There were three major projects in this class. The first involved a partner and I exploring a Web 2.0 technology, Facebook. We collaborated on part of a class wiki to contribute information, explain how to use this technology in an educational setting and developed a tutorial using Jing to explain its use (other members of the class were assigned different Web 2.0 technologies). Just doing the wiki was a new experience for me. I can see definite educational uses for collaborating on projects and contributing to learning as a social process.
Another project involved website evaluation. Using various evaluation tools and input from two other adults, I synthesized various aspects of a real website. In completing this project, I learned how much I have to do on my own library website! Information learned will help me as I continue to develop my web presence.
A final project in this class was a collaborative technology project of our choosing. Two gals and I explored the databases we currently have at my school. We put together a wiki with screenshots (we tried using Jing tutorials but district technology would not support this nor could the wiki support such large files) so that I can share this information with the staff and students at my school. I will be presenting at an upcoming faculty meeting.
In this course I learned that there are soooo many new technologies out there. I was asked to join a good number of them that I will probably never use again. The exposure was still good though, so that if any of my staff is interested in using them, I will at least be somewhat familiar.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Reflective Comments-Motivation and Information Literacy-SU Course 663
Learning how to creatively motivate students while teaching information literacy skills was a key component of this course. In addition, creating motivational goals and assessing such motivational techniques was addressed as well. While learning objectives are, many times, easily assessed, motivational goals are not necessarily as easy to evaluate.
Learning about how to motivate students is important so that students stay engaged and involved in their learning. Activities such as brainstorming, games and using technology are all highly motivating. Giving students choices in which project to create and presentation methods for a project helps to increase attention, relevance, confidence and satisfaction (ARCS model).
The IMPACT model was also introduced in this course. This models increases information motivation through providing purpose, knowing the audience, and including appropriate and interesting content through motivational techniques. Keeping these items in mind when creating lessons plans is of the utmost importance.
Learning about how to motivate students is important so that students stay engaged and involved in their learning. Activities such as brainstorming, games and using technology are all highly motivating. Giving students choices in which project to create and presentation methods for a project helps to increase attention, relevance, confidence and satisfaction (ARCS model).
The IMPACT model was also introduced in this course. This models increases information motivation through providing purpose, knowing the audience, and including appropriate and interesting content through motivational techniques. Keeping these items in mind when creating lessons plans is of the utmost importance.
Reflective Comments-Information Resources: Users and Services-SU Course 605
References service and resources were the main focus of this course. Topics also discussed included reader's advisory and reference service evaluation. Different types of reference queries and reference interviews were examined. An interview with a reference librarian and five hours of observation at a reference desk were completed and brought insight into various types reference work. A lesson plan involving reference skills was created.
Projects in this course involved extensively examining on-line and print resources. Researching these resources required analyzing aspects such as. scope, coverage, and reliability. In depth study of databases was extremely useful to me as I will be studying my school's databases, deciding whether or not to keep them and examining other available databases to see if they are a good fit for our building and its curriculum.
Readers' advisory, also a component of reference work, involves providing a patron with suitable materials appropriate to their wants and needs. There are numerous resources available both on-line and in database format to assist a librarian with this. Using such resources assists the librarian with this important task.
Projects in this course involved extensively examining on-line and print resources. Researching these resources required analyzing aspects such as. scope, coverage, and reliability. In depth study of databases was extremely useful to me as I will be studying my school's databases, deciding whether or not to keep them and examining other available databases to see if they are a good fit for our building and its curriculum.
Readers' advisory, also a component of reference work, involves providing a patron with suitable materials appropriate to their wants and needs. There are numerous resources available both on-line and in database format to assist a librarian with this. Using such resources assists the librarian with this important task.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Reflective Comments-Literacy Through School Libraries-SU Course 668
The bulk of this course consisted of three major projects and numerous intriguing articles. The first project involved interviewing various school faculty members (principal, teacher librarian and teacher) in order to discover their views on the image of teacher librarians and their roles in assisting students on the road to life long learning. Discoveries made included some not so positive understandings of the profession. Teacher librarians definitely need to promote themselves and their programs within the school atmosphere. While most building faculty members think teacher librarians are important, they have little comprehension of collaborating with them and utilizing their many skills.
