Posted by Al Smith on November 16, 2009 in Education, Health, Lesson Aids, Media Literacy, Staff Picks, Web/Tech | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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Google Wave initiative...all I can say is let's not worry about monopolies or Class Action if they continue to inspire such tools!
( Google )
Google Wave is a new online communications tool that enables groups of people to edit and discuss documents simultaneously on the web. The Google Wave team says Wave is "what email would look like if it were invented today." [1] However, because Wave is mostly a document collaboration tool, the oversimplified email metaphor can mislead new users. The initial Wave experience can feel chaotic and confusing, but use cases for Wave abound. Come on in and meet Wave....
Posted by Al Smith on November 09, 2009 in Community, Current Affairs, Information Technology, Staff Picks, Web/Tech | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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Scott McLeod at the Dangerously Irrelevant blog posts a list of hard questions about books, libraries and librarians in "10 questions about books, librarians, and schools."
"...I think that the shifts we are now beginning to experience are going to be much more disruptive than we expect. I don’t think that we can take for granted that any current information-oriented profession is going to be around in the new paradigm. I think it’s a safer bet to assume that most of us in information-oriented jobs either are going to be replaced by something new or will see our professions so radically transformed that we may need to give them new labels." ( Scott McLeod)
"...Whether we’re librarians, teachers, administrators, or professors – or newspaper journalists, television producers, radio broadcasters, or magazine publishers – or travel agents, stockbrokers, medical professionals, or postal service workers, I think we need to be more uneasy. We need to be less complacent, less certain. We need to be more proactive and forward-thinking rather than self-congratulatory and self-satisfied...."(Scott McLeod)
Apologies for cross-posting...
Random questions
- http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/LeaderTalk/2009/11/10_questions_about_books_libra.html When books become electronic and thus become searchable, hyperlinkable, more accessible to readers with disabilities, and able to embed audio, video, and interactive maps and graphics, at what point do they stop becoming “books” and start becoming something else?
- The Amazon Kindle e-reader currently allows you to annotate an electronic book passage with highlights and your own personal notes. Those annotations are even available to you on the Web, not just on the Kindle device itself. As Seth Godin notes, there hopefully will be a day when you will be able to share those notes with others. You’ll also be able to push a button on your e-reader and see everyone else’s notes and highlights on the same passage. What kind of new learning capabilities will that enable for us?
- If students and teachers now can be active content creators and producers, not just passive information recipients, doesn’t that redefine our entire notion of what it means to be information literate and media fluent? Are our librarians and classroom teachers doing enough to help students master these new literacies (for example, by focusing on student content creation, not just information consumption and/or interpretation)?
- The Cushing Academy boarding school in Massachusetts may be the first school in the country to have its library go completely electronic. In addition to using library computers, students now check out Kindles loaded with books. How tough would it be for other schools to move to this model (and what would they gain or lose as a result)?
- When books, magazines, newspapers, reference materials, music, movies, and other traditional library content all go electronic and online - deliverable on demand - what does that mean for the future of the physical spaces known as “libraries?” Mike Eisenberg said to me that we already should be taking yellow caution tape and blocking off the entire non-fiction and reference sections of our libraries. As content becomes digital and no longer needs to be stored on a shelf, with what do we replace that now-unused floor space: couches, tables, and cozy chairs? computer stations? meeting space? And if we head in these directions, what will distinguish libraries from other institutions such as coffee shops, community centers, and Internet cafes?
- Our information landscape is more complex than ever before. We still need people who know how to effectively navigate these intricate electronic environments and who can teach others to do so. But does that mean we still need “librarians” who work in “libraries?” Or will their jobs morph into something else?
- How much of a librarian’s current job could be done by someone in a different location (for example, someone in India who answers questions via telephone or synchronous chat) or by computer software and/or an electronic kiosk? I don’t know the answer to this question - and I suspect that it will vary by librarian - but I do know that many individuals in other industries have been quite dismayed to find that large portions of their supposedly-indispensable jobs can be outsourced or replaced by software (which, of course, means that fewer people are needed locally to do whatever work requires the face-to-face presence of a live human being).
- Can a librarian recommend books better than online user communities and/or database-driven book recommendation engines? For example, can a librarian’s ability to recommend reading of interest surpass that of a database like Amazon’s that aggregates purchasing behavior or a dedicated user community that is passionate about (and maybe rates/reviews) science fiction books, and then do so for romance, political history, manga, self-help, and every other possible niche of literature too?
- If school librarians aren’t actively and explicitly modeling powerful uses of digital technologies and social media themselves and also supporting students to do the same, should they get to keep their jobs? And if they are doing so individually (which is what we want), what’s their responsibility to police the profession (and lean on those librarians who aren’t)?
- There is no conceivable future in which the primacy of printed text is not superceded by electronic text and media. If that future is not too far away (and may already be here), are administrators doing enough to transition their schools, libraries, and librarians / media specialists into a new paradigm?
( Leader Talk )
Posted by Al Smith on November 08, 2009 in Current Affairs, Education, Global Issues, Information Technology, Literacy, Staff Picks, Web/Tech, Weblogs | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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KSS Library opens new laptop centre.
