Missy Harvey <mjharvey@pitt.edu> is the primary contact.

Description: Geeks Bearing Gifts: Unwrapping New Technology Trends is intended to provide a fun, fast-paced, and informative introduction to and update on today’s hottest emerging technologies and trends. Students will be able to identify technology trends and understand how these trends will impact or can be integrated into traditional library services. Content will be presented in with a “can-do” focus intended to encourage participants to investigate at least one technology for implementation in their institution. Course structure will include demonstrations of a wide variety of technologies. Some of the topics recently covered include QR Codes, Cloud Computing, Near Field Communication (NFC), and Augmented Reality (AR). As new emerging technologies arise, additional topics may be added and/or substituted.

Educational Objective: Participants completing this course will be able to: Identify sources that measure the introduction, progression, and popular adoption of various emerging technologies Recognize and evaluate emerging technologies & web-based tools for deployment in user's environment Evaluate and select web-based tools for dissemination of information and for assessing information for personal and professional uses Employ web-based tools for online collaboration, communication, and productivity

Agenda:

Introduction (10 minutes)
Class Objectives/Methodology (5 minutes)
Discussion: Emerging Tech & The Gartner Hype Cycle (5 minutes)
Topic 1 Discussion: QR Codes (20 minutes)
Activity: Generating & Reading QR Codes (25 minutes)
Topic 2 Discussion: Cloud Computing (25 minutes)
Activity: Exploring Cloud Applications (30 minutes)
Break (10 minutes)
Topic 3 Discussion: Near Field Communication & The Internet of Things (35 minutes)
Topic 4 Discussion: Augmented Reality (35 minutes)
Topic 5 Discussion: Introduction to Screencasting (30 minutes)
Conclusion/Discussion (10 minutes)

The instructional methods used include Lecture, Demonstration, Slides, Discussion, Sharing/Self-disclosure, and Hands-on Exercises.