Session 6 (10/1): Student Presentations on Movements and Tools

Agenda

• Movement: Grassroots Environmentalism - Maggie
• Tool: Needs Assessment - Alex

Readings on Needs Assessment

Go ahead and pick 3 of these 7 readings to discuss in class.

• Royse, D. (2001).“Chapter 3 Needs Assessment.” Pp 51-81. Program evaluation (3rd ed.) Belmont, CA:Brooks/Cole-Wadsworth Thompson Learning. (Print Source scanned in to PDF and will be posted on coursehomepage. Original source from EducationNon fiction section)
• This resource defines Needs Assessment. It explains how important Needs Assessment iswhen doing research and explains the steps and process in undergoing a NeedsAssessment project. This source will be discussedin the intro of my presentation, part 1 because it introduces and gives a goodbroad definition of the topic.
• Tropman, John E(1995). “Community Needs Assessment.” Encyclopedia of Social Work, 19th Edition Volume 1,1995. Washington D.C.:NASW Press. (Print Source scanned in toPDF and will be posted on course homepage. Original source from U of I Education Library Reference section)
• Another good reference source discussing Community Needs Assessment. There is a lot of important information on how community needs assessment relates to social work beginning  with a historical background to the Political and Technical Methods of Assessment. The important section defines both Quantitative and Qualitative measures(pg.565) This is something to think about while reading over the various articles, where do examples of Quantitative and Qualitative measures come up in the article examples in part 2 of my presentation? This source will be discussed in the intro of my presentation, part 1.
• Tao, Yu-Hui; Yeh,C. Rosa; Sun, Sheng-I (2006). “Improving training needs assessment processes via the Internet: system design and qualitative study.” Internet Research: Electronic Networking Applications and Policy, 16(4), pp.427-449.
  
• This online journal article discusses how the internet is used in setting up a needs assessment project. This will be in part two of my presentation in which I go into examples of how community needs assessment is used in real life situations. An interesting point is the use of a“Qualitative study” in this article, and this is a key concept that I introduce in “Community Needs Assessment” Encyclopedia Article.
• Taft, Michael(1988). “Automation and human resource management”. Library Journal, 113(12), pp44-46. Retrieved 17 September, 2008 from Library and Information Science Abstracts (LISA).
  
• This online journal article is an example of a study set up for testing the needs assessment used toward human resource management,specifically a set up automation online resource computer with a test. This project was conducted at the Tacoma Public Library in helping decide on new applicants to hire at the library. This article will be discussed in the Part two of my presentation
• Hsieh, Inga K.;Murray, Kathleen R.; Hartman, Cathy Nelson.(2007) “Developing collections of Web-published materials.” Journal of Web Librarianship, 1(2). pp.5-26.
  
• This online journal article describes how online web base materials help in needs assessment of library patrons. This example relates to how librarians need to decide on needs based on published materials online. The question when looking at this article was how does developing collection of Web-published materials different from physical collection materials? What are some of the challenges that are faced when conducting a needs assessment survey of online materials? This article will be another example I bring up during Part 2 of my presentation.
• Jerabek, J A;McMain, L M; Van Roekel, J L.(2002) “Using needs assessment to determine library services for distance learning programs.” Journal of Interlibrary Loan,Document Delivery and Information Supply, 12 (4), pp41-61.
  
• This journal article is very related to community engagement and I will spend a little bit more time on this article since it reaches out to community needs assessments to distance learning students. Reaching out to distance learning students is very important within our own University allows our worldwide global community to grow so it is very important to understand the needs assessment of our global community in terms of distant learning programs. This article will be discussed in part 2 of my presentation.
• Hoffmann, K., et.al., “Library Research Skills: A Needs Assessment for Graduate Student Workshops.” Issues in Science & Technology Librarianship no. 53(Winter/Spring 2008) Retrieved 23 September, 2008 from “ Library Lit & Info Full Text,” Full text, click on “E-Journallink”.
• This Journal article seemed very interesting and related to Graduate Students Need Assessment study. I feel this is important and can be related to the kinds of workshops that GSLIS offers to train us such as the various technology workshops.
  

