Lions, and Tigers, and Bears, Oh My! (Wizard of OZ)
[I had Pics but they wouldn't load:( ]
How will we sort through all the social media possibilities that are around? It's a jungle out there - so much is unknown - plants, animals, smells, and the whole environment. What about the safety issue? I wouldn't know what plants or critters could harm me. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have the experience but with a guide. Are our students today more adventurous? Are they willing to put themselves into potentially dangerous situations? Social networking can be like that jungle as there is so much to discover in Web 2.0.
I'd like to visit one little corner of the Web 2.0 jungle - the one that looks at social networking with more of a student applicable approach. If I break down some of the many social networking opportunities - and there are many - according to Wikipedia there are 155 so far. To understand it better, we must consider micro-blogging.
Micro-Blogging Basics
Micro-blogging is a term described by Wikipedia as "a form of blogging that allows users to write brief text updates (usually less than 200 characters) and publish them, either to be viewed by anyone or by a restricted group which can be chosen by the user". 10 Micro-Blogging Tools also mentions that Twitter is an open platform base where third party developers can build on top of it. That really makes it interactive and evolving. Let's look at a couple of choices but with a focus - what is educationally sound about social media applications and how they can be used in a school setting. In other words, how can I use these tools to make it real for the students at school?
Facebook
We are familiar with Facebook in the personal setting. Or at least our students are familiar with spending time on Facebook. Users can add friends, send them messages, and update their personal profiles to notify friends about themselves. Users can also join networks organized by location and school for example. How does this relate to school use?
Facebook - Educational?
Facebook can work in the school as this study shows. Here's an example of how it has worked Stewart's Facebook and Virtual Literature Circle.... The term 'networking social scholarship' was created in virtual literature circles where students collaborated with their groups. The Chat feature of Facebook substituted for face-to-face interaction as the students were from different classes. The school librarian took "a predominantly social experience [and turned it] into a successful academic learning environment." That's one example of how Facebook works in the classroom. Let me share another.
Levinson's Schools and Facebook: Moving Too Fast or Not Fast Enough? "Facebook forces interaction and active learning. It has speed and multi-tasking wrapped into one page." In this classroom example, the students suggested taking the Facebook assignment to the next level by adding that they should "create Facebook pages for the three leaders and be required to chat, post and debate online." This shows the dynamics of incorporating student interaction. Therefore, we have to realize that "schools must address and embrace the prolific energy surrounding the Facebook age" as it will strengthen the learning our students do. We can see that Facebook can work - what about Twitter?
Twitter
Twitter (Wikipedia) is "a short burst of inconsequential information". Evan Williams, Biz Stone, and Jack Dorsey were the inventors. The first message was created March 2006 by Dorey even though the inspiration started in 2000. The application Twitter allows users to send brief texts of up to 140 characters called tweets. A problem in schools is the privacy concern. They consider that information is an asset and can sell it if the company changes hands. No good with minors involved. What else can we learn about it.
In the ebook Twitter for Beginners, by Kingston, our understanding is clarified. People tweet about --observations in life, books to read, blogs to read, humour is shared, inspirating thoughts, professional news, resource links to share, workdate details, business issues and challenges, and follow families (p.6). Here are three components I didn't know before - friends (you follow and they follow you back), fans (people who follow you), and inspiration (you follow but they don't follow back)p.14. Did you know you can manage your stats? You can even access Twitter by cell phones. It certainly claims to do a lot.
How Twitter works
Here's a little bit the language needed to join the twitterworld. Here are some tips from social networking guru Male's. His "Twitter 101" suggests some of the lingo to know: tweets, replies, retweets, hastags, twooshes, direct messages, tweetups. Here are a couple: @(username) = a reply and retweets - "RT@(username)" are used when you refer to another tweet and give the person credit. (Others will presented elsewhere in this post.)
With any online presence, manners are in order. Here are some Twitter suggestions.
Twitter Etiquette: Five Dos and Don'ts by Lynch Twittequette is a set of unwritten guidelines — or etiquette — that dictates good (or bad) behaviour on the service. The five things are:
1. How to follow and un-follow people
2. Be up front about your twitter aspirations
3. Be personal (to a point)
4. Reciprocate gracefully
5. Use the direct message correctly
With this being primarily a writing medium, here are some writing tips. Twitter Tips: How to Write Better Tweets by Lynch, talks about writing is essential because it's short it needs to be written well. Seven steps to writing a successful Twitter headline - guidelines: "keep it short, no puns, use keywords, use hashtags, don't consolidate stories (one tweet per story), link directly to story (not home page), and don't use subheads." What about the rest of the writing? I certainly don't know the terminology so here's a 'dictionary' of twitterspeak.
Connections with Classrooms and Professionals
The theory behind the program sounds good in cyberspace, but how does it translate into my classroom? To begin with Barack's Tweens All a Twitter clarifies a point about students: "as anyone who interacts regularly with teens knows, email is no longer the preferred way of communicating. Too old school for them. The hip way is to chat now? Tweeting--basically, posting text messages online." It's like getting "little teaser messages".
How can we take these small bits and work with them? Here's a connection we can use with our teens, Twitterlit--"this site provides the first line from selected books, then links to the titles on Amazon." I like this blended application.
Valenza's twitter offered this link to Brogan's A Brief and Informal Twitter Etiquette Guide. This compilation of suggestions for twitter users is a great example of how colaboration works.
English teachers can appreciate this article by Bell, What's All This Noise About Twitter?. Ever heard of microstories? This is Twitter Fiction and it sounds like fun. The trick is to write a short (VERY short) story in just 140 characters, Twitter Fiction . Have your students share them online (or not if you're blocked.) People are using Twitter for haiku too. Another site to try is Twitter Poetry. There certainly are some practical possibilities.
This is interesting how the adults are utilizing social networks. Professionals are using Twitter to keep in touch at conferences as Working the Social: Twitter... by Carscaddon and Harris shows. "The service is eminently customizable", depending on how many followers you choose to include in your stream, you can use Twitter "to get the play-by-play of conference updates remotely, or keep tabs on any of a number of ongoing topics of interest." It's great to see this useful application.
