CALCON - Passive Programming: the New Frontier

What is Passive Programming?

What:

Hands off!

Resources

Who:

Children and their caregivers

Pinterest (search for "passive program"). https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=passive+program

Resident Assistant Passive Programs. http://www.residentassistant.com/passive-programs/

Why:

Foster child/caregiver interactions

Increase participation

Encourage exploration

TPiB (Teen Programs in a Box) by School Library Journal. http://www.teenlibrariantoolbox.com/tpib-programs/

Elephant and Piggie Day ALSC blog post by Abby Johnson. http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2012/08/elephant-and-piggie-day/

Librarian’s Guide to Passive Programming by Emily T. Wichman. Book. Libraries Unlimited, 2012.

The New Frontier

Where:

TMNT: Passive Program for the Win by Erin Isinire. http://erinisinire.wordpress.com/2014/09/30/tmnt-passive-program-for-the-win/

Anywhere!

Passive Programming Ideas by Kelly Jensen and Jackie Parker. Google Doc. https://docs.google.com/a/denverlibrary.org/document/d/1OBGwr9qm39WZ8s-l9tTNB5uNbQTC-Cel_G43X53RNq8/edit

Passive vs. Traditional

Unprogramming: Passive Programming by the North Central Kansas Library System. Webpage. http://nckls.mykansaslibrary.org/programming/unprogramming-passive-program-ideas/

When:

Anytime

Program-a-looza: http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2015/07/program-a-looza/

With so much variety, you can jump in at any point on the passive programming spectrum to find a style that works for you and your customers.

RAFT Colorado (Resource Area for Teaching): http://www.raftcolorado.org/

Traditional:

• at a specific time
• staff must be present
• one-off programs

Once you have played around with ideas that work (and ideas that don't) please share! We're all blazing new trails together.

Setup for our Who Stole the Cookies? forensics program

Passive:

• none of the above!
• can work with a variety of ages, spaces, types of programs

One of the signs from our Choose Your Own Adventure 3D

Contact Us

Amy Seto Forrester

aforrester@denverlibrary.org

Kahla Gubanich

kgubanich@denverlibrary.org

Warren Shanks

wshanks@denverlibrary.org

Denver Public Library

Central Children's Library

720-865-1306

The Passive Programming Spectrum

Outcomes

Puzzles

Staff Recommendations

Question of the Week

1) Define passive programming and differentiate between traditional and passive programming.

Questions?

Bulletin Boards

Displays

Scavenger Hunts

2) Evaluate a physical space and a target audience to identify appropriate types of passive programming.

Weekend Programs

3) Design passive programs that encourage self-guided learning and child/caregiver interaction.

Combo Programs

http://tinyurl.com/qxdpokt

Let's Brainstorm!

Benefits

Let's create some passive programs!

Less staffing

Flexible program length

Increase attendance

Our "Look What We're Reading" bulletin board

Halloween is coming up! Let's brainstorm some ideas. Shout out your ideas or add them as a comment to our blog post:

http://tinyurl.com/qxdpokt

Encourage caregiver-child interaction

Capitalize on trends

Low customer committment

Reusable

Question of the Week examples

Superhero Training Academy's Bravery Test - Can you walk on the balance beam across the lava pit and save Charlie and Lola?

Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?

STEM!

Customizable (self-paced, self-guided)

Playing quidditch at Harry Potter Day

Tossing pumpkins at the Halloween Party

Raise your hand if you've used passive programming at your library!

Challenges & Tips

Plan ahead: gather/buy/borrow materials

Keep coworkers in the loop

Welcome customers with signage, music, intro table, dry erase board

Put multiple activities in one space: easier for unsupervised kids and large groups

Younger kids need more assistance

Check supplies & keep extras

The croquet pitch for A Day in Wonderland with Alice.

Choose a space within line of sight or earshot

Tough to dress up in character!

Hands Off: Passive Programming

The Animal-ology clue sheet

Have a completion prize to track attendance & gather feedback

Presentation by Kahla Gubanich, Amy Seto Forrester & Warren Shanks

Children's Librarians, Denver Public Library

Created in 2014 (updated 2015)