Did You Get the Call?
In the words of SLA founder John Cotton Dana, one "who dares to teach must never cease to learn." When it comes to the 2001 Call for Courses, it's important to keep these words in mind. This year, SLA's Strategic Learning and Development Center (SLDC) is inviting you and other information professionals around the world to submit a proposal to present a continuous education (CE) course at SLA's 92nd Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas, USA. As Dana's words suggest, however, leading such a course is not just about teaching, but also about your learning and the learning of your colleagues. We want to help prepare you for all of these critical endeavors.
In this month's Strategic Learning Outlook, we'll explore some of the key questions that you may have about the 2001 Call for Courses, and offer some insights that will help you prepare a better proposal. If you have any questions, please contact us by e-mail at learning@sla.org. We look forward to hearing from you!
Q: What exactly is the 2001 Call for Courses?
A: The 2001 Call for Courses is your invitation to help information professionals create their most desired futures through learning. You are welcome to submit a proposal for a potential CE course that you believe we will help information professionals tackle the challenges they are facing today or are likely to be facing tomorrow. From alternative dispute resolution to working with the World Wide Web, there is a wide variety of possible course topics for you to consider as you prepare your proposal!
Q: I've never presented a CE course before. Can I still submit something?
A: Absolutely, in fact we encourage you to submit a proposal! You see, for many years, SLA has been quite fortunate to have some of the leaders of the information profession also leading its CE courses. We will continue to work with these knowledgeable facilitators, but our ongoing goal is to expand this chorus of respected voices, adding to its diversity of perspective and depth of experience. We know you have a distinctive contribution to make, and we hope you will choose to make that contribution with us!
Q: How does the 2001 Call for Courses impact SLA Division CE courses?
A: The 2001 Call for Courses pertains to both Division and SLA sponsored CE courses. If you have a CE course idea that you think is best for submission as a Division CE course, please e-mail us at learning@sla.org so that we may refer you to the appropriate Division contact.
Q: Okay, I'm interested. What's involved in preparing a proposal?
A: The 2001 Call for Courses brochure contains complete instructions for submitting a CE course proposal. (If you have not yet received a copy, please send us an e-mail at learning@sla.org.) Still, let us offer you a few important insights on how to prepare an effective proposal:
Be very clear on why your idea would make a good CE course. Your proposal must be four pages in length maximum, so clear and succinct answers are essential. The better you understand what you want others to learn, the easier it will be to create a great proposal.
Put yourself in the learner's place when developing your proposal. Think carefully about who your targeted learners are and try reflecting on the critical learning questions you might have if you were a participant in your course.
Think creatively about the learning approaches you will use to deliver your content. Don't be satisfied with using traditional methods. Explore the possibility of using more interesting approaches that will facilitate learning.
It is very important that the proposal describes how your professional experience with the subject matter of your CE course has prepared you to lead the course. A solid academic background is also important, and should be incorporated in your summary of qualifications as well.
Q: How can I get more specific advice on preparing my proposal? A: You can contact SLA's Strategic Learning and Development Center staff by phone at 1-202-939-3627 or by e-mail at learning@sla.org. We would be glad to answer your specific questions about the 2001 Call for Courses or offer you advice on creating an outstanding CE course proposal.
Q: What's the first step in the CE course proposal submission process?
A: We're glad you asked! Before you begin your CE course proposal, please complete the "2001 Course Proposal Preliminary Summary Form" found at www.sla-learning.org. By completing this form, you will help us track your course proposal throughout the process. Also, it will allow us to provide you with feedback on the proposal more quickly.
Q: What is the proposal submission deadline?
A: All 2001 CE course proposals must be received at SLA International Headquarters in Washington, DC, by Friday, September 15, 2000. You have three submission options: hard copy, e-mail or fax. Please consult the 2001 Call for Courses brochure for more details on each option.
Q: Sounds good. Anything else?
A: Yes. We want to remind you once again of the words of John Cotton Dana's with which we began this article. Developing a CE course proposal and, ultimately, leading a CE course is not simply an opportunity to share what you know with your colleagues in the worldwide community of information professionals. It is also your chance to stretch, your chance to learn something new about your work and about yourself. We're here to be your partner in that effort and we certainly hope you will call on us as you move through this very exciting process!
| What's Hot in the SLDC? In late July, SLA begins a new chapter in its career services by going live with a brand new SLA Career Services Online site. This new site will allow job seekers to search for jobs by multiple criteria, post resumes online, and receive e-mail notification of new, relevant job postings. Employers will be able to post jobs in real time, review resumes, and track candidates. SLA Careers Services Online promises to become your primary career management resource! To learn more, please click on the "Find a Job!" link on the SLA web site at www.sla.org. (SLA Career Services Online will be launched officially in September 2000; stay tuned for details!) Global 2000 is still a few months away, but it is never too early to consider attending a strategic learning workshop before the conference begins! These six workshops will explore some of the critical challenges facing information professionals, including effective career management, working with electronic journals, and information ethics. Strategic learning workshops will be held on Sunday, October 15 and Monday, October 16 in Brighton, United Kingdom. For more information, please visit the Global 2000 web site at www.slaglobal2000.org. We hope to see you there! |
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