PLN+Gems

Gems for Week of April 24th:

From PLN:

1. "Guide for TL's (and on curating digital content)" - NeverEndingSearch Blog, SLJ Online, Joyce Valenza, April 23rd, 2011. - Joyce has recently published a website which is guide for Teacher-Librarians encompassing pretty much all of the things that we do. It's a fantastic and great resource for all TL's.

2. "Banned Sites Week" - TL Advisor Blog, Tech and Learning online, Michelle Luhtala, April 24th, 2011. - A post by the director of the library program in New Cannan, CT, in which she describes how they have created a Banned Sites Week, much like a Banned Books Week to raise awareness about censorship and to also try to draw attention to the, in her opinion "overzealous" website filtering in her district.

3. "Colorado could ditch more school tests" - Education Week online, Associated Press, April 25th, 2011. - A sign that people are starting to think in the right direction? The reason given is that the tests are becoming "cost-prohibitive".

LM-NET Post of the Week: - This is more flabbergasting/sad that this person, who works in the state doesn't even know this...

Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2011 10:05:33 -0400 Subject: Target: For NY State only - please help!

Hello -

A curious question - is a school (grades 7-12) required to have a FULL TIME school librarian? Or can they get by with a part-timer if their population is sufficiently low enough? If so, does anyone have a chart that shows what percentage librarian is required for how many students? Also - does it "count" if there is another librarian in the district (also part time), but one that only serves elementary (K-6)?

Thank you for any info you may have!

Gems for Week of April 17th:

From PLN:

1. "Historical Newspapers Online" - NeverEndingSearch Blog, SLJ Online, Joyce Valenza, April 17th, 2011. - This is a fantastic resource for Social Studies classes that Joyce has shared with us. The newspapers are compiled from Penn University.

2. "The Plagerism Checker in Education - Educational Technology" - Best content in Diigo in Education, A. Gardner, April 18th, 2011. - A pretty nifty and simple resource where you can either copy and paste or upload a document and the program checks to see if a student plagerised another person's work.

3. "Design Apps to die for" - TL Advisor Blog, Tech and Learning online, Guest Blogger, April 17th, 2011. - A very nice post with a large selection of design tools that students and teachers will both like.

LM-NET Post of the Week: - A great little post about image sources that students can use without violating copyright laws.

Subject: TARGET: Favorite Image Sources for Student Projects

 What are you favorite copyright friendly image sources for student  projects? I prefer website that don't require students to create an  account. So far I have:

 DK Clip Art:  http://www.dorlingkindersley- uk.co.uk/static/html/clipart/ clipart_home.html

 Explore thousands of images from leading illustrated publisher Dorling  Kindersley. Perfect for illustrating homework, school projects and  generally being creative, you can browse the clip art by A-Z or by  school subjects. DK holds the copyright but allows users to download,  copy and display the Images for your own personal, home and school use.

 Morguefile  @http://www.morguefile.com/  Thanks to the generosity of contributors, this site provides thousands  of free pictures, which you can use and remix, even in commercial <span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> applications. Attribution is not required.

<span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> Wikimedia Commons: <span style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #0065cc; font-family: arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> http://commons.wikimedia.org/ wiki/Category:Pictures_and_ images <span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> Unlike traditional media repositories, Wikimedia Commons is free. <span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> Everyone is allowed to copy, use and modify any files here freely as <span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> long as the source and the authors are credited according to the <span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> author’s requirements.

<span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> Free Digital Photos.net <span style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #0065cc; font-family: arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> http://www.freedigitalphotos. net/ <span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> FreeDigitalPhotos.net is one of the best places on the web to download <span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> free photos for use in corporate and personal projects. The images can <span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> be used by web designers, graphic designers and editors to illustrate <span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> and brighten up websites and printed media such as newspapers and <span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> magazines. Please see the terms of use for more information on <span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> acceptable use of these images.

