Maximizing the Use of Self Access Center

July 27th, 2006: RELO Damon Anderson and Assistant Kun Herrini finally made it to Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta. The workshop on “Maximizing the Use of Self Access Center” was planned to be held end of May, but then rescheduled due to the earthquake.

During the preparation, RELO suggested to hold the workshop at the Self Access Center. Ibu Rose, though a little hesitated, agreed. She was really not sure whether it was a good idea to do it.

Anyway, the workshop was attended by almost 40 participants, some had even to move to corners and squeezed themselves between shelves. But by doing the workshop right where the Self Access Centre was gave the participants a direct feeling and experience of the use of it. When they had to work in groups an designing pointers for their students to overcome their problems, the participants directly experienced browsing and using what were available there, the Grammar Section, Reading Section, Video, Computers, etc. Everyone learned that the SAC can be a great place to support their teaching, and that to activate the SAC, there should be a cooperation from the teachers and also with the management.

Here is what Ibu Yani, the Head of the Language Center, wrote to RELO after the workshop:

Surprised!.. Why? This year is my 15 years I work at the library of PPB UGM and also the first Workshop in the PPB library. Maybe, library is uninteresting place to hold the Workshop [or Seminar?] and the question about why the Workshop is held in the library has been asked last week. I think this program also can be model for the other institutions' library [or SALL] to hold the similar event. Thank you so much. It means a lot to me and my question to myself is am I able to follow up of the Workshop, improve the SALL, to hold the other programs in the library and the most important thing is to talk with the higher management :)I also appreciate with bu Kun's idea about room or space for discussion in the library. Yes, actually we have plan to build room for discussion with fund for SP 4 this year. Hope, it can be realized soon.