23 Things Kansas is what we call an “asynchronous” training program. In other words, there are no scheduled “classes” or a place to login. Instead you will be working on your own, at your own pace and at the time of your choosing on weekly modules that will be posted to the 23 Things Kansas blog. Each week the creator of the module will serve as a mentor for you and to answer questions about the activities described in the module. (You’ll find the lineup of 23 Things Kansas mentors here.) And of course, you will have lots of Kansas colleagues working on the same modules that you can interact with through the 23 Things Kansas blog. If you would like to see an example of a similar training program visit the Minnesota version, “23 Things on a Stick”.
The training modules will be released as postings to the 23 Things Blog. Beginning January 11, 2009, a new module will be available at 3:00 a.m. CT each Monday morning. Once the modules are published and made available they will be accessible until the end of the training and possibly beyond. We estimate that each module will take 1 to 3 hours to complete. Completion time will depend on the activities presented in the module, your previous online experience and your interest in the particular tools featured. All of these modules will be self paced and can be completed in increments so your work time can be spread throughout the week.
During the first week of the training you will set up your own personal blog using the instructions and activities presented in the training module. Just visit the 23 Things Kansas blog after 3 a.m. on Monday, January 11th to get started. You will use your blog to record your activities and progress throughout the rest of the training program. In order to earn CE credit for the training you will have to post a report about each week’s activities to your blog and you will have to complete the entire program. No partial credit will be awarded for this training. Information about what these postings should include will be part of each module.
You are welcome to sign up and participate as you wish – we’re guessing quite a few people will decide to do that. You don’t have to complete the program if you aren’t interested in earning CE credit for it. Just work along at your own pace or jump in and out of the program as you find modules you are particularly interested in exploring. We encourage you to also participate in conversation and sharing on the 23 Things Kansas blog.
During the week of April 26, 2010, the 23 Things Kansas team will host 2 or 3 webinars so that you can share your successes, tips and tricks with the rest of us. Watch the blog for information about the times and locations for these webinars. These will be the only webinars included in this program.
School librarians please note: We have released a list of the web applications and plugins you will be using during the 23 Things training program so that you can work with your school IT personnel to get ready to go to work.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns. You can contact Brenda Hough, bhough@nekls.org or Cindi Hickey chickey@kslib.info, or use the newly set up 23 Things Kansas Google Group Discussion List for those participants already registered. See the Google Group page for more information on how to send messages to the discussion list.
Can you work on this just today or all week. I won’t have time until 8 or so tonight.
Hi Shirley: You can work on this lesson anytime. It won’t go away. Next week’s lesson will just appear on top of this week’s lesson. You can work on the lesson any time, from any computer that gives you access to the Internet. Just come back to the blog to find the lesson.
I thought i registered by blog page but my name is not on the list participants. Does this take some time to show or does this happen immediately. I am wondering if I did something wrong.
Ruby: it will take some time for list to show your blog page. Someone has to add it. I can tell you your blog was submitted to the list successfully. Hope that helps!