<span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> Pics4Learning.com <span style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #0065cc; font-family: arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> @http://www.pics4learning.com/ <span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> Pics4Learning is a copyright-friendly image library for teachers and <span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> students. The Pics4Learning collection consists of thousands of images <span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> that have been donated by students, teachers, and amateur photographers. <span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> Unlike many Internet sites, permission has been granted for teachers <span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> and students to use all the images donated to the Pics4Learning <span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> collection.

Gems for Week of April 10th:

From PLN:

1. "The Ultimate Web 2.0 Smackdown at Tech Forum, Boston" - TL Advisor Blog, Tech and Learning online, Lisa Thrumann, April 9th, 2011. - I posted this for the 31links to great online resources that could be used in the classroom that were discussed in a forum attended by over 200 educators.

2. "AASL Learning Commons" - Best content in Diigo in Techer-Librarians, Diigo, posted by Buffy Hamilton, April 10th, 2011. - A link to a wiki that gives the user information about what is coming up at the annual convention being held in Minneapolis.

3. "Google Epidemic Lesson" - Best content in Diigo in Teachers, Diigo, posted by Donna Canuel, April 11th, 2011. - It's not an anti-Google lesson, but, lessons created by using the Google line of applications. I think this is pretty cool.

LM-NET Post of the Week: - I have a feeling that there are many more librarians out there that are uninformed about how eReaders could help their students.

Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2011 09:00:54 -0400

Hi all,

I am considering buying eBooks for our schools collection. I hate to admit I don't know much about them. I do have a nook and kindle app on my phone but other then getting books from Amazon and Barnes and Nobles for my own personal use I don't know how to use them with the library software. We are currently using Destiny. I know that I can purchase eBooks through Follett but what about through other vendors. I looked in the help feature on Destiny but I didn't quite understand it. I know Follett eBooks can not be downloaded onto an eReader but can be loaded on a computer with the Follett Software.

Any information or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Gems for Week of April 3rd:

From PLN:

1. "Evernote - free resource that is invaluable for teachers and students" - TL Advisor Blog, Tech and Learning online, David Andrade, April 4th, 2011. - Evernote is a FREE online tool that captures data from any device or operating system you may be using. This includes web pages, task lists, notes, things written on SMARTboards. I use it on my laptop and my Droid and I love it.

2. "Inventing your Technology Future" - Blue Skunk Blog, Doug Johnson, April 3rd, 2011. - An excerpt from a book Doug is writing aimed at the technologically-reluctant teacher giving these individuals a map to follow to meet the needs of students. Guess what... we can help too!

3. "RSAnimate - Changing Education Paradigms" - Diigo, Best content in Diigo in Educaiton, Posted Sunday April 3rd, 2011. - This is a fantastic animated lecture given by Sir Ken Robinson about changing the way education is viewed and administered.

LM-NET Post of the Week: - It looks like the Regents Advisory Council wants to plan for libraries after all!

- From: DLD <DLD@mail.nysed.gov>

Date: Thu, Mar 24, 2011 at 4:18 PM Subject: [NYLINE] Regents Advisory Council on Libraries Seeks Input for New Statewide Plan by Wednesday April 20, 2011 To: NYLINE@listserv.nysed.gov

March 24, 2011

Regents Advisory Council on Libraries Seeks Input for New Statewide Plan

Jeffrey W. Cannell, Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Education, New York State Education Department announced today that the Regents Advisory Council on Libraries (RAC) is inviting broad input from the library and education communities to inform development of a new statewide plan for library services. The New York State Board of Regents has challenged RAC to develop and recommend to the Board a 2020 vision for library services and an innovative plan for ensuring the greatest access to information for all New Yorkers.

RAC would like individuals and groups within the library and education communities to provide input on and also identify key issues. Ten key issue questions are posted on the RAC website at http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/ libdev/adviscns/rac/input.htm. All comments, suggestions, insights, ideas and recommendations are welcome.

Please send responses and suggestions by Wednesday April 20, 2011 to: NYSLRegComments@mail.nysed. gov. Please clearly identify the group or individual responding and indicate a primary contact person in case someone needs to follow-up for clarification or additional information.

