I just got back from a very stimulating and invigorating training with Carissa Christner and Anne Hicks, both contributors and trainers for Little eLit.  So much to sort through and think about and delve into further!  Look for more blog posts in the coming days about some of the great things I learned from this training.  In the meantime, mark your calendars for 2 terrific training opportunities coming up next fall, funded by a Library Services and Technology Act grant,  that will help us all feel better equipped to act as media mentors in our own communities.

September 18 at WITC in Rice Lake, Carissa Christner (of Little eLit and Library Makers blog fame) will demonstrate the hows and whys of incorporating digital media into storytimes and other programs, talk about evaluating apps, and discuss favorite ways to discover new apps.  This training will be geared toward librarians (though others are welcome to join us).   Carissa is a really smart, interesting, creative and engaging presenter, I think you’ll love her!  (Watch for more details, but mileage subsidies and lunch will be covered by the grant)

October 6 at the Florian Gardens in Eau Claire, Chip Donohue (Erikson Institute and nationally sought-after consultant and trainer about early childhood and media) and Erin Walsh (Mind Positive Parenting, based in Minneapolis), will talk about media in the context of brain development, and help us get a better handle on how we can provide information, training, and resources to families and caregivers about media.  I’m hoping that we’ll draw a broad audience of early childhood professionals to this training!  (Watch for more details, but mileage subsidies and lunch will be provided by the grant).