My present unit at ECU is focused on digital leaning communities so I was forced to think about how this group works for me because apart from introductions we have not had much interaction. Without getting apologetic, does anyone want to discuss this?
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HI Deborah
I am replying to both your previous posts. I know I was wary of making any comments on Uni courses and was aware that professionals and academics could see our conversations. I think that is why so many of the others use Facebook Closed Groups, citing the need for honesty and being real.
One really valuable thing to doing getting work is develop your network by joining a Special Interest Group that meets face to face. I have had three jobs through that so far.
When no work was coming my way last year I volunteered at three different places to get some skills. I could see from the job descriptions for quite a few jobs that I needed Records Administration skills as well as Archive skills so I volunteered at Anglicare and was able to begin a File Audit for their HR files. It was good experience in handling files and helped me to get another short term job as a Receptionist/Admin Assistant which I finished last month.
I wonder what other people are doing to get work/experience?
Delayed response, I often check to see if there's anything happening in here, but there very rarely is. This is a pity as we are presumably all studying towards becoming archivists, which is not necessarily the case with my fellow uni students, most of whom are studying Information Studies to become librarians, and I feel a bit left out of that. I haven't posted much here myself, although I can't quite pinpoint why. I would like to see this group be more active.
Hi Deborah
Thanks for your response. I has become resigned to being isolated as the archivist student among so many Library students and had pretty much given up looking for responses. However in the unit I mentioned I was studying, there was a chapter in the text book, Digital Habitats (Wenger, White, Smith. 2009) that mentioned how online learning communities like all other communities need leadership. When I checked this Forum I realised that lack of leadership from the participants was probably contributing to the lack of life.
The Forum was set up for us but I don't know if it was requested by Archive students, hence our lack of direction.
What sort of things do you think would make this forum more active and enjoyable and useful to you?
Are you doing any archives work yet?
No, not doing any archives work yet, though would be more than happy to start part-time, if something came up (I live on the Sunshine Coast). I've no doubt that we will learn far more on the job than we are at uni, but it's that great catch that you have to have the paperwork to get the job, even though with on the job training and support we could do the job first and study second ( or concurrently, if you know what I mean). What about yourself, do you work in archives?
I don't mind online learning, but it works sooo much better with frequent participation. I guess it's just a matter of someone making the effort to make a suggestion, comment, or question. Yours seems to have worked well in getting responses. Doesn't have to be leadership by any one particular person. Maybe because the whole thing had fallen asleep people were like me, observing but not saying anything as there didn't seem much point?
The links are http://www.facebook.com/groups/104137353005526/ this is the library degree page
http://www.facebook.com/groups/498959810220572/ this is the archives page...
Michelle xx
Thanks to everyone who replied to my post. It's interesting to see that some students use FB, something I have never considered. That is probably because I limit my use of FB anyway and I have learned to manage without discussion
Here are some more questions if anyone is interested
How does using FB differ from using a forum like this one, and
What sort of topics are appropriate in this forum
As far as I know my uni (Charles Sturt) doesn't have course related Facebook pages (guess I should double check that, though I am not a big fan or user of FB). Each subject has forums and often also chat rooms to meet up with subject classmates.
As for what's appropriate, I'm thinking anything at all to do with our uni studies, learning about archives, frustrations and suggestions about working and especially looking for work.
I wonder if perhaps some hesitation to talk is related to currently working archivists (who perhaps may interview us for work one day, or become our bosses) being able to view our posts, which may make students feel perhaps foolish or vulnerable when voicing concerns or points of ignorance...? Not that we should, of course, as we all have to learn...
I like the sound of a "private place" where I can talk about frustrations etc. How do I make contact with the archives group, it sounds attractive.
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