“ I am asking that all those interested in improving library services for New Yorkers take the time to discuss and reply to the ten questions posed by RAC as part of this statewide planning process,” said Cannell. “The New York State Board of Regents has asked RAC to take a visionary look at the future of library services and to develop a set of innovative policy recommendations to improve library services to the people of New York State.”

Some of the topics that RAC will address as part of the new statewide plan include:

Equitable library service for all New Yorkers; Projections of service needs in 2020 and beyond; Organization and relationship of libraries and library systems; Financial support for libraries and library systems; Role of the New York State Library and State Education Department in leading and supporting new directions for library services; and

Visibility and public awareness of libraries and library systems, as a source of lifelong learning and enrichment.

In 2000, the Regents adopted Meeting the Needs of All New Yorkers: Library Service in the New Century, http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/ rcols/finalrpt.htm, the current plan for statewide library services. It has been over 10 years since that plan was enacted and adopted as statewide policy for libraries by the Board of Regents. A draft status report on implementation of the 2000 statewide plan is posted at http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/ rcols/2010.htm.

The Regents Advisory Council on Libraries works with the officers of the State Education Department in developing a comprehensive statewide library and information policy, and makes recommendations to the Regents concerning the implementation of the program. The Council is broadly representative of libraries and statewide constituencies served by the New York State Library. For more information about the Regents Advisory Council, visit the State Library’s website at: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/ libdev/adviscns/rac/index.html.

Any questions about the RAC 2020 Vision Process and this call for input may be sent to John Hammond, Chair, RAC 2020 Vision Planning Taskforce at john@nnyln.org or to Bridget Quinn-Carey, Chair, Regents Advisory Council on Libraries at quinncarey@hotmail.com.

Gems for Week of March 27th:

From PLN:

1. "Positive Interactions" - Blue Skunk Blog, Doug Johnson, March 27, 2011. - A great idea, more for elementary and middle school librarians, where you as the school librarian call a parent a day of a student you had a positive interaction with to spread the word about your library.

2. "iPads vs. Netbooks for a 1:1 Program" - TL Advisor Blog, Tech and Learning online, Ben Gray, March 25th, 2011. - My cousin and his wife were up from Georgia for my other cousin's wedding last week. She's an "Instructional Coach" or assistant principal as we call them here in NY, and was discussing how next year her district is looking into starting a 1:1 program and is deciding between either Netbooks or iPads. So, this is happening, maybe not here in NY, but in other parts of the country.

3 "On Librarians and Point Guards" - NeverEndingSearch Blog, School Library Journal Website, Joyce Valenza, March 27th, 2011. - A great post from Joyce about managing the floor space of the largest instructional space in the school building utilizing the skills of a great point guard. It is an excellent read.

LM-NET Post of the Week: -An interesting post on gaming, something that will probably become a bigger part of all libraries.

Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:14:17 +0200 From: Jennie <jennieteacher@GMAIL.COM> Subject: TAR: Educational Gaming (MMPORPG)?

Does anyone have a recent list of MMPORPG (Massively Multi Player Online Role Playing Games)? Runescape is one example. I don't think World of Warcraft is being used in education... yet.

Anyone using these now? What are some educational outcomes you are reaching for?

Thanks,

Jennie Scott-McKenzie EY-12 Library Media Specialist International School of Belgrade, Serbia jennieteacher@gmail.com

http://twitter.com/ jennieteacher http://schoolzandtoolz. blogspot.com http://librarydigs.blogspot. com http://www.webucation.piczo. com

Gems for Week of March 20th:

From PLN:

1. "Pursuing the Perfect Pathfinder Platform" - NeverEndingSearch Blog, School Library Journal Website, Joyce Valenza, March 18th, 2011. - A post with a link to Joyce's article on her pursuit of the perfect pathfinder platform as well as examples of the pathfinder's she created using various online tools.

