Parents and kids learning Parents and kids learning together @ your librarytogether @ your library

The Hebersham ProjectThe Hebersham Project

Who we are:Who we are:

4 branches – Max Webber (Blacktown), Mt Druitt, Lalor Park, 4 branches – Max Webber (Blacktown), Mt Druitt, Lalor Park, Riverstone. Soon to be 5 (!) with Dennis Johnson (Stanhope Riverstone. Soon to be 5 (!) with Dennis Johnson (Stanhope Gardens) opening mid 2009.Gardens) opening mid 2009.Population: Population: 284,692284,692 Library members: Library members: 90,56290,562Loans: Loans: 932,717932,717Visits: Visits: 1,424,5481,424,548You can visit us at You can visit us at http://www.libraries.blacktown.nsw.gov.au/http://www.libraries.blacktown.nsw.gov.au/

Source: Source: Public Library Statistics, BibliostatPublic Library Statistics, Bibliostat

Q: What is the Hebersham Q: What is the Hebersham Project?Project?

A:A: A five week pilot information literacy program, A five week pilot information literacy program, developed and conducted by Blacktown City developed and conducted by Blacktown City Libraries’ staff in partnership with Hebersham Libraries’ staff in partnership with Hebersham Public School. Public School. The course ran from 27 August 08 to 24 The course ran from 27 August 08 to 24 September 08, from 6 –7pm each Wednesday September 08, from 6 –7pm each Wednesday evening (5 weeks). evening (5 weeks). A small grant was obtained to help finance the A small grant was obtained to help finance the project as part of Adult Learners’ Week 2008project as part of Adult Learners’ Week 2008

BCCLS staff involvementBCCLS staff involvement

Presenter and chief content Presenter and chief content writer: writer: Margaret Redrup-MayMargaret Redrup-MayGuidance, support, and co-Guidance, support, and co-ordination: ordination: Jennifer BurrellJennifer BurrellTechnical support and content: Technical support and content: Samantha CadwallenSamantha CadwallenSchool coordination and School coordination and content:content: Teachers from Teachers from Hebersham Public School, Hebersham Public School, Sue Connell (Principal), Chris Sue Connell (Principal), Chris Payne and Kylie BryantPayne and Kylie Bryant

Who participated?Who participated?

There were twenty There were twenty participants - 10 children participants - 10 children were selected from Year were selected from Year 3 & 4 classes at 3 & 4 classes at Hebersham Public. They Hebersham Public. They were joined by one of were joined by one of their parentstheir parentsEach child brought a Each child brought a donated laptop to the donated laptop to the sessions. Parents used sessions. Parents used library public access PCslibrary public access PCs

Aims of the ProjectAims of the Project

Address the ‘Digital Divide’ by introducing Address the ‘Digital Divide’ by introducing participants to:participants to:– Basic Internet structures, such as URLsBasic Internet structures, such as URLs– Strategic searchingStrategic searching– Cyber safetyCyber safety– Web 2.0Web 2.0– Library resources on the WebLibrary resources on the Web

Further aims of the ProjectFurther aims of the Project

Foster co-operation Foster co-operation and bonds between and bonds between the Library, the the Library, the School and local School and local communitycommunity

Encourage use of the Encourage use of the local library by local library by presenting it as a presenting it as a ‘connected’ place, not ‘connected’ place, not just a book repositoryjust a book repository

Present Library staff Present Library staff as ‘guides’ to the as ‘guides’ to the online environmentonline environment

Potentially develop a Potentially develop a portable, versatile portable, versatile information literacy information literacy program with broad program with broad relevance which could relevance which could be taught by any of be taught by any of you, in any of our you, in any of our libraries!libraries!

