Free Accessible Resources for Reaching 21st Century Learners

I'm excited to be sharing some great resources at the St. Clair County RESA sponsored 21st Century Symposium on Thursday, August 26th. My colleagues, Joni Rogers from Yale Public School District and Kathy Levandowski from the RESA, will join my in sharing some practical tools available at no charge to assist teachers and adminstrators in implementing activities that will appeal to our 21st Century Learners. Please use this blog as a resource; for the tutorials and for continued support through the comments option.

We will be covering a lot in a short hour, which is why we're using this blog to provide additional support. We will begin our journey with Joni sharing a great resource for lesson planning called MORE (Michigan Online Resources for Educators). MORE is available through the Michigan electronic library @ www.mel.org. From the home page please click on the MORE link. Creating a free account is recommended, but you can begin searching and accessing lessons without signing in. As many of the districts in the county will have interactiave white boards in their classrooms this year, Joni will highlight access to interactive lessons and demonstrate them on the SmartBoard. MORE focuses on Michigan standards. For a National databank checkout http://thinkfinity.org. Look for a tutorial to be posted soon!

From MORE, Jonie will take you back to MeL and highlight some of the other great resources, especially the databases. Clicking on the database link from the home page brings up a list up options with descriptions of the type of material indexed in each. Of special interest to schools is the Learning Express Library which offers practice tests (including AP and ACT), content area courses and skills building. Many of the databases offer full-text access to professional journals and magazines, making this a first stop for research and for informational text to use in the classroom.

We will switch gears with Rachelle demonstrating Animoto, a video creation platform software that offers free accounts for educators. Animoto offers some creative solutions for education. The web-based feature solves the server space issues so often associated with video content. Also, the software itself makes most creative decisions, such as timing and special effects, for you. This allows new users and younger students to make creative movies without getting bogged down with technical details. For this very reason, some of your older, more tech savvy students are going to want the creative control available with other tools such as Windows MovieMaker. Go to www.animoto.com to register for your account today. **This may take SEVERAL weeks. Be flexible in your planning the first time. The tutorial provides you with step-by-step instructions.

21st Century students want their work to have real world application. So while movies are fun, what is the real world application? Two ideas come to mind quickly. Public Service Announcements for Health class is a step-up from your typical No Smoking brochure! Probably the application most often used is to create book trailers. Students, following the format of a movie trailer, create a movie advertising a book. This is an extension of the idea of digital storytelling that has been around for some time and is popular at the elementary and middle levels. Storyboarding before creating the video covers many writing and reading standards while the movie offers students a fun project at the end of a book study or favorite read.  St. Clair County schools have a library management system that is web-based and includes social and interactive components. Here is an example, using the book Tweak, of how a student made book trailer can have a real world application when it is included in the record of the library catalogue. Simply click on the weblink in the Explore section of the record.

Now that we're at the Destiny library management system, let's look at some of the interactive features. To use these features, you must login. Please remember that the tutorial demonstrates how to login for St. Clair County Michigan schools. The login formula will NOT work for all Destiny subscriptions. The other features demonstrated are available.

Some of the features, such as having students review a book or make recommendations are self-explanatory. Resource lists may require some examples. Here is how I have used Resource Lists. Teachers can identify books to be used with a particular unit or lesson, allowing the media specialist to pull the books or the student to find a resource from the list. This list is then available the next time the unit or lesson is taught. Lists can be used to identify particular genres, a favorites list or added to a visual search. Students can also login and create their own lists. This allows them to keep track electronically of resources used for research, allowing them to return for additional information or clarification. If your building collection includes websites and e-books, students can access identified materials without search time when working from school or home.

In our live presentation, Kathy will wrap up the hour by reviewing how different districts have set-up access to Destiny and who to contact in specific buildings or districts. For my online viewers, your best bet is to contact your building or district library media specialist. If you don't have one, find out from a building administrator who administrates Destiny to obtain login information and additional training.

We hope our live and virtual viewers enjoy these resources as much as we enjoy sharing them! Feel free to comment, ask questions, subscribe to this blog and continue the discussion.

Jing

As I prepare for the 21st Century Learning Conference hosted by St. Clair County RESA I want to share with you a great tool that I heard about @ the conference 2 years ago. It's called Jing. It's a web capturing tool that you can download FREE from http://www.jingproject.com. As with many of the tools that I love, my time is too limited to try all of the great features available. It's actually a great screencasting softward that enhances online conversations. However, I use the screen capture feature to create visual tutorials. Save the screen, add visual highlighs and instructions and save to presentation software. Using Google presentations or saving a PPT presentation to slider sharer allows you to easily link and share your help tools. How will you use this tool? How can your students use this tool? The application possibilities will be fun to watch unfold!