2. "New Report Details Childrens' Media Consumption" - eSchool News, Jenna Zwang, March 16th, 2011. - An interesting article showing how much exposure children from various backgrounds have to various types of media.

3. "Who Among Us is Explicitly Tasked with Helping Children Learn To Teach Themselves?" - 2Cents Worth Blog, David Warlick, March 19th, 2011. - A fantastic post about how crucial our role as a school librarian is to helping students learn to be independent learners.

LM-NET Post of the Week: - A cool video about how to get students, in this case elementary students, to do research without just copying information.

Date:Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:26:22 +0100 From: "Russo, Margaret, Ms., CIV, OSD/DoDEA-Europe" <Margaret.Russo@EU.DODEA.EDU> Subject: ELEM: Excellent Video on "Research Without Copying"

Follow the link for an excellent video on creating research projects that encourage higher level thinking skills (from Tech4Learning):

http://connect.tech4learning. com/video/research-without- copying

(Note: the video is fairly long and does take some time to buffer)

Websites Mentioned in the Video:

http://nancypolette.com/ handouts/2003_07.html
 * "Research Without Copying" Ideas:

http://nancypolette.com/ handouts/2003_05b.html
 * Research Report Literature Models:

Nancy Polette: http://www.amazon.com/Stop- Copying-Wacky-Research- Projects/dp/1591586968/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid= 1300716280&sr=8-1-spell
 * Stop the Copying with Wild and Wacky Research Projects by

"This is a fresh and appealing approach to teaching upper elementary and middle school students how to present their research creatively and without plagiarism. Polette's premise is that by changing the way students present their work, they are forced to think about the information they find and assess it critically and independently rather than just regurgitating it. The author uses Ripley's-style "Believe-it-or-not" fact tidbits as a hook and offers unusual and creative presentation formats, such as cinquains, acrostic poems, quizzes, and graphic organizers. Each section is organized around a theme: food, transportation, medicine, crime, presidents, unusual people in history, unexplained events, etc. Each thematic part concludes with a list of literature resources. The bizarre facts that Polette has discovered, and the interesting options she offers for presenting researching, are guaranteed to make the SLMS the favorite teacher in the school."-School Library Journal What are your best research lesson plans and ideas? What are creative "end products" that you have used successfully? How do you encourage teachers to plan higher-order research projects for their students? I will post a HIT with all of our best ideas. Margaret Russo

Information Specialist

Sigonella Elementary School

Sicily, Italy

Margaret.russo@eu.dodea.edu

Gems for Week of March 13th:

From PLN:

1. "Top 10 Alternatives to YouTube" - TL Advisor Blog, David Kapuler, March 13th, 2011. - A nice blog post where with a link to the homepage of each resource which you can use instead of always depending on YouTube.

2. "Salman Khan: Let's use video to reinvent education" - Best content in Diigo in Education, posted by Mary Beth Messner, March 14th, 2011. - This link actually brings you to the video posted on TED. It's about how Salman has used video instruction to great results first with his cousins and then with students. It's about 20 minutes long, so, if you don't have the time to watch it in whole you can always watch in parts.

3. "Let's Abuse Government Data!" - The Tech Savvy Educator, Ben Rimes, March 10th, 2011. - A cool article on how we as teachers can use government data to help students draw conclusions or support arguments for research.

LM-NET Post of the Week: Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2011 18:14:42 -0400 From: Connie Welch <cwelch@SOFTHOME.NET> Subject: Hit: "Stand alone (no collaboration) library classes for 8th grade"

- This post has a bunch of great ideas for stand alone classes with 8th graders to teach important library and research skills.

Responses seem to have stopped so here is the hit to my target asking for "stand alone (no collaboration) library classes for 8th grade". I got some really helpful ideas, and I am very grateful to: Kristine, Rosanne, Janet, Pamela, Mary, Patti, Marie, Greg, Vicki, Janelle, Teresa, Neilann, DeAndra, Amanda, Sharon, Diane, and Lisa. You are a very generous group, and I never feel alone when you are around! Thank you.

