Oct 08 AASL-ISTE SIGMS Learning Community Mtg
October 22nd, 2008
On Tuesday, October 21, David Loertscher facilitated a AASL-ISTE SIGMS Librarian Learning Community meeting. About 35 persons participated in a lively discussion about the learning commons concept. The Learning Commons includes an Open Commons, which is a flexibly scheduled space operated by para professionals and is a demonstration center of the best teaching and learning. It also includes an experimental learning center which is professionally staffed by a variety of professionals, conducts action research, provides professional development, and is integral to all school improvement initiatives. Learn more about this concept in the book “The New Learning Commons: Where Learners Win!”. David then led a discussion about some proposed concepts, such as the teacher technologists and teacher librarians spending 80% of their day co-teaching, all specialists in the school co-teaching and having an office either physically or virtually in the Learning Commons, and emphasis turning form the minimum (NCLB) to excellence. Many attendees were engaged in the discussion and shared their own experiences in working as school librarians. Continue the discussion at the Learning Commons wiki. See the Flickr stream.
Author Chris Crutcher in Second Life
October 4th, 2008
On Saturday, Oct 4, author Chris Crutcher appeared in Second Life at part of the American Library Association (ALA) celebration of the 2008 Banned Book Week. Chris has been identified by ALA as one of the 2007 top ten banned authors. Chris spoke about issues related to intellectual freedom and censorship. He commented that parents have a right to control what their children read, but not what other parents’ children read. As a therapist and former administrator at an alternative school, Chris has witnessed the damage that can be caused by children keeping harmful secrets and that books can often provide a impetus for discussion. Chris also commented that children are often the best advocates in promoting the cause of intellectual freedom, as they speak compellingly about what certain books mean to them. This program provided a great forum for attendees to share their own experiences with confronting these important issues as they make book selections for the young people they serve. See the Flickr photo set. See Chris’s MySpace and his MySpace pictures.
AASL - ISTE SIGMS Sept 08 Learning Community Mtg
September 16th, 2008
Tonight, almost 30 persons gathered for our September AASL - ISTE SIGMS Librarian Learning Community meeting on the American Library Association sim in Second Life. Our discussion was moderated by guest facilitator Joyce Valenza. We talked about the various Web 2.0 technologies used by librarians, how to use them effectively with students, challenges, and how to keep current with changing technologies. Continue the discussion at http://toptenreasons.wikispaces.com/SL2.0Discussion, See the Flickr pics at http://www.flickr.com/photos/elainetulip/sets/72157607220630432.
Sept AASL-SIGMS Orientation Meeting
September 11th, 2008
On Tuesday, September 9th, we held a joint AASL-SIGMS orientation meeting to help people become comfortable communicating and navigating in Second Life. This is part of an ongoing series of monthly orientation and librarian learning community meetings being held jointly by the two organizations in collaboration with CPS Department of Libraries. See the entire schedule at http://blogs.cuip.net/dlis/attend-our-librarian-meetings.
SLEDcc Poster Booth Session - 9/7/08
September 8th, 2008
On Sunday, September 7th, the poster session “Media Specialists Projects in Second Life” was held as part of the SLEDcc Conference (http://sledcc.wikispaces.com/SLEDcc+in+Second+Life). I was fortunate to be called on to help organize that portion of the conference. Over a dozen organizations were featured, including the Chicago Public Schools Dept of Libraries, the ISTE Media Specialists SIG (SIGMS), the American Association of School Librarians, Ohio State University, the University of Chicago eCUIP program, the Topeka and Shawnee Public Library, Land of Lincoln in Second Life, Kansas State Library, Esmond Elementary School, Info Island, and the Reader’s Garden in Second Life. The poster session was open for over three hours and was heavily visited by dozens of people. It was a great opportunity to promote networking and collaboration, as various professionals were noted exchanging contact information or discussing their projects. See the Flickr stream at http://www.flickr.com/photos/elainetulip/sets/72157607185804062.
Announcing! New Line-Up of Meetings
September 1st, 2008
The CPS Department of Libraries is launching its fall line-up of orientation and librarian learning community meetings. Anyone is welcome to attend. Visit http://blogs.cuip.net/dlis/attend-our-librarian-meetings for a full meeting schedule and directions for attending.
ALA Midsummer’s Night Party
August 23rd, 2008
On Saturday, August 23, the American Library Association’s Membership Interest Group (MIG) hosted a Midsummer’s Night party on their sim. The purpose of this party was to network and socialize with the larger ALA and SL library communities. Attendees were encouraged to wear Shakespearean period costumes. While chatting, we were also entertained by a Tudor era trivia quiz provided by Lorelei Junot. It was a great opportunity to connect professionally with other librarians in an informal online environment.
Summer Authors Series
July 27th, 2008
This summer, we helped organize two summer author visits on the Teen Second Life sim “Eye4You Alliance”. Teens had the opportunity to visit with well-known authors Jacqueline Woodson and Jack Gantos. For more information, click to read about Jacqueline’s visit and Jack’s visit.
Educational Spotlight Roundtable
July 7th, 2008
Tonight, I attended a panel discussion called “Educational Spotlight Roundtable Panel Discussion” which was part of the Second Life 5th Birthday Party Celebration. Sarah Robbins (AV: Intellagirl Tully) moderated the discussion. Panelists included Peggy Sheehy (AV: Maggie Marat), Kathy Schrock (AV: Kathy Dryburgh), Bernajean Porter (AV: Bernajean Pinazzo), and Eric Krangel (AV: Eric Reuters. Panelists discussed such ideas as big changes in education and panelists’ own work that have occurred due to technology.
This event took place on the new four-sim ISTE auditorium. Approximately 130 persons attended this event, demonstrating that SL is a valid forum for large education events. ISTE, again, is a proven leader in utilizing SL to support its members.
Beach Party on Investing InfoIsland
July 6th, 2008
Yesterday, I attended a beach party at the new Investing InfoIsland sim. This sim is sponsored by the Alliance Library System and is an extension of the “Smart investing @ your library” program. This 60s-style beach blanket bingo party also involved a scavenger-hunt activity in which partygoers could go to various parts of the sim to gather financial information. Then, they could enter a contest for prize money. The party atmosphere also provided a great opportunity to network with the general librarian community in Second Life.
« Previous Page — Next Page »