AASL - SIGMS Meetings in Second Life September 23, 2008
Posted by lperez in : AASL Committees, Check this out! , 1 comment so farCheck out the buzz about libraries in Second Life! Announcing a slate of monthly orientation and librarian learning community meetings organized by the AASL Web 2.0 Taskforce and ISTE’s Media Specialist Special Interest Group (SIGMS). All are welcome! For more information, contact Lisa Perez (leperez1@cps.edu) - Elaine Tulip (avatar).
NEXT MTG: October 21st Librarian Learning Community Meeting
Reinventing School Libraries and Computer Labs: The Time Has Come!
Guest Facilitator: David Loertscher
The advent of the Google Generation who usually ignore the school library and surpass easily what is being taught in computer labs, causes us all to re-examine the entire model of school libraries designed fifty years ago. It requires the re-examination of everything we learned in library and technology education. It means starting with the customer to build information and technology systems that get used and that push learners toward excellence. David Loertscher will take us on a tour of a completly re-thought learning commons where all the specialists, not just teacher librarians or teacher technologiests operate, but a place that is really the heart of teaching and learning in the school. You can read his ideas in advance in the new book: The New School Learning Commons Where Learners Win, available from http://lmcsource.com. In any event, come not just to listen, but get in the creative mood yourself to examine bold new strategies equal to the excellence in education this country must pursue.
Schedule of Upcoming Events (8pm ET/ 7pm CT/ 6pm MT/ 5pm PT for one hour)
Oct 7 - Orientation to Second Life
Oct 21 - Librarian Learning Community Mtg
Nov 4 - Orientation to Second Life
Nov 18 - Librarian Learning Community Mtg
Jan 13 - Orientation to Second Life
Jan 20 - Librarian Learning Community Mtg
TO JOIN THE MEETING
Log onto Second Life 15 minutes prior to the meeting time. Instant message Elaine Tulip for a teleport to the meeting location.
IF YOU ARE NEW TO SECOND LIFE
To set up an account to join Second LIfe, do the following:
1. Go to the Second Life website at http://www.secondlife.com several days in advance to set up your free basic account.
2. Verify that your computer and connectivity meets the systems requirements at http://secondlife.com/support/sysreqs.php.
3. Click on the orange “Get Started!” button. Go through the subsequent screens to create your avatar account.
4. Download and install the Second Life viewer software at http://secondlife.com/support/downloads.php.
5. Open the software and log into Second Life using your avatar first name, last name, and password. Watch your avatar “be born”. Complete the orientation activities to learn about how to communicate, move, search, and edit your appearance.
6. When finished, search “Places” for locations such as Chicago Public Schools, ISTE, or the American Library Association. Teleport to a favorite location, explore, and become acquainted with Second Life. (When searching, make sure the “search mature places” square is checked.)
7. Fifteen minutes prior to scheduled meetings, log on and IM Elaine Tulip for a teleport to the meeting location.
Also see:
Chicago Public Schools Second Life blog: http://blogs.cuip.net/dlis
ISTE SIGMS wiki: http://sigms.iste.wikispaces.net/AASL+-+SIGMS+Second+Life+calendar
Flickr photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/elainetulip/sets/72157607220630432
MEET AASL: The Intellectual Freedom Committee March 17, 2008
Posted by admin in : AASL Committees, Community , 2 comments What is the Intellectual Freedom Committee?
A group of six school librarians and college faculty working in school library programs (plus a chair and 2 AASL liaisons). We work together to carry out the Committee Charge: to gather, prepare, and disseminate information on Intellectual Freedom issues and available support services pertinent to school library media programs.
How does the Intellectual Freedom Committee fit into AASL?
Over 70% of all challenges to books and other resources occur in schools and school libraries.
What does the Intellectual Freedom Committee do?
We:
- Gather, prepare and make available materials advising school library media specialists of available services and support in formulating Intellectual Freedom policies and for resisting local pressure and community action designed to impair the rights of others.
- Work with the ALA Intellectual Freedom Office and with the Freedom to Read Foundation in gathering information as requested and responding to issues and concerns.
- Provide technical assistance to the AASL Intellectual Freedom Award Committee.
What are 2-3 goals you have for the Intellectual Freedom Committee for 08-09?
- Review and revise the resource guides available for school librarians on the AASL website.
- Gather, prepare and make available materials advising school library media specialists of available services and support (1) in formulating Intellectual Freedom policies and (2) for resisting local pressure and community action designed to impair the rights of others.
- Revise the AASL Intellectual Freedom brochure and make it available in PDF format for downloading
- Plan/initiate monthly intellectual freedom themed postings on AASL Forum, AASL Blog, and Hotlinks (this is where I come in).
In a perfect world, what would you like the Intellectual Freedom Committee to be/do?
I (Clover Taylor, Committee Member) guess if this were a perfect world, we wouldn’t need an Intellectual Freedom Committee! Or our task would merely be to celebrate all the freedoms being excercised in all our schools and libraries!
How can I get involved?
Watch for and respond to AASL Forum and blog postings. Report assaults on intellectual freedom to the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom. Right now the committee is at capacity, but there will likely be openings in the future. When the AASL President sends out her appeal for participation, put this on your list of committee interests.