AI Literacy: May 17 webinar

AI Literacy: May 17 webinar

by | Mar 16, 2023

ChatGPT has been making headlines, with both positive and negative stories, including concerns about plagiarism and false information. You may not have had time to keep up with all the news, and you might be wondering how to separate the hype from the reality.

On May 17th I’m offering a webinar to address these topics. No matter where you fall on the spectrum between critic and enthusiast, it’s important for all of us these days to have basic AI literacy.

AI Literacy: Using ChatGPT and Artificial Intelligence Tools in Instruction
May 17 at 1:30 pm CDT via the American Library Association

In this webinar, you’ll learn why understanding AI tools (like ChatGPT & Bing Chat) is an important part of information literacy and something library staff should be learning about now.

After participating in this event, you will:

  • Understand the basics of ChatGPT and how it works
  • Know about the company behind it and the data that went into the product’s training
  • Know several examples of how to use ChatGPT and similar tools effectively
  • Understand some common criticisms of the technology and problems with it in its current form
  • Know some other tools and apps are available that use this technology

You’ll come away with:

  • A basic understanding of this technology (AI tools based on large language models).
  • Knowledge of why AI literacy is an important part of information literacy.
  • Inspiration & tips for offering workshops, guides, or handouts for your users on this topic.
  • A bibliography of best sources for learning more.

Bring your questions and comments! We’ll include time for discussion.

 

ALA Member Price: $71.10
Non Member Price: $79.00
Credit Type: Certificate Available upon Completion
Register
Blockchain Technologies: Implications for Libraries

Blockchain Technologies: Implications for Libraries

by | May 29, 2019

You’ve probably heard about Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. These use a technology called a blockchain. In this webinar, you’ll learn about the latest developments with blockchain technologies (beyond currencies) and discuss possible applications for libraries.

90-minute webinar with questions for discussion
1 pre-webinar reading

Contact me to schedule it for your group.

What is Blockchain Technology?

According to Blockchain Explained, from Reuters, “A blockchain is a database that is shared across a peer-to-peer network of computers. Once a record has been added to the chain it is very difficult to change. To ensure all the copies of the database are the same, the network makes constant checks. Blockchains have been used to underpin cyber-currencies like Bitcoin, but many other possible uses are emerging.”

We’ll cover:

  1. What is a blockchain?
  2. How does it work?
  3. Examples of use (online education, charities, voting, legal contracts, provenance, getting around censorship)
  4. Why it matters
  5. Where is it in the Hype Cycle?
  6. Is it likely to be passing fad or an important trend?
  7. Who are some of the key players? (organizations, companies)
  8. What are some ethical concerns?
  9. How might it help individuals?
  10. How might it help people with disabilities?
  11. Can it help bridge the digital divide?
  12. How might libraries use it?
  13. How might we experiment with it in library settings?
  14. Which time frame applies?
    • It’s a bit far off in the future, but good to understand.
    • It’s coming soon, important to learn more now.
    • It’s already here, and worth experimenting with in libraries.
  15. Resources for learning more

Outcomes

  • Become knowledgeable about blockchain technologies.
  • See examples of services and companies powered by blockchain technology.
  • Get inspired to imagine blockchain-based solutions for problems that libraries face.
  • Know the best resources for learning more.

This webinar is part of a series about specific emerging technologies and their implications for libraries by Nicole Hennig, author of Keeping Up with Emerging Technologies: Best Practices for Information Professionals.

Blockchain Technologies

This will be interesting and fun!

Schedule this webinar now
Voice Computing with Alexa and Google Home – Implications for Libraries: A Webinar

Voice Computing with Alexa and Google Home – Implications for Libraries: A Webinar

by | Nov 13, 2018

90-minute webinar with questions for discussion
1 pre-webinar reading

Contact me to schedule it for your group.

The Amazon Echo, with its “Alexa” voice personality, is one of the most popular smart speakers available. Google has “Google Assistant,” Apple “Siri,” and Microsoft “Cortana.” These voice-controlled systems can do many things, such as play music, audiobooks, radio stations, podcasts, answer factual questions, tell stories, and control devices in your home. This technology is improving quickly and is now available in more locations, like the workplace and your car.

These voice-controlled products enable better access for people with vision problems, mobility problems, and situations where hands-free computing is useful.

Public, school, and academic libraries are experimenting with voice computing technologies by offering smart speakers for borrowing, creating “Alexa skills” about library programs, hosting workshops about smart speakers, and more.

 

We’ll cover

1. What is voice computing?

2. How does it work?

3. Examples of use

4. Why it matters

5. Where is it in the Hype Cycle?

6. Is it likely to be a passing fad or an important trend?

7. Who are some of the key players? (organizations, companies)

8. What are some ethical concerns?

9. How might it help individuals?

10. How might it help people with disabilities?

11. Can it help bridge the digital divide?

12. How are libraries currently using voice computing and how might they use it in the future?

13. How might we experiment with it in library settings?

14. Which time frame applies?
– It’s a bit far off in the future, but good to understand.
– It’s coming soon, important to learn more now.
– It’s already here, and worth experimenting with in libraries.

