Introduced the CMSreads wiki this week.  Only 1-3 students per class had even heard of wikis and that was only Wikipedia.  And then they didn’t know about the wiki part of wikipedia they just thought it was an online encyclopedia! 

 I asked how many had Myspace sites- about half of the class.  next question – Do you know that Myspace is a social network?  about half of the half….  These were all 7th graders.  Next week I’ll see what I get from the 8th.  I was happy I could introduce new techy thing to them-

Anyway, they liked the idea of the wiki as a place where we can all share things we love and don’t love about books and reading.  Students, of course, had lots of suggestions that I incorporated yesterday… I added a Page Turner for their list of favorites, Battle of the Books pages and Young Readers Choice separate from the genre reviews.

 It will be interesting to see how the Battle groups take to the wiki.  I’ve tried a blog with them before and it was hard to navigate back to comments about books.  So I hope the wiki format works a little better.. a lot better : )

I also upgraded to a paid service so I have separate administrator control, and paid yet even more to be able to get stats.  Afterall- it’s all about the data.

Thanks to Judy for sharing the Pacific MS Library Book Blog

We biked it today to see the river, and absolutely got hit with a hard blast of rain on our way down.

Here’s a short flckr slide show!

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Wednesday August 16, @04:29PM
from the they-don’t-build-em-like-they-used-to dept.

An anonymous reader writes “Yesterday, Voyager 1 passed 100 astronomical units from the sun as it continues operating after nearly 30 years in space. That is about 15 billion kilometers or 9.3 billion miles as it travels about 1 million miles per day. Scientists still hope it will find the edge of the solar system and get into interstellar space.”

It is good practice to write justifications for our use of such networks as tools for learning and increasing student achievement.  How do we do it safely? How do we know it works?  How do we collect data?  I will have to incorporate answers to these questions into my teacher handouts… and share with admin.  No telling what new sites will be blocked this year. 

 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.

Links from this post to several different articles discussiong the activities that schools and universities are already taking to block student access to Myspace. 

Here’s my letter to Senator Stevens.  Much to my dismay he appears to be the sponsor of the DOPA bill.  My letter to Senator Murkowski was much the same.

Dear Senator Stevens,

 

I am the School Library Media Specialist at Colony Middle School in Palmer, Alaska.  I am sure that you believe that the DOPA legislation will help protect students from the extreme dangers of the Internet.  Yes, I agree that there is some potential to encounter online “predators,” especially from places like Myspace, but DOPA is not the answer.  Teachers, schools, districts and Universities are already aware of the hazards of some of these places and have already taken action to prevent student access. 

 

To go beyond preventing access Mat-Su school district has subscribed to a curriculum called iSafe (http://www.isafe.org/ )that is taught to students through the school libraries and classrooms. iSafe also has a program for parents, and many schools educate parents about Internet hazards and safety through PTA and other parent forums. 

 

The DOPA legislation will do nothing to improve what schools are already doing to help keep students safe.  Students must learn how to keep themselves safe.  Parents must learn what the dangers are and how to reinforce the importance of safe Internet use with their children.  Teachers and librarians do this consistently when using the Internet as a resource for learning.

 

Learning is the key word here.  The Internet, including some “social networks” offer tremendous learning opportunities that totally motivate students to read, write and think.  Educators all over are discovering the learning power of the read/write web, and how to do it safely.  We are working to teach students how to be productive citizens in their future.  A future that will rely on their ability to work with whatever new technology develops.  They must learn how to make technology work for them and their community.

 

Please remove the DOPA legislation from the Senate vote, and work to empower schools to improve Internet safety education.  The key to a healthy, productive society is education- not restriction.

it’s something at least!

I would be great if you would add your new blog address to the wiki, or email to me.  Enjoy and do finish exploring the student/teacher blogs.  It will be worth your time.

Daren Kuropatwa Shares an example of questioning the content/source on a wiki regarding South African Curriculum.   The final point, that when viewing and using content from wikis we need to verify with other sources…

Seems like a connection to the recent conversations about value vs source from David Warlick. 

Yesterday, I had similiar conversations with a group of  school librarians exploring blogs and wikis.  It seems that we- educators/librarians are reluctant to trust some of these new publishing venues like blogs and wikis.  Yet, students more and more like to turn first  to wikipedia as a source.  What makes it so attractive?

I feel like I’m going in circles.  We start out the year teaching documenting sources, evaluating sources, thinking critically about information, synthesizing…  Which I always to connected to a project, and I do try to emphasize the goal or essential question while planning with teachers and working with students.

I think as this year starts I need to include blogs, wikis, myspace whatever in the discussion with students.  I bet they will see how this works and  will help me learn a few things about their thought process.  Then I just need to keep them thinking about the “value” of information throughout the year.

I see what Warlick is saying, and it seems we are on the same track just maybe talking tangerines and navels,  or maybe it’s how you peel that orange.  In any case we want to get at the good fruit.

David Warlick has been writing about his presentations and workshops in Texas the last few days.  It helps to see how other places are approaching their professional development, and Warlick’s ideas, comments and process. (at least a glimpse) 

Tomorrow I start my first blog workshop for a group of librarians from around the state of Alaska attending the weeklong School Library Academy in Anchorage.  Yeh!  We only have 90 min.  I have faith that the group will forge on and stay in touch through our new blogs at least. 

I’m already planning a class for teachers in our district this fall.  I’m immersed now, and don’t want to stop! 

Immersion:  this is the key for breakthrough learning.  We know this.  Language immersion classes are the best.  Go to Mexico, live with a family and take Spanish classes… you’ve covered a full year – or more- of classroom learning. 

I would love to be a part of immersing teachers and then students in the process of blogging and all that surrounds it.  It would be, will be, great.  I can feel it in my bones!

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