Journal #4 - Jennifer S.

Journal Review # 4

Kenney, Brian. We Don’t Need No Tech Control. School Library Journal Jun 2006: 11.

After finally accepting the usefulness of blogs and wikis in education I learn about D.O.P.A. No, it’s not a drug…well, in this case it isn’t. DOPA (Deleting Online Predators Act) is a bill that proposes to control technology in schools and libraries that receive federal money. At the moment the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) requires schools and libraries to operate "a technology protection measure with respect to any of its computers with Internet access that protects against access through such computers to visual depictions that are obscene, child pornography, or harmful to minors," and that such a technology protection measure be employed "during any use of such computers by minors." CIPA requires that schools and libraries filter content they deem harmful and inapproapriate keeping control is local. In attempt to protect minors even more DOPA was proposed and would require blocked access to online social websites or chatrooms such as MySpace. Basically, any site will be blocked that “allows users to create web pages or profiles that provide information about themselves and are available to other users.”

Kenney claims this propsed bill is “overly broad and too restrictive.” If DOPA passes social interent tools such as MySpace, Blogger, AIM, and parts of Google and Yahoo! will be restricted. The Internet is undergoing amazing growth and if schools and libraries are not allowed access to these new tools they will be stuck in a “ ‘technobubble’ cut off from the evolving Internet.” The solution to keeping children safe is not to block them from using these sites but to teach them “resposible behavior, in life and online….our best defense is education.”

Here is a link to ALA’s opposition of the bill - http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/may2006/dopa06.htm

If you want to read the bill here is a link to the Library of Congress http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/C?c109:./temp/~c109AAWjwr

I support ALA and their opposition of DOPA. We need to keep control of filtering local and we need to teach our children how to use the Internet safely. There are predators everywhere in the world…we cannot shelter our children in hopes that they will remain safe forever. We need to teach them how to live in the world with all its goodness and evil. And we as LMTs need to teach our patrons to value their privacy and remain protected while using the Internet.

Journal Article # 3 - Jennifer S.

O’Leary, Mick. Wikipedia: Encyclopedia or Not?. Information Today; Sept 2005: 49-53.

Persistent link to this record: http://search.epnet.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&an=18175052

The Library and Reference Powers That Be continuously denounce Wikipedia as a fraud that is out to misinform people worldwide. However, according to Mick O’Leary, Wikipedia has a dual identity: part highly successful collaborative Internet project, part genuine encyclopedia. As of 2005, Wikipedia had 1.8 million entries in over 100 different languages with 13,000 active contributors and hundreds of thousands of visitors who make changes daily. O’Leary discusses Wikipedia’s strengths and weaknesses and states that, as with any reference source, one should know both in order to use it properly.

Wikipedia’s Strengths:
· Every article is conscientiously recorded and preserved
· Comprehensive and up-to-date
· Brings forth information that proves challenging to find

Wikipedia’s Weaknesses:
· Some “articles” are too short to even be considered such
· Search options are limited
· Inconsistent in emphasis, indexing, and classifying of articles

Like an encyclopedia, it has quality control, a consistent format, editorial direction, and comprehensive coverage. However, it is less consistent, less organized, and generally less accurate. O’Leary suggests using this encyclopedia freely, but cautiously.

I says do the same. I find Wikipedia to be easy to use and it provides information that is sometimes beyond reach with traditional encyclopedias. If a student is researching a topic that is well known and well documented in print encyclopedias or books then I steer them that way. If a student has some obscure topic and we find absolutely nothing in print materials then I sit them down at a computer and give them full reign to use Wikipedia. Heck, I sometimes tell them to use Wikipedia as a starting point for their research but remind them that it is not the end all be all in sources. To be honest, I like Wikipedia and have it bookmarked ; ) This article has assisted me in understanding this new collective encyclopedia more and I say “Go collective wisdom, go!”

Journal Article # 2 - Jennifer S.

Horwath Jenn. Dr. Bloglove or: How I Stopped Worrying and Love the Blog. Feliciter; 2006: 66-68.