ATo serve students and classes better, the KSS Library now has 2 mobile computing centres for classes needing computers for their research projects. The teacher-librarians, Smith and Bede, provide collaboration and direct instruction on a range of lessons and skills. Students with Resource Periods now also have greater access and computer support in the Library.
Grade 10 Orientations concluding
All Grade 10 students participate in an orientation of Library facility and services through English and Social Studies classes.Students learn about new reading materials, online research quest and many other skills and activities to assist in their academic inquiry.
15th Annual Student Leadership Conference
Find Your Inner Hero - Be A Super Leader
Oct 22nd to 25th, 2009
Kelowna Secondary School, Kelowna, BC
WHEN ... October 22-25, 2009
Your Teacher-librarians attending a BC Library Conference in Richmond
Mr. Smith, one of the KSS Library faculty is attending sessions with teacher-librarians from all over BC. He will be on a panel to discuss the role of school libraries in the 21stC. Mrs. Bede is atttending workshops on teen literacy at UVIC. Mrs.Bede and Mr. Smith are chairing the 2010 BC Teacher-librarians Conference at Kelowna Secondary October 2010. www.cotla.sd23.bc.ca/2010
Book Clubs, Lit Circles and finding that perfect new book to read.
Create a new book club or join in a reading group. Book club members receive special library privileges and get priority on all new releases. Some English classes are also engaged in 'Lit Circles' units that are similar to recreational book clubs. Join in the discussion and power-up your brain by reading.
Posted by Al Smith on October 09, 2009 in Bulletins, Education, Information Technology, Kelowna Secondary, Lesson Aids, Literacy, Media Literacy, New Resources, Web/Tech | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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Wordnik is not a traditional dictionary (in fact, we've seriously
considered not calling Wordnik a dictionary at all). If you have a
suggestion for a better word than "dictionary" to describe Wordnik,
please send it our way! Wordnik wants to be a place for all the words, and everything known about them.
Traditional dictionaries make you wait until they've found what they consider to be "enough" information about a word before they will show it to you. Wordnik knows you don't want to wait—if you're interested in a word, we're interested too!
Our goal is to show you as much information as possible, just as fast as we can find it, for every word in English, and to give you a place where you can make your own opinions about words known.
By "information," we don't just mean traditional definitions (although we have plenty of those)!
Posted by Al Smith on June 13, 2009 in Media Literacy, New Resources, Staff Picks, Web/Tech | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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Google Earth provides amazing tools to anyone with some skill and imagination that can produce non-commercial wonders. Find all kinds of data to share with students. Many agencies,( NASA, etc) , non-profits and public benefit groups use Google Earth and Google Maps to further their cause. Find Google Earth on the International Space Station, Global Awareness layers many others like Crisis in Darfur and the new Map the Fallen.
This
US Memorial Day Google Earth honours soldiers with the mashup brilliance of blogger Sean, San Francisco. With Map the Fallen data file you can browse or search for the more than 5,700 American and
Coalition servicemen and women that have lost their lives in Iraq and
Afghanistan.( Mapthefallen)
http://map.mapthefallen.org/oif_oef_casualties.kmz
Posted by Al Smith on May 25, 2009 in Community, Global Issues, Information Technology, Web/Tech | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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KSS LIBRARY NEWS! - your value added resource centre
GALE Cengage Learning has provided a one month trial to Global Issues in Context.
The trial starts on 4/2/2009 and ends on 5/2/2009
Use the link below to gain access to the database(s):
GLOBAL ISSUES IN CONTEXT
http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/kelo26600?id=trial&db=GIC
Visit KSS LIBRARY> Research> to browse our collection of databases
Posted by Al Smith on April 07, 2009 in Global Issues, New Resources, Web/Tech | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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What the CBC Should Know About Twitter? Spark. Feb 17
I am a CBCers and Sparker but not a big Twitterer. I frankly have too much online communication already. Like Young, I have a love hate relationship with technology. Just because I have an affinity for using technology in my job as a teacher-librarian, doesn't mean I am a blind zealot that chases every innovation as it hits. So now I am 'marketing' the virtues of a hybrid approach and I am much happier.
I am trying very hard to nurture the analog side of my soul that sings with marker pens, sticky notes and watercolour brush. I have been reading authors like Daniel Pink and Garr Reynolds. These creative people have struck a chord in my quest to use technology effectively.
I have recently converted my passion of photography into the digital realm. It is powerful, flexible but not without fault. I used to love the senses of my darkroom. It was more than a father's private cave away from the world, but creative place that occasionally generate some amazing prints. The dim aura of red light, the smell of different chemical baths as you poured, the brilliant sharp focused light of the enlarger as you anxiously wait to see your negative secrets come to life; these are the sensory( even sensual) aspects of my paradise lost. I marvel at the speed I can share my images with family and friends around the world but I now see the lost humanity of an analog experience. I think it has something to do with opposable thumbs! Don't relinquish the joys of the analog world for the rush for digitization. Cherish it all. Now you will excuse me, I need to download the latest mp3 from the Spark podcast….is this more than 150 words? - Al SMith
___________________
The Twitterverse has spoken. Last week, Nora, Elizabeth and I did a presentation for our CBC colleagues called "What the heck is Twitter and why would I want to use it on my show?"