The second project in this course was a group project consisting of planning a pseudo family literacy event. While working with a group via the long distance format was challenging, accomplishing this task proved to be successful. Actually, in my new position, I will be able to use some of the concepts discovered throughout the duration of this project as I embark on planning a similar type of event.
The final project for Literacy Through School Libraries involved planning a collaborative unit and locating resources to enhance it. This was a practical application which related to student learning in the form in which information literacy skills are best taught-as needed and in a way in which students can make connections to curriculum.
One of the articles read for this course described aliteracy. This concept involves people/students who know how to read but choose not to. The author stated that aliteracy is becoming more and more prevalent in our society. This is a major concern for teacher librarians. We need to work even harder to promote reading to the students for which we have charge. In addition, we need to encourage any kind of reading, including graphic novels, information reading and Internet surfing that involves comprehension.
The second project in this course was a group project consisting of planning a pseudo family literacy event. While working with a group via the long distance format was challenging, accomplishing this task proved to be successful. Actually, in my new position, I will be able to use some of the concepts discovered throughout the duration of this project as I embark on planning a similar type of event.
The final project for Literacy Through School Libraries involved planning a collaborative unit and locating resources to enhance it. This was a practical application which related to student learning in the form in which information literacy skills are best taught-as needed and in a way in which students can make connections to curriculum.
One of the articles read for this course described aliteracy. This concept involves people/students who know how to read but choose not to. The author stated that aliteracy is becoming more and more prevalent in our society. This is a major concern for teacher librarians. We need to work even harder to promote reading to the students for which we have charge. In addition, we need to encourage any kind of reading, including graphic novels, information reading and Internet surfing that involves comprehension.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Reflective Comments-Intro. to the Library and Information Profession-SU Course 511-Day 5
As the final day of "Boot Camp" approached, I found myself reflecting on the week as a whole. Though tired, exhausted and stretched to the maximum, many new concepts were internalized and network connections created (and hopefully these will be lasting). Discoveries made that I deem especially essential to my new position include learning about Creative Commons and the Librarian's Index to the Internet. OWL might also be helpful to me as a new librarian in that it contains powerpoints useful for teaching research skills (which will hopefully be taught in collaboration with classroom instructors). I anticipate using the Web of Science as I pursue finishing my coursework.
I must take this opportunity to comment on the value of collective intelligence and the power of collaboration. Although evidence of the educational aspects of social learning has been around for some time, seeing this in action this week has really proven to me that these concepts are indeed powerful. Learning this week occurred not only in the formal classroom but in small group situations. Working together to achieve a common goal brings together the positive attributes of each unique member and creates powerful ideas and products not likely to have been produced by one individual alone.
Finally, a common theme seemed to be wound throughout each lecture, project and discussion-serving patrons. Providing useful resources and information, whether to meet information or aesthetic needs is what our common goal as librarians is, no matter what facet of librarianship one is involved in. Libraries of today, as mentioned by one of today's speakers (JudyDzikowski, OCM Boces), are not "shushing" places. They are active and constantly moving forward in order to meet the needs of the patrons. As a school librarian, I will strive to make this happen in my building. I will see every student in the building and be a role model as I assist students in becoming life-long learners in this information-rich environment!
I must take this opportunity to comment on the value of collective intelligence and the power of collaboration. Although evidence of the educational aspects of social learning has been around for some time, seeing this in action this week has really proven to me that these concepts are indeed powerful. Learning this week occurred not only in the formal classroom but in small group situations. Working together to achieve a common goal brings together the positive attributes of each unique member and creates powerful ideas and products not likely to have been produced by one individual alone.