Readings on Environmentalism

• Majora Carter's Tale of Urban Renewal
  • TED Video! Jeff's suggestion...technically not required.
• (Handout in class). Reynolds, Richard. (2008) On Guerrilla Gardening. (2008). New York: Bloomsbury.
• Good overview of case study of global and local environmental group. This group brings up issues of working from outside the law (illegally) and organization using online networking. Also please checkout the website for this organization (if you can call it an organization…) http://guerrillagardening.org/
• Your choice of any 3 EarthWatch Radio Programs: You can listen to the programs (they are only 1-2 minutes each)
• I would suggest listening to programs from 2004-2007 for the more current topics. Please be prepared to give a brief summary of one of the programs you sampled on class. http://ewradio.org/program_calendar.aspx
• I suggest this “reading,” (actually listening) because it will introduce readers to the wide range of current topics that the environmental movement encompasses.
• Gallagher, Deborah R. and Jackson, Sarah E. (Sept. 2008). Promoting community involvement at brownfields sites in socio-economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management.
• This is another good case study. It speaks directly about the role of a community in environmental standards/laws/planning.
• Small, Sarah. (8/22/08). Ameren Releases Toxic Soil Findings from Champaign. Daily Illini.
• This is local and recent article about environmentalissues here in Champaign!
• A Toxic Legacy: Douglass Park Residents in Their Own Words. [Local info/data--Article posted on the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center website] http://www.ucimc.org/node/2670
• This is another article related to local issues.
  

References for Community Needs Assessment

• Paling, S. W., et.al., “A Model for Assessing Digital Image Use and Needs: Report of a Study into Digital Image Use in North American Dental Education.” Library Resources &Technical Services v. 52 no. 3 (July 2008) p. 173-83.
  
• This Journal article gives an example of how a needs assessment can be used to help with digital imaging for dentists. A very interesting example that shows a different career setting but still related to information education.
• http://www.communitydevelopment.uiuc.edu/resources/factsheets/needpuls.html
• A website that focuses on the economics behind community needs assessment. This resource is titled “Community Needs Assessment: Taking the Pulse of Your Community.”
• http://www.lib.umich.edu/socwork/rescue/schooldistrictprofile.html
• Social Work Library at University of Michigan had an article on how to do a community needs assessment for a Neighborhood school. This resource is another example of Community Engagement and Community Needs Assessment and their importance to Neighborhood School Districts. This gives an example of using two kind of need assessment tools: Decennial Census and American Community Survey.
  
• Dewney, P. &Harris, R. M. (1992). Community information needs: The case of wife assault.Library and Information Science Research, 14(1), 5-29.
  
• Found at LIS library in volume 14, a bluebook journal in the room to the left of reference desk, west wall, lower leftshelf. (Print Source scanned in to PDFand will be posted on course homepage.) A detailed study that gives another example of communityneeds assessment, this source has lots of tables and statistics.
• http://www.healthymarinpartnership.org/MCNA/index.htm
• A non profit hospital resource site with a community needsassessment document which can be downloaded.
• Cooper, Sandra M., et al. Community analysis methods and evaluative options: The CAMEO Handbook.
  
• [see the Bibliography and other sections of the Pathway website for a wealth of information on community analysis and needs assessment . Presents community analysis from the perspective of libraries.]

References on Environmentalism

• The Envirolink Network. http://envirolink.org/
  • Online resource for environmental groups/movements. 
• Go Green Initiative. http://www.gogreeninitiative.org/ 
  • Great source/program outline for school environmental movements. 
• Communities for a Better Environment.  Environmental Health and Justice Site.  Focuses mostly on California.  Also discusses term, “Environmental Racism.” 
  • This term is relevant to our class because it seems a lot of grassroots/civic engagement is from the perspective of underserved populations  http://www.cbecal.org/
• http://www.gogreentube.com/watch.php?v=MTk4NDU3   (video from the Young Environmentalist Awards/competition in Ireland.) 
  • Good example of international action especially young people engaging in environmental action.
• Alternatives for Community and Environment.  Environmental Justice Group Based out of Roxbury, MA. http://www.ace-ej.org/ 
  • Another good source for a group working to provide local environmental resources for the community they live in.

Due (By Tuesday 9/30 @ 12:00 noon)

• Write your thoughts, questions, and answers in the forum. Alex has some specific questions for you.

LEEP on Campus this Saturday October 4th from 4:30-9:00. Ask Ann for details!