From Gail Tobin:

I really appreciated your flexibility with deadlines. At times I found it difficult to stay on schedule with my other commitments and the beginning of the week is usually very busy for me so I didn’t get to really work on the assignments until towards the end of the week. The coursework really made me think about better ways to work with tweens and why we do what we do. I also really appreciated seeing the feedback from the others taking the course. I found it very helpful and thought provoking. The different perspectives helped me broaden my own thinking. I almost felt like the class was too rushed and would have liked to see more on programming for tweens since I am in a public library and I don’t have them in a classroom setting. However, I really enjoyed analyzing the books and their tween appropriateness. And I think the survey will be something I can use beyond reporting to the class.

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At times I found it really hard to keep up.  The weekend tended to be the time that I did most of my reporting back, and that was usually a Sunday.  I really appreciated the feedback and reflections from other member of the class as I saw that we all have similar concerns and problems about what to present to tweens in an informative and appropriate way.  Thanks.  Sue 

Posted by Fran Jackson

I realize this is the first time this course was given and the subject is a new phenomenon in the library world, but I felt the class was geared toward the school media professional and teacher.  The practical applications were for the classroom and not the public library.  It was also heavily weighted towards reading material. In the public library we need ideas for programming and how to handle tween behavioral problems and who should be responsible YA, Children’s or is a new area necessary.  I wished we had a chat session to air some of our concerns instead of the page entitled, TOPICS WE SHOULD DISCUSS OR TOPICS TERI SHOULD ADDRESS.  I did try that page.  Tweens are here to stay, so this class is important. Don't give up.

Thanks, Fran, for this feedback.  I do have some ideas about programming and know that some of you have shared your ideas as well.  We did need a chat. I also think we needed some more time so thaty perhaps we could have scheduled more than one via SKYPE.  While I cannot specifically address the behavior issue, I do have a power point about tweens that I used last week to do some training for public librarians.  You can access it via my blog (http://professornana.livejournal.com) or SlideShare (www.slideshare.net/professornana). It does talk a little bit about why tweens need to have some things that are their own (books. programs, etc.).  The class is addressed for all libraries and also for teachers as enrollment is open to all.  Since  I have to plan it before anyone enrolls, I do not have any way of knowing how to gear it in advance.  I do offer this:  I am always available to answer questions, discuss, etc. even after class has ended.  Thanks, again, for this valuable information.  teri