23 Things Revisited: Participant perceptions of a staff development program over a year later

Authors

  • Christine Neilson
  • Jamie Sofoifa
  • Rachel Sarjeant-Jenkins

Keywords:

staff training, professional development, web technologies

Abstract

23 Things programs have been used around the world to help educate library workers about web 2.0 applications. This paper describes the results of two feedback surveys for a 23 Things program that was offered to library employees at the University of Saskatchewan: the first survey, conducted at the time of program completion, and a follow up survey, conducted a year and a half later to assess whether participants were applying what they learned in the program, and if so, how.  Generally speaking, respondents indicated that the program was beneficial, and all but 3 of the respondents from the second survey had applied some of what they learned through the program, either personally or professionally.  Despite being an independent learning activity, social aspects that arose organically as participants worked their way through the program seemed to be valued by program participants as much as the newly acquired knowledge from the lessons. The semi-facilitated format, in addition to the flexibility of completing the lessons at a convenient time and place, was key to the program’s success. Organizations that wish to transition long-time employees from the print-based working world to the digital world should consider making 23 Things style learning opportunities a regular part of their staff development activities.

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Published

2015-11-09

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 2 (2015)

Section

Articles

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