Reflections of 21st Century Learning

When I think about the discussion of creativity and innovation in education, I become slightly depressed.  So much is scripted that there is little room for these things in most classes.  We live in a scary present in which the future seems to change and waiver before us in a way that makes it uneasy to predict.  Now more than ever, innovation and creativity needs to be built.  However, with the onslaught of standardized testings, national curriculum and more and more oversight over all details, I fear that we will lose the very thing that students need most.  They need to learn how to learn because as the Socialnomics video indicates, the world is changing and will continue to do so.  Kids and adults need to adapt and change with it.  They need to find, evaluate and make decisions on an ever increasing pool of information.  I think that so much education is stifled.  If you haven't yet seen it, I'd recommend watching the Ken Robinson commentary on Ted:  http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html

ipad videoconference show

In my distance learning network there is an opportunity for teachers to receive training on a variety of technology topics free of charge after school.  I usually get stuck teaching most of them because no one else volunteers.  A learning network on the other side of the state joined us and usually I end up teaching people over in the Western part of the state more than in my own network.  That being said, I thought it would be cool to come up with my own virtual learning "show".  My favorite thing has been to review a variety of ipad and ipod programs as well as preview web technologies.

What ideas do you have for this "show" idea that I have?  I think it could be fun and since I already do this training once a month, it is not like I have to go out of my way to find an outlet!  I just never tackled it as a "show" concept before.

Nonprofit formation

I own a company called BumblePuppy Sales that has been quite successful since I started it.  I'm now looking for retail and auction spaces.  I thought it would be a good idea to be involved with a nonprofit organization.  However, I don't know much about this. My reasoning is that many people want to donate things to me.  This is nice, but I am a for profit organization.

I was thinking of either starting or joining a nonprofit organization relating to libraries (both school and public) where I would accept items for donation and also donate money to good causes either through foundation grants or direct gifting or something.  The idea is sort of just forming, but I would love to hear ideas about this.  Do you know any nonprofits that would be good to join or should I create my own and promote public and school libraries in northeastern Wisconsin?  This is kind of exciting!

Best Reads

I always want to know what people are reading or what they consider to be the best!  I have to admit that I don't get nearly enough time to read as I would like and often I end up reading "trash novels" that really aren't that well written, but they are a simple escape for me!

But, I'd like to know...  what are some of your favorites?

Picture books?  I love Elephant and Piggie books (Mo Willems), Piggie Pie (Marge Palatini)--- anyone sense a theme? and Mystery of the Harris Burdick by Van Alsburg

Graphic novels?  I hate them and can't pick a favorite though I do find art Speigelman's work provoking.

Chapter books?  I usually do not like the chapter books I read.  I will always love the Boxcar Children, The Incredible Journey and the Outsiders, but I really am not a fan of most chapter books and teen books today.  I did enjoy the Twilight series briefly, but it was actually closer to the "Trash" novels I read than anything.

Nonfiction books?  I enjoy biographies and books with beautiful pictures, but none specifically enough to add it to a list.  Well, I take that back, Listening for the Crack of Dawn by Jim Davis is probably the best book ever.  EVER!!!

Novels for adults:  My favorite trash novel authors are Jude Deveraux and Johanna Lindsey.  Its a guilty pleasure I guess, oh well.  I thought the Kite Runner was very good.  I haven't really read many.  I enjoyed Wicked by Gregory McGuire, though none of his other books were a hit with me.

I am just curious what others like...

ipads as reference centers

I've purchased ipads for my high school and middle school libraries to use as reference centers.  The kids and teachers haven't used most of the reference materials for years at my schools so I plan to use the ipads as reference centers and only replace a few of the printed materials.  I plan to download a variety of items to the ipads including the homepages of our online resources, the Audobon materials, periodic table, calculation tools, a couple encyclopedias and almanacs, etc.  What other resources do you think I should consider for these devices?  There are some great encyclopedia apps out there!  We can also include some digital books and audiobooks.  I see it as a way to offer a greater variety of up to date material.