What's happening with library uses? Harris suggests having Tweets at Your Library. Here's to taking twittering to the extreme by summarizing this to 128 words: "Micro-content is a new form of writing that captures and transmits the essence of ideas in short, rapid bursts of information". Keep it short and simple. He mentions using micro-content to send out short daily messages about program highlights, new resources or book recommendations.
In King's blog - Twitter Explained for Librarians, 10 ways to use twitter , it offers: stay in touch, use private messages, keep up-to-date with emerging tools, news updates, follow conferences, instant response, job prospects, check out colleagues twitter feeds, send yourself notes, and awareness for current happenings. That sounds reasonable; it's this next one I have questions about.
In Bradley's blog - Using Twitter in Libraries, some things just don't make sense. I can ask questions, and identify experts in the field, - I get that. For these following suggestions, I'm not so sure.
- Hours of operation - Does it change? -Mine doesn't.
- Add new resources - I wouldn't be able to keep up with it
- General info - It doesn't change & it would be on the blog.
- Countdown for events - That could get monotonous.
- Linking to images - Again, use the blog
- News feeds - Will people really check it that often in my small community?
Just a note of observation, the libraries that are using twitter seem to have a larger base following them - public libraries, post-secondary level. I'm not sure if this use of Twitter applies to my school setting.
To Twitter or Facebook - That is the Question
[I purposely didn't include Facebook in my Social Networking post knowing I would compare them here.]
Both Facebook and Twitter are widely being used, so how would you compare these social networking services? Is one better than the other? Can one be applied in schools to make it real? Can I see incorporating them into my program?
U of Calgary's Wiki, Twitter - Next Facebook or Fad? looks at a comparison between the two.
Twitter:
- not as many applications and functions as Facebook.
- simpler to use as is computer friendly for novices
- not cluttered with pictures, messages and walls of Facebook
- at the peak of its popularity
- gaining recognition across the world from bloggers
- applications are being created - used to check other people's status - used to raise awareness about humanitarian issues and politics
- companies are using it for advertising. - open privacy and security is a concern as shared with third party
Not a fad from what I can see. Let's look at another perspective. Here is a quote from Impact Lab's Goliath to Twitter’s Daniel.
"Facebook has a fundamentally different relationship model than Twitter. On Facebook, you create a simple two-way friendship with someone. On Twitter, you can choose to follow someone and you can be followed, but the subsequent relationship doesn’t have to be bidirectional." Facebook revolves around more communication whereas Twitter uses the information provided. " Twitter is fast becoming the place to be to get your most updated news blurbs before it hits the mainstream media outlets." Male provided an example of this on Eluminate with the weather story in Edmonton.
These are two different social media platforms serving two different purposes - it looks like they're both here to stay. Can you see how they can intertwine?
Upsides and Downsides
Plusses - This free, quick communicative tool widely used with many applications as previously mentioned. Connects with our students to engage their learning.
Minuses - Some suggest it is too chatty, takes up too much of your time, not relevant to anything. Bell in Celebrating Communicating: Online Support Groups, suggests that online communication isn't always truthful. Here's a quote:
"I heard from a couple of users who did report problems arising from groups that did not work well for them. One person reported problems with people who misrepresented themselves and then asked for financial help from fellow users. Someone else described a group where people frequently got into heated discussions over politics, religion, and other issues."
Another consideration considers the emotional aspect. "Some people seem a little clubby, with inside jokes and comments, causing you to feel left out." A lot of those feelings will recede after you have been part of the community for a while, they suggest. And if the feeling persists, stop following them.
Here's a concern I have about truncating URL's. In the past we could truncate a url to find the source (if it was a bad link) - now, how will we be able to accomplish the same feat wit this truncated version of an original URL? What about citing tweets? That will be a challenge and be longer than the quote was in the first place - my goodness.
Twittering on a Limb in the Jungle
With a Twitter account under my belt - I headed off into the wilds of Twitterland. My start was slow as I seemed to get stopped right away. I signed up all my classmates only to find half of them following - not much to go on. I went looking for people but unless you know what name they're using it can be difficult. I decided to send out a few tweets.
I looked into adding a Tweetdeck. You can share photos; manage conversations with @replies and direct messages; create groups to easily follow friends, colleagues or interest groups; follow topics in real-time; preview short URL's; manage multiple Twitter accounts; allows for TweetDeck to be backed-up; view photo thumbnails. Record, share, watch video clips; and avoid spam with a spam button. I'm not a heavy user to need all these extras. The basics are available with the original format. Since attending Mack Male's Elluminate disussion, he suggested that he didn't need the tweetdeck - so I feel justified in not downloading it either.
How can I lurk and find info on Twitter? I've not been successful initially. I looked up some librarians and added them. There was video about hashtags (# hashtag) - used to employ a category topic, so I tried that.
I watched a video on how to create hash tags. Here's Mari Smith's tutorial on Twitter Hashtags.
Was there anything you haven't seen before?
I then went to #hashtags to look up some tags to find groups - boy was that a mistake - there must be thousands of them - not much luck on my many searches. Then a tweet suggested #followalibrarian. My inital tweets found little information or they were of a business nature. So I created my own #web2middle. Can you guess what it stands for?
Next I tried Search.twitter.com - what's hapening right now? Nothing I could really use. Next step, try Twellow is a directory, search and yellow pages for Twitter - there is an education category too. So I've got a beginning - seems I'll need more time to really benefit from this application.
Mack Male's suggestion to try local people through the airport code, for me it warranted 6 tweets. Not much to go on there. I guess I won't be tweeting up with anyone. Tweetup = meeting up face-to-face with the people you've met on Twitter. It was cool to see classmates trying to Twoosh or post exactly 140 characters. And I tried some direct messaging.
I learned how to shorten URLs. This is crucial because you have to maximize your use of characters. I used Tiny URL although there are others available for free.
On GeekyMomma's Blog: Twitter in Schools; What Does it Really Look Like? I was happy to see that the link had a neighbouring school district using twitter on the Google doc spreadsheet that was presented . When I checked it out - I learned it was for voting purposes for the trustees. I guess it has a purpose, but not closely related to my uses. It's pretty neat that it was automatically updated every 5 minutes - you can't get much more current than that - a great way to collect stats. What other examples can I share?
