YALSA Online Courses
Fall Courses | Other Courses (available for licensing) | Tips for Successful E-Learning
YALSA has begun to provide online continuing education opportunities using Moodle and contracting with specialists in the field of library service to young adults. The pages in this portion of the YALSA Web site can provide an introduction to what's in store for those who register for an online course as well as descriptions of current course offerings. For more information, please contact us at yalsa@ala.org.
All of YALSA's courses are the equivalent of a one day or 1.5-day face-to-face workshop. A certificate of completion is issued for each course taken. (No college credit is available at this time). The courses will be offered through Moodle. Your instructor will email you a few days before the start of the course and provide you with your username and password so that you will be able to log into the course. Please do not expect to have access before the date your course begins. If you have any technical problems accessing the course, please contact the YALSA office at 1.800.545.2433 x4390 or yalsa@ala.org.
If you have questions about our online courses, please contact Amy Gelbman.
Fall Courses
YALSA's Fall 2009 e-courses include two four-week classes, which will take place Oct. 5 - Nov. 2. Questions? Contact Amy Gelbman, 1-800-545-2433, ext. 5293. Registration opens July 1.
AIMing at Tweens: Advising, Involving, Motivating
Tweens are often the ones who slip between the cracks: not children and not quite young adults. This online course will focus on the developmental needs and interests of tweens and how we can best meet those needs and interests in terms of books, activities, and programming.
The cost is $135 for YALSA members and Students, $175 for ALA members, and $195 for nonmembers. Instructor: Teri Lesesne.
Graphic Novels and Teen Readers: The Basics and Beyond
This four-module online course will introduce those who work with teens and graphic novels to best practices. Each module consists of a weekly reading, an online discussion with instructor and classmates, and supplementary material. There will also be one live chat session – voice or real time text chat. Gene Luen Yang has agreed to make himself available for a discussion of his new book, The Eternal Smile (First Second, 2009), at one point during the course.
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Week 1: Overview of graphic novel descriptors and assorted examples, including some for students to choose among to read and discuss during course.
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Week 2: for Graphic literacy and text literacy
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Week 3: for Manga, nonfiction, and other special areas of graphic novel availability and interest. Students to pursue one in depth for discussion presentation.
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Week 4: Bibliographic issues such as selection, access, marketing
The cost is $135 for YALSA members and Students, $175 for ALA members, and $195 for nonmembers. Instructor: Francisca Goldsmith.
YALSA's Online Course Catalog
Any online course offered by YALSA can be licensed for presentation in your library. If you are interested in purchasing a course for your library system, please let us know. (The ideal class size is 25).
Beyond Booklists: Serving Today's Diverse Teens
Today's teens are the most diverse generation ever. Are you ready for them? In this newly developed e-course, participants will learn about available tools to help them identify the diverse teen populations in their service area and explore ways to design, implement and evaluate more in-depth services and programs for the diverse teen population and recent teen immigrants. Participants will also gain skills in addressing issues such as language barriers, cultural differences, and institutional support. The cost is $135 for YALSA members and Students, $175 for ALA members, and $195 for nonmembers. Instructor: Jennifer Velasquez.
Booktalks Quick and Simple
Want to entice teens to read but are not sure how? Try booktalks! Participants will learn what a booktalk is as well as a variety of techniques on how to use them with teens. Learn how to create hooks for books and how to share the talks with teens. Participants will create booktalks that can be used in a booktalking session and experiment with a variety of booktalking techniques. Even add a touch of technology to jazz up your presentations. Join booktalking expert Nancy J. Keane for a month of talking about books. The cost is $135 for YALSA members, $175 for ALA members, and $195 for nonmembers. Instructor: Nancy Keane.
Boys and Books: Encouraging Early Teen and Tween Boys to Read
Though boys have been behind girls in nearly every subject for more than thirty years, many teachers and librarians are still struggling to find the key to encouraging boys to read. This course will cover the special issues faced in reaching boys through books. Research on early teen and tween boys will provide students with a glimpse into the differing needs of boys, how they learn and how to captivate boys through outreach, programs (including after school and SRP), reader's advisory, book talks, and other ways to utilize course resources that will get boys reading at your library.