15. Resources for learning more

 

Outcomes

  • Become familiar with the basics of voice computing platforms.
  • Understand why voice computing is positioned to become an important paradigm change for more user-friendly and accessible computing.
  • Get inspired to experiment with voice computing in library services and events.
  • Continue your learning with a bibliography of best sources for learning more.

 

See also my book, Siri, Alexa, and Other Digital Assistants: The Librarian’s Quick Guide, published by Libraries Unlimited.

Siri, Alexa, and Other Digital Assistants: The Librarian's Quick Guide

This webinar is part of a series about specific emerging technologies and their implications for libraries by Nicole Hennig, author of Keeping Up with Emerging Technologies: Best Practices for Information Professionals.

Voice Computing -- Implications for Libraries

This will be interesting and fun!

Schedule this webinar now
Emerging Technologies: Implications for Libraries, A Webinar Series

Emerging Technologies: Implications for Libraries, A Webinar Series

by | Aug 31, 2018

I’ve got a new series of webinars available! They are about emerging technologies and their implications for libraries. Schedule them for your regional library association or local library staff.

Contact me about pricing if you’d like to arrange one for your group.

Description

In each episode of this series, you’ll learn about a particular emerging technology. You’ll discuss its possible impacts on society and on libraries. Each webinar consists of definitions, examples, and a guided discussion with thought-provoking questions.

Outcomes

  • Become knowledgeable about new technologies.
  • Learn how to evaluate new technologies.
  • Learn to distinguish trends from fads.
  • Learn how to experiment with new technologies that show promise for libraries.

Format

  • 90-minute webinar: A presentation with several breaks for discussion
  • 1 pre-webinar reading or video, sent ahead of time (optional)
  • A bibliography of resources for learning more.

Outline

For each technology in this series, we’ll cover:

  1. What is it?
  2. How does it work?
  3. Examples of current use
  4. Why it matters
  5. Where is it in the Hype Cycle?
  6. How soon is it expected to come to fruition?
  7. Is it likely to be a passing fad or an important trend?
  8. Who are some of the key players? (organizations, companies)
  9. What are some ethical concerns?
  10. How might it change society?
  11. How might it help individuals?
  12. How might it help people with disabilities?
  13. How might it help bridge the digital divide?
  14. How might libraries use it?
  15. How might libraries change because of it?
  16. How might we experiment with it in library settings?
  17. Which time frame applies?
    • It’s a bit far off in the future, but good to understand.
    • It’s coming soon, important to learn more now.
    • It’s already here, and worth experimenting with in libraries.
  18. Resources for learning more

Available Topics for 2018-2019

  • Voice Computing and Smart Speakers – Implications for Libraries
  • Blockchain Technologies – Implications for Libraries

Possible Future Topics for 2019

  • Augmented, Virtual, and Mixed Reality – Implications for Libraries
  • Artificial Intelligence – Implications for Libraries
  • Remote Working and “The Free Agent Nation” – Implications for Libraries
  • Suggest more topics

Get The Webinars

Contact me for pricing if you would like to schedule live webinars for your group.

Let me know if you would prefer pre-recorded presentations that you can download. If I get enough requests, I’ll make downloads of recordings available for sale at a discount.

These webinars use techniques from my book on the same topic. It covers the best methods and sources for keeping up.

“A bounty of resources and strategies for advancing user-centered innovation”
— Joyce Kasman Valenza, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Rutgers School of Communication & Information

Take a look at a list of my past webinars, some of which are still available — let me know if you want to schedule one.

Become a Power Searcher: Using Internet Search Tools Effectively

Become a Power Searcher: Using Internet Search Tools Effectively

by | Dec 22, 2017

90-minute workshop, Wed., Jan. 24, 2018
2:30pm Eastern | 1:30 Central | 12:30 Mountain | 11:30am Pacific
(You’ll get a recording if you are unable to watch it live).

Sign up now — ALA Store

Everyone knows how to dash off a quick Google search, but do you know how to go deeper with your searching? This webinar will show you how to search for many types of information effectively: websites, news, images, videos, statistics, maps, books, definitions, translations, and more. You’ll learn tips for Google, Wolfram Alpha, and several other search engines.

 

We’ll cover

  • Advanced tips for Google searching
  • Pros and cons of Google’s search personalization and how to turn it off
  • Searching other parts of Google: News, Translate, Videos, Books, Google Scholar, and Maps
  • Protecting your search privacy: using DuckDuck Go or Private mode in your web browser
  • Social media search tools and when to use them: Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest
  • Multimedia searching: videos, podcasts, images, and how to filter by usage rights, color, and other criteria
  • Finding old websites with the Wayback Machine
  • Finding data, statistics, and much more with Wolfram Alpha
  • Searching by voice with Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant

Outcomes

  • You’ll learn how to search Google and other search engines more effectively.
  • You’ll learn about several different free search tools and when to use each.
  • You’ll get information you can use to teach your patrons about searching.

Become a Power Searcher

This will be both useful and fun!

Sign up now