Examples of Twittering
This tweet from a midle school T-L Twitter makes me happy:) I guess I just need more time. McEwen writes:
"I have been part of the twittersphere for two weeks. I have gained more professional development from participating in Twitter for the past two weeks than I have gained for the past year (or more) in my current role as teacher-librarian at a middle school. I follow folks who share my interests; many of whom are leaders in their field (library, web 2.0, teaching & education). I now have a database of phenomenal/highly useful websites I frequent that, if it wasn't for Twitter, I wouldn't know about. There is a lot of kinship with fellow Twitterers. We enjoy helping each other out, all you need to do is send out a Tweet. Whether you're looking for a tool, an idea, or feedback - instant feedback it one of Twitter's strengths. Like all social networking tools Twitter can be a powerful learning tool or not - it depends how you choose to use it. Don't knock it 'till you've tried it. I'm off to Tweet!"
A couple of ideas - Twitter post @followalibrarian from Laura on June 8, 2009. 5 Ways for your Library to [not] Fail at Twitter - I checked out the link and sumized - use current terminology, post a picture, link, follow and engage in conversation; and this tweet talks of how to use hashtag. - eclasper: When I do my twitter workshops I'm just going to show them how 2 search #followalibrarian tag 2 find cool librarians 2 follow.
Collect your gear the trip's over for now
Wow - there sure has been a lot to cover on this topic. Not the venue for a tweet was it? During Male's Elluminate discussion, I like how he compared Facebook, Twitter and Flickr - Facebook you need to add a friend, Twitter was open, and Flickr was optional for access. He aso compared twitter and blogs. Twitter for immediate requests and responses whereas blogs are for longer term items. For example you could gather the facts on Twitter and then write up the story later on the blog thereby giving value to both venues. That's the bottom line - they both have a place in society, but is that place in the classroom.
Will I be able to use Twitter in my classes? I'd love to say yes, but first I have to see if it's blocked ay my school - I've not tried before. How to make the learning of these tools real? I'd love to try the twitter fiction, I think the students would enjoy the cross-over. I'd also like to use it professionally and connect with others at my next conference. Do I think it will gain more momentum? It will with our students but unfortunately it will be a longer haul for our teachers - we certainly have our work cut out for us. Teachers don't have a trendy reputation - we'll have to change that.
How does the future look for social networking? Mack suggests two things: filtering will be brought to the forefront along with aggregation of feeds and location (through GPS) and mobility will become transparent. Will we be ready for this high paced change? We'll have to be or be tumbled over by it.
Sources
Barack, Lauren. (2007, October). Tweens All a Twitter. School Library Journal, 53(10), 26. Retrieved from ProQuest Education Journals. (Document ID: 1348727811). Access http://tinyurl.com/km5qv5
Bell, M.. (2008, May). What's All This Noise About Twitter? MultiMedia & Internet@Schools, 15(3), 36-38. Retrieved from ProQuest Education Journals. (Document ID: 1478071751). Access http://tinyurl.com/nvugkl
Bell, Mary Ann. (2007, July). Celebrating Communicating: Online Support Groups. MultiMedia & Internet@Schools, 14(4), 37-38. Retrieved from ProQuest Education Journals. (Document ID: 1323966281). Access http://tinyurl.com/nsmvcp
Carscaddon, Laura and Harris, Colleen. (2009, June). Working the Social: Twitter and Friendfeed. Library Journal 6/15/2009, Vol. 134 Issue 11, p24-26, 3p Access http://tinyurl.com/n3oj44
Harris, Christopher. (2007, November). Tweets at Your Library. School Library Journal, 53(11), 24. Retrieved from ProQuest Education Journals. (Document ID: 1375667231). Access http://tinyurl.com/nggjle
Stewart, P.. (2009). Facebook and Virtual Literature Circle Partnership in Building a Community of Readers. Knowledge Quest, 37(4), 28-33. Retrieved from ProQuest Education Journals. (Document ID: 1709435551). Access http://tinyurl.com/mdtjus
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Is Skype a Social Network?
[An extra post]
Skype, according to wikipedia, "is a software application that allows users to make voice calls over the Internet." Additional features include instant messaging, file transfer and video conferencing.
The official site is skype.com
Say it visually video - Sayitvisually - A simple visual explanation of Skype. You can use voice, text, files, screen, video and conference with up to 25 people. The application may not be a wide reaching as the others but the application can be applied world wide through the free download.
Sayitvisually (2009, June).
Social networking encourages communication and information sharing on the web. Facebook allows you to look for classmates - so does Skype. Both allow for IM, file sharing, and photo sharing. Skype allows for live chat - does Facebook?
Skype in Schools...Finally! from D Mitchel on Tech Talk Blog April 2, 2009. This article talks about collaborating with other teachers and looking for applications into uses at school. Facebook allows for collaboration too in the group format.
Dan Froelich's wiki on Skype in Schools lists a directory of schools participating in 2008 . Some examples of how to use include second language classes - actually speaking with classes from other countries, setting up epals and communicating with them, school trips to different countries - talk to the people you'll be visiting, geography quizzes between classes, read across the country and connecting with authors in different cities and discuss global issues with international students. Don't forget the collaboration with other teachers - you can say a lot more speaking than writing it out.
There are some downsides: having access to project Skype voices throughout the classroom; finding others to participate with (although that connection has been discussed); webcam to see and be seen by other parties; and not supported at school because of downloading, bandwidth issues, and security problems.
Have a look at 50 Awesome Ways to Use Skype in the Classroom from Teaching Degree.org Blog from June 30, 2009. There's a link to Around the World in 80 Schools.
There is Let's Skype talk On the Teacher Librarian Ning, Never Ending Search (SLJ), there has been some discussion using skype but not many have used this service.
What do you think? Is Skype a social network on a small scale?
Skype, according to wikipedia, "is a software application that allows users to make voice calls over the Internet." Additional features include instant messaging, file transfer and video conferencing.
The official site is skype.com
Say it visually video - Sayitvisually - A simple visual explanation of Skype. You can use voice, text, files, screen, video and conference with up to 25 people. The application may not be a wide reaching as the others but the application can be applied world wide through the free download.
Sayitvisually (2009, June).
Social networking encourages communication and information sharing on the web. Facebook allows you to look for classmates - so does Skype. Both allow for IM, file sharing, and photo sharing. Skype allows for live chat - does Facebook?
