A New Way of Looking at Public Library Engagement in America The Pew Research Center’s Internet Project has intensively studied the changing world of public libraries for the last three years. The first stage of our research explored the growing role of ebooks, including their impact on Americans’ reading habits and library habits. Our second stage examined the full universe of library services, as well as what library services Americans most value and what they might want from libraries in the future. In March, we released a report from our third and final stage of research—the fruits of a representative national survey of 6,224 Americans ages 16 and older. provision of digital content is certainly a key element of the services that make libraries useful. This approach is a little new for us. Instead, we used statistical analysis to cluster individuals into groups based on their usage of, views toward, and access to libraries, in order to discover larger insights about how libraries fit into American culture. Other insights in the data
Feature Article - Inquiry Learning, Summer 2009- Teaching with Primary Sources Why is inquiry important for student learning? Inquiry is a process of active learning that is driven by questioning and critical thinking. The understandings that students develop through inquiry are deeper and longer lasting than any pre-packaged knowledge delivered by teachers to students. Inquiry-based learning follows a process that progresses through phases, but is recursive and reflective throughout. Stripling Model of Inquiry pdf version of Stripling Model of Inquiry (247 KB) Why should primary sources be used for inquiry? By their very nature, primary sources engage students in inquiry. Second, primary sources engage students both emotionally and personally because the sources represent authentic voices and images. Finally, the conflicting nature of primary sources helps students see the complexity of issues and recognize the importance of context for credible interpretation. How can primary sources be used during the phases of inquiry? Top “Inquiry-Based Learning.”
THE PIPELINE: Influence--7 Rules (And You Can’t Just Do One!) They always say that in polite company we don’t talk about politics, religion, or sex. Because, well, it runs the risk of offending someone and sparking fights and passionate opinion. I never believed that, and I love engaging in the good fight for the rights associated with the basic human condition. That said, when we talk about school library funding, you can get a similar reaction. Some say it’s like the weather: Too many people talk about it but few really do anything about it. In today’s world, access to information, learning, and technology is a human right in an advanced civil society and especially in a democracy where an informed and educated electorate is critical. Nearly everything we do requires more influence and oversight than it used to. So, here’s a short list of what leaders have built and tried in our profession to influence the success of libraries for learners: 1. Lord knows we have impact studies coming out of the horn of plenty like a tornado spins off cows. 2. 3.
International Journal of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning - Springer An official publication of the International Society of the Learning Sciences, the International Journal of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (IJCSCL) fosters a deep understanding of the nature, theory, and practice of computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL). The journal serves as a forum for experts from such disciplines as education, computer science, information technology, psychology, communications, linguistics, anthropology, sociology, and business. Articles investigate how to design the technological settings for collaboration and how people learn in the context of collaborative activity. Examining the use of CSCL in education, business, and society, IJCSCL also investigates the psychological, social, and technological impact of CSCL on individuals, groups, and society. hide
6 elements of a successful iPad implementation By Samantha Messier and Stephanie Schroeder 11/17/2014 Topics: Mobile Learning, 1-to-1, Professional learning As more districts across the United States move to 1:1 initiatives, a common barrier is financial resources, and a common temptation is to regard these initiatives as technology enterprises rather than instructional transformations. In a three-year pilot project, the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) addressed these challenges by implementing a creative approach designed to entice public funders by providing all students with equitable access to digital devices. A key feature of our model was synergy among multiple, interdependent program elements: Community engagement A strong instructional model Digital devices and apps for students Logistical support Guidance toward high-leverage resources Ongoing, embedded professional development None of these elements alone is sufficient. 1. We also made every effort to include one of the most important stakeholder groups: parents.
Connectivism – Foundations of Learning and Instructional Design Technology Editor’s Note: This landmark paper, originally published on Siemens’s personal website in 2004 before being published in the International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning, has been cited thousands of times and is considered a landmark theory for the Internet age. Siemens has since added a website to explore this concept. Siemens, G. (2004). Siemens, G. (2005). Behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism are the three broad learning theories most often utilized in the creation of instructional environments. Learners as little as forty years ago would complete the required schooling and enter a career that would often last a lifetime. One of the most persuasive factors is the shrinking half-life of knowledge. Some significant trends in learning: Many learners will move into a variety of different, possibly unrelated fields over the course of their lifetime.Informal learning is a significant aspect of our learning experience. Networks, Small Worlds, Weak Ties Dr.