Here is an example I created to show teachers and students how to create and iGoogle page:



One word of caution with this tool. Unless you have adminstrative rights on your network you will not be able to download the software. At this time I am forced to use it from my home computer, but many tech departments are willing to add software for teachers and students if getting some time.

Summer Reading

The sun is shining, the water is inviting, who wants to be inside? Finding the right book is so important! Here are some suggestions for the intellectuals, the beach readers and those who think they hate fiction. First, most schools make available reading lists for AP courses, English classes and other classes that incorporate extensive reading. Using the summer for a first read of required books can take some of the pressure off of the experience. Unless you have been given a specific assignment, as with an AP English class, read the book for fun. It doesn't matter if you don't "get it" the first time. Sometimes we forget that reading can be pleasurable because we only read with an analytical eye to complete class assignments. Just get lost in the book. Persevere. Don't let vocabulary, style or characters intimidate you. No one is grading your summer reading! I personally enjoy Alexandre Dumas' The Three Musketeers. Romance, political intrigue, friendship, patriotism, bravery; it has something for everyone.


Those of you looking for good beach reads, vampire fiction series are plentiful. Richelle Mead's Vampire Acadamy series has a new release this month. One of my favorites! There are some great series that are NOT vampire or romance for my male readers or those who enjoy more realistic fiction. If you enjoyed the Bourne book or film series, try Robert Muchamore's CHERUB series. As an added bonus, filming begins this summer for the movie version.

Hate reading novels? Then don't. Yup. You heard me. It's your summer! I still want you to read, but fiction isn't the only genre that counts. Biographies and memoirs are increasingly relevant for teen reads. Some of my picks include:

• A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
• Tweak (definately edgy and explicit-recommended for older teens)
• Smashed: Memoir of a Drunken Girlhood
• Three Cups of Tea
• The Glass Castle

Last, don't forget your digital reading. Find an interesting blog written by an expert in the area of your passion. Post interesting articles to your facebook or myspace page for interesting discussions with your friend.  Barnes and Noble has a free e-reader application that that can be dowloaded to your iPod to purchase e-books, newspapers and articles. It includes a free dictionary, as well as some classic novels. Personally, I will be reading cheesy romance, award winning YA fiction, as well as professional literature. There's nothing like floating in the pool with some good reading on a sunny day to let you know that summer is here.

Have a reading suggestion to add to the list? Let me know.

Time to Get Real

Today I am presenting a professional development seminar called "Time to Get Real". The reality of our classrooms will be evident as I can't access Blogger from the room I'm presenting! This often happens to teachers. We attend training and are excited about the possibilities of implementing Web 2.0 into our classrooms. Some of us even go home and spend time getting together a great lesson only to find out when we reach school that our resources are blocked.

I am hoping (have been told!) that the laptops have a different firewall. If this is true, then the attendees may actually be viewing the blog. Here is what I would like you to do:
1.Take the following quiz @

2. Leave me a comment. What have you tried to implement in your classroom? How did it go? What would you like to try (but are scared, can't acces, etc.)? What is stopping you from implementing Web 2.0 in your classroom (access to computers and tools, time, etc.).

Happy Web 2.0!

Thanksgiving

An important part of the library media specialists responsibility is to continually analyze the collection for accuracy and relativity. I am always reminded of the importance of this task at Thanksgiving as I consider the historical accuracy of material vs. the American myth that is perpetuated, with many good intentions, in our schools and homes. While this topic can be sensitive on both sides, I contend that we sell our children short by not allowing them to consider history in the context of cultural, social and moral obligations. Learning that mistakes have been made will allow the future to move forward with thoughtful consideration. In order to compete globally we need forward thinking citizens that are analytical problem solvers. We cannot create this citizenry without promoting critical thinking in our classrooms. What better place to start than with our history? My challenge this time of year is to review your Thanksgiving and native history material in your classroom and media center. I don't think that it is necessary to get rid of most material, especially when it can be used as great examples of historical perspective, accuracy and bias. Students will see for themselves the discrepancies that can lead to great teachable moments.

I owe a debt of gratitude to Debbie Reese, a native educator who provides thought-provoking commentary on the library listserve, LM_NET. Debbie is able to respectfully continue to challenge accepted thinking and practices in regards to native history and education. Her blogspot, http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com, is a great place to begin your new research. As I write this blog there is a great posting by a native educator describing her children's experience with historical inaccuracies in the curriculum.