Skype in Schools...Finally! from D Mitchel on Tech Talk Blog April 2, 2009. This article talks about collaborating with other teachers and looking for applications into uses at school. Facebook allows for collaboration too in the group format.
Dan Froelich's wiki on Skype in Schools lists a directory of schools participating in 2008 . Some examples of how to use include second language classes - actually speaking with classes from other countries, setting up epals and communicating with them, school trips to different countries - talk to the people you'll be visiting, geography quizzes between classes, read across the country and connecting with authors in different cities and discuss global issues with international students. Don't forget the collaboration with other teachers - you can say a lot more speaking than writing it out.
There are some downsides: having access to project Skype voices throughout the classroom; finding others to participate with (although that connection has been discussed); webcam to see and be seen by other parties; and not supported at school because of downloading, bandwidth issues, and security problems.
Have a look at 50 Awesome Ways to Use Skype in the Classroom from Teaching Degree.org Blog from June 30, 2009. There's a link to Around the World in 80 Schools.
There is Let's Skype talk On the Teacher Librarian Ning, Never Ending Search (SLJ), there has been some discussion using skype but not many have used this service.
What do you think? Is Skype a social network on a small scale?
Monday, August 3, 2009
The Circus is Coming to Town!
You hear the music, you run outside to see the circus parade with elephants, jugglers, acrobats, and clowns. You can picture the bright red and yellow striped tent with the ringmaster in his top hat and tails. There are three rings set up for the entertainment - where do you watch? Is it the flying trapeze act or the lions jumping through hoops?
No, that's for the little ones - you're after the amusement park rides that are also a part of the celebrations. You wouldn't go to the amusement park by yourself though, so why would you go online to be alone? Just one of the many reasons people use the Web to connect. Whether it's for entertainment, shopping, or learning - the Internet really is a social place. Think of how many million people use the Web. In North America alone there are 250 million Internet Users World Wide Users (2009, March).
As a T-L, I'll address how I can connect and interact with Web 2.0 to have advantageous results. There is no way I can be exhaustive here, as the world is large and this blog is very small; therefore I'll limit my findings towards my situation. I looked at online networks, blogs, and articles to collect a base from where to start. Starting small and getting the hang of it seems the most realistic. Here goes.
Teacher Librarian Network - TeacherLibrarianNing Teacher Librarian Network by Joyce Valenza, was truly an eye opening place to discover. I've always known I should be connected to others in the field, but I don't know how or where to begin. This was a gem to find as it offers:
·A community for teacher-librarians and other educators
·Allows those of us to connect, teach, share, and lead in new information landscapes.
The site suggests to come play in the "exciting learning sandbox", to pose questions in the forum, to add your images and video, and to post in the blog.
I like how this site is set up with groups along the sidebar to direct you to topics of interest. Some of the group topics include: instructional technology and Web 2.0 in the Library
Web 2.0 in the Library This group is for those who wish to share about using collaborative Web 2.0 tools in their library instruction. Here we can discuss what tools we are using, make connections for collaboration, and celebrate our technological triumphs!
The layout of the site has an easy format to follow. The forums are centrally located on the page with links to who started them, how many replies there have been and who was last to post. After reading them, I decided to check out Joyce's thread on Database widgets - and Web 2.0 Tools in your catalogue. It's easy to get distracted though.
Back to the layout. It also includes videos, photos, a poll, calendar of events, T-L positions available (wow-talk about networking), podcasts, SLJ News (School Library Journal), ALA TechSource, tabs for members, photos, videos (158), forums, events, groups and blogs. There are also subheadings under each of the above tabs. The blog tab lists all the blogs and breaks them down into categories of popularity, by tag topics and then the monthly archive. I couldn't resist any longer, so I've signed up for an account.
Back to the layout again - my goodness - I've become a random reader. The pages are segregated - sort of thirds- each with a different purpose - I'm still trying to figure out how it's decided what goes where and why. As I'm reading a post along the left hand sidebar, I wonder if our writing will change do to the format in which it will be printed? In this post on Library Mashups by the Library 2.0 Gang hosted by Richard Wallis - I learned about links to Google Book Search, and WorldCat. And a link to a book and related article edited by Engard, Library Mashups: Exploring New Ways to Deliver Library which goes into more detail on how we can "share and combine digital content". I get it - it's like in real estate where it's all about location, location, location, only here it's all about connections, connections, connections. The connections are simply amazing. Ok, time is limited - move along.
National Council of Teachers of English or NCTE Inbox. This includes: news, views, and ideas you can use! It's a professional association of Educators in English Studies, Literacy, and Language Arts. The tabs offer: the current issue of inbox, standards, pro-D, meetings, action center, and online store. The right sidebar - lists the editors, tag topics, access to linked resources, archives, NCTE blogs, syndication and bookmarking service providers. When you click on the current issue - there are also announcements after the articles. In a very apropos article - Social Networking: The Ning's the Thing, it starts with an overview of what social networks are "Online, social networks connect[ing] people who share common goals or interests." Let's look into this Ning thing.
Ning (Wikipedia) is an online social network platform that allows you to create your own customized social network. The difference between Ning and FaceBook is that Ning has "the ability to customize the features to meet the needs of a specific group of people" The plusses:
·Create all groups yourself, or leave it open to members
·Approve groups, so that nothing off-topic shows up
·Approve all photos and videos before they are posted
·Delete any groups or discussions that are inappropriate
·Ban members from the network if necessary
·And reverse any of these decisions with a click of a checkbox!
If you're into stats, here's an interesting study on the different types of users and how we can attract these groups to Web 2.0 activity. Friending Libraries.
There's more out there, I can feel it.
Blue Skunk Blog by Doug Johnson's header states: Leaving readers confused at a higher level since 2005. It's nice to see some comic relief in the serious business of libraries. The tabs across the top include: Blue Skunk blog, website, contact, bio, biases, archives, endorsement policy, and Why the Blue Skunk blog? Of course I had to start with why? The name has a local meaning and misunderstandings attached to it. He's twisted, lets us know it - good, I like that. His archives are dated for a month at a time. This site is fun, entertaining and informative too.