A persistent link to this article can be found at:
http://search.epnet.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&an=20673322


Creating a blog that captivates its audience is a great way to expose the tremendous skills and expertise librarians have and advertise their services. Ultimately a blog will excite the users and community about the process of discovering information. Because so, this article begins by posing two questions: how do small libraries (public, school, or academic) without a strong IT department participate in blogging and, secondly, once a library creates a blog how do they ensure their patrons continuously return to it? Jenn Horwath, the blogging eLibrarian at the Library @ Mohawk College in Ontario, suggests the following:

1. Determine the mission and purpose of the project and who the target audience will be.

2. Use other blogs to find content and news that will assist your patrons. Horwath suggests:
Gary Price's ResourceShelf http://www.resourceshelf.com/,
Paul R. Pival's Distant Librarian http://distlib.blogs.com/, and
Jenny Levine's The Shifted Librarian http://www.theshiftedlibrarian.com/.

3. Create in-house tutorials to link to the blog in order for it to become a one-stop-shopping site for patrons.

4. Due to busy schedules, no need to publish more than bi-monthly. This way you "let the service drive the technology, rather than the other way around" (67).

6. Make it fun!

The BrainBlog from the Library @ Mohawk College won the CTCL Innovation Achievement Award in 2005 (http://mohawklrc2.blogspot.com/). It is a very useful blog with a simple design. The other blogs that Howarth suggests are directed toward public and academic libraries. I find the information interesting but a little too advanced for my patrons. I read them to gather information that will help me as a professional. I find blogs for high school libraries to be very useful in gathering ideas for my new blog. The amazing Joyce Valenza’s blog (http://joycevalenza.edublogs.org/) has great tutorials on how to use Google, how to create a thesis, and how to use an online database, just to name a few. Check them out to see a large hotdog learning how to do an advanced search on Google….very funny!

MCSD Technology Plan

Kathey did a most excellent job of summarizing this document so here are my comments only (thanks Kath!) .
I wasn't able to find our Information Literacy Standards either, although I have a hard copy of the document, it would be nice to have it on our website with this document. (everything on the web please!)
It's nice to be reminded that Technology literacy is "the abliliy to access, evaluate, and use information from various electronic resources to make decisions or solve problems." (pg.11)
But after reading Will Richardson's book I'd say it's much more.... it's also the ablitiy to communicate effectivly with others and express yourself both creativly and honestly too.
The document also says that "Technolgy is a tool, not an end product." (pg. 11). I'd like some clarification on that. Do they mean that we're only teaching our students to use the information they find, but not add to it or publish on it or keep their finished products on the web/computer?
I'll also comment on the list of Activities that should be occuring annually (pg 69). LMT's should be supporting and traning a variety of programs and technology skills for the school and staff. Again, this is hard to accomplish when many of the teachers don't come to your after school trainings, because "they'll never have their own website" or "they just don't have time for that." Or they just don't have the skills to get that far in the time you have allotted. It is an obstical, but we will try to overcome it by offering traings more often, one-on-one trainings, invite guest trainers, offer candy, gifts and a free car...
This was a fairly complete document, it just lacked passion. I read it after I got done with Richardson's book! (can't really compare them.) I'm proud of our tech people in our district. They mean well. It's just up to the budget and people like us to reach the tech goals.

Journal Article #1
Jennifer S.

Johnson, Doug. Library Media Specialists 2.0. Library Media Connection; Apr/May2006, Vol. 24 Issue 7: 98.

Doug Johnson is the director of Media and Technology at a school in Mankato Minnesota and has published several books about technology and education. His article titled Library Media Specialists 2.0 focuses on the recent change in technology, specifically the web, and what Library Media Specialists/Teachers need to know and do in order to serve their patrons.

Johnson notes that “the information experience is moving from mass media (few producers of information communicating with a large number of consumers) to personal media (many producers of information communicating with a more individualized group of consumers)” (Johnson 98). He claims that in order for library media specialists to remain information experts they will need to master this new media. He quickly defines web blogs, wikis, and RSS feeds. The six areas listed below are what Johnson believes LMTs need to consider in order to serve their Web 2.0 students.

1. This new media allows for new ways to communicate with students/patrons. Johnson suggests taking a look at librarian Frances Harris’s Gargoyles Loose in the Library blog at www.uni.uiuc.edu/library/blog/

2. A new question regarding sources is posed; what exactly is an authoritative source and how does one evaluate them?

3. Due to the ease of posting information new safety concerns arise. Librarians need to take measures to ensure students are taking their privacy seriously.