The cost is $135 for YALSA members, $175 for ALA members, and $195 for nonmembers. Instructor: Jenine Lillian
Making the Match: Finding the Right Book for the Right Teen at the Right Time (View the course syllabus)
Become an expert and connecting teens with books! In a recent survey by Smartgirl.org and YALSA, the majority of teen respondents said that they would read more if they knew about more good books to read. In this e-course you will learn how to make a successful match between library materials and your teen library users. Course participants will explore adolescent development, learn about teen reading preferences and take part in an active discussion about specific books and library materials that meet the varied needs and interests of teens. This is a six-week course. The cost is $149 for YALSA members, $195 for ALA members, and $215 for nonmembers. Instructor: Teri Lesesne.
New Technologies and New Literacies for Teens
How does teen use of technology to play, learn, and create improve their text-based literacy skills? How are teens using technology to communicate, collaborate, and create? What technologies should librarians know about to support teen interest in building community online? In this six week course you will find the answers to these questions, become familiar with the tools and techniques teens use to communicate and collaborate online, and discover how to inform your own community about best practices that support teen's technology-based print literacies.
Participants in the series will have the opportunity to talk with others about teen use of technology and how that use improves literacy skills. They will also have the chance to create a framework for a program or service at their library that supports teen technology-based print literacy. The cost is $149 for YALSA members, $195 for ALA members, and $215 for nonmembers. Instructor: Linda Braun.
OutReaching Teens
Outreach has always been important to libraries, and now it is proving to be one of the only sure fire ways of reaching underserved audiences. The content of this course will focus on the importance of providing outreach services; different ways libraries can provide outreach services to teenagers with minimal impact on staff and budget; and how to garner support for outreach efforts. The cost is $135 for YALSA members, $175 for ALA members, and $195 for nonmembers. Instructor: Angela Pfeil.
Pain in the Brain: Adolescent Development and Library Behavior
Teen brain development rivals that of the toddler years — maybe that explains the attitude and characteristics of this historically underserved age group. Find out exactly why teens act the way they do and learn how librarians can address patron behavior issues in a way that will develop relationships with young adults. By the end of this class, participants will:
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Understand the physical development of the adolescent brain and how it manifests into physical and emotional behaviors;
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Examine the developmental needs and assets of adolescents, and the role libraries must play in helping teens grow into healthy adults;
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Discuss how to apply newly acquired knowledge and techniques to improve library services to teens in ways that meet developmental needs and build developmental assets.
The cost is $135 for YALSA members, $175 for ALA members, and $195 for nonmembers. Instructor: Beth Gallaway.
Power Programming for Teens
This course will help participants attain a higher level of service to teens at their library or school. This course is designed for library staff who are beginning to find success with a few teen programs. Participants will learn how to develop and implement more programming ideas that will work at their facility.
The cost is $135 for YALSA members, $175 for ALA members, and $195 for nonmembers. Instructor: Amy Alessio.
Reaching Teens with Gaming
The main focus of this course is to educate non-gamers about what video games are, to eliminate stereotypes and fears about video games, and to introduce librarians to a medium that engages the free time of more than 80% of their teen clientele. This is a six-week course. The cost is $149 for YALSA members, $195 for ALA members, and $215 for nonmembers. Instructor Beth Gallaway.
During this course, participants will:
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Learn why video games matter in terms of entertainment, culture, learning, literacy, child/adolescent development, world economy, business.
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Discover the platforms, genres, ratings, and brief history of video games
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Discuss the controversies of games: violence, gender bias and more
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Play video games to gain first-hand knowledge of what they are and how they function
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Develop a library program for the gamer generation
Reaching Teens Virtually
The content of this course will focus on how libraries can engage in service to teens virtually. Because virtual services are fast becoming a staple in American life, librarians can benefit from a deeper understanding of their benefits and consequences in a library setting. Participants will gain the skills needed to garner support for virtual teen programs and will explore the tools needed to implement virtual services in their own libraries. The cost is $135 for YALSA members, $175 for ALA members, and $195 for non members. Instructor: Angela Pfeil.
Tech Tools for Teen Leadership
Let's face it, learning and using new technologies can seem overwhelming. However, many of the technologies that spring up every day can help you be a better leader in your library and a better manager of teen library services. You can also use many tech tools to help teens gain leadership skills. In many cases these technologies give you a chance to trade traditional ways of doing things for new and improved methods of accomplishing various tasks. This is a six-week course. The cost is $149 for YALSA members, $195 for ALA members, and $215 for nonmembers. Instructor: Linda Braun.
In this class you will:
- Find out about free easy-to-use technologies that make it easier for you to lead and manage teen library services
- Discuss ways to use new technologies to plan and implement TAG projects, meetings, and programs
- Learn how to begin to integrate technology in order to make your day-to-day teen services tasks more easily accomplished.