OK on to the article Facebook: an educational resource? I like his spin on things - To give Facebook a fair shake as with anything on the Web. Its the content that's questionable not the format. Some great points are made to encourage us to use Facebook in our schools. Enough of Doug's silliness - let's move onto something more serious - Harvard.
Ed Magazine from Harvard Graduate School of Education has some great educational articles. One such article by Blanding on Thanks for the Add... Now Help Me with My Homework has implications for social networking sites to have educational potential. These Social Networking Sites (SNS), work like this, "the way they mix social interaction and schoolwork mirrors the way that office workers dive in and out of work and personal e-mail on the job -- perhaps preparing students for the real world in ways they don't even realize." This connection helps to make so much more sense to us as adults in the practical world. In the real world we don't always have time to sit and read a whole article, therefore we need to be able to connect with blogs where we can get some quick updates, find out about something new, see if our posed questions have been answered.
LibrarianinBlack by Sarah Houghton. Her header states: "Resources and discussions for the "tech-librarians-by-default" among us..." This site helps us with the technological side of things in the library. The focus is towards T-L's with computer labs. For the library site, she offers some great tips in Ten Social Networking Tips, like keeping your site current, make it look good, and have something fun on it. Suggestions are offered to make your interactive site valuable. Now for those times when more general information and networking is required, let's turn to the library on the interactive web.
Library 2.0This network is for Library 2.0 Stuff. It is for librarians and others interested in Library 2.0 and is hosted by Bill Drew. The tabs consist of : my page, forum, blogs, groups, events, notes, chat, photos, and videos. Under the blog tab, there are discussions by various authors. Also listed are featured blog posts, latest, most popular, blog posts by tags, and archives. The events and recent activity are also posted on the right sidebar. Some of the groups of interest include: a School Library group, Training 2.0, Teen Services and Library Greenies (libraries going green). There is a lot going on to check out later. There is still another network to include.
Library Network Group is the electronic meeting space for libraries and the information profession. It states: "The challenges raised by ever-changing ideas, fresh perspectives and marketplace developments are being met by us every day. The continuing need to develop techniques and skills that keep us abreast of change are leading us to new solutions that we need to talk about. The pressure to share our best practices and, more importantly, our developing thoughts have led to the creation of Library Networking Group on-line community." The site consists of tabs directing us to forums, groups blogs, recent articles, podcasts, tried & tested and archives. The left sidebar lists blog categories- breaking down the different types of libraries, recent forum topics, LNG frequent bloggers, and upcoming events. On the right sidebar are: recent comments, who's new, and archive menu.
One of the benefits of networking is for inspiration. At the Library Network Group site, under podcasts I found a video to inspire us to have some fun. Think about incorporating this as a library orientation.
See the Amazing Library 101 challenge.
Connections with Articles
With covering some of how to connect with online sources, there has to be some background research referring to how and why it works. The following are some connections to articles sharing the pros and cons of online networking. I feel there are more benefits than there are downsides.
Some benefits can be found in the key ideas to networking. There are communications with new developments ie subscription to magazine titles like Multimedia and Internet@Schools, School Library Journal for current articles. Communication is important therefore we need to speak the same lingo as our students, share referenced documents when learning new information with staff and parents, and problem solving with asking questions of others in the same environment - as many heads are better than one. In Abram's article Justifying the Social Tools, he lists the following advantages for using social networks for teens:
·empower teens
·give teens the chance to meaningfully serve the community
·support teen reading and writing and text-based literacy needs and skills
·give teens opportunities to create and collaborate
·make sure teens are able to plan and manage projects
·communicate with community embers
·provide teens with opportunities to choose how to be smart and safe when using technology
With teens only being one group we need to connect with, it seems it's the biggest gap to close with online networking. By acknowledging their needs, and participating, to some extent, along with them, we can reach out and make their learning more real thereby engage them. Keeping the line of communication open is key in discourse with all involved parties. This benefit to social networking opens up the world as we used to know it. Let's be realistic, there has to be a balance to really make it work.
You've heard the horror stories about letting our youth hang out online and being stalked by pedophiles. Are you really communicating with a truthful identity? Negative press abounds with online predators and hackers accessing your personal information - there was a note on the LibraryNetworkNing site suggesting that spammers were attacking the system and that Joyce was working on resolving the problem. How can you keep up with all the networking that our students are up to these days - they have more time on their hands than we do. Second Life may be virtually real for some but I hardly have time for my real life. How do you know the information that you find online is fact or opinion? How can you justify who has written the work? Social network sites like Facebook and MySpace restrict participants under 14 - so how do you use this social networks in elementary schools?
What About in Schools?
In Gorman's Do You Speak Digital?, I can take some of the suggestions and apply them to my situation. I'll open a staff meeting with the quiz on the new technical language of teens to show we need to connect by being informed about what they're doing. Abram suggests in Scaffolding the New Social Literacies, that we need to teach to online privacy of personal information and that when schools are blocking social sites, we are driving our kids underground. We know social networking is still going to happen, but not in an educationally sound way. So we need to teach the positive uses to empower both our students and teachers.
We can be walked through this by referring to Lamb's article on Social Technology and Social Networks. She lists some great suggestions in 8 easy steps. Some of these steps include: dealing with the controversy, the T-L role in implementing the tools, dealing effectively with the content, addressing the profile issues, accessing information, and what the future holds.
Here's more detail on how it can be implemented. The controversy widely held in the public is to block online access because it is harmful and dangerous for our young people. A few things we need to do are teach social responsibility to counter cyberbullying, use web wise sites, and discuss fact vs. fiction online. The first tool to incorporate is netiquette. Also consider evaluating web content and develop effective posting methods. The content to suggest includes using photos, videos, etc with creative commons. Student profiling is huge - suggest using pen names and limit personal information in public settings. When considering publishing and accessing student work, ask will it be within a closed system or available globally? Finally the consideration of virtual spaces like Second Life for Teens allows us to see the future of where Web 2.0 can go. With these practical suggestions, we can be well on our way to incorporating social networking in our schools.
I have taught Internet safety with my students. In reading Kollie's article Social Networking: It's a Good Thing, I realize I must also teach media literacy. We used to be concerned about students access to objectionable material, now we're concerned about them posting images that are inappropriate. We need to educate the students, the teachers and the parents. It is by acting together that the connections can be made stronger.