4, Because technology and information have become nearly synonymous is there a need for new information and technology literacy standards?

5. RSS feeds make it easier to read only the writings of those beliefs similar to our own. How are LMTs going to ensure the exposure of a diversity of ideas?

6. It is imperative that LMTs seek out this opportunity for professional growth. Johnson suggests reading and responding to the following blogs:
Alice Yucht’s Alice in Infoland at http://aliceinfo.squarespace.com/blog/
Joyce Valenza’s NeverEnding Search at http://joycevalenza.com/
Kathy Schrock’s Kaffeeklatsch at http://kathyschrock.blogspot.com/
Diane Chen’s Deep Thinking at http://deepthinking.blogsome.com/


I actually receive this magazine (Library Media Connection) and enjoy reading it (when I have time). I found this article interesting and motivating because he writes specifically for Library Media Teachers/Specialists. I looked at every blog he listed in his article and found some more useful than the others. I recommend Joyce Valenza’s website (and specially her blog at http://joycevalenza.edublogs.org/ ) as well as Kathy Schrock’s blog. Frances Harris’s Gargoyles Loose in the Library is a great example of a blog for a high school’s library media center.

Besides finding valuable blogs in his article, I found that his ideas were food for thought. As an LMT it is my responsibility to teach my patrons how to use this new “personal media” while keeping their privacy in tact. I also think it imperative that I share my knowledge with my faculty as well. It looks as though I have more to add to my LMT plate for the fall.

Journal #5- SarahM

Sarah Morgan
Podcasting for Dummies
the Companion Podcast from 6/12/06
T. Morris - One of the authors of the book "Podcasting for Dummies"

I love podcasts! If you haven't listened to one yet - do it now while you're on line.
They remind me of talk radio -something I've gotten away from since motherhood. I listened to several, including French lessons, and even my brother's. They sound like real people, talking about real things.
The episode I'm writing about was all about great interviewing tips for podcasts, which included reading and answering some e-mails from listeners. One e-mail included the following good advice for new people interested in broadcasting: USB microphones and Audacity are just fine to use if you don't have a mixer and production studio. My brother also let me in on a little secret: the left earphone to the ipods are mics too ;-) As long as you're happy with the quality of your podcast that's all that matters. Podcasts aren't meant to be over-produced. A little editing never hurt though.
Here are T's tips for conducting a good podcast interview:

• Find out the correct pronunciation of the interviewee's name.
• avoid long-winded questions ( keep the lead in short)
• Have person expand their very short answers - have a follow up question ready
• Relax and have fun so your interviewee loosens up
• It's ok to ask off-the-cuff questions
• Establish a sense of trust
• Stay within the social rules/norms

Does this give you any ideas for your own podcast? Perhaps with students? Staff?
Who's ever uploaded a podcast and how did you do it?

Journal #4 - SarahM

Sarah Morgan

Journal Review From
i.e. interactive educator ( a publication from SMART technologies)
Autumn 2005
by Kathy Schrock
pgs. 38-39

In my search for pertinent articles I came across quite a few about using hand-held devices in the classroom/school setting. When I saw this one by Kathy Schrock (of www.discoveryschool.com/schrocdkguide/) it got my attention and even almost convinced me that this should be our next purchase on on our campus.

It's just like everything else we've been talking and reading about: kids need interactive learning. By using a PDA type gaget, students can become more engaged in their school expereirence, be more organized, be motivated to do well, learn to be responsible and have a wealth of knowledge from peers and internet and e-mail, right at their fingertips. Hand-helds often cost about $250-300 and include the ablility to connect to a wireless network, run over 50 programs, including a word processor, spreadsheet, powerpoint, audio player, e-mail, voice recorder, media player, organizer that interfaces with a calendar, ebooks, Bluetooth capability, conversion programs, etc.
These would help the "equal access" for all students, encourage creativity and all of the above mentioned qualities we want in our children.
Here's an article that discusses further "Competing Visions of Handheld Computer Use in the Classroom" www.wtvi.com/teks/

Journal #3 - SarahM

Sarah Morgan
article review from:

MultiMedia &Internet @ Schools
March/April 2006
Digital Cameras, Visual Literacy, and the Xbox Generation by Charles Doe
pgs. 26-30

