructors: Kathleen DeLong & Pam Ryan
Fee: $395.00

This web-based, instructor-led course is for participants seeking ways to effectively position their library for success with decision-makers and constituents. Advocacy is about raising awareness and gaining commitment that leads to action. Successful libraries understand the advocacy process and exercise professional leadership in the gaining the attention and commitment of decision-makers to address the library's issues. Advocacy may relate to policy, funds, support, or partnership, and may be directed to external or internal decision-makers.

The course includes how advocacy relates to promotion and marketing, how to understand your decision-makers’ environments and their perceptions of libraries, and how to identify and engage key stakeholders. Participants will develop an advocacy plan for a particular issue of
concern (objectives, target groups, obstacles, communication tools, and evaluation) tailored to their own individual situation or environment.

There is still space in the following PLC March courses in Toronto:

INFORMATION AUDIT AND MAPPING: From Idea to Action
Thu. 27 Mar 2008 - Fri. 28 Mar 2008
2 days (12 hours) - 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Instructors: Ulla de Stricker & Dennis Ablett
Fee: $425.00

The course is ideal for those in information intensive functions who want to ensure their services and plans are aligned with their organization’s and/or stakeholder community's priorities and preferences. It is also an ideal course for those developing an information management or knowledge management strategy or those working in an organization where the value of content management or information services may not be fully understood.

SOCIAL NETWORKING TOOLS
Fri. 28 Mar 2008
1 day (6 hours) - 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Instructor: Connie Crosby
Location: Toronto
Fee: $240.00

Web 2.0, Facebook, Second Life - have taken the world and the library by storm! Explore these social media networking tools in this hands-on computer lab class. Set up a blog and wiki, view RSS feeds in an aggregator, try a social bookmarking site such as del.icio.us, and create a profile on professional networking site LinkedIn. Look at Flickr, LibraryThing, Ning, Facebook, MySpace and Second Life. Test out the latest apps such as Twitter and Jaiku. We will try some of these and have a "tour" of others, as well as discuss the implications for libraries.

For library technicians, librarians, library managers and directors as well as others interested in Web 2.0.


USABILITY EVALUATION
Mon. 31 Mar 2008 - Tue. 20 May 2008
8 weeks (24 hours) - 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Instructor: Carolyn Watt
Location: Toronto
Fee: $625.00

Effective design is the core principle in developing information products (on paper and online) that are appropriate to the environment and are easy to use. But how do we evaluate the effectiveness of an information product? What tools can we use to make sure our products help our users? What is usability and why is it important in the development cycle of any product? How do we use the results of usability tests and assessments to improve the information product? And finally, how do we sell the concept of usability to our colleagues and clients (internal and external)?

For the complete Winter and Spring 2008 schedule check PLC website: www.plc.fis.utoronto.ca.