MLA Formatting and Style Guide Coming Soon: A new look for our same great content! We're working hard this summer on a redesign of the Purdue OWL. Worry not! Our navigation menu and content will remain largely the same. Summary: MLA (Modern Language Association) style is most commonly used to write papers and cite sources within the liberal arts and humanities. Contributors: Tony Russell, Allen Brizee, Elizabeth Angeli, Russell Keck, Joshua M. The following overview should help you better understand how to cite sources using MLA eighth edition, including the list of works cited and in-text citations. Please use the example at the bottom of this page to cite the Purdue OWL in MLA. Creating a Works Cited list using the eighth edition MLA is a style of documentation based on a general methodology that may be applied to many different types of writing. Thus, the current system is based on a few guiding principles, rather than an extensive list of specific rules. Here is an overview of the process: Author Said, Edward W. Number
Bloom's Digital Taxonomy Verbs For 21st Century Students - Graphic: Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy Verbs by TeachThought Staff Bloom’s Taxonomy makes the education world go ’round. In one model is a framework that not only lays out for teachers the kinds of thinking that we, as humans, tend towards, but also provides a kind of hierarchy that etches out the possible progression of that thinking. Global Digital Citizen Foundation created the following graphic that helpfully combines both Bloom’s Taxonomy (which, the graphic explains, was created by Andrew Churches) with power verbs useful for lesson planning, assessment design, and the general planning of learning experiences that are based on thinking and complexity. We’ve previously shared a post on evaluating digital tasks using Bloom’s taxonomy, as well as an almost overwhelming list of Bloom’s power verbs as well. Looking to bring professional development for using Bloom’s taxonomy in your school?
Teaching Essential 21st Century Skills Today’s students need more than just instruction in the core topic areas. They also need to learn key 21st-century skills that will serve them well in a globally competitive, information-based society, such as problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration—as well as digital literacy skills such as how to find, evaluate, synthesize, and present information. These skills will be critical for success on the new Common Core assessments set to begin this year. But teaching and measuring these competencies can be a challenge, which is why a growing number of schools are adopting new approaches to instruction and assessment—such as project-based learning—that give students ample opportunities to develop these skills. With the generous support of Learning.com, we’ve assembled this collection of resources to help you integrate 21st century skills into your own curriculum. eSchool News Articles 5 steps to a problem-solving classroom culture Additional Resources
A Copyright-Friendly Toolkit However fabulous Creative Commons and Public Domain content may be, sometimes you really need to use copyrighted material. Say you plan to comment on popular media or current events. For instance, you may be planning to critique the portrayal of Native Americans in commercial films. You are going to want to “quote” some commercial films like Pocahontas, Lone Ranger, and Dances with Wolves. If you are reviewing a book, you may want to share its cover art. You may use copyrighted content without asking permission if you believe that your use falls under the doctrine known as Fair Use. In general, when you transform original content, repurpose it, and add value to it in your own remix, you may be able to claim the use fair. According to American University’s Center for Media and Social Impact, these two tests or questions help you plan whether to use the copyrighted work of others without asking permission: The video below explains why the Code for Fair Use in Online Video was created.
21st Century Librarian Teach Students to Think Through Problems — Not Google Them Aswath Damodaran holds the Kerschner Family Chair in Finance Education and is Professor of Finance at New York University Stern School of Business. He has published prodigiously, authoring several prominent textbooks on valuation, finance and investing, and he has frequently been named “Professor of the Year” by graduates of NYU’s M.B.A. class. Those feats do not fully capture his impact, though. We reached out to him to learn about how he deploys his considerable talents. For Professor Damodaran, teaching is both a passion and a platform, a way of shaping others and sharing what he himself is learning, thinking, and solving. Aswath Damodaran: I think each of us is put on the earth to do something that we can do well. Teaching is not really a profession; it’s a passion. As we talk with each other, I realize that we might teach very different things—my wife teaches seven year olds how to write and add and multiply and divide, and I might teach an undergrad or a 60-year-old CEO.
World Continents & Oceans Games - geography online games "I stumbled upon your fun interactive geography games from a link on the Massachusetts Geographic Alliance Website. Since then, your games have become quite a hit with my competitive colleagues!" --Candice Gomes, Education Outreach Coordinator, Boston Public Library Sheppard Software's geography games were featured in the Boston Public Library's 2006 Exhibition on Mapping! "Terrific online educational games, especially geography." "I am a middle school social studies teacher who also sponsors a geography club after school. "Awesome site... it is the only reason I am passing my World Geography class!" "We love your interactive maps and are using them for 10th grade world history." "Let me say that you guys have an awesome website.