Once again we must remember who are students are and what they've become. They are not like many of us and have differently wired brains and must be uploaded with information they like and are comfortable with (most of the time). So... Charles Doe suggests using the digital camera in the classroom/media center to enhance teaching the digital generation.
Students are so much more visual and respond so much better to visual images. They're more visually literate than most of us were growing up. So introduce your students to photos, the process of taking them and the process of editing/uploading and using them to enhance all areas of the curriculum.
Look for the following characteristics for the younger student digital photographer:

• 3-4 megapixals is enough
• a size that's easy to handle
• point and shoot cameras are best
• LCD screen that students can see
• video output option
• rechargeable
• possibly video capable
• neck strap
• carrying/storage bag
• extra (or large) memory cards

Charles Doe likes the following models

• Canon PowerShot A410 ~$140
• SonyCyber-shot DSC-S600 ~$190
• Kodak EasyShare C300 ~$110 ( I own a C340)
• Olympus C-5500 SportZoom ~4280 -- for older students and teachers

Click on the links below to find some Ideas for projects using digital Cameras

www.lubbockisd.org/r2/CameraActivities.htm

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~cumulus/digcam.htm

www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/sbeck/digital/goingdigital.htm

www.wacona.com/digicam/digicam.html

Journal entry 2 - SarahM

Sarah Morgan
Scholastic Administrator, Feb 2006
Is this the School of the Future? by Kevin Hogan
pgs. 29-35

Check out the Microsoft Website for more information and the blog that goes along with the process
http://www.microsoft.com/education/schooloffuture.mspx

Philadelphia is building a new school. It's builders are thinking outside the box, as we say, and building a truly new school in a quickly aging public educational system. This school will be "Above and beyond all the high-tech wizardry... the school's mission is to create a next-generation learning laboratory, where new curricula and learning methosd will be devised and tested in conjunction with all the gadgetry. It will also be a research and development complex..."
The biggest assistance the school district is from Microsoft Corporation. The Corp. has been providing personnel and their vast knowledge base: research in the areas of data integration and management, collaboration and communication techniques, organizational efficiency, and professional leadership development. This school is being build the "Microsoft Way" which will be successful because everyone involved in the school has buy-in including the community.
This makes me want to write a grant a restructure our whole technology department. I could never make it perfect though because my school is 5o years old, I don't have 100% buy in from everyone and most people who are at my school are stuck in their own paradigm. To make this a successful process you'd have to assemble a special team with special knowledge and energy to engage our students by using a new-futuristic paradigm.

Journal #1 - SarahM

Journal Response 1
Sarah Morgan

From:
Discovery Education Classroom Resource Guide
November 2005
Blogs, Pods, Wikis & Furls by Mike Lawrence

This is the condensed version on Will Richarson's book and published for the users of www.unitedstreaming.com Check this out if you've never used it!

He starts the article by saying "...the next generation is immersed is a world in which all media are accessible, searchable, and most importantly, remixable." and goes on to say that students "reach their own conclusions and retell and recombine what they have discovered as newfound knowledge." This fits in perfectly to the LMT's job.
He then talks about the following:
Editing tools
like iMovie, Final cut Pro and Premiere Elements, GarageBand and Audacity to remix and create "new, interpretive creations." Even some of the videos found in UnitedStreaming are editable, so students can keep engaged.
RSS - Real Simple Syndication
that affects the way we gather information, distribute homework, and collect student assignments allowing teachers to "feed" students information/audio/video/text through web sites that can be accessed/respond from any computer and even cell phone. The simplest way of doing this to generate your own blog. Look at www.feedburner.com which allows users to set up blogs with RSS feeds capable of handling audio and video.
Podcasting
sometimes called videoblogs, vlogs, vdcatsts - that can support mainly audio and now video. Go to iTunes to get free podcasts. You can also make your own podcast of anything from class lectures to class dialogues.
Wikis
wikis allow any visitior to edit the site, add their own text or photos. Like a blog but it is editable.
www.pbwiki.com
www.wikispaces.org
Blogs
Short for weblog - we know about these! They are a valuable collaboration tool and easier to use that traditional HTML.
www.blogger.com
www.edublogs.org
Furls
These are basically public bookmark lists which I highly recommend for your school. It is way more efficient to have your bookmarks on a web-based location rather than the physical computer for many reasons.
Here's the author's furl address
www.furl.net/members/mikelawrence