Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this course for?
This course is designed for those interested in or already working in the information profession. Our group is based in Ireland but content of the modules is relevant internationally. 

Do I have to be a member of the Library Association of Ireland
You don't have to be a member of the LAI  or any other professional organisation to do the course. 

What do I have to do to sign up?
Registration for the course will open on the 28th of August 2017

How long is the course?
The course has 23 modules or 'things' to complete over 22 weeks. We will usually publish two modules a week, sometimes only one with catch-up weeks at the end of October and during December.   The first 'thing' starts on the 9 September 2017 and the last one will be published on the 3rd February 2018. 

Do I have to do all 23 Modules?
You don't have to complete all 23 modules in order to receive certification. The course is divided into four sections. You can choose which section to complete and you will be awarded a digital open badge for each section. Some sections have optional modules and tasks. If you complete all four sections you will receive a fifth badge and certificate. 

How much time will I need to do the course?
The course is self directed so you can invest as much or as little time as you wish. The average time required to read a  'thing' and complete a task may take up to two hours. You will also need to write one substantial reflective blog post to earn a badge and demonstrate that you've completed the tasks. 

What skill-level is required for the course?
This is an introductory level course. You will probably have already heard about some of the things before and may even be familiar with a lot of them. There will be links for further exploration in each thing if you want to learn more.

Do I really have to do the thing on Facebook? 
Even if you think a thing is not for you we would recommend that you still complete the task. You can always blog about why you didn't like it afterwards.

What's in it for me?
Everyone will get something different from the course. You will hopefully learn some new web tools that can enhance your professional career.  Also it will be an opportunity to connect with other library professionals online and see what they are doing in their work and maybe be inspired to try something new or different. Most importantly we hope that you will have fun.

What do I get at the end?
The course is certified by the Library Association of Ireland. For each section that you complete you will be awarded a digital open badge from the LAI. We will tell you about these in more detail during the course. 
If you complete the whole course you will receive a certificate for Continuing Professional Development from the Library Association of Ireland which can be added to your portfolio for attaining a Fellowship or Associateship. 
As well as certification, you will have a fully functioning professional blog, as well as an introduction to a dynamic and up-to-date online network of information professionals.

Can I do this course when I'm at work?
It may be difficult to access some of the sites you need to look at via your work computer. However, many of them have apps which you can access via a smart phone or tablet if you have one. 
It's possible to have our blog posts sent directly to your email inbox and you can also post to your blog by email. We will cover that in one of the things. 

You can also download this brochure to show to your manager or employer. It details how much time is required to do the course and the dates of the modules.

What equipment will I need to do the course?
You will need a computer with Internet access. You may be able to do a lot of the course on your smart phone or tablet.

What happens if I miss a week? 
The blog posts remain on the blog once they're up so you can read previous 'things' that you might have missed. There will be catch-up weeks also if you are falling behind.

Will there be help available? 
There will be a team of people available to help if you have any questions. All participants will be appointed a course moderator who will be reading your blog posts as you write them.  As well as this blog, we are on twitter, Facebook and Linkedin. You can also email us anytime with questions.