Teacher-Librarian

CBC News In Depth: Technology

Not sure how I ended up at this article- clicking through numerous blogs this morning…

Some great examples of how teachers are reaching for global participation in local classrooms.  At least that’s what impressed me.  Yes, there is a lot of tech talk that I would have to research to understand- or students could.  I like the idea of students using a blog to submit a daily summary of class learning using any format they wish.  Let the students find, learn and share all of the incredible new- free tools out there!

• Leave a comment... (0)

NEA: March 2007 NEA Today - Podcasting the 1600s

Every once in a while NEA picks up some great features. This one is just what I have been looking for… without taking the time to look. I’ve wanted to do podcasts with teachers/students, have it all setup ready to go, and no takers. So, I need to put together some demos right. Well, that is where everything comes to a stop, because I just don’t get to it.

This NEA article will serve as a great intro to teachers and, the connecting article from Will Richardson with tips on podcasts is a lead to step 2.

I already have Richardson’s book Blogs, Podcasts and Wikis- so everything is in place.

I think my pitch should be - “Engergize your end of year projects and keep kids motivated through those glorius May days!”

Another article I’ve found recently gives some other tips…

Interestingly, this article led to another by Stuart Glogoff, who introduced me to blogging 4-5 years ago. I love all the connections!  This article focuses mostly on college level instruction using blogs, but has some great examples and results from surveys that support the dynamic results that blogging can bring.  (You do have to join the free website to read the article)

• Leave a comment... (0)

January 2007: Why Johnny Cant Search

I was glad to read this article by Joseph Janes in American Libraries this month, not because it is a good thing, but gives me support and ammunition when trying to get teachers to allow time before beginning research to review evaluating websites with students.

Too often teachers plan projects with no time for IL instruction built in. This year I tried to teach some “stand-alone” lessons and always get the dreaded question- Why are we doing this? or Is this graded? When I can connect with actual research projects the success is usually pretty good.

It seems that every year I try a new approach, so I like the criteria used in the ETS test described by Janes, “objectivity, authority, and timelines.” These three cover the basics and fit for the 8th graders preparing for debates on stem-cell research. They are really into the topic and will be a great project.

As many students are- they think they know everything about searching already, but a comment from a top student gave me faith that I still need to teach…

“Ms. Turk I found a great site. It has a lot of information I need and it supports my point of view.”

“Great! What is the site? Where is it from?”

“Oh- It’s from Google.”

• Leave a comment... (0)

Tomorrow is the first work day for teachers.  We have a new principal who was hired in July, and I have not met yet.  There are several new teachers on board, and therefore, several gone.  Personal feelings aside, I am faced with two great collaborators, role models and friends gone.  Fortunately, both have moved to administrative positions where they will be instrumental in advocating for libraries, collaboration, and a research model focusing on the ever thoughtful essential question–and, yes, blogging.

 I suppose I can feel good that I have worked and grown along with these wonderful teachers, and will continue to nurture the collaborative process with our new teachers.

As I prepare to hand out my teacher packet with all the hows and whys of our library service I will have a new section on blogging and the read/write web. 

For the most part this first day will  be busy with getting new teachers settled with overhead projectors, TVs, computers and making those first connections to open the door for collaborating throughout the year. 

While these words are not terribly insightful or remarkable- the fact that I am writing at all is.  As I attempt to use this space for my own professional reflections, on a regular basis, I can’t be worried what other people may think about what I write.  I write for myself.  I blog to learn from my teaching, and to incorporate what I read, hear, and see from the wide world. 

Blogging is a process-the medium.  Through this process I work, learn and reflect, analyze and archive it all.  If I could accomplish the same process through another medium that would be fine too- but blogs sure are the most motivating process for me-ever.

• Comments Off

Joyce Valenza’s NeverEnding Search » Meme: You know you are a 21st Century teacher librarian if . . .

ok, Joyce snagged me again!  One last post today.  I’ve heard of a 21st Century Vision Summit by AASL, so it is time to consider the question posed here:  What does a 21st Century librarian look like?  There is a considerable list here that Joyce started.

without looking at Joyce’s list:  Right now I feel like you have to be quick! 

 Quick to learn, quick to see what is new, quick to hear what kids are talking about-and try their new things, quick to keep up with (even just aware of) what is happening on the edge-try something new regularly, quick to understand the dillemas teachers face everyday and how to help them just one little bit, quick to respond to district issues/needs, quick to introduce new technologies so the librarian is the one, quick to get home and have a life, and quick to get those hiking boots on and be in the mountains!

That’s my quick short list. (I don’t say technology, but it is at the heart of each idea)  If I keep that in mind this year, only changing the hiking boots to ski boots, I’ll do great!

After looking at Joyce’s first ten I’ll pick two that fit for me right now… that’s reasonable right?  (I also have to learn more about Web 2.0)

5. Consider new interactive and engaging communication tools also for student projects. Are we looking at digital storytelling, wikis, podcasts, streaming video as possibilties beyond paper and PowerPoint?

6. Consider just-in-time, just-for-me learning as your responsibility and are proud that you own the real estate of one desktop window on your students’ home computers 24/7.

