Conference thoughts October 30, 2007
Posted by Debbie Stafford in : AASL2007 , 2commentsSome last conference musings (would like to hear your thoughts);
Blogging — I tried something new this year, brought my laptop, took notes on it during the session and posted right after the session. One plus, I feel that the blog had more detail about the session. One minus, I am not sure the “reflection” piece got there. My question to myself is how to make sure the reflection gets there. I am hoping more people will blog sessions now that they are back at “school”.
Sessions — There was a good mix of sessions, a good balance between Information Literacy, Web 2.0/Library 2.0 and Literature to include author sessions. Though I didn’t go to any literature sessions this time, I did find lots on the vendor floor. I only wish more sessions could be repeated, two I wanted to go to were booked full, no one else allowed in the room. One session did get repeated but that was after a big crowd and many turned away frustrated people.
Vendors
– So much to see! After mailing one box and one poster tube, I then collected another bag of stuff that almost didn’t fit in the suitcase.
–I did notice that very few vendors had any specific library equipment. There was library furniture. There were die cut machines, one booth had digital camera sets, but no one really had any library specific equipment such as bar code scanners. I can’t help wondering why. True, bar code scanners aren’t very interesting but I remember going to a previous AASL seeing scanners and wound up purchasing one.
–Is there nothing NEW in this area (equipment)? In terms of technology the vendor floor had information providers and automation programs but no equipment. Are there no new equipment needs other than workstations? Or do vendors not see librarians as people who can affect purchase sales? If so, then I think they may have missed the boat.
Going Green
Not printing handouts really didn’t make this a green conference. With the daily newspaper, the evaluation sheets after each session, and handout printing stations plenty of paper got used. After doing the handout via computer I want the paper copy back. Technology is wonderful but sometimes the “old way” works better.
Debbie Stafford
AASL2007
Conference handouts October 29, 2007
Posted by ayucht in : AASL2007 , add a commentMany of the handouts from conference sessions will be available at http://www.eshow2000.com/aasl/handouts.cfm for a limited time.
NCLB sets bar too low for our school libraries October 27, 2007
Posted by ayucht in : AASL2007 , add a commentThe Reno Gazette-Journal published an excellent article by Robbie Nickel and Sara Kelly Johns about WHY everyone needs to support the SKILLS Act, which “recognizes the important role of library media specialists in increased academic achievement and reauthorizes and strengthens the Improving Literacy through School Library Program of the No Child Left Behind Act.” Check it out at http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007710250309
Closing Ceremony October 27, 2007
Posted by Debbie Stafford in : Conferences , add a commentFor those who could not be here, AASL will have an eAcademy on the AlA website with content from the conference check here later http://www.ala.org/aasl/eAcademy
Once again, check out the new 21st Century Skills, can be downloaded at http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslproftools/learningstandards/standards.cfm
Route 21 a forum for these new standards
launch date Nov 7, 2007 school librarians will be able to contribute to the site.
Guest speaker for this closing Omar Waslow, co-founder of BlackPlanet.com. He was seen on Oprah teaching Oprah about going online.
Highlights from his speech
How libraries can thrive in the age of “google, myspace et al”. Libraries are in turmoil but Omar said thatLibraries will have to change BUT will have to re commit to the core values of libraries which include;
*the teaching, facilitating of critical thinking, research skills
*the space of a library, a space where reflection, thinking can go on library space is a productive space
Changes
*from service to transformational – see change in the “product”
*access to information move to “mastering library skills” developing a MLIS style curriculum for k-12
*focus more on developing experience than materials management
I liked this closing speach better than any I have heard recently. He acknowledged our strengths as well as where we need to “change” (as opposed to improve)
Debbie Stafford
AASL2007
Information Fluency Meets Web 2.0 October 27, 2007
Posted by Debbie Stafford in : AASL2007 , 1 comment so farPresenter Joyce Valenza
This session wasn’t due to begin until 1:30. I decided to get in the room early so arrived at 1:00 pm. Good thing I did, the room is filling up fast. It was actually a repeat session, yesterday’s session was so full people were turned away.
