Event process: Lecture about change of living standards, values and norms over time that was influenced by monetary economy, urbanization and industrialization. Modernity refers to a period beginning with the French revolution / 1789 /. Core values - Liberty, Fraternity, and Equality. Modernity is characterized by questioning or rejection of tradition; the prioritization of individualism, freedom and formal equality; faith in inevitable social, scientific and technological progress and human perfectibility; rationalization and professionalization; a movement toward the market economy; industrialization, urbanization and secularization. We got acquainted with the main industrial society theories / Karl Marx / and modernist theories / Georg Simmel, Max Weber, Ferdinand Tönnies, Joseph Alois Schumpeter, Robert King Merton, etc. /. During lecture facing various theories of modern Europe, we came to the insight of the democracy development: democratic decision-making is seen as a dialog, where everyone can participate in the media discussions. The transition to democracy is more complex for the Eastern European countries where society has long been prohibited to express views freely.
The event consists of 5 elements: the lecture, discussion, SKYPE broadcasting, after-party discussion at museum for project target group and evaluation (meeting: analyses-reflection on project activities, discussion, negotiation between moderators -29.10.2015)
1. Visual elements that were used in the event / poster, PP presentation, SKYPE / First visual element before event was poster that we used to inform about event. During event lecturer used PowerPoint presentation to illustrate a topic. Therefore, both names of the originators of a theories and their quoting were easy to follow during presentation it facilitated understanding of the substance and remembering.
We introduced new technical solution - broadcasted lectures online via Skype to auditorium in Library Children's Department. Our guests, main project facilitators, were able to follow the lecture as there was provided an interpreter, as well handouts in English. We found that solution to be very convenient - it was possible to provide qualitative translation of lecture without disturbing other visitors.
2. Audience elements /lecturer, visitors, Skype broadcasting and interpreter/
The lecture lasted more than two hours and visitors asked many questions at the end of it. So subject seemed very appealing to many participants. Number of visitors was 45, including the project target group and other interested Valmiera inhabitants.
3. Kinesthetic elements / evaluation board. Project participants gather in Valmiera Museum to discuss the first activity of the project in informal atmosphere/ Every participant were asked to express their feeling about event on evaluation board. They had to come to board and to put mark or comment. Project participants (librarians and target group 50 +) after the event went to Valmiera Museum where we celebrated project start and discussed with lecturer Dagmara Beitnere- Le Gall subject and talked things over the next activities.
4. Event evaluation / evaluation board, moderators meeting / We asked after lecture question to participants "Do you became smarter on the issue of today's society?". Event was attended by 45 participants, 35 them answered this question with “yes” or “no”.
At the first time we did not asked participants to express their feelings, but just wanted to accustom them to the fact that we want to get their assessment. Moderator / librarian / meeting was held after the event. We analyzed seriously how we, moderators and their assistants, performed organizing lecture and other project activities till that time. Main conclusion – it was very intensive work, first task was build system of united actions. Although there was some hitch organizing event, we got support peers and could resolved it. There were no any dramatic errors. We act as a team.
Material prepared by Anita Apine, moderator 26.11.2015. Valmiera anita.apine@vcb.valmiera.lv