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David Loertscher in SL: Reinventing School Libraries

Posted by Joyce Valenza on October 19, 2008 at 5:36am
If you're like me, you are continually thinking about what's next, for our profession and for the learners we serve.Every conversation I have ever had with the phenomenal David Loertscher (whom I consider a mentor), forces me to further consider and often to refine or rethink my vision.Don't miss this opportunity to meet David in Second Life.On behalf of ISTE's SIG-MS and AASL, Lisa Perez (aka Elaine Tulip) invites us all to attend Reinventing School Libraries and Computer Labs: The Time Has Come! The event takes place Tuesday, October 21 at 8pm ET/7pm CT/6pm MT/5pm PT.Here's the provocative official description:The advent of the Google Generation, who usually ignore the school library and surpass easily what is being taught in computer labs, causes us all to re-examine the entire model of school libraries designed fifty years ago. It requires the re-examination of everything we learned in library and technology education. It means starting with the customer to build information and technology systems that get used and that push learners toward excellence. David Loertscher will take us on a tour of a completely re-thought learning commons where all the specialists, not just teacher librarians or teacher technologiests operate, but a place that is really the heart of teaching and learning in the school. You can read his ideas in advance in the new book: The New School Learning Commons Where Learners Win, available from LMC Source. In any event, come not just to listen, but get in the creative mood yourself to examine bold new strategies equal to the excellence in education this country must pursue. Visit the companion wiki http://schoollearningcommons.pbwiki.com/ to continue the discussion.Instructions for joining the discussion:Log onto Second Life 15 minutes prior to the meeting time. Instant message Elaine Tulip for a teleport to the meeting location or use the SLURL. http://slurl.com/secondlife/ISTE%20Island%203/116/207/29New to Second Life?To set up an account to join Second Life, do the following:1. Go to the Second Life website several days in advance to set up your free basic account.2. Verify that your computer and connectivity meets the systems requirements/3. Click on the orange Get Started! button. Go through the subsequent screens to create your avatar account.4. Download and install the Second Life viewer software.5. Open the software and log into Second Life using your avatar first name, last name, and password. Watch your avatar be born. Complete the orientation activities to learn about how to communicate, move, search, and edit your appearance.6. When finished, search Places for locations such as Chicago Public Schools, ISTE, or the American Library Association. Teleport to a favorite location, explore, and become acquainted with Second Life. (When searching, make sure the “search mature places” square is checked.)7. Fifteen minutes prior to scheduled meetings, log on and IM Elaine Tulip for a teleport to the meeting location or use the SLURL.http://slurl.com/secondlife/ISTE%20Island%203/116/207/2I hope to see many of you in-world!
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4th Grade Struggling Readers

Posted by Kenneth Miles on October 16, 2008 at 10:06am
I am passionate about promoting the importance of children learning to read and write with both fluency and comprehension. In my eight years of teaching elementary school, I have encountered too many kids third grade and beyond who can't read or produce a complete sentence. This bothers me a great deal. Many of these struggling readers go on to high school and college lacking basic reading and writing skills. So. during my first grad school experience, I developed "A Curriculum to Improve Word Recognition, Fluency, and Comprehension in Fourth Grade Struglling Readers" and would like to eventually implement this program someday but, I'm unsure as where or how to begin. Any Comments?
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K-12 Online Classes

Posted by Kenneth Miles on October 16, 2008 at 9:41am
I teach at an online K-12 grade charter school where students are given laptops to work at their own pace in completion of previously missed assignments, and to acquire needed credits to graduate. Most of these upper grade kids were kicked out of public schools for one reason or another and this place is pretty much their last resort. For several students, this means that if they don't adhere they will go back to jail or will simply be kicked out--including young teen mothers. Most of these kids are without any structure and has never owned a laptop computer to say the least, thus using it for reasons other than its intended purpose (school work). It is quite difficult to get them to do their school work and stay focused. I came aboard about about 2 months into the school year. They have full use of the laptops at school and are permitted to take them home. No one has taken the time to set up security measures that prevent unauthourized website visits. Until the students learn to respect themselves, others, and authority, and value education, they are doomed to continue the cycle of failure. I think giving middle and high schoolers laptops without enforcing strict and structured rules is a big mistake.A lot can be said about online education. I welcome ideas and thoughts from others.Ken
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Dewey Cutter Table

Posted by Naveed Ahmad on October 14, 2008 at 3:45pm
Dear Professionals,Use the following link to free download Cutter Table and easily getcutter numbers.http://www.oclc.org/dewey/support/program/default.htmRegards,Naveed
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Google Documents (Fully Facilitated 5 Day Online Class)

Posted by Dennis O'Connor on October 10, 2008 at 2:43pm
Moodle BasedFully Facilitated!Login as guest: http://21cif.mrooms.net/course/view.php?id=58FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions:How much time will this take?

Plan for at least 5 hours of instruction (about an hour a day). It will be easy to put in more time than that. We hope you'll find the information so interesting that the time will fly by.

Do I have to login at a specific time each day?The course is completely time shifted. It's designed so that participants can enter the online classroom 24/7 and still interact. This let's you fit the class to your schedule. We'll go Monday - Friday, with the following Saturday to wrap things up.

What will I learn how to do?

  • Create a Google account
  • Upload documents to Google docs
  • Share a Google document with a colleague
  • View the revision history of a shared document (a wiki like function of Gdocs)
  • Publish a shared document as a web page that automatically updates when the source document is edited.
  • We also have an optional independent study module on how to use Google Docs offline.

How is this course taught?

Instruction includes the use of illustrated webpages and video. Additionally Dennis O'Connor will be facilitating this class. (Dennis is a highly trained online teacher.) There are discussion forums where participants can share ideas. The instructor will also be monitoring the class for questions and be available for trouble shooting help.

What about teaching resources?

You will find many resources with ideas for teachers and librarians interested in using Google Docs in the classroom.

How long will I have access to this course?

The course remains open to you for at least three months so you can continue study and have access to the resources. How do I register?
  • First establish an account on http://21cif.mrooms.net. Note the graphic on the course home page. (Each person taking the class should create their own account.)
  • Next login using your established username and password.
  • Click into the Gdocs online classroom.(Found in the Information Fluency Category.)
  • When you first enter you'll be presented with a PayPal registration page.
  • Click through to pay for the class by credit card.
  • You do not need a Pay Pal account to use this secure system. (We do not store your credit card information.)
  • Once you have paid you'll be returned to the Gdocs class.
  • The full course will open on October 27th.
We hope to see you online!
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Information Fluency: It's Elementary (Beta Testers needed for learning games)

Posted by Dennis O'Connor on October 3, 2008 at 9:08am
Carl Heine is developing a series of online learning games to teach elementary students the essentials of search. We're looking for feedback and suggestions as we begin the development cycle.You will find all the details on the Information Fluency group We are asking for feedback on our new elementary age games to be posted to the group's discussion thread. Please join the group and participate!
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