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WebWise 2013 Putting the Learner at the Center and WebWise 2014 Anchoring Communities

Date

2014

Authors

Various

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media

Abstract

From 2000 to 2014, the Institute of Museum and Library Services’ (IMLS) WebWise conference brought together representatives from museums, libraries, archives, systems science, education, and other fields who were interested in the future of high-quality online content for inquiry and learning.  An annual conference, WebWise highlighted recent research and innovations in digital technology, explored their potential impacts on library and museum services, and promoted effective museum and library practices in a digital environment. It also provided recipients of technology-based grants from the Institute with an opportunity to showcase their exemplary projects. It has since been superceded by the new IMLS Focus Conference (https://www.imls.gov/taxonomy/term/1164/) The 2013 WebWise (http://imlswebwise.chnm.gmu.edu/2013) theme was "Putting the Learner at the Center." In 2013, WebWise stole a page from unconferences and THATCamps by featuring a participatory and interactive format.  The new format expanded upon WiseCamp 2012 and responded to conference participants’ call for more “hands-on” and collaborative sessions. In keeping with the conference theme—“Putting the Learner at the Center”—the 2013 conference emphasized participant engagement, including more sharing, learning, and connecting with potential partners and collaborators.  Specifically, the conference format featured new session types, such as workshops, project demonstrations, and a project/partnership incubator. Workshop sessions provided a chance to learn new digital tools.  Project demonstrations highlighted the scope and scale of current digital projects—particularly those that were collaborative and educational—in an effort to share ongoing work.  Small group, working sessions fostered new ideas, suggested potential partners for inter-institutional collaborations, and addressed particular challenges facing historical societies, public libraries, and other small and local organizations—particularly with regard to digital and online work. The 2014 and final WebWise (http://imlswebwise.chnm.gmu.edu/) theme was “Anchoring Communities,” drawing from the IMLS’s second strategic goal: IMLS promotes museums and libraries as strong community anchors that enhance civic engagement, cultural opportunities, and economic vitality. WebWise 2014 combined the most popular conference formats of previous conferences to create a hybridized schedule that included plenary, unconference, and workshop sessions. In support of the conference’s thematic focus on community engagement, workshop sessions–suggested by potential conference attendees–provided a chance to learn new digital tools. Project demonstrations highlighted the scope and scale of current digital projects—particularly those that were collaborative and educational—in an effort to share ongoing work. Small working group sessions fostered new ideas, for those who chose to participate, and addressed particular challenges facing small and local organizations particularly with regard to digital and online work. Finally, plenary sessions brought participants together to inspire attendees to leave WebWise energized and enthusiastic about implementing new ideas at their home institutions. (imlswebwise.chnm.gmu.edu)

Description

The WARC file must be opened using a program like Webrecorder.io. The ZIP contains a static version of the website.

Keywords

Museums; libraries; conference; digital history

Citation

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