We plunged into many different types of tools and resources for location and access of information today-- search engines and directories, free websites, library websites and pathfinders, databases, -- all with the goal of steering students toward a variety of resources relevant to their search. Please post: How might you make these available to students and provide opportunities to teach awareness and successful use of these tools and resources in your library? (We're beginning some vision thoughts here...) Joyce Valenza created a page, which explains the search tools we discussed today if some of them are fuzzy: http://mciu.org/~spjvweb/searchtip.html
Tomorrow when you arrive at Inglemoor, park either in the front-right area or around the right side of the building in the large lot. You should see my red van if you go around the right side. The library is the big window area on the right side of the building. I'll have signs out! I'll be there by 8am, but class won't officially start until 9am. See the class webpage for a directions link. My cell number is 425-280-3081 if you get lost or have problems.
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24 comments:
I really think that in my case, just developing the capability...you know, that old line, "we have the technology.." well, my school doesn't, but when we get it, that is another question. This class is helping me learn how to use it, so I can teach the why and how to my students and teachers.
Hi Friends,
As most of you know, my school still does not have automated checkout system, so I would like to make a power point presentation that I could present to admin., and to prospective funding sources, to persuade them about the need, etc. as my project for Friday. Is anyone interested in working on this with me, perhaps, my first few slides would be about the automation, and the next slides would be for your use to get updated databases, etc in your schools. I want to do 2 short videos using my digital camera (would like to add music)at Inglemoor tomorrow. Any takers?
I really liked the set up of the virtual library that Valenza made at Springfield High School. I couldn't get on it however.
It was very interesting today and quite informative on access of information. I had no idea that there were sites like the one on MLK... What a great lesson for students to evaluate the websites.
Ok, now for tomorrow; another adventure from the south sound. I will give myself 2 hours to drive and hopefully it will be enough. See you all there.... Janet
In addition to finding the specious websites to be very valuable as a teaching tool for kids, the techniques of using bolean operators and "advanced search" parameters elevate people's ability to sift through "Google garbage" to a much higher level - thanks for that!
Mark
OK,
I've learned a lot today. How to do an MLA citation was a biggie since I haven't done this since I wrote my Master's thesis paper - 20 years ago! Aye, yi, yi!
I also found some cool websites for assignment 1 and that has me excited to put that list to use when I get home.
Jackie, I'm looking forward to working on our presentation together. I think it sounds fun.
I really liked seeing the information about how to evaluate the different websites that pop up under a Google search. I can see incorporating the November information into a lesson and/or having them take the literacy quiz OR the teams evaluating different websites. Lots of good information!
It can be overwhelming the number of resources available to find information. Working with K-5, I have done research projects with my 4th and 5th graders. In both instances I create "pathfinders" to guide them to freeweb resources. My pathfinders weren't as effective in that they weren't annotated.
I think I would like to have a guided research project where students were researching a similar topic and each time they came to the library we focused on a different source so we could concentrate using that resource effectively. Still in less than 30 minutes, it's hard to do that. By using a similar topic I could build a pathfinder so the teacher could continue the research either during lab time or come in for extra library time. I would also just focus on perhaps 2 sources the first time.
It was very helpful to see example and gather ideas for my own organization method.
As a school librarian and webdesigner, I would want to be sure that the most reliable tools and resources were posted on the "opening page" of my website. As you mentioned in class today - after about 2 clicks, you've lost your audience! They will definitely go someplace easier to access. As for providing teaching opportunities, I think the kids would react a lot like we did to sites that are posted by creators who have an interest in presenting false or skewed information - they'd be amazed by it once they realized the contradictions. That would be the trick though, getting them to recognize that although these are blatant examples, there are others that are more subtle in their mis-information.
Sorry, I wrote a super long post and then thought I needed to tighten it up. I-Save is a great way to familiarize students with responsible information searching and documentation of quality information. It includes activities of web evaluation, although the focus is internet safety.
http://www.i-safe.org/
Another activity is the "Celebrity Scavenger Hunt". Groups of students are given a kindergarten photo of a famous person and clues that guide them to search engines such as ProQuest and EBSCO to find clues and figure out who the person is. I would want to do both at the beginning of the year in cooperation with classroom teachers, all part of the library orientation. Cha Cha Cha!
Do! It's "I-Safe" not "I-Save". Next time I promise to preview before posting. Cheerio!
Interesting questions raised today concerning evaluation of materials. In my school research is done pretty much willy nilly. Kids go in, jump on Google, and that is the extent of their research. How do we teach proper use? Perhaps we should emphasize the role of teacher over librarian in this case. If I was the teacher librarian I would ask 9th grade english teachers to give me a week to teach each of their classes information literacy. It would be nice to see the entire student body have the same standards and expectations. Any thoughts?
