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G2S Project Code: 2020-IL-85360
State: Illinois
Fiscal Year: 2020

Grantee
NORTH RIVERSIDE PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT

Project Director
Director Name: Britney Musial
Director Phone: 708-447-0869
Director Email: musialb@northriversidelibrary.org

General Information
Title: Connecting the Digital and Physical Worlds
State Project Code: 21-2001-PNG
Start Date: 07/01/2020
End Date: 06/30/2021
Abstract: North Riverside Public Library held 3 different workshops for students 10-13 years old, offering technology to students quarantined at home due to the COVID pandemic, along with the opportunity to connect with other students through video and chat functions. Participants were able to use technology as a tool to increase self-confidence, patience, public speaking, and build skills that will follow them into the future. The remote learning model required students to be more independent, develop listening skills, and engage in hands-on learning at home since the mentors could not be guiding them in person. Participants were primarily low-income students who typically do not have access to these technologies outside of the classroom, and these programs helped fill the technology gaps created by remote learning. This project provided educational opportunities, supported information fluency and lifelong learning; aligned with the federal LSTA priority to expand services for learning and access to information and education resources; and improved learners’ general knowledge and skills.

State Goal: Goal 2: Lifelong Learning.

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$12,122.00

$0.00

$12,122.00

Intent(s)
Improve users' general knowledge and skills.
Arts, Culture & Humanities
Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math (STEM)

Activities
Activity Details
Title: Learn about podcasting!
Narrative: Learn about podcasting! - Program - Students learned what a podcast was, how the different mechanics of recording can come together to create a podcast, and shown examples of podcasts so they could have an idea of what a finished product sounded like. They were tasked with finding a topic they wanted to talk about and do a practice recording with the microphones, taking their sound recording and learning how to edit it with the music editing software, and then converting it to an mp3 so it could be easily shared with their friends and parents. Mentors were extremely helpful with guiding the students in keeping their podcasts concise, explaining the importance of audience attention span and how to pack the most amount of information into a recording without it being too much at once, going into the ideas of spacing out information to have multiple episodes. By the end of the classes, the students were already trying to collaborate together to create a podcast involving pop culture and the things they enjoy.
Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: Virtual

Quantity
Session length (minutes): 60
Number of sessions in program: 4
Average number in attendance per session: 3
Number of times program administered: 3

Partner Information

Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: No
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No

Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No

Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: General

Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: NORTH RIVERSIDE PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
Address: 2400 SOUTH DES PLAINES AVENUE
City: NORTH RIVERSIDE
State: IL
Zip: 60546
Question 1: I learned something by participating in this library activity.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: I feel more confident about what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 3: I intend to apply what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 4: I am more aware of resources and services provided by the library.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 5: I am more likely to use other library resources and services.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0

Activity Details
Title: Photography Fun!
Narrative: Photography Fun! - Program - Students were given a digital camera to learn the basics of how cameras worked compared to cell phones. They were shown a PowerPoint to explain the mechanics of a digital camera and then various techniques to challenge themselves to recreate. They were then taught the basics of Photoshop and the various ways to edit and manipulate a photo. A lot of the students had exposure to photoshop through school, so many were able to work individually before collaborating with each other to edit others' photos. Doing this activity from home opened up more opportunity to see their homes in a different way, while likewise getting to create their own photo opportunities which wasn't something they were able to have free reign on when hosting this same activity in the library.
Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: Virtual

Quantity
Session length (minutes): 60
Number of sessions in program: 4
Average number in attendance per session: 4
Number of times program administered: 3

Partner Information

Activity Details
Title: Create your own object!
Narrative: Create your own object! - Program - This involved oversight and assistance from our mentors to bridge the virtual gap as students learned how to create an object for 3D printing. Students learned new software for this project, so there were a lot of questions and a need for one-on-one help. Mentors challenged them to create their own object through Tinkercad, starting small by taking a 2D object and making it 3D before finally working with a 3D object from the start. The students were taught the differences between the filaments used, how the 3D printer worked, and the importance of how hot the machine can get, so safety was an integral part of the sessions. Students summited their finished projects to the mentors for printing.
Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: Virtual

Quantity
Session length (minutes): 60
Number of sessions in program: 4
Average number in attendance per session: 7
Number of times program administered: 3

Partner Information

Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
90% of students checked out the Project Next Generation (PNG) materials to use at home and said that they felt much more comfortable dealing with the virtual aspect of their lives due to having the additional practice we were providing them along with it being a "fun" environment and not like the way their virtual school was structured. 1 new student joined the PNG classes. There was also an improvement in listening skills along with "sharing" the time in regards to talking and collaborating with each other.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
Knowing that we were providing a fun and safe environment that wasn't just another "online" class for the students was extremely important to us. We wanted to provide a way for the students to still connect and get access to the technologies we offered them that they would not otherwise get while being at home, so it really helped us get closer to our community and their needs. It allowed us to feel confident to plan more virtual PNG programs in the future.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
One lesson learned was to not feel as guilty needing to "mute" students and then allow them to talk. There was a lot of cross traffic chatter that was making it hard to explain the project and keep everyone on the same steps in order to reach the "testing" stages of these programs. Since we didn't want it to be exactly like their school, we still would open up the chances to speak and then go back to muting everyone in order for everyone to be equally heard
Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
Yes
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort in managing this project:
Yes
Explain:
Since we've had plenty of exposure to hosting online classes, we have now perfected the timing in which to get the classes done and instead with more of a focus on letting the students talk to each other and collaborate. We do not want to mimic the way they had been doing classes virtually through school, so there will be more of a focus on giving easier steps to accomplish in order for the students to get a balance of listening and public speaking skills.
Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
Yes
Explain:
We are going to attempt to branch out and be more creative with the machines they may be able to take home, or let them plan their items online and then "book an appointment" at the library to use the bigger machines that are unable to leave to finish their projects in person, so long as we can remain open to the public.
Was an evaluation conducted for this project:
Yes
Was a final written evaluation report produced:
No
Can the final written evaluation report be shared publicly on the IMLS website:
No
Was the evaluation conducted by project staff (either SLAA or local library) or by a third-party evaluator:
Third-Party
What data collection tools were used for any report outcomes and outputs:
Did you collect any media for the data:
What types of methods were used to analyze collected data:
Other:
How were participants (or items) selected:
What type of research design did you use to compare the value for any reported output or outcome:

Exemplary: Yes
Exemplary Narrative

Project Tags: podcasting, photography, arts & crafts