Transcript Archives Outreach in the 21st Century: Using Web

Archives Outreach in the 21st Century: Using
Web Platforms to Engage the Public
Elizabeth Dinschel, Chair and Presenter
Education Specialist, National Archives and Records Administration,
Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum
Christopher Magee, Presenter
Archives Specialist, National Archives and Records Administration, Office of
the Chief Records Officer, Records Management Policy and Outreach
Shane Bell, Presenter
Archivist, National Archives and Records Administration, National Archives
at Atlanta
@USNatArchives
#saa16
Using Web
Platforms
• Discuss the unique needs
of National History Day
students and teachers
• Discuss distance learning
initiatives for classrooms,
clubs, and groups
• Explain how web
platforms are used to
reach researchers,
students, and groups
• Describe the experience
of leading a webinar and
tips for running a
successful program
National History Day Students and
Teachers, What do they need?
Topic Suggestions
◦ Archivists develop topics related to the annual theme that are
supported by NARA’s holdings
Research Guidance and Direction
◦ Archivists discuss topics with individual NHD students to determine
specific records to pull
◦ Archivists direct NHD students to other repositories
Instruction on Modeling the History Profession
◦ Bibliography development
◦ Project development
Goal of NARA Atlanta Outreach:
Onsite Researchers
Focus on NHD students and teachers
◦ Topic lists related to our holdings
◦ Hosted on-site & off-site NHD teacher workshops & student
research visits
◦ State-wide NHD Research Roundup during Archives Month
(October)
◦ Staff judged at Regional and State contests
NARA Atlanta has averaged 80 textual researchers a month for three
years in a row
Topic lists
based on
NHD theme
relating to
NARA-Atlanta
holdings
More Online Outreach
All NARA Atlanta promotions have been done through social media
since 2013
Promotion of holdings through online exhibits
NHD Georgia will be hosting bi-monthly NHD classroom on Tuesday
nights. NARA Atlanta (among others) will be a featured presenter.
Online Exhibits:
Cold War
Records
Online Exhibits:
The Southern
Home Front
During World
War II
NHD students
in Textual
Research
Room
National Archives at Atlanta
www.archives.gov/Atlanta
Shane Bell – Archivist
[email protected]
Joel Walker – Education Specialist
[email protected]
Hosting a Webinar, National v. Targeted
Audience
NATIONAL AUDIENCE
TARGETED AUDIENCE
Registration
Free or paid platforms
Communication
What are the goals of the group?
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Learn who your audience is
Collect e mail addresses for mailing lists
Follow up surveys
Professional development certificates for
teachers
Stay broad! Use wide ranging appeal
Record and share
◦ Do they want to see objects or
documents?
◦ Do they want to discuss content?
What technology does the group
have available to them?
Is there a web platform that can
meet the needs of the group?
Helping Customers Through Web
Platforms?
Genealogists
Researchers, both experienced
and untrained
Students and Classrooms
◦ National History Day
◦ Curriculum-driven sessions
Helping Customers Through Web
Platforms?
Topic Specific Distance Learning
Initiatives
◦ Presidential Primary Source
Project (PPSP)
◦ National Archives students
and professional
development
Logistics
Pick a platform and test it!
Decide on a timeframe, usually an hour is best, leave time for
questions.
Advertise!
◦ Social Media, listservs, DOE coordinators, teachers, mailing lists,
NHD Program manager
Share other web programs! Become a source of information and ask
to partner!
The Experience of Being the Organizer
and Presenter
Possible Conferencing Platforms
FREE
PAID
Google Hangouts
AT&T Connect
Skype
BlueJeans
YouTube
GoToWebinar
MeetingBurner
WebinarJam
*We do not endorse any products.
The list is not comprehensive.
Practical Tips
Practice
Minimize distractions
Doesn’t need to be fancy, just
effective
Be mindful of your appearance,
mannerisms, and surrounding
Test from the computer and
location you will be using.
Utilize social media
Have a backup plan
Practical Tips - P.I.P.E.R
Even in a virtual setting,
traditional outreach best
practices apply
◦ Plan
◦ Invite
◦ Practice
◦ Engage
◦ Remind
Practical Tips - Plan
What are you trying to get out of
the event?
What communities are you trying to
reach
Design simple and visually
appealing presentations
How technologically savvy is your
audience
◦ If untrained, consider writing
detailed connection instructions
with pictures
Practical Tips - Invite
If holding a panel, confirm
participants 2-3 months out
Send save-the-dates 1 month out
Send reminders 1 week out and 1
day before
Practical Tips - Practice
Know your systems and
platforms
Ensure other presenters know
how to use the platform
An ounce of prevention is worth
a pound of cure
Practical Tips - Engage
Engage as much as possible
Be mindful of limitations
◦ Do you want to see your
participants?
◦ Do you want to interact with
participants?
Practical Tips - Remind
Repeatedly remind attendees of
the date of the presentation
Remind participants of the key
take points at least 3 times
Technology 1 - Google Hangouts
PROS
CONS
Free
Can be difficult to share screens
Great for small discussions
IT support not readily available
Easy to use
Cannot record, except as a
“Hangout on Air”
Up to 10 or 15 people per
Hangout session (depends on
Google account)
Technology 1 - Google Hangouts
Example Uses
◦ Direct outreach to a
classrooms
◦ Senior Groups
◦ Donor meetings
Technology 2 - YouTube
PROS
CONS
Free
Difficult for audience
participation
Great for presentations and
informational sessions
From user perspective, easy to
use (can send participants a
direct link)
Unlimited viewers
◦ Must log into YouTube –or–
◦ Use alternative social media
platforms
Leading a broadcast takes
practice
Limited number of presenters
Technology 2 - YouTube
Example Uses
SAA Records Management
Roundtable: “Hangouts on Air”
NARA’s Virtual Genealogy Fair
◦ Moved from in-person to
virtual in 2014
◦ October 2014 - 23,680 views
◦ October 2015 - 12,221 views
◦ Next Fair - October 26 and 27
Technology 3 - ATT Connect
PROS
CONS
Great for presentations
Can record and export file
Additional services can be provided
(registration, captioning, etc)
Much more technological control
Must purchase to administer
◦ Share only certain applications
◦ Switch presenters
◦ Mute participants
◦ Allows up to 200 telephone lines
Free for participants, but must
download application or stream
over web
Streaming audio and video
capabilities are limited
Higher need of technical
expertise
Technology 3 - ATT Connect
Examples
Routine meetings
Events with multiple presenters
Demonstrations of websites or
tools
◦ Remember, streaming video
and audio difficult
Concluding Thoughts
Web platforms offers new ways to reach user communities
◦ National History Day activities across the nation showcase the
potential
While in a digital environment, traditional outreach methods
still apply
Practice, Practice, Practice!
Contact us!
Elizabeth Dinschel: [email protected] / 319-643-6031
Christopher Magee: [email protected] / 206-336-5121
Shane Bell: [email protected] / 770-968-2540