Finally, a common theme seemed to be wound throughout each lecture, project and discussion-serving patrons. Providing useful resources and information, whether to meet information or aesthetic needs is what our common goal as librarians is, no matter what facet of librarianship one is involved in. Libraries of today, as mentioned by one of today's speakers (JudyDzikowski, OCM Boces), are not "shushing" places. They are active and constantly moving forward in order to meet the needs of the patrons. As a school librarian, I will strive to make this happen in my building. I will see every student in the building and be a role model as I assist students in becoming life-long learners in this information-rich environment!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Reflective Comments-Intro. to the Library and Information Profession-SU Course 511-Day 4
Speakers during today's lecture spoke on a topic very relevant for me-library space. Key takeaways that I picked up on were: make your library a welcoming space, patron service is a key concept, time and money are factors to be considered and the library space is dynamic. Additional comments specifically made by Tina Nabinger from Minoa Elementary that caused me to reflect included the following: take into consideration the culture of the building (a must!), boring and uncomfortable is out and make sure to address faculty needs as well when designing the library space. These are concepts will be crucial to keep in mind as I develop and renovate the library where I will be providing service.
Scott Nicholson lead a discussion that contained important issues relating to being a professional. As librarians we are role models and leaders. We are an ethical profession that others look to. There are a plethora of ethical issues that we as librarians are required to consider. It is positive that we have the Library Bill of Rights and various policies to stand upon when issues arise. Ranganathan's Laws are also available to guide us.
Our second group project and poster presentation work has gone well. We have worked well together and have accomplished individual and collaborative tasks. The collective mind is a wonderful thing! Working together under a time crunch can be successful as long as everyone contributes and is flexible. Even though it is not my style to work under such pressure and time restraints, project work for this class has made me realize that I can work under these conditions when necessary and be successful!
Scott Nicholson lead a discussion that contained important issues relating to being a professional. As librarians we are role models and leaders. We are an ethical profession that others look to. There are a plethora of ethical issues that we as librarians are required to consider. It is positive that we have the Library Bill of Rights and various policies to stand upon when issues arise. Ranganathan's Laws are also available to guide us.
Our second group project and poster presentation work has gone well. We have worked well together and have accomplished individual and collaborative tasks. The collective mind is a wonderful thing! Working together under a time crunch can be successful as long as everyone contributes and is flexible. Even though it is not my style to work under such pressure and time restraints, project work for this class has made me realize that I can work under these conditions when necessary and be successful!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Reflective Comments-Intro. to the Library and Information Profession-SU Course 511-Day 3
The day started with an introduction to library and information systems. It was interesting that even though this seems to be a "behind the scenes" type of activity it is crucial to note that systems in libraries still revolve around service orientation. Systems work involves strong communication and team work. Weak links seem to trickle down and affect each subsystem.
Speakers from this realm of the library facet commented on some key issues. Each one mentioned the importance of meeting the needs of the patrons and helping them succeed. Working in this area also demands management and project skills. In addition, all speakers mentioned learning on the job and how this was continuous (this seemed to be a common thread in speakers comments on previous days as well).
The afternoon session proved to be extremely interesting and thought provoking. Dr. Ken Lavender presented an in depth history of the book by using items in the rare books collection. He showed pieces that were 4,000 years old! David Stokoe enlightened us on topics such as conservation and preservation of resources. This knowledge was new to me and I now have a greater respect for this time consuming and detail-oriented task. Peter Verheyen elaborated on preservation of books and that the primary tasks of this group are to keep things usable and accessible.
Speakers from this realm of the library facet commented on some key issues. Each one mentioned the importance of meeting the needs of the patrons and helping them succeed. Working in this area also demands management and project skills. In addition, all speakers mentioned learning on the job and how this was continuous (this seemed to be a common thread in speakers comments on previous days as well).
The afternoon session proved to be extremely interesting and thought provoking. Dr. Ken Lavender presented an in depth history of the book by using items in the rare books collection. He showed pieces that were 4,000 years old! David Stokoe enlightened us on topics such as conservation and preservation of resources. This knowledge was new to me and I now have a greater respect for this time consuming and detail-oriented task. Peter Verheyen elaborated on preservation of books and that the primary tasks of this group are to keep things usable and accessible.
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