Joyce first mentioned that these tools and that we are in a “tipping point” situation. She said she was in 1.8 beta.
Joyce is always passionate. She fervently believed that school Library Media Specialists need to know about these tools and to put these tools in the “face” of students.
Widgets — Students also will be using these “widgets” (small tools, online, web 2.0)looking to see how they will be used “creativity”. Woven in are the “traditional” skills of collaboration,commnication et al. Mentioned was a quote “Any cold beer on a warm day is good enough” but Joyce feels that we should not settle for “good enough” information.
Blogs
*Literature Blogs
*Research Blogs
*Story Telling blogs and tools
*Podcasts
Tools shared If you were there either today or yesterday and see one I didn’t list please add. Also if you have the real URL for some of the sites please add in comments.
*IGoogle – for students to use for organization — would like to see widgets from “vendors” to pull into their igoogle such as a “facts on file” database.
*Wiki Pathfinders instead of “pathfinders”.
*OEDB.org Databases
*TeacherTube as alternative to YouTube
*Online survey tools — Pole Daddy? (it occurred to me that one of these could be used to create the “passport” idea from Deb Logan’s session I attended this morning.
*Wikipedia — situational information
Conservapedia — conservative wiki (a tool I know about Congresspedia
*Flickr – art gallery
*bibme — online citation maker (some others we use easybib and citation machine)
*Creative Commons licensing for open source software
*Online notecard tools such as Noodle bib
*Voice Thread (to tell stories)
*Twitter
*xtimeline (create and share timelines)
*Primary access — attached to national archives
*NING (social network tool to create specific social networks)
ICAN
Debbie Stafford
AASL2007
Students + Evidence = Impact! October 27, 2007
Posted by Debbie Stafford in : AASL2007 , add a commentPresenter Debra Logan
Deb started out with some background about working with students and finding out from them whether what the library did was useful. Leading to “When students speak … everyone listens!”
Outline of the presentation
Evidence Based Practice
*improve practice – came from Medicine
*based on research national but also needs local data
*Deb likes the word Mash-up putting the data together i.e. national report on college students research, correlated with where it was introducted etc locally
*Recommended article School LIbraries & Evidence: School Library Journal August Sept 2003
Deb likes Backwards Design from the book n”Understanding by Design”
Assessment
*What data
*How to collect the data
**pre, during, post assessments
**Tests, quick questions, passports — something I learned, how use, what worked, what made better? Use old catalog cards!
**Surveys, statistics, lesson plans
**Photos, Sample projects, Portfolios
*Managing Data
**Analysis and Storing
Motivaing students
Caveat, not sure I got everything here as I had to leave the room for a bit
*Use the data collected and share withstudents
**Quotations, Anecdotes, Annual Reports, Newspaper articles
*accept the negative comments
Building support-advocacy
*PR (not the only or most important)
*Marketing
*When someone speaks up for you
*back to When students speak… everyone listens
This is the second workshop by Deb that I have attended and both were very worthwhile. Deb has some books available, worth a look (Linworth).
Debbie Stafford
AASL2007
Collaborate With Mathematics Teachers Using Statistics, the Web and Multimedia October 26, 2007
Posted by Debbie Stafford in : AASL2007 , add a commentPresenter
Peter Milbury
Library Media Teacher/Consultant
California Learning Resource Network
Daniel Sours – Math Teacher Chico High School
This afternoon session highlighted and modeled collaboration between Library Media Specialists and Teachers. Peter and Daniel both worked together seamlessly for the presentation, but explained how this collaborative project grew from an idea by the classroom teacher to a full collaboration project.
The project — math students preparing a project using statistical data collected from web sites, then preparing graphs using the data, then preparing a powerpoint presentation of the data in different formats. The different graphs show data with different “equations” such as exponential, quadratic.
These gentlemen were happy to share the website developed for this project
http://www.csuchico.edu/~pmilbury/collaborate-mathematics.html
Web resources useful for the project;
statistics resources from Peter’s school web site
http://melvil.chicousd.org/ss20.html this page is no longer being updated so another site to use;
California Learning Resource Network clrn.org
A very enjoyable informative session.