- Brainstorm methods for keeping up with technology so to improve teen services in your library
Using Electronic Databases with Teens
Participants will review several electronic databases guided by an evaluation form that will be provided. Students will experiment with 3 databases and create a local tip sheet for use by teen patrons. The cost is $135 for YALSA members, $175 for ALA members, and $195 for non members. Instructor: Nancy Keane.
YALSA Competencies Live
An introduction to YALSA’s Competencies for Librarians Serving Youth. From Collections to Programming participants will learn how all the aspects of good service to young adults work together and how to plan for growing teen services in school or public libraries. Participants will explore how and why the Competencies are integral to libraries and how they can be put to use in your library as a means of improving the services and resources offered to teens. Participants will develop a customized young adult services plan to implement in their library according to the tenets of the Competencies. The cost is $149 for YALSA members, $195 for ALA members, and $215 for nonmembers. Instructor Amy Alessio.
Tips for Successful E-learning
To be a successful student in a YALSA Online CE course, you need to have regular unlimited access to a computer and to the Internet. At a minimum, we recommend using at least a Pentium II-based PC or a G3 PowerMac machine, using Netscape 4.7 or higher, Internet Explorer 5 or higher, or current versions of Mozilla or Opera. You will also need a reliable Internet connection. You will have a better experience if you have high-speed Internet access like cable, DSL, or LAN-networked T1 lines. If you experience frequent busy or dropped signals, you may have difficulty completing courses on time and participating in chat sessions. If you are able to take the course on your computer at work, check with you information services people about your Internet capabilities.
Work Habits
You must login to your online course and interact several times a week. This can include reading online, working on assignments, participating in discussions (in chat sessions as well as threaded discussions), and responding to e-mail. If you're not accustomed to routinely accessing the Internet, it may be difficult to motivate yourself to do the work. You must be disciplined enough to keep your coursework current.
Most of the material you're required to read for this course is online and you must read it carefully. Some students just print out the syllabus and key information to read offline. It's important to realize you can't just skim over the content and be able to have a clear understanding of when assignments are due and what is expected of you.
Most communication in an online class consists of written messages between you and the instructor and discussions among class participants. If you have difficulty with an assignment or have questions, you must be willing to "speak up" to inform the instructor. Good typing skills also are a plus.
Sometimes learning new programs or applications on the computer can be frustrating if they don't work exactly as you expect. Taking an online course may require you to learn new techniques beyond just e-mail for interacting with other students in the class. If you take the class with colleagues or are acquainted with someone who is taking the course, by all means, practice using a WebCT Chat Room once you're registered, or join a Yahoo! group and use chat room facilities there.
Schedule
One of the major reasons people register for online classes is for the convenience of being able to take the course without having to travel to the course location. The convenience has to do with fitting your schedule, not reducing the time you will spend. You are still required to spend about the same amount of time on coursework as for any normal course or workshop. Set aside time for visiting the course and finishing a module. Before logging off, be sure to visit the discussion thread area and contribute your experience and understanding to the discussions. When everyone adds something to the discussion, it can lead to deeper understanding of what is presented in the module. Check the chat rooms to see if anyone is there and ask if you can "join" if possible.
In real terms, what does this mean? In a four-week course, there are two modules to work through and at least two hours for a chat with the instructor. Probably four hours minimum per week.
It's often tempting to wait until the last minute. If you're a procrastinator, you may have already learned that sometimes things don't work quite as well as you had hoped. With online courses, it's better to get your work done a little ahead of time so if problems do occur, they can be resolved prior to the deadline.
Qualities of a Successful Web Course Student
Successful Web course students are committed to their studies. While Web courses offer more flexibility and convenience, they can be more demanding of time and energy than regular courses or workshops. Web course students need to:
- Know how to use technology (e.g., email, use a Web browser, learn to navigate through the course).
- Login regularly to participate in the class - at least 3 times per week. Some students login as much as twice a day.
- Commit approximately 4-6 hours per week.
- Use good time-management skills and exercise self-discipline to ensure enough time to study and complete all assignments.
- Take notes as they study.
- Enjoy communicating in writing and reading the writing of others.
- Seek help when problems arise.
Good communication is an essential element of the YALSA Professional Development curriculum. You must be willing to share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas with the group and carefully consider your responses with professional respect and courtesy.
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