Another thought...the podcast article struck a chord with me. I've been thinking about how I can incorporate this into my curriculum (unit lesson podcasts to be used with powerpoints, podcast review lessons that kids can listen to before tests, podcast collaborative activities, etc)but I'm concerned with access issues. I know that some kids still dont have portable mp3 players (crazy, I know). How do I ensure that those kids will be able to benefit from this tech?
Guess what! I'm on the internet at the motel! Thanks to Lisa's son who walked over to Mary Gates and figured out how to get the new AirPort card working. For some reason, I can't get my email working at the moment but I can blog. I'm so excited that I won't have to stay on campus until dark like last night. I'd like to do some little "thank you" thing for Sam, Lisa's son. Any ideas? Needs to be something useful to a UW college student (Sam) but easy for me to get as I have no wheels.
well if sam is a college student I would suggest 100 packages of Ramen Noodle.
Or a gift certificate for the UW bookstore!
I'm sure I can work an Inglemoor T-shirt/sweatshirt/lanyard or something if he's interested in Inglemoor!! I think the UW is cooler though!! Don't tell my principal I said that! Ha! You'll meet her tomorrow!
I was thinking a Univ. Book Store gift certificate or how about an iTunes gift card? Those are easy to do even at a Safeway.
Today...well, it was very packed. I found it quite informative, although I did find myself on overload more than once. I will definitely use the search ideas on my web page I am designing -with Sarah's reminder not to go more than 2 links away for important info. However, at this point I don't plan to even go more thank two links out...keep it simple right! I too, like the idea of providing students with those false facts so that they can evaluate their sources and think critically about what they are choosing - this works even at the elementary level. They would need more direction, though.
Something Completely Different -- Cyber Safety / Internet Safety
Teresa if you want to delete and do a different thread in the future that would be fine. This is long, but I wanted to post as is.
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The following two posts came through LM_NET. Not only am I always looking for monthly focuses for the library, but things to include in our school weekly newsletter. Something around this might be interesting and to have a month to dedicate for articles could help in the delivery:
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Email 1:
Hi all,
It looks like there will be a national push to have October designated cyber
safety, security, and ethics (or some other combination of terms) month. So
you might start thinking now about how you might be able to engage in some
activities related to this in your schools.
I have developed some new parent and teen handbooks and am working on a
Powerpoint that can be used for parent workshops. It will come in a narrated
form, but you can also turn off the narration and just use the slides.
My focus is on changing the conversation. Web 1.0 Internet safety is
grounded in fear mongering. Fear based prevention approaches do not work.
And they certainly will not work in the area of the Internet. Kids and teens
simply dismiss fear-based messages by thinking that adults fear what they do
not understand.
So I am promoting a Web 2.0 approach - honest discussions of the risks and
concerns and insight into how to prevent involvement in risky situations,
detect if you are at risk, and effectively respond - with an additional
focus on engaging in responsible and ethical behavior.
More information later.
Nancy
--
Nancy Willard, M.S., J.D.
Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use
http://csriu.org
http://cyberbully.org
http://cyber-safe-kids.com
nwillard@csriu.org
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Email 2:
If you are looking for curriculum/materials on internet safety,
I highly recommend [ www.i-Safe.org ]i-Safe.org.
Karen Pruitt,
Technology Resource Teacher
Media & Instructional Technology
pruittk@osceola.k12.fl.us
Ok -- one more comment. Just as the post says, So many resources, "how" to make the time.
On the LM_Net listserv some of the participants were pointing to wikis, some their own and another sponsored by LM_NET. Here's the link to the LM_NET listserv:
http://lmnet.wikispaces.com/
I found Valenza's virtual library overwhelming. I think the links need to be more organized.
I would like to change my webpage to have more resources available for students. Many times I'm not sure exactly much depth I should be going into with my elementary kids. Any comments?
Also, I think it is important to give teachers information in small bites. My strategy has been to give a few minutes during every staff meeting to give them another tidbit of library or technology information.
In the "Learning and Teaching Information Tech....article," by Johnson and Eisenberg, the paragraph that really made me think that tech training and education needs to begin with staff was,"In too may schools, teachers and student still use computers as the equivalent of expensive flash cards, electronic worksheets, or as little more than a typewriter." I hate to say it but there are still teachers at my school that use computers this way and it's not just the older teachers either. I'm not going back this fall as a librarian, but as a teacher and I know from what I've learned in these classes I will be reformed. Hopefully a reformer too! It's going to be an interesting year because we will have a new librarian and I hope to be his or her cheeleader. I hope they've been a student of program like this one.
On a different note, I have pathfinders on my website at school for 4th graders to do research on Washington State. I had to teach my students last year to do research because their catch phrase was google it! Two things were brought to my attention yesterday; annotate and 2 clicks. This is something I plan to rectify ASAP. I didn't care for the Valenza Virtual Library either.
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