I also invite Alaska school librarians to chime in here and make your own list.  or visit my wiki page

• Comments Off

Creating20Passionate20Users3A20Ignore20the20competition

Found this from Stephen Ambram’s blog and took his suggestion to subscribe to Kathy Sierra’s blog Creating Passionate Users.  First check out the Ignore the Competition post.  I think the graph Sierra made says it clearly, but worth reading. 

Blasted! I can only get a fuzzy thumbnail image…  

Then checkout today’s post on presenting.  Many tips here that I will read to students… includes aspects of presenting that I would like students to see- so I need to work on my presentations to them!

• Comments Off

Wired News: Teens Online: Not a Freak Zone

“Media always portray new technology in alarmist, ‘the world ends tomorrow’ fashion,” she says. “You get the sense that MySpace is an online sexual orgy where adults and kids sleep together in some kind of culty illicit community. That’s really not what’s going on.” L. Kris Gowan

Great article by Regina Lynn about Myspace, teen sex and Internet Safety.  Largely focuses on a program from Portland State University headed by L. Kris Gowen called the Virtual Mystery Tour: your guide to teens, sex and the Internet.  The tour itself is not virtual, but they do presentations. 

Our district uses iSafe.  Librarians and teachers can volunteer for district sponsored training from iSafe, then we have access to all of their curriculum.  An up to date thorough service.  Has a whole program for parents too.

More significant quotes from the article:

“My goal is to get parents to ask more informed questions so they can have a dialogue with their kid without feeling like they’re at a quantum physics lecture,” she says. “I want them to be able to ask intelligent questions, to know the lingo, not just ‘what’s that MySpace thing?’”

A recent conversation with a friend (nice, conservative family) about their daughter and Myspace.  They visit their daughters Myspace and get to know the conversation, friends, what they’re talking about, the ‘lingo’ and wow what an insight to what teens are thinking.  They also have groundrules. 

Treating the internet as merely another part of “the media” makes no sense, especially around sex. Other media can offer sexual content; the internet, even more than the telephone, offers sexual interaction — with peers, with educators, with performers and, unfortunately, with creeps, too. The internet is a medium. It’s not the media.

I added the last line to my favorite quotes: “The Internet is a medium.  It’s not the media.”

 I had already planned on upping my focus on Internet Safety this year at school.  This reinforces that idea, and adding the parent training as well.  I tried a parent training at a PTA meeting, but it was not well attended.  Will need to start earlier and advertise more.  Parents need to know.  Some parents aren’t worried at all, while others are the uninformed alarmists. I do love working with parents though…

• Comments Off

ALA | 34-4 Civic Engagement

First,  I added the link to Pressit ( see the botton of the write post page in WordPress) so the webpage I want to write about automatically creates a new post with title and link… cool.  only it didn’t work for the article I wanted.  The criptic title/link is the current issue, March/April 2006 of Knowledge Quest .

School librarians often work with teachers and on our own to get kids to read, right.  Reading fluency, reading often, reading lots, reading novels all lead to improved reading and therefore improved student achievement.  (I hope someone is nodding their head, even it is only my one friend who I force to read this!)

In this issue is an intriguing, if not thought-shifting, article by Stephen Krashen examining data from a Program for International Assessment study. In the article “Home Run Research” Krashen poses the question “Is book reading necessary to promote high levels of literacy?” 

In short, Krashen’s analysis looked at students reading short bits and longer texts.  You have to read the short 2 page article.  His his conclusion may cause you to think:

This analysis confirms that there are different paths to reading proficiency, and that long-text reading, generally book reading, is not a requirement. Either long- or short-text reading can bring students to the highest level of proficiency, a result consistent with previous studies showing the value of “lighter” literature (Krashen 2004). 

I think I should do more reading on reading research!

Also, I’m trying to figure out this web publishing business, so if I post or use information incorrectly- someone can feel free to let me know.

• Comments Off

From the cover of Will Richardson’s new book Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Tools for Classrooms.  I bought 5 copies to take to my blog workshop in August.  I should probably have 30!  While I thoroughly believe in being as paperless as possible it is wonderful to have Richardson’s knowledge, experience and wisdom in paper at my fingertips.  I think people like leaving a workshop with a book in their hand even if they have to buy it.

I discovered blogs and Weblog-ed in 2003 while working on my masters.  I have never been, and am still, so inspired as when I read through Richardson’s writings and the incredible information disseminated through his blog. 

Richardson states in his book that a blog is created every second (20), and that most are not kept updated.  That would be me.  This is my 4th or 5th attempt, so far so good.  I’ve set up blogs for book discussions, reading programs, a journalism class, and a special community/school project (Alaskablog- site no longer active) that have all been, or are still, successful.  It’s my personal blogging that I fail at, and a goal for this year.  Which leads to another point that hits home for me in Richardson’s book.

We must understand the difference between journaling and blogging (20).  I have never been a journal-type person, but I am far more intrigued with blogs.  Here’s Richardson’s take-

Blogging is a genre that engages students and adults in a process of thinking in words, not simply an accounting of the days events or feelings (20).

It takes me a long time to put my thinking in words, but I love it.  Students love it too.   Teachers often think kids don’t think… they do, and they want someone to care.  I have seen the depth of thought and enthusiasm from even the most reluctant student. It takes leadership, organization and the willingness to go where you have not been before.

Richardson’s book is as inspiring as his blog site, and thorough guide to blogging in education. I’m looking forward to this school year with a new enthusiasm and blogging!

• Comments Off