simmons gslis international librarianship panel - adventures in vietnam
DESCRIPTION
This is from an International Librarianship panel that took place March 24, 2010 at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at Simmons College in Boston. I spoke about my time teaching at Can Tho University in Vietnam.TRANSCRIPT
ADVENTURES IN VIETNAM
LINNEA JOHNSON
GSLIS & Vietnam
Simmons has been involved with educating Vietnamese librarians since 1993.
GSLIS faculty member Pat Oyler received a $1.8 million grant from Atlantic Philanthropies to train a new generation of Vietnamese librarians for leadership roles.
In 2006, a cohort of students from Vietnam came to take GSLIS classes in Boston, which is when I worked closely with them and supported them with their technology needs.
GSLIS & Vietnam
Teaching in Can Tho (and other cities in Vietnam) is a progression of our established relationship with Vietnamese librarians.
I was recommended to staff at the Learning Resource Center at Can Tho University as a possible instructor and because they remembered and trusted me, we were invited to teach there.
Networking was a key component!
Cần Thơ
Regarded as “western capital” of Vietnam
Population of 1,121,000 (as of 2004) Biggest city in the Mekong Delta Located on south bank of the Hậu River,
the biggest branch of the Mekong River About 170km from Hồ Chí Minh City,
Vietnam’s largest city
Cần Thơ
Images from the city
More images
Cần Thơ University
Founded in 1966 35,038 undergraduate students 1,806 graduate students (with 40 Ph.D
candidates) 1,908 staff members
927 teaching staff 981 supporting staff
http://www.ctu.edu.vn/en/
Learning Resource Center
Opened on April 25, 2006 Situated at entrance of the University’s main
campus Air-conditioned, 4-story building Houses a library collection of 300,000 items 460 computers with internet access Wireless access 900 seats and carrels for the community, including
common learning spaces, discussion rooms, and post graduate study zone
http://webapp.lrc.ctu.edu.vn/english/?p=1
Learning Resource Center Pictures
Teaching
Taught a 2-week Emerging Technologies for IT in Libraries workshop with Terry Plum in June 2008
Workshop Participants
Librarians and IT staff from Can Tho University
Librarians from the Learning Resource Center in Danang
Librarians from An Giang University Public librarians from other areas of
Vietnam: Ca Mau province Ninh Kieu district Soc Trang province
Class Format
Lectures and presentations Hands-on training for installation,
implementation, and use of various applications
Discussions, group-work and problem-solving
Action plans and presentations by participant
Class Wiki: http://gslis.simmons.edu/wikis/lrcitcantho08/
Class Schedule
1st Week: Computer workstation management &
support Learning Management Systems
(installing/administering) Remote access tools for patrons & staff Problems & opportunities for LRCs in
Vietnam
Class Schedule
2nd week: Content Management Systems Archives & Metadata Advanced applications for online teaching &
learning Assessment – what do the patrons want? Outcomes for IT staff and LRC librarians
Teaching
Hands-on Classroom Time
Challenges
Speed and reliability of computer network Internet access turned off completely for 2 hours
at lunch State of computers in the lab
Virus protection was non-existent & spyware was everywhere
Lots of thinking on our feet & feverous downloading when network connection was online
Adjusting to teaching with a team of translators
Current Can Tho LRC Project Started a trial of open source software on desktops and
servers in late 2009. Installed Asianux 3.5 on 66 users’ desktops Installed Ubuntu 9.10 on 150 users’ desktops Strong support from LRC’s Director Board and from the
School’s Information and Network Management Center Planning training sessions for community and designing
a forum on web site for online assistance More info here:
http://www.lrc-tnu.edu.vn/bantin/en/it/can-tho-university-lrc-deploys-open-source-operating-system
Vietnamese Food
New & Interesting Flavors
Any guesses on this type of fruit?
Wedding
Wedding
Weekend Adventures
Last Class & Celebration
Additional Resources
GSLIS Dispatches Blog http://gslis.simmons.edu/blogs/dispatches/
category/vietnam/ International Initiatives at GSLIS
http://www.simmons.edu/gslis/about/initiatives/international.php
My photos of Vietnam on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/leonnea/
sets/72157605425944234/
Thank You For Listening!
Any Questions? Contact Information:
[email protected] (617)-521-2834 Office: P-204W