The classes were reading Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry. So I showed information about Mildred Taylor from Teacher Tube and read aloud Gold Cadillac. Last week I pulled novels having to do with race relations and they did some speed dating. About half of the books were checked out, so I'd say that was a success. Next week? I have until Thursday to figure that out!

<I have enough projects for 1/2 the class - the other half of the class stays with the teacher to work on revisions or some other small group activity

Each week for a series of 6-8 weeks - I make sure each student does one project from a different resource (almanac, database, atlas, encyclopedia, non-fiction book, etc.)

< If you have access to an interactive board I would consider setting up Jeopardy games, and other gaming. For no tech you can bring in origami paper and have group leader, magic, chess, board games.

Book speed-dating: students sit at tables with a pile of books in the middle. They choose one book and spend 2-3 minutes reading and evaluating it, then have 1-2 minutes to write a brief evaluation focused on whether they would like to read that book or not. Then they switch books and do it again. If I had more time, I also might add a chance for them to share with their tablemates about their favorite, or to share with students from different tables.

- Library catalog: I demo using some advanced features of the library catalog (ours has ways to drill down after your initial search to get to something that fits your interest better), then have students pair up (because I only have enough computers for half the class) and use a genre for their search terms, then use the advanced features to find something that fits their interest better

<And with minimal input from the teacher, I often try to put together booktalks that relate to what they're covering in the classroom - eg booktalking verse novels when they're working on poetry, choosing a theme and booktalking a set of books that share that theme when they're talking about theme, reading the first page of books with a strong mood and/or tone and asking the students to describe the mood/tone of that first page, etc.

<Have them use thesaurus to change a nursery rhyme.

I have a lesson that I do with 5th graders. They might have fun doing it if you tell them they will get to PUBLISH online and have people guess what nursery rhyme it is. Or make a book for younger kids... I have a lesson for it, if you'd like.

I do it in a 40 min. class with 5th graders in pairs, so 8th graders could do their own....

Let me know if you want the lesson, it has smartboard and all.

GREAT for lang. arts!

<Do you have access to computers? Pick five topics they might be interested in and let them each choose one of these topics and find three reputable sources -- have them fill out checklists for credibility, accuracy, reliability, timeliness, scope, etc. -- whatever you routinely use at your school.

No computers? Print off pages form six or eight websites, some solid & reputable (but not mainstream) and some less reputable (but with solid appearance, and let students do same checklist as above.

Do they already know how to do proper citations? If so have them create citation for one of these sources they found. Don't know how to do citations yet, let them work together in groups of two or three to figure out how, using a template you provide. (You will teach them later, hopefully with NoodleBib or some other great tool, but see how well they can do on their own. Have a bag of candy on hand to reward success.

Want to have some fun? Quickly re-introduce them to almanacs, encyclopedias, Opposing Viewpoints style books in non-fiction collection, other print reference you deem necessary then split group into teams. Half the teams can use computers (limit one or two to a group), and the other half print reference. Give them questions to answer with requirement that answers must come from reputable sources (not wikipedia). First group with answers and rough citation wins. Split class / randomize questions to groups to assure students don't fight over same resources. Can do one question at a time or whole list of questions. If computer kids struggle, you can give them hints, but goal is to remind them that print resources serve a solid purpose.

No, I have never done these lessons exactly. These were the first couple thoughts that came to mind. I just recently graduated with MLS, but they both seem like do-able 30-minute lessons that help students without them realizing they are working too hard. I assure you, after working as a TA in a high school library for four years, students can never have too much practice finding information, verifying value of that information and citing it properly.

<Have you done something with them on award winning books- or banned books? I use PowerPoint presentations to go over these topics. They were really interested in the banned books!