In educating how to engage in the Web 2.0 world, we are asked to create accounts. Join this, or that - all of these services ask for particular information. I for example in this short time frame have been encouraged to create over twenty online accounts - each one asking for personal information like what is your real name, birth date, etc. Are we to teach online users to be untruthful? Many sites ask that you are over 13 - if a young student wants to belong - they'll just lie to be included. What are we teaching them? It's innate that the youth are engaged online - how can we undo the wrongs that have already been done? How do we help to protect the private information that has already been distributed into cyberspace? Kollie suggests educating early and often. I have learned not to fight it but to join in.
This Web 2.0 information has been so valuable. It is perfect for keeping on top of pro-d, being connected, being up to date, and I continue to share and learn new things. I give the Web 2.0 - 2 thumbs up.
We are so fortunate that the world is at our fingertips. The future is here now in terms of accessing information and contributing with the world. It's almost like going to the amusement park and being overwhelmed with stimuli. Where do I start first? Plan out where to go to take advantage of what's out there. When we talk about engaging in the fun - we look at the biggest and the best. The London Eye(biggest ferris wheel in Europe) or Kingda Ka(world's tallest roller coaster) (wikipedia) would have the best to offer in terms of entertainment. We also want to have access to the best information available and we can by exploring Web 2.0. Communication can come to us or we can go to it; either way social networking is here to stay.
How can I contribute to this technological advancement within our system? Our BC Ministry of Education has not updated our technology curriculum since 1995. An updated version is needed that includes Web 2.0 developments with technology. Being involved on these committees would be beneficial. I can send information to library networks, administration, and the superintendent to create a foundation to be in place to teach these important skills in today's Web 2.0 society. This can only help bring to the teaching forefront, the importance of staying connected with our youth. Web 2.0 is not a separate entity; it needs to be tied with other curricula like socials or literacy education. Let's embrace this Web 2.0 world and enjoy OUR new playing ground.
Sources
Baird, Catherine. (2007). Library Networking Group. Retrieved from http://www.libraryng.com
Dekker, J. (2008, February). Amazing Library 101 Challenge! YouTube. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXy35Bvnq18
Drew, Bill. (2009). Library 2.0. Retrieved from http://library20.ning.com/
Engard, Nicole. (2009, September). Library Mashups: Exploring New Ways to Deliver Library. Retrieved from http://mashups.web2learning.net/
Gorman, Michele. (2006, October). Do You Speak Digital? Understanding today's teens is a lot of work - but it's worth it. School Library Journal 10 (1). Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6376097.html?industryid=47192
Kollie, Ellen. (2007, January). Social Networking: It's a Good Thing! School Planning & Management, 46(1), 22-24. Retrieved from ProQuest Education Journals. (Document ID: 1221088821). http://login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/pqdweb?did=1221088821&sid=2&Fmt=3&clientId=12301&RQT=309&VName=PQD
Lamb, Annette. (2007, Nov/Dec). Social Technology and Social Networks
School Library Media Activities Monthly - Retrieved from http://0-www.ala.org.sapl.sat.lib.tx.us/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/aaslpubsandjournals/knowledgequest/kqwebarchives/v36/362/KQW36_2Lamb.pdf
Rainie, Lee. (2009, March). Friendling Libraries: Why libraries can become nodes in people's social networks. Retrieved from http://teacherlibrarian.ning.com/video/friending-libraries-why
Stephen Abram. (2007, January). Justifying the Social Tools: Improving the Conversation. MultiMedia & Internet@Schools, 14(1), 21-22. Retrieved from ProQuest Education Journals. (Document ID: 1193755291). http://login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/pqdweb?did=1193755291&sid=1&Fmt=3&clientId=12301&RQT=309&VName=PQD
Valenza, Joyce. (2009). Teacher Librarian Network. Retrieved from http://teacherlibrarian.ning.com/
No, that's for the little ones - you're after the amusement park rides that are also a part of the celebrations. You wouldn't go to the amusement park by yourself though, so why would you go online to be alone? Just one of the many reasons people use the Web to connect. Whether it's for entertainment, shopping, or learning - the Internet really is a social place. Think of how many million people use the Web. In North America alone there are 250 million Internet Users World Wide Users (2009, March).
As a T-L, I'll address how I can connect and interact with Web 2.0 to have advantageous results. There is no way I can be exhaustive here, as the world is large and this blog is very small; therefore I'll limit my findings towards my situation. I looked at online networks, blogs, and articles to collect a base from where to start. Starting small and getting the hang of it seems the most realistic. Here goes.
Teacher Librarian Network - TeacherLibrarianNing Teacher Librarian Network by Joyce Valenza, was truly an eye opening place to discover. I've always known I should be connected to others in the field, but I don't know how or where to begin. This was a gem to find as it offers:
·A community for teacher-librarians and other educators
·Allows those of us to connect, teach, share, and lead in new information landscapes.
The site suggests to come play in the "exciting learning sandbox", to pose questions in the forum, to add your images and video, and to post in the blog.
I like how this site is set up with groups along the sidebar to direct you to topics of interest. Some of the group topics include: instructional technology and Web 2.0 in the Library
Web 2.0 in the Library This group is for those who wish to share about using collaborative Web 2.0 tools in their library instruction. Here we can discuss what tools we are using, make connections for collaboration, and celebrate our technological triumphs!
The layout of the site has an easy format to follow. The forums are centrally located on the page with links to who started them, how many replies there have been and who was last to post. After reading them, I decided to check out Joyce's thread on Database widgets - and Web 2.0 Tools in your catalogue. It's easy to get distracted though.
Back to the layout. It also includes videos, photos, a poll, calendar of events, T-L positions available (wow-talk about networking), podcasts, SLJ News (School Library Journal), ALA TechSource, tabs for members, photos, videos (158), forums, events, groups and blogs. There are also subheadings under each of the above tabs. The blog tab lists all the blogs and breaks them down into categories of popularity, by tag topics and then the monthly archive. I couldn't resist any longer, so I've signed up for an account.