Evaluating the ProjectEvaluating the Project

Each week, adult Each week, adult participants were asked participants were asked to fill in a brief survey to fill in a brief survey seeking their opinions on seeking their opinions on the lesson that nightthe lesson that night

Library staff and teachers Library staff and teachers from Hebersham Public from Hebersham Public School were also School were also involved in an ongoing involved in an ongoing process of evaluationprocess of evaluation

What we learned in Week 1What we learned in Week 1

A brief history of the InternetA brief history of the Internet

How to use Encyclopaedia Britannica How to use Encyclopaedia Britannica online (library resource)online (library resource)

What you can do with social networking What you can do with social networking sites, such as Bebo, Facebooksites, such as Bebo, Facebook

EvaluationsEvaluations

The best part of Week 1’s programme?The best part of Week 1’s programme?

Learning how the Internet got connected, Learning how the Internet got connected, or startedor started

Accessing Britannica Junior online Accessing Britannica Junior online

Safety awareness for the kidsSafety awareness for the kids

What we learned in Week 2What we learned in Week 2

– The structure of an internet website The structure of an internet website address (URL)address (URL)

– Information literacy: what is it?Information literacy: what is it?

– Looking at a specific site: How to Looking at a specific site: How to evaluate a website.evaluate a website.

– Web 2.0 – Virtual reality worldsWeb 2.0 – Virtual reality worlds

EvaluationsEvaluations

The best part of Week 2’s programme?The best part of Week 2’s programme?

All of it!All of it!

Getting to know what the abbreviated Getting to know what the abbreviated words in an internet address are and what words in an internet address are and what they mean they mean

What we learned in Week 3What we learned in Week 3

Looking at a specific site: Library Looking at a specific site: Library catalogue catalogue

Internet safety – Cyber predatorsInternet safety – Cyber predators

Information literacyInformation literacy

Web 2.0 – Youtube and FlickrWeb 2.0 – Youtube and Flickr

EvaluationsEvaluations

The best part of Week 3’s programme?The best part of Week 3’s programme?

Learning new ways of approaching the Learning new ways of approaching the librarylibrary

Learning about Cyber predatorsLearning about Cyber predators

What we learned in Week 4What we learned in Week 4

Internet safety – Cyber bullyingInternet safety – Cyber bullying

Looking at a specific site: Looking at a specific site: – Search engines: GoogleSearch engines: Google– Subject directories: KidsClickSubject directories: KidsClick

Web 2.0 – blogs and wikisWeb 2.0 – blogs and wikis

EvaluationsEvaluations

The best part of Week 4’s programme?The best part of Week 4’s programme?

Finding out about KidsClickFinding out about KidsClick

Learning how to use Google properlyLearning how to use Google properly

What we learned in Week 5What we learned in Week 5

Internet safety – general safety notesInternet safety – general safety notes

Web 2.0 – financial sitesWeb 2.0 – financial sites

Looking at a specific site: YourTutorLooking at a specific site: YourTutor

EvaluationsEvaluations

The best part of Week 5’s programme?The best part of Week 5’s programme?

““I am elated to know (YourTutor) when my I am elated to know (YourTutor) when my children get stuck now I feel less children get stuck now I feel less threatened in knowing there is help, if I threatened in knowing there is help, if I can’t explain”can’t explain”

Our evaluationsOur evaluations

Five weeks is too long!Five weeks is too long!Need more staff members to be trainersNeed more staff members to be trainersParents were excited about what we Parents were excited about what we offeredoffered– Encyclopaedia BritannicaEncyclopaedia Britannica– Using the library catalogue on lineUsing the library catalogue on line– KidsClickKidsClick– YourtutorYourtutor

The future?The future?

Course will be divided into smaller unitsCourse will be divided into smaller units– Internet for beginners (Already being done at the Internet for beginners (Already being done at the

central library, but will be extended to Mt Druitt branch central library, but will be extended to Mt Druitt branch in 2009)in 2009)

– Cyber safety for parentsCyber safety for parents– ““Beyond Googling”Beyond Googling”– Specific Internet usage like research family historySpecific Internet usage like research family history

Training for staff to be trainersTraining for staff to be trainersPartnerships with schoolsPartnerships with schoolsSearch for moneySearch for money