My second recommendation is the official website of the historical villiage, Plimoth Plantation. The main page of the site provides an excellent description: bicultural perspective in a modern context. There are many interactive features, including a young historian role-playing activity that allows children to learn about the Wapanoag and Pilgirm children in a historically accurate setting. Lastly, National Geographic worked in cooperation with the Plimoth Planation to create a beautifully photographed story. 1621, a New Look at Thanksgiving, is available in hard- and softcover through most book retailers.

Debbie Reese's blog provides many suggestions for additional titles as well as resources for examining native issues in children's literature. What are your favorites?

Teen Read Week

This morning we begin the week long Teen Read Week celebration in the library media center. The library science students have put together some quick, fun daily trivia for students to answer. Students with the correct answer will entered into the daily prize contest. Prizes (very important if you actually want the teens to participate) include a student athletic pass for the 2009-2010 school year (thank you Mr. Thiede!), a gas card, 30 day gym membership, free pizza coupons and books. I would love to think that the teens are just so excited about Teen Read Week that they will be lining up outside the door to get a chance at the trivia contests. The reality is: the good prizes bring them in.

For those not working in schools, let me tell you the reality of putting this together. Two weeks prior I met with each of my library science classes, explained Teen Read Week, assigned creating a trivia contest and gave them a day to brainstorm as well as an additional day to write up the contest questions for approval. Two weeks later, all we needed to do was pull out the questions, clean them up and print them. Right? Wrong! First, only 2 contests could be located. Students could not wrap their brains around providing written contest instructions for the participants. Four exhausting days of proofing and rewriting later (we're only talking 3 or 4 questions per contest!) we were ready to print. New glitch. The media center printer that worked 1st hour on Friday will no longer print. Work order submitted. Try each hour to print. No deal. Monday morning: printer still not working. Fine. Allow students to sign in on my computer and print to the office. 1st contest-printed copied and ready to go. We're on a roll! 2nd contest.....printer has a jam. NOt supposed to touch the printer. Tech has to take care of these issues. Principal (being the GREAT guy he is) saves the day, clears out paper jam, printing resumes. Bell rings, class is over, student sent print job to printer that no longer works. Needed the contest copied for Tuesday a.m. As of 3rd hour, no students have participated (although only 2 have laughed at me!). I think (hope) the students just aren't awake yet.

Teen Read Week is annual YALSA sponsored celebration. This year's theme is "Read Beyond Reality". While the official promotional materials focus on alternate realities or other worlds, sciefi and fantasy, at AHS we are also thinking about how our reality as residents in the small Michigan town of Algonac compares with the reality of people living elsewhere in terms of culture, race, religion and geography. How will you "Read Beyond Reality" this week?

Blog Action Day 2009

Blog Action Day inspired me to dust off the old blog and begin posting. According to www.blogactionday.org this is an annual event that unites the world's bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day. The aim is to raise awareness and trigger a global discussion. How fun! This year the topic is climate change.

So my question became how does the issue of climate change relate to the school library media center? I could discuss how we strive to be good stewards of our resources, limiting print materials when electronic while suffice, recycling old paper, etc. Doesn't sound very progressive. Instead, I'll share how research went this week with a class that was researching climate change. No, this isn't a set-up. They were already scheduled for research days BEFORE I found the topic!

First, the issue gave me a chance to introduce the class to a new database from Gale: Global Issues in Context. This amazing database gathers Gale print reference material, topic overview essays, news, podcasts, magazine articles, etc. from around the world, providing a global viewpoint of topics (exactly what Blog action day is supposed to do!). For instance, if you are researching H1N1 the topic portal provides podcasts from Great Britain, video and images from China and Mexico, news article from Africa and Egypt, as well as statistical data and encyclopedia articles on influenza. I can think of no topic more globally connected than the issue of climate change, so off we went.

After a brief introduction to the resources students were off and running. The teacher required that each question needed to be answered using 3 different resources (triangulating data is an important research concept, especially when web searching). It was great to see the students enganged in the information seeking process as well as the discusion that followed.

One student was particularly interested to note that the statistical information provided on the geocraft website (www.geocraft.com/WVfossils/greenhouse_data.html) raises the question of how much of the "greenhouse effect" is caused by human activity. Statistical, the debate is weather water vapor is used in the calculating the equation. IF it is NOT used, than the human contribution is significant. If water vapor is used in the analysis, human contribution is negligable. My only concern as an information specialist is that the data provided on the website is from 1998-early 2000's.

I'm sure that this will help fuel the climate change debate!