Back to the layout again - my goodness - I've become a random reader. The pages are segregated - sort of thirds- each with a different purpose - I'm still trying to figure out how it's decided what goes where and why. As I'm reading a post along the left hand sidebar, I wonder if our writing will change do to the format in which it will be printed? In this post on Library Mashups by the Library 2.0 Gang hosted by Richard Wallis - I learned about links to Google Book Search, and WorldCat. And a link to a book and related article edited by Engard, Library Mashups: Exploring New Ways to Deliver Library which goes into more detail on how we can "share and combine digital content". I get it - it's like in real estate where it's all about location, location, location, only here it's all about connections, connections, connections. The connections are simply amazing. Ok, time is limited - move along.
National Council of Teachers of English or NCTE Inbox. This includes: news, views, and ideas you can use! It's a professional association of Educators in English Studies, Literacy, and Language Arts. The tabs offer: the current issue of inbox, standards, pro-D, meetings, action center, and online store. The right sidebar - lists the editors, tag topics, access to linked resources, archives, NCTE blogs, syndication and bookmarking service providers. When you click on the current issue - there are also announcements after the articles. In a very apropos article - Social Networking: The Ning's the Thing, it starts with an overview of what social networks are "Online, social networks connect[ing] people who share common goals or interests." Let's look into this Ning thing.
Ning (Wikipedia) is an online social network platform that allows you to create your own customized social network. The difference between Ning and FaceBook is that Ning has "the ability to customize the features to meet the needs of a specific group of people" The plusses:
·Create all groups yourself, or leave it open to members
·Approve groups, so that nothing off-topic shows up
·Approve all photos and videos before they are posted
·Delete any groups or discussions that are inappropriate
·Ban members from the network if necessary
·And reverse any of these decisions with a click of a checkbox!
If you're into stats, here's an interesting study on the different types of users and how we can attract these groups to Web 2.0 activity. Friending Libraries.
Friending Libraries: Why libraries can become nodes in people’s social networks
View more presentations from PewInternet.
There's more out there, I can feel it.
Blue Skunk Blog by Doug Johnson's header states: Leaving readers confused at a higher level since 2005. It's nice to see some comic relief in the serious business of libraries. The tabs across the top include: Blue Skunk blog, website, contact, bio, biases, archives, endorsement policy, and Why the Blue Skunk blog? Of course I had to start with why? The name has a local meaning and misunderstandings attached to it. He's twisted, lets us know it - good, I like that. His archives are dated for a month at a time. This site is fun, entertaining and informative too.
OK on to the article Facebook: an educational resource? I like his spin on things - To give Facebook a fair shake as with anything on the Web. Its the content that's questionable not the format. Some great points are made to encourage us to use Facebook in our schools. Enough of Doug's silliness - let's move onto something more serious - Harvard.
Ed Magazine from Harvard Graduate School of Education has some great educational articles. One such article by Blanding on Thanks for the Add... Now Help Me with My Homework has implications for social networking sites to have educational potential. These Social Networking Sites (SNS), work like this, "the way they mix social interaction and schoolwork mirrors the way that office workers dive in and out of work and personal e-mail on the job -- perhaps preparing students for the real world in ways they don't even realize." This connection helps to make so much more sense to us as adults in the practical world. In the real world we don't always have time to sit and read a whole article, therefore we need to be able to connect with blogs where we can get some quick updates, find out about something new, see if our posed questions have been answered.
LibrarianinBlack by Sarah Houghton. Her header states: "Resources and discussions for the "tech-librarians-by-default" among us..." This site helps us with the technological side of things in the library. The focus is towards T-L's with computer labs. For the library site, she offers some great tips in Ten Social Networking Tips, like keeping your site current, make it look good, and have something fun on it. Suggestions are offered to make your interactive site valuable. Now for those times when more general information and networking is required, let's turn to the library on the interactive web.
Library 2.0This network is for Library 2.0 Stuff. It is for librarians and others interested in Library 2.0 and is hosted by Bill Drew. The tabs consist of : my page, forum, blogs, groups, events, notes, chat, photos, and videos. Under the blog tab, there are discussions by various authors. Also listed are featured blog posts, latest, most popular, blog posts by tags, and archives. The events and recent activity are also posted on the right sidebar. Some of the groups of interest include: a School Library group, Training 2.0, Teen Services and Library Greenies (libraries going green). There is a lot going on to check out later. There is still another network to include.
Library Network Group is the electronic meeting space for libraries and the information profession. It states: "The challenges raised by ever-changing ideas, fresh perspectives and marketplace developments are being met by us every day. The continuing need to develop techniques and skills that keep us abreast of change are leading us to new solutions that we need to talk about. The pressure to share our best practices and, more importantly, our developing thoughts have led to the creation of Library Networking Group on-line community." The site consists of tabs directing us to forums, groups blogs, recent articles, podcasts, tried & tested and archives. The left sidebar lists blog categories- breaking down the different types of libraries, recent forum topics, LNG frequent bloggers, and upcoming events. On the right sidebar are: recent comments, who's new, and archive menu.
One of the benefits of networking is for inspiration. At the Library Network Group site, under podcasts I found a video to inspire us to have some fun. Think about incorporating this as a library orientation.
See the Amazing Library 101 challenge.
Connections with Articles
With covering some of how to connect with online sources, there has to be some background research referring to how and why it works. The following are some connections to articles sharing the pros and cons of online networking. I feel there are more benefits than there are downsides.
Some benefits can be found in the key ideas to networking. There are communications with new developments ie subscription to magazine titles like Multimedia and Internet@Schools, School Library Journal for current articles. Communication is important therefore we need to speak the same lingo as our students, share referenced documents when learning new information with staff and parents, and problem solving with asking questions of others in the same environment - as many heads are better than one. In Abram's article Justifying the Social Tools, he lists the following advantages for using social networks for teens:
·empower teens
·give teens the chance to meaningfully serve the community
·support teen reading and writing and text-based literacy needs and skills
·give teens opportunities to create and collaborate
·make sure teens are able to plan and manage projects
·communicate with community embers
·provide teens with opportunities to choose how to be smart and safe when using technology
With teens only being one group we need to connect with, it seems it's the biggest gap to close with online networking. By acknowledging their needs, and participating, to some extent, along with them, we can reach out and make their learning more real thereby engage them. Keeping the line of communication open is key in discourse with all involved parties. This benefit to social networking opens up the world as we used to know it. Let's be realistic, there has to be a balance to really make it work.
