Last month I decided to take a MOOC through UNC-Chapel Hill and Courser about Metadata. Initially, I was really excited. I wanted something that blended review of what I knew with some helpful information that I hadn't yet learned, especially in the realm of HTML and XML.
In my final semester at U. Pittsburgh, I took a really helpful course on Metadata and learned so much about the subject. My learning there coincided with what I learned in the MOOC so much so that everything felt like review--4 weeks of it. I didn't want to do any of the homework questions, because they seemed too simple (multiple choice does when you're talking about XML). I realize these questions are necessary when 32,000 people are in a class, but I wanted some intense work in XML. To be fair, I was warned: Jeff mentioned that he'd expected course-goers to have no history in metadata and library science. So, the fault was nearly all mine. So why didn't I just keep trying and finish the course? It's only 8 weeks, right? Well, when you're a job hunter who graduated two months ago, time is of the essence. It's a blend of keeping updated, applying for jobs, regaining that sense of identity you lost during the program, and relaxing. I recently got a new job (YES) as a Circulation Clerk at our local public library, and I love it for the most part (next blog, much?). This means I am back to two jobs, and spending the time each week on a course I can't even get in has been more than difficult. It's made me really consider what things are more important to me right now. I want to take a MOOC to keep my brain fresh and keep updated in libraryland and, of course, be more appealing to employers, but I don't want to push through something I'm not gaining things from. It's only made me more focused on what things should matter to me and my professional development. So, if you have any insights, recommendations for where to follow through, or thoughts, send them my way!
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Stephanie FreasRecent MLIS graduate & lover of writing. This is a narrative of my first look into the librarian profession. Archives
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