I am excited to use them as reference materials and think that kids and teachers will increase usage.

library family nights

I try to do some library family nights each year.  At the middle and high school level we do well with book groups and strategy game nights.  At the elementary school I try to create family mystery events.  In the past this has included clue, monopoly, pirate and dr suess mysteries that families have to work together to solve.  Aside from authors and storytimes, what other activities can you think of to offer to families especially at the elementary level in order to get them into the library together after hours?

library themes

I like to have a theme in my elementary libraries.  I like to have just one for the year because I do not have the time or resources to switch the main theme more than that.  I have specialty themes that I do in the interim but one main theme.  Marion Elementary is goingo to be Under the Sea (since that is the Tigerton summer school theme and I already have a lot of props done up for it).  I am currently looking for another theme for Tigerton.  I've done frogs, Dr. Seuss, reading wizards, clue, camping, teddy bears and a few others.  I am looking for some ideas on the under the sea theme as well as another theme for Tigerton.

Audio Books and eBooks

I am trying to decide a strategy for audio and ebooks in my libraries.

Tigerton Elementary:  access to internet, 17 ipod touches and many playaways
Tigerton High:  4 nooks, 5 ipads, internet
Marion Elementary: internet
Marion High: internet

I'd like to look at databases that would allow me to subscribe everyone to the same things.  This year I purchased an annual subscription to one click audio as well as follett ebook packages.  The ebook packages are ours to keep, but the audio book subscription is an annual renewal.  The problem is that not many people used either of these things so I am looking for ways to promote ebooks and audiobooks.  There are some great things on each.  This was only in Tigerton last year, but looking to expand to Marion as well.

The ipads and ipods do have books downloaded on them.  I plan to expand that program by putting all of the battle of the books that I can find on each of them.  Hopefully that will increase the usages of the devices.

Anyone else have ideas?

Thanks,
Janel

How to be in four places at once

I have four libraries.  Two of them do not have full time aides.  One of them has no aides.  Clearly it is a challenge to be at all of them and see them used correctly and well.  Two libraries are in one district and two are in another.  You would not think that two schools so close together would be so very different.  They are.  It is like two different worlds. 

I'm working on getting the libraries to work off of each other.  I dropped the ancient Winnebago Spectrum program that my new district was using and opted to host a server in one district and use Destiny for all four libraries running off the one server.  Saves a lot of money and makes library resource sharing that much better.

I am looking at establishing some common webpages and resources for the districts instead of reinventing the wheel so many times.  I use moodle to teach some of my classes and to team teach with some teachers.  We have started to use the polycoms for some collaborations or meetings off site.

I teach our ERVING (distance education consortiums) ipads and ipods classes as well as the 21st century learning classes and many of my teachers from all four schools attend since they all have the capability to connect.

What are some ways that you would use to connect to teacher and students to and from so many different locations?

Library Redesign on a $zero Budget

My high school library in Marion is very outdated with poor lighting.  The furniture is old and the shelving is industrial (and not in a cool industrial design sort of way).  The technology wiring consists of holes cut in the ceiling tiles and long cords dangling down the walls.  Computers are placed on a hodgepodge of mismatched desks outlining the side walls.  Overall it is not a welcoming place.  Here are a few things that we have decided to try in order to make the space more inviting.  (The age of the books will need to be addressed in a future post).

Ideas on how to make the space more inviting to staff and students which will lead to increased use.

•  We were told there was no money to purchase conduit to cover the exposed cords on the wall.  
• purchase our own conduit or hold a conduit fundraiser.  $150 plus labor still gets us ugly stuff running on the walls.
• get some ivy or strings of floral items etc from rummage sales and wind it around the conduit to make it at least look artsy
• Find other discarded wires and cords of different colors, hang them on the walls and call it "texture"
• Furniture is from the 1970's
• spray paint the chairs
• contact the tech ed department to see if they could make new tables and chairs 
• gather cool, sturdy comfortable seating from garage sales and staff to make sections of comfy furniture to use
• Lighting is terrible
• Find extra lamps and end tables to use
• take off old plastic
• experiment with different wattage bulbs
• Paint job is terrible
• make graffiti type displays
• plaster up cool photos and pictures on top of paint job

If anyone has some other brainstorming ideas on how to transform a dull, drab, uncomfortable, poorly lit library into a comfortable place for people to read, research and connect, please post ideas here.