OK, so I bitched & moaned about the evilness of the class I had to teach this morning. It was primarily evil because the technology was of the suck. But I was also very nervous about teaching EndNote because I'm not a big user of it myself. I try. And in theory I can see that it's a great concept. But in reality? Bugs, bugs and more workarounds for the bugs. But that's not what I want to talk about. Instead, I want to do some positive reflection.What I learned from this EndNote class was:- I can teach even when the technology fails me - even on a platform as reliant on the technology as EndNote
- The use of other (old school) media like a white board, can really save you when technology fails :-)
- having a handout with even a very basic layout of what you're going to teach is invaluable
- Being forced away from the computer and out from behind the podium can really enhance your teaching - you engage more with the class and can show them individually how to get to things HOWEVER the downside is this can be very time consuming
- EndNote really isn't intuitive. File - New doesn't give you a new reference. It's References - New Reference. Which you don't know if it's not in front of you and you're not an EndNotePhile.
- I know EndNote better than I thought I did
- I know EndNote better than the students learning it from me
- MPOW has EXCELLENT EndNote resources
- my colleagues are very supportive
Also, I think I'm going to do a Cert IV in Training. That is all. I have to go to the gym. And get skinni.
A selection of tweets from my (now protected) account. In the box of "be careful what you wish for dread":
But I don't FEEL like teaching a three hour EndNote class! about 4 hours ago I have 18 students enrolled in EndNote & I'm not sure I'm competent. about 3 hours ago @ @ @ thx. yes. Breathe. I do know more than they do. I am smarter than endnote. about 3 hours ago@ I *hate* endnote. Passionately. Why oh Why did I say I would teach this class? about 3 hours ago @ nope. it's a 3 hour special class coz they asked me to. about 3 hours ago@ it's my first one flying solo is all. I usually have a safety net. But I organised this one at short notice & no backup about 3 hours ago
Well, that class wasn't nearly as evil as expected. It was so much more evil you couldn't have dreamed up a more evil situation. 16 minutes ago
Part 1: Overhead Projector of Computer Screen goes kerfluey, have to do first hour without visuals. 16 minutes ago
Part 2: Half the class have brought their own (Mac) laptops which don't download export files the same way as windows 15 minutes ago Part 3: 1/2 class w Mac laptops don't follow along when I show them how to download filters so when we export they're lost 14 minutes ago Part 4: While I'm teaching with no visuals I have an IT guy failing to fix comp asking inane qs like "where's the remote?" 13 minutes ago Part 5: A couple of random undergrad science students decide to join the specialised database session I'm doing for PGs 12 minutes ago
Part 6: Those random UG science students don't know how to search databases or reference. EndNote is kinda about those things 11 minutes ago Part 7: Did I mention the computer went kerfluey because my colleague tried to make it better? 11 minutes ago
Part 8: Students are told to use EndNote. EndNote is not intuitive, nor usable. So we have to teach it. 10 minutes ago
Part 9: EndNote classes normally go for 3 hours. This was an additional class for students who had 2 hours. Over lunchtime. 9 minutes ago Part 10: Due to rush, we had fifteen minutes to cover using word for referencing and in-text citations. 8 minutes ago@ I know. was in a mtg last week & future of libraries discussed. Someone said "if our future is teaching endnote we have no future" 7 minutes ago
