Please contact me via chat or email evandross@worlded.org if you need tech assistance. Thank you!

Lee, we’re not broadcasting faces today.

👋 Hi everyone! 👋

Yes, the webinar will be recorded and disseminated along with the slides.

How regularly do your learning lounges meet? Do the same people in the cohort continue through the time together or can anyone join at any time?

How have these practices been adjusted to comply with social distancing mandates?

I meant to say learning circles earlier, excuse me. How regularly do these circles meet?

Thank you for your questions. We'll be answering them at the end of the presentation.

Amy, which practice are you asking about?

What platforms are you using for these groups to ‘meet’ online? google hangouts? What have you found works for people who are just starting to learn computer/tech literacy? (especially wondering what PPL is using since they said they have switched to completely online groups since the pandemic). thanks!

Please share link in chat.

www.provlib.org/education

Thanks!

https://www.provlib.org/propagating-promising-practices/

@Amanda - at P2PU we’ve been encouraging people to use meet.jit.si, as it’s free, open source, and secure. But I think using what you’re most comfortable with is important — if you are used to Zoom or Skype or Hangout…no reason to switch now.

We’ve also been experimenting with starting learning circles via SMS and slowly getting folks comfortable meeting in a video call (obviously this requires that people have access to decent bandwidth & a device at home)

What happens is libraries are still closed over the summer?

Okay…thanks

If we have already been piloting something similar to one of these practices, are we eligible to apply or are you only looking for libraries that will be starting off a completely new practice?

Oops! This is now shared with all panelists and attendees ==> I second @Grif - I am the PPL's Learning Lounge Coordinator, Career Coach & Facilitator, and I have found that using SMS or apps like Facebook that people use regularly, open the door to engage them in distance learning and make them feel comfortable to use other resources like Google Meet or Zoom. I break the ice sending videos of myself talking about those resources and short tutorials of how to use new apps.

Hi Lina! Nice to “see” you again.

Glad to e-see you as well Grif :)

Are there examples of how these three options work best in rural areas?

Are you looking for geographical diversity for grantees? I ask because we are located very close to one of the three pilot systems and wondered if this would be weighed negatively against our application.

Thank you

If we are not selected, are we able to use any of the information, including P2P, to implement the practices on our own?

@Tracy - anybody can create a learning circle (and join our online community) at anytime for free > www.p2pu.org

Thank you!

Do you check out laptops/mobile devices/ hot spots to help in the process?

Here's a blog post about running online learning circles > https://info.p2pu.org/2020/04/01/online-learning-circles/Here's some current community discussion about learning together when we can't meet in person > https://community.p2pu.org/t/how-do-we-learn-together-when-we-cant-meet-together-a-place-to-talk-about-how-were-responding-to-covid-19/4366Here's some current community discussion about tools for delivering programs online > https://community.p2pu.org/t/tools-to-help-you-facilitate-meetings-online/4401And, finally, we are having a community call next Wednesday at 1PM Eastern about emerging practices for online service delivery at public libraries. You can see the details for that call here > https://community.p2pu.org/t/online-facilitation-wednesday-april-8/4363

if you are using facebook do you create a separate group/place for this or use the main library page?

Thank you for the info - from Yakima Valley Libraries!

Great resources, thanks Grif!

@Francisco - I wish I was quarantined somewhere as beautiful as Yakima Valley…

What time of day do you usually offer these lounges or circles? Do you find certain times busier than others?

Thanks for the clarification and the great resources.

@Ebony - I would like to add something about the information to collect for those programs, waiting to have the opportunity

Has anyone experienced the Zoom bombing dynamic and for this reason is Zoom a viable venue for online programming for any of the practices? Does the use of Zoom require pre-registration to limit participation so its not open to persons who may not engage responsibly?

On the point of platforms: We always start with what is free and open source — Jit.si for video calls and Etherpads for collaborative document editing. I think that discussing *how* you want to communicate is a good thing to talk about with the learners who you are trying to serve.

Lina, how do you collect that information about their language fluency, learning needs? A google form, etc.?

glibe or glide

Answering Jennifer Belcher: at LAPL, we made sure that the Learning Circles at the Central Library continues at the same time & location when 1 ends, the next 1 starts. For example: Wednesday at 3:30-5pm has had 4 different Learning Circles.

Glide software progam to create mobile apps - it uses Google Sheets and is very easy to design.

@Jennifer - We have a flexible schedule for the Learning Lounges; walk-in locations are open on weekdays mornings, afternoon and evening, offering participants-facing services about 3 hours per session. We also offer Saturdays in the morning.

Career coaching services are offered in one-on-one appointments in-person or remote; chat or video call, per appointment :)

are the lounges always staffed or more fee open time for patrons

Have you paired these programs with children's programming to better accommodate parent attendees?

+1 to what Sherry says. Make your best guess (weekday, weekday eve, weekend) and then be flexible.

Great. Thank you

Thanks for the info. I will look for the recorded webinar to share with libraries in CT

@Tracy - Yes, we use Google Forms - I wish we have budget for a more comprehensive collection system, but it is working pretty well for us :)

@Lina Thanks- everything we do is through Google, and it works for us!

could you speak to a rural smaller setting?

Can Learning Circles take place offsite (elementary school or Rec Center, for example)?

@Amy - Lounges are always staffed. We aim to have 2 staff members per session. It depends of the location and participants' needs! Some individuals require few assistance, and other ones need us all the time, then we jump from one computer to another one.

my concern is we only have 10 public computers and 3 staff working at a time

Thanks!

Volunteers are always welcome in the Lounges of course! We also welcome participants that we train to get volunteer experience with our program, that they can add to their resumes :)

I meant for this grant opportunity, if they can take place offsite.

Ah I see. Someone else will have to speak to that then!

@Amy - 10 computers work well :)

Thanks, Grif!

No you answered my questions...Thanks!

Great, thank you!

I have to drop, thanks for putting this together everyone! Have a nice weekend and stay in touch.

Thank you!

Thank you for the info about the application and resources

This was great. Thank you!

Much thanks for the info.

This article provides guidance on how to set-up Zoom to help prevent interference - https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/03/26/zoombombers-disrupt-online-classes-racist-pornographic-content

Thank you!

Thank you!

Thank you all! You will love the Learning Lounge if you implemented it :)

Thank you everyone!

Thank you!