Early in the presentation, we asked our Twitter followers what the CBC should know about Twitter. Within a few minutes, we had pages and pages of responses. So then, in David Pogue Twitter Experiment style, here are the responses we received:
Posted by Al Smith on February 17, 2009 in Community, Literacy, Web/Tech | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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| Vito Pilieci |
| The Ottawa Citizen |
After years of banning access to blogs, YouTube and Facebook, it seems the federal government has figured out that maybe that Internet thing isn't so bad after all. In fact, it might even be useful.
At the annual Government in Technology (GTEC) conference, taking place at the Westin Hotel in downtown Ottawa, federal officials took the wraps off the government's internal version of the popular online encyclopedia, Wikipedia, which it calls GCpedia. The service will allow federal employees to post, comment and edit articles placed on GCpedia by their peers.
By doing so, the federal government hopes it can make its processes and decision-making much more transparent. It also allows departments to share information better and catalogue policy developments or new services.
For example, information about climate change policies could be posted and commented on by scientists and bureaucrats from National Resources Canada (NRCan), Environment Canada and Industry Canada. The concept may help break down walls between government departments that have traditionally been stingy when it comes to sharing information.
"This way, not one person owns the information," said Brian MacLeod, chief information management architect, Canadian public sector, with Open Text Corp. "GCpedia proves that they (government) get it and they are using the tools available."
Mr. MacLeod was speaking at the conference yesterday about the benefits of collaborative Internet technologies, which are called Web 2.0 technologies. He said to understand the benefits of new social networking technologies, all a person has to do is look at e-mail.
Most messages could easily be posted in a blog, or as short "yes" or "no" responses. Attachments could be shared on a GCpedia-like website, as opposed to blasting it to an entire mailing list, he said.
The worst part about sharing information through e-mail is that most of it gets deleted.
"As people engage in the community, you are capturing it," said Mr. Macleod. "You can record all of the dialogue, know how it evolved. All of the changes and all of the opinions. You acknowledge that these people exist and you can connect with them."
Mr. Macleod said adopting Web 2.0 applications will also help the government appeal to younger people, a priority for the aging federal public service.
"When you talk about Generation Y, this is how they think," said Mr. Macleod. "The culture is changing as a result of all these new technologies coming forward."
Services such as Napster, Facebook, Myspace and Google were all created by people in their 20s and underscore the "I want it now" mentality of today's youth.
The federal government is lagging behind other countries that have actively pursued collaborative technologies. In the United States, soldiers are allowed to post blogs allowing their families, friends and casual observers to follow what the soldier is up to on a daily basis. Federal health officials post updates on YouTube, letting people know about disease outbreaks. Ontario has used Second Life, an online virtual world, to recruit new public servants.
GCpedia emerged from an obscure National Resources Canada initiative called the NRCan Wiki. The department created the Wiki a year ago to better network its 5,000 employees. To date more than 1,900 are actively using the service.
"It's not just about gathering information, it's about collaborating," said Marj Akerley, chief information officer of NRCan. "Anyone coast to coast can contribute, we don't have to have meetings where we all get together and brainstorm."
Ms. Akerley said the NRCan Wiki worked so well that Treasury Board decided to use it as a template for a government wide version, which they called the GCpedia.
Still, it may be a while before GCpedia, or something like it, is opened up to all Canadians to allow them to comment and debate on federal government policies and initiatives.
"We have to walk before we run," Ms. Akerley said. "It is a culture change. People are very risk-averse within the government of Canada."
Posted by Al Smith on November 13, 2008 in Community, Other, Web/Tech | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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Is It Time to Chuck the Internet and Start Over?
DISCOVER 11.07.2008
Expanding today's overcrowded Web is like building a skyscraper on a pile of styrofoam. by Mark Anderson
Image © Regents of the University of California Berkeley
The Internet is a fast-growing 40-year-old city in desperate need of renovation. In 2008 1.5 billion people worldwide used the likes of BitTorrent, IM, Facebook, e-mail, Google, and Skype via communications protocols originally intended for mere hundreds. The wear is not only showing but worsening: Upkeep and patchwork programming continue to make running networks expensive, and cybercrime is flourishing. In response, teams of computer scientists are gathering to form a Manhattan Project of sorts to rethink the Internet.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) chose Ellen Zegura, chairwoman of GENI's network science and engineering council. "Think of FedEx compared with the old U.S. Postal system." However, while the mail and package delivery system is large and complex —much like the Internet—it has had far more time to test a variety of iterations, from private to public to a combination of the two. The challenge of integrating new ideas into the existing Internet is more like writing, filming, and then editing an entirely new story line into the Matrix trilogy: How do you reconfigure an entire universe that's already overclocked, jacked-in, and densely coded?
http://discovermagazine.com/2008/dec/07-is-it-time-to-chuck-the-internet-and-start-over
Posted by Al Smith on November 13, 2008 in Current Affairs, Periodicals, Web/Tech | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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