<What about the tools that are available for book selection? How to use the online catalog to find books like another, bibliographic information for citation purposes, where to find book trailers, good TEEN (YA) websites for suggested reading. I have gone into 8th grade classrooms and done a quick lesson on all of the online things out there to assist kids in finding the right book. I will also send the link to my Reading Recommendation page on our library wiki.

http://lopezlibrary. wikispaces.com/Reading+ Recommendations

Another thought would be to show them some of the visual vocabulary sites, seems like the 8th graders are always working on vocab in all of their subject areas and have little projects to do. I show our 8th graders Wordle so that they can incorporate it into their tool box of project ideas.

http://lopezprofessionals. wikispaces.com/Vocabulary+ Development

Finally, what about some Netiquette types of information?

<Maybe some booktalks to encourage reading for pleasure.

This would be a great time to show book trailers from the Scholastic web site http://www2.scholastic.com/ browse/video.jsp?pID= 1640149541&bcpid=1640149541& bclid=1557820328&bctid= 1688353472

or from http://booktrailersforall.com or from other sites you know. Turn off the lights, turn on the LCD, and enjoy.

<Try this site--I haven't used plans for 8th grade, but they are here so just check and see if it is something you can use.

Hope it helps!

http://hcps2.hanover.k12.va. us/instruction/media/ LessonPlanBook.htm

<I love doing scavenger hunts. They work in teams, look up the books they need on the computer and the first ones to find all the books wins.

I usually have unique lists for each class if I don't have time to reshelve in between. You could do simple questions or harder ones.

Simple: Find a book written by Roland Smith

Harder: Find a book written by the author of Tentacles.

Harder still: Find a non-fiction book that helps you understand a book written by Roland Smith. <Spine Poetry http://100scopenotes.com/2010/ 03/12/poetry-friday-book- spine-poem-gallery/ I make the kids put the books back where they found them. <I show videos from Youtube on QR Codes, show book trailers, do a lesson on being a good online citizen- show examples of students who have gotten in trouble for things they have done online. Talk about digital footprints and how to be safe online. These are the kinds of lessons that I do when a class comes in. The students seem to enjoy. <I'd suggest something on cybersafety/cyberbullying as it's an important topic for them to be introduced to. <I usually do this with 7th graders, but close enough. Index Bingo. I also do it with the science class, but you could adapt it for English. I'm realizing most middle schoolers don't know how to use a print index, especially a multi-volume index. Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks again and God bless, Connie W. Welch, Librarian OLPH School Grove City, OH cwelch@softhome.net "The man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them" -- Mark Twain

Gems for Week of March 6th:

From PLN:

1. "A Student's Voice about Technology & Learning: Interview with Shantanu Bala" - TL Advisor Blog, Shelley Terrell, March 7th, 2011. - An interesting article about learning from students about what works and what doesn't work with students.

2. "My big duh (and Partick Larkin on reinventing PD)" - NeverEndingSearch blog, Joyce Valenza, March 6th, 2011. - An entertaining post by Joyce about effective professional development and a video on how professional development should be in the future.

3. "Interactive NETS*S Wikispaces" - Best content in Diigo in Education, Jeffrey Heil, March 6th, 2011. - A great wiki that has a ton of resources on how to create lessons based on the NETS standards.

LM-NET Post of the Week: I think this is a really great Animoto idea. Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2011 14:13:11 -0600 From: Analine Johnson <analine.johnson@GMAIL.COM> Subject: FaceMyBook -New Animoto Idea to Share

I have received some great e-mail about the 'Bibliovids' so the gears are spinning and I thought it would be a great idea to have the students create an Animoto of their favorite books. You can feature a new kid every week, post it on the campus homepage and OPAC and announce this week's featured video favorites are by (name of student) on the PA system. I bet that would get more kids pumped about reading and generate loads of interest. It might even inspire parents to come in with their PK and Kinder kids. The student would take ownership of their reading,. It would act as Shelfari for them, they would be using technology and cameras to take pictures of the covers, and so on and so forth. And the beauty is that it is so simple.

What would you call it? I'm open to ideas. 'FaceMYBook' video?

If you try it out let me know I would love to see how it goes!

