I’ve been having so much fun working with my wonderful colleagues in the UVic Library Digital Scholarship Commons (or Makerspace) that my 13th year of been a member of the UVic Speakers Bureau snuck up on me! During my first year with the Bureau back in 2006, I offered three different presentations that year titled:
- Computers for Everyone? Open Source Software Opens Possibilities
- Disasters and Computers: How to Prepare Your Home computer for Everything from Deleted Files to Natural Disasters
- Research and Collaboration in the 21st Century: Google vs. the Library
Currently, I receive five or six requests for talks a year, and typically a, invited to present to community groups, high school classes, school district ProD days, and units in government ministries and departments.
The most interesting invitation I have received over the years, was to present to the PEO, or Philanthropic Educational Organization, which is a “is a philanthropic organization where women celebrate the advancement of women, educate women through scholarships, grants, awards, loans.” They were a wonderful group, with excellent insights and questions. As the only “guy” in the room I felt out of place for only the first couple of minutes before starting my talk on best practices for backing up personal computers.
While I should probably add an Academic Makerspace related talk or two for next year, I am currently offering to present the following talks through the Speakers Bureau:
- Smart Phones and Tablets: Educational Distractions or Bicycles for the Mind?
- Flipping the Classroom: A Powerful Teaching Tool, But Not a Panacea
- Is Educational Technology Worth the Investment?
- Conserving Energy One Cubicle (or Home) at a Time
To check out all the topics offered by the UVic Speakers Bureau, check out their searchable database of talks
