shelfless

This is kind of a sad, but exciting post… This marks the end of my time as part of the class for LIS 768. The experience has been an incredible one, so much so that I’m a bit lost for a way to approach a reflection for the class.

From the get-go I had a real excitement for the material we were going to be working with. Even though I found I had very little experience with the tools in particular (RSS feeds, Blogs, Twitter). I was eager. The class was engaged. Michael’s enthusiasm  was the catalyst between the two that created the perfect storm.

I have had great classes before, but the way this class (a 3 weekend nonetheless) managed to remain engaged with each other on so many levels, academic and other, has been unparalleled. It is the product of how the class has been built upon the very tools we’re learning and how energized we were about the topics. We wanted to learn. And we were learning from one another… In the midst we were able to make connections with each other that would never have happened in other classes. It’s a testament to the power of these tools when used in combination with our engaged interest. It is a lesson that, to me, hammers home the importance of this very class. This is awesome.

I work in a library and I’ve always brought that experience to every class I’ve had. I always try and bring my class experiences back to my work, creating projects and papers around those interests. Over the course of this class I was able to get involved with a movement around the library’s presence in social networking, providing a solid voice to what works, why it works, and what we can be doing. It’s sad to see that project on hold, but I have high hopes for it and my involvement.

It’s exciting to see others as enthusiastic about these things as I am, wanting to learn, wanting to incorporate them into our work. I’ve already been approached by a co-workers to teach them about a number of these tools and since seen them grow into active users and members of the community. It’s terribly fulfilling… I’ve been approached about doing a general session in the library about Library 2.0.

I imagine that I’ll keep in regular contact with many of my #LIS768′ers if only through Twitter. There’s certainly excellent possibilities to see this class, LIS768, evolve into a dynamic community that grows and grows, and those that have taken it connect with those who are taking it.

And so the future is bright, and even though my time with this class ends, it really doesn’t. And that is exciting.