You've heard the horror stories about letting our youth hang out online and being stalked by pedophiles. Are you really communicating with a truthful identity? Negative press abounds with online predators and hackers accessing your personal information - there was a note on the LibraryNetworkNing site suggesting that spammers were attacking the system and that Joyce was working on resolving the problem. How can you keep up with all the networking that our students are up to these days - they have more time on their hands than we do. Second Life may be virtually real for some but I hardly have time for my real life. How do you know the information that you find online is fact or opinion? How can you justify who has written the work? Social network sites like Facebook and MySpace restrict participants under 14 - so how do you use this social networks in elementary schools?
What About in Schools?
In Gorman's Do You Speak Digital?, I can take some of the suggestions and apply them to my situation. I'll open a staff meeting with the quiz on the new technical language of teens to show we need to connect by being informed about what they're doing. Abram suggests in Scaffolding the New Social Literacies, that we need to teach to online privacy of personal information and that when schools are blocking social sites, we are driving our kids underground. We know social networking is still going to happen, but not in an educationally sound way. So we need to teach the positive uses to empower both our students and teachers.
We can be walked through this by referring to Lamb's article on Social Technology and Social Networks. She lists some great suggestions in 8 easy steps. Some of these steps include: dealing with the controversy, the T-L role in implementing the tools, dealing effectively with the content, addressing the profile issues, accessing information, and what the future holds.
Here's more detail on how it can be implemented. The controversy widely held in the public is to block online access because it is harmful and dangerous for our young people. A few things we need to do are teach social responsibility to counter cyberbullying, use web wise sites, and discuss fact vs. fiction online. The first tool to incorporate is netiquette. Also consider evaluating web content and develop effective posting methods. The content to suggest includes using photos, videos, etc with creative commons. Student profiling is huge - suggest using pen names and limit personal information in public settings. When considering publishing and accessing student work, ask will it be within a closed system or available globally? Finally the consideration of virtual spaces like Second Life for Teens allows us to see the future of where Web 2.0 can go. With these practical suggestions, we can be well on our way to incorporating social networking in our schools.
I have taught Internet safety with my students. In reading Kollie's article Social Networking: It's a Good Thing, I realize I must also teach media literacy. We used to be concerned about students access to objectionable material, now we're concerned about them posting images that are inappropriate. We need to educate the students, the teachers and the parents. It is by acting together that the connections can be made stronger.
In educating how to engage in the Web 2.0 world, we are asked to create accounts. Join this, or that - all of these services ask for particular information. I for example in this short time frame have been encouraged to create over twenty online accounts - each one asking for personal information like what is your real name, birth date, etc. Are we to teach online users to be untruthful? Many sites ask that you are over 13 - if a young student wants to belong - they'll just lie to be included. What are we teaching them? It's innate that the youth are engaged online - how can we undo the wrongs that have already been done? How do we help to protect the private information that has already been distributed into cyberspace? Kollie suggests educating early and often. I have learned not to fight it but to join in.
This Web 2.0 information has been so valuable. It is perfect for keeping on top of pro-d, being connected, being up to date, and I continue to share and learn new things. I give the Web 2.0 - 2 thumbs up.
We are so fortunate that the world is at our fingertips. The future is here now in terms of accessing information and contributing with the world. It's almost like going to the amusement park and being overwhelmed with stimuli. Where do I start first? Plan out where to go to take advantage of what's out there. When we talk about engaging in the fun - we look at the biggest and the best. The London Eye(biggest ferris wheel in Europe) or Kingda Ka(world's tallest roller coaster) (wikipedia) would have the best to offer in terms of entertainment. We also want to have access to the best information available and we can by exploring Web 2.0. Communication can come to us or we can go to it; either way social networking is here to stay.
How can I contribute to this technological advancement within our system? Our BC Ministry of Education has not updated our technology curriculum since 1995. An updated version is needed that includes Web 2.0 developments with technology. Being involved on these committees would be beneficial. I can send information to library networks, administration, and the superintendent to create a foundation to be in place to teach these important skills in today's Web 2.0 society. This can only help bring to the teaching forefront, the importance of staying connected with our youth. Web 2.0 is not a separate entity; it needs to be tied with other curricula like socials or literacy education. Let's embrace this Web 2.0 world and enjoy OUR new playing ground.
Sources
Baird, Catherine. (2007). Library Networking Group. Retrieved from http://www.libraryng.com
Dekker, J. (2008, February). Amazing Library 101 Challenge! YouTube. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXy35Bvnq18
Drew, Bill. (2009). Library 2.0. Retrieved from http://library20.ning.com/
Engard, Nicole. (2009, September). Library Mashups: Exploring New Ways to Deliver Library. Retrieved from http://mashups.web2learning.net/
Gorman, Michele. (2006, October). Do You Speak Digital? Understanding today's teens is a lot of work - but it's worth it. School Library Journal 10 (1). Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6376097.html?industryid=47192
Kollie, Ellen. (2007, January). Social Networking: It's a Good Thing! School Planning & Management, 46(1), 22-24. Retrieved from ProQuest Education Journals. (Document ID: 1221088821). http://login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/pqdweb?did=1221088821&sid=2&Fmt=3&clientId=12301&RQT=309&VName=PQD
Lamb, Annette. (2007, Nov/Dec). Social Technology and Social Networks
School Library Media Activities Monthly - Retrieved from http://0-www.ala.org.sapl.sat.lib.tx.us/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/aaslpubsandjournals/knowledgequest/kqwebarchives/v36/362/KQW36_2Lamb.pdf
Rainie, Lee. (2009, March). Friendling Libraries: Why libraries can become nodes in people's social networks. Retrieved from http://teacherlibrarian.ning.com/video/friending-libraries-why
Stephen Abram. (2007, January). Justifying the Social Tools: Improving the Conversation. MultiMedia & Internet@Schools, 14(1), 21-22. Retrieved from ProQuest Education Journals. (Document ID: 1193755291). http://login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/pqdweb?did=1193755291&sid=1&Fmt=3&clientId=12301&RQT=309&VName=PQD
Valenza, Joyce. (2009). Teacher Librarian Network. Retrieved from http://teacherlibrarian.ning.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