-- Analine Johnson Library Media Specialist Rodolfo C. Centeno Elementary Laredo, Texas 78046 ajohnsont@unitedisd.org http://centeno.edublogs.org

Gems for Week of February 27th:

1. "Developing a Technology Vision Statement" - TL Advisor Blog, "Guest Blogger", February 27th, 2011. - An interesting blog posting on how a group of educators wrote their technology vision statement for 6th-12th grade students.

2. "An Idea That's Reaching its Time" - 2cents Worth, David Warlick, February 27th, 2011. - David's perspective on how QR codes will be entering the educational landscape sooner than later. These are the codes that can be read by smartphone cameras, many of which middle and high school students have, that allow content to be downloaded onto the individual's phone. They have been extremely popular in Japan for about 5 years.

3. "iPads in Schools" - Diigo in Education Group, Jeffrey Heil, February 28th, 2011. - A cool LiveBinder with how iPad's can be used in various educational situations.

4. LM-NET Post of the Week - This post is about resources teachers can use to combat the growing problem of cyberbullying. Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2011 11:32:46 -0500 From: Jessica Wismar Subject: HIT: HS cyberbullying videos

Happy Monday!

Here are some of the responses I have received in regard to cyeberbullying videos and materials to use with HS students:

http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=fNumIY9D7uY

http://digizen.org/resources/ cyberbullying/films/uk/lfit- film.aspx

http://www.netsmartz.org/ Educators

http://k12bullyprevention. wikispaces.com/

http://www.netvouz.com/tg2lls/ folder/3992064175409463673/ Librarian+Tools+Information+ Literacy+Teaching+Tools+ Internet+Safety+Materials

Gems for Week of February 20th:

1. "10 Ways Technology Supports 21st Century Learners in Being Self-Directed" - TL Advisor Blog, Lisa Nielsen, February 21st, 2011. - The author gives us 10 different tools to utilize with students to get them to take control of their education. Most of them we as SLMS's know and use most of these tools.

2. "Ten great sources of free teacher resources" - eSchool News, Jenna Zwang, February 18th, 2011. - Another list article where the author promotes free resources teachers can use to connect with educators across the country and the world.

3. "AASL 2010 Best Websites for Teaching and Learning" - AASL Best Websites for Teaching and Learning Committee. - Finally, here is the link to the AASL 2010 Best Websites for Teaching and Learning. It is set up using LiveBinders.

Gems for Week of February 13th:

1. "A Scary Reality" - Tech and Learning TL Advisor Blog, Ben Gray, February 11th, 2011. - An interesting article which shows how little some parents know about their child's online activity.

2. "Workshop Teachers Educators How To Use Social Media" - ASCD SmartBrief, February 11th, 2011. - California educators attended a workshop last week to become educated on the various forms of social media. Isn't this something we should be able to do in house for our colleagues?

3. "Drill Down: Mobile Devices in Education" - THE Journal via Diigo Groups, February 11th, 2011. - Interesting graph about various feelings on the use of mobile devices in the classroom.

Gems for Week of February 6th:

1. "PBS Film Considers Technology's Role in 21st Century Learning" - School Library Journal website, Lauren Barack, February 8th, 2011. - Looks like an interesting documentary where the purpose of the film conveys the failings of the standardized testing framework our educational system is built around and how technology and digital tools can help kids understand and learn more effectively. Pretty much this sounds like "The School Librarian's Guide to Education".

2. "Wanna Be a Superhero?" - NeverEndingSearch Blog, Joyce Valenza, January 27th, 2011. - I think that this idea is something that will get students involved in supporting their school library. 4 school librarians will be chosen to become superhero's and will be put onto a customized lunchbox given away at the ALA conference in New Orleans. This would be my dream come true.

3. "3 Ways to Use Worlde for More Than Fluff" - Tech Savvy Educator, Ben Rimes, February 8th, 2011. - The author discusses his reasoning for utilizing Worlde, a fantastic Web 2.0 tool, to improve student writing, compare messages in speeches, books or other forms of writing and as a way to engage visual learners.