Sept: Hyperlinked Library MOOC

In an effort to share insight regarding some of the latest trends in the information profession with individuals from across the globe, the San Jose State University School of Library and Information Science (SJSU SLIS) will be offering a massive open online course (MOOC) in the fall.

The open online course will bring individuals from diverse backgrounds and geographic regions together in an interactive online learning environment. SJSU SLIS award-winning instructors will spearhead this professional development opportunity. The MOOC is available to the public for free, and anyone can register. MOOC students will not receive college credit.

The information school’s first open online course, the Hyperlinked Library MOOC, will begin September 3, 2013, and it explores how libraries are using emerging technologies to serve their communities.

The MOOC parallels content offered in a Hyperlinked Library Seminar taught by assistant professor Dr. Michael Stephens in the fully online Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) program and fully online Post-Master’s Certificate program at SJSU SLIS. Stephens and SJSU SLIS lecturer Kyle Jones, along with course assistants, will be the instructors for the Hyperlinked Library MOOC.

Stephens has spoken about emerging technologies, innovation, and libraries to audiences in more than 27 states and eight countries, including a research tour of Australia and presentations for the U.S. embassies in Germany and Turkey. He has authored numerous articles, and he currently writes the monthly column "Office Hours" in Library Journal magazine, exploring issues, ideas and emerging trends in library and information science education.

Jones is a doctoral student at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and teaches on topics related to digital tools, trends, and controversies. He is the author of several publications, including a book chapter in "The LIS Professional Commons and the Online Networked Practitioner" with Stephens.

The term “Hyperlinked Library” describes how our connected world is transforming 21st Century libraries into participatory, playful, and user-centered spaces while upholding traditional values. It encompasses both physical and virtual space, as well as many types of libraries.

For example, during the 2009 Australian School Library Association conference in Perth, Stephens presented the Hyperlinked Library model to teacher librarians. “School librarians could use the model to extend support for learning beyond the walls of the school library and engage with students, teachers and administrators in an open, transparent manner wherever the learning takes place,” wrote Stephens in his Hyperlinked Library TTW whitepaper.

He further explained, “Hyperlinked library services are born from careful trend-spotting, an application of the foundational tenets of librarianship and an informed understanding of emerging technologies’ societal and cultural impact.”

More information about the Hyperlinked Library:

·         Read more about the Hyperlinked Library model on Stephens’ blog, “Tame the Web.”

·         Download the Hyperlinked Library whitepaper written by Stephens.

·         Watch a recording of Stephens’ Hyperlinked Library presentation at the 2012 California Library Association Conference.

MOOC students will have the opportunity to explore the Hyperlinked Library model through recorded presentations and other content, as well as practical assignments that encourage students to apply what they are learning. For example, students will expand their learning by developing an emerging technologies plan and social media policy. Badges will be awarded as students move through the course, culminating with a certificate of completion.

Stephens developed and created the Hyperlinked Library course over the last few years, drawing on experiences working with libraries located across North America and internationally, including Germany, Australia, Turkey, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. He will pull in global experts and resources as part of the Hyperlinked Library MOOC learning experience.

Individuals interested in registering for the Hyperlinked Library MOOC are encouraged to immediately sign up for the course. An interest list is currently being formed, and the first 400 individuals to sign up will have priority registration.

ABOUT SJSU SLIS

The San Jose State University School of Library and Information Science is a recognized leader in online learning and is a member of the Sloan Consortium (Sloan-C) and Quality Matters. In 2012, the School’s online programs received a score in the exemplary range according to the Sloan-C Quality Scorecard for the Administration of Online Education Programs.

SJSU SLIS prepares individuals for professional careers in the information profession. The information school offers the following online educational programs:

·         Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS)

·         Teacher Librarian Program

·         Master of Archives and Records Administration (MARA)

·         Post-Master’s Certificate in Library and Information Science

·         San Jose Gateway PhD Program

·         Hyperlinked Library MOOC

For more information about the nationally ranked school, please visit: http://slisweb.sjsu.edu