Debbie Stafford
AASL2007
21st Century Facilities Design for Library Media Centers October 26, 2007
Posted by Debbie Stafford in : AASL2007 , 1 comment so farSteven Baule Presenter
One of the first things that impressed me, this presentation was done by a superintendent indicatind an administrator who knew something about libraries. As we went through the session he proved this to be true.
The second thing that impressed me, this was a FULL house indicating that school libraries are still being designed and hopefully built.
And ther was a third, Mr. Baule acknowledged that libraries will still have books and will need shelving.
The session was full of good ideas, most of them the kind where “you already knew that but needed reminded”.
Some I “collected”;
Extended shelving for reference, where you can pull out a shelf and lay the item down to read.
Seating, plan seating to accommodate one class per LMS + 1 (one class working with teacher or, one class working with LMS)
Square tables are better for flexible grouping
Allow for wireless but keep “wired” because still faster
Don ‘t buy signage until after the library is built, do some “test signs” THEN buy
This was a GOOD session, one that I wished could have been a half day session like the one I attended on this topic on Wednesday. It would have been a good companion session, this once gave practical tips which people could then use in looking at the floor plans.
There was a list of resources at the end of the presentation;
National Clearning House on Educational Facilities www.edfacilities.org
KQ website www.ala.org/aasl/kqweb/kqbackissues.html
Doug Johnson’s list of facilities www.isd77/k12.mn.us/resources/dougwri/buildingquestions.html
Facilities Planning for School Library Media and Technology Centers Linworth publishing
Debbie Stafford
AASL2007
All Students Really Can Do Research Without Copying October 26, 2007
Posted by Debbie Stafford in : AASL2007 , 1 comment so farSession presented by Virginia Morse
web site where you can purchase her book and other materials
www.iimresearch.com to buy the products
This was my second choice session but my first choice was canceled. Turns out that was GOOD thing! This session was great! Even though the presentation focused on elementary so many good ideas for students doing research were presented that could easily be adapted to high school level.
Summary
Plagiarism – Students don’t know and Parents don’t know
Brainstorming section
What skills do students need to conduct research?
Reading
Selection
Summarize
Question
Evaluate sources
Organization – outline — create something new
Inferences
Taking notes
Ways to prevent Plagiarism
*Use a process (model) and **grade a process (model)
Understand what plagiarism is
Resources
Products (use a variety of) State FLOAT
Poem on famous person
The model highlighted here;
Independent Investigation Method: The Model
Group Process Basic Level – teacher models each step
Group Process Proficient level – same skills but independent
Some ideas for product that came out;
Romanopoly make a monopoly board about topic
State Float along with state report
Benefits of natural disasters?
Notes, cave man language, shopping list
The seven steps
Topic make a hook, Class concept map, student concept map, do a research see slide 17, glossary of words on topic
Goal Setting, search strategy, goal setting form see slide 20 show teacher question, generate student questions (use question cubes, roll cubes then format question use one or two of the cubes.
Research, read, vocabulary, NO plagiarism (book Robert Harris, cartoons on plagiarism) slide 27, slide 29 directions for note taking slide 31 Easy as ABC, note fact grid
Organizing
Goal Evaluation
Product
Presentation
Questions – spotlight questions, flood light questions, thin and thick questions
So much to process so heading out for a cup of coffee.
Debbie Stafford
AASL2007
Did you Celebrate? October 26, 2007
Posted by Laura Pearle in : AASL2007 , 1 comment so farCelebrate Conference, a session to acclimate newbies to the World of AASL, took place from 12:30 – 1:30 yesterday. If you weren’t there, you missed some great conference going advice, as well as an opportunity to hear from AASL’s leaders (like Cyndi Phillips, Sara Kelly Johns, Rocco Staino, Jay Bansbach, Joyce Valenza and others).
Some of the advice?
- Do wear sensible shoes; don’t wear pencil skirts
- Network
- Talk to strangers
- Contribute to the conversation by blogging and/or commenting
- Put your change and “pocket stuff” into a baggie when going to the airport
- ENJOY
Laura Pearle
AASL2007
