YA Literature Audiobook Community
Posted from Diigo. The rest of teacher-librarians group favorite links are here.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Teacher Librarian Links 06/01/2010
Posted from Diigo. The rest of teacher-librarians group favorite links are here.
Secrets of Change: Secret 2
I have now finished the second secret in Michael Fullan's book, The Six Secrets of Change. This chapter is on Secret 2: Connecting Peers with Purpose. In my new position as CIO I have a vision of an integrated Library and Technology Departments into one Information Department. Right now in theory, we are all housed under the guise of "information services", but in reality each department functions independently of the other. When I was reading this chapter, I tried to envision how to utilize what was said in the effort to unite the two information families into one united information hub.
Initially in the opening statement for this chapter, Fullan talks about the nuance of connecting peers with purpose. "The nuance is that connecting peers with purpose does not require less leadership at the top, but rather more -- more of a different kind. (Fullan, 2008, pg.41) This, much like secret one, does not see exceptional leadership as top-down, rather with the leader being able to skillfully navigate the potentially choppy waters of interpersonal interactions.
Fullan does set forth three conditions that positive purposeful peer interaction effectively occurs with:
1) When the larger values of the organization and those of individuals and groups mesh.
In our school environment I feel that everyone in the information services department loves the school, and that was a strong draw for me to take this job. When everyone is there for the good of the students and the good of the school, you will have step one in the bag. Not having to create a foundation is a plus, though if this step is not already in place, a good leader must start from scratch. The way that I look at it is, if step one is not in place, you will need to examine what each of your group's members have in common and build coherency around like elements.
2) When information and knowledge about effective practices are widely and openly shared.
This is something that I feel happens among members of PLN's but within schools this is something that is at times reticent to happen. I am not sure why, but I find that those that work in schools are most apt to keep their cards close to their vests when it comes to things that might gain accolades. What everyone needs to know is that best practices and sharing of knowledge and information raises the bar and standards for every member of the team and the team as a whole. When step 1 is in place and people begin to feel responsibility for the school, the team and themselves, everyone wins!
3) When monitoring mechanisms are in place to detect and address ineffective actions while also identifying and consolidating effective practices.
Step 3 can only happen when steps 1 and 2 are solidly in place. There is also the underlying need for trust. If a team does not trust it's leader then monitoring mechanisms and efforts to unite best practices will be met with animosity and second guessing. If you are at the point where step 3 is in the queue and you are setting up monitoring mechanisms, you should also have the trust of your team. Remember, these mechanisms cannot and should not be developed in a vacuum and not only should a good leader be transparent, but a team should be united by best practice to collectively create and use the monitoring mechanisms to continually evolve.
While Peer to Peer purposeful interaction can be used as a common thread within a team, it is much more than simply that. Beyond purposeful, there needs to be higher level interactions that can align a team to continue along those paths indefinitely.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
My Link Library 05/31/2010
Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.
Teacher Librarian Links 05/31/2010
Posted from Diigo. The rest of teacher-librarians group favorite links are here.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Teacher Librarian Links 05/30/2010
GOOD.is | The Most Targeted Books (Raw Image)
2009 Top Ten challenged books. Graphic representation which includes reasons why the books have been challenged.
Posted from Diigo. The rest of teacher-librarians group favorite links are here.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Teacher Librarian Links 05/27/2010
Um Guia para professores usarem o Twitter
Utilidades o twitter para professores
Posted from Diigo. The rest of teacher-librarians group favorite links are here.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Teacher Librarian Links 05/26/2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Teacher Librarian Links 05/25/2010
Gutenberg 2.0 | Harvard Magazine May-Jun 2010
"This defines a new role for librarians as database experts and teachers, while the library becomes a place for learning about sophisticated search for specialized information."
“How do we make information as useful as possible to our community now and over a long period of time?”
Posted from Diigo. The rest of teacher-librarians group favorite links are here.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Teacher Librarian Links 05/24/2010
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Teacher Librarian Links 05/23/2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
Teacher Librarian Links 05/22/2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Teacher Librarian Links 05/21/2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Teacher Librarian Links 05/19/2010
NESTLE KERFUFFLE by Scott Douglas on Prezi
A GREAT example of social media in action. Also a very good example of the power of Prezi. This would be great as a homework assignment prior to a lesson on social media and/or an example of a well constructed, web-based narrative. Students could analyze all the elements and evaluate the sources.
Posted from Diigo. The rest of teacher-librarians group favorite links are here.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Digital Citizenship 05/17/2010
Welcome to the Collinsville Unit 10 Internet Safety Resource Page!
Facebook Privacy Updated May, 2010
Larry Magid gives us an update on how to adjust our Facebook privacy settings.
Note: defaults are public. You'll need to reviews all of your settings.
Posted from Diigo. The rest of Ad4dcss/Digital Citizenship group favorite links are here.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Teacher Librarian Links 05/15/2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Teacher Librarian Links 05/14/2010
This is an annual series initiated under the auspices of the Machine-Assisted Reference Section (MARS) of the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) of ALA to recognize outstanding reference sites on the World Wide Web.
Posted from Diigo. The rest of teacher-librarians group favorite links are here.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Digital Citizenship 05/13/2010
Teaching Parents Digital Citizenship at Katy ISD
This Texas school district has decided that the best way to help their students learn how to use online resources more responsibly is to educate parents as well. Evening technology showcases provide a launch pad.
Posted from Diigo. The rest of Ad4dcss/Digital Citizenship group favorite links are here.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Digital Citizenship 05/12/2010
Creative Teaching Strategies in the Special Needs Classrooms
"special education, classroom, special needs, videos, youtube, assistive technology, special education teacher"
Posted from Diigo. The rest of Ad4dcss/Digital Citizenship group favorite links are here.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Digital Citizenship 05/11/2010
Cybersafety Week Activities at DeerPark Independent School District
This site directs you to cybersafety week activities planned for Deepark Independent School District. Includes downloadable materials for GR K-2, 3-5 and middle school.
Posted from Diigo. The rest of Ad4dcss/Digital Citizenship group favorite links are here.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Digital Citizenship 05/07/2010
Interdisciplinary Response to Youths Sexting - Powered by Google Docs
from NetSmartz, this 5 pg doc provides focus questions and recommended steps to prevent and respond to sexting
Posted from Diigo. The rest of Ad4dcss/Digital Citizenship group favorite links are here.
Teacher Librarian Links 05/07/2010
The Comic Book Project. An arts-based literacy initiative at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Digital Storytelling Teacher Guide
Download an e-book, watch videos, and use tempates from teachers to learn how to use Windows Live Movie Maker and other tools to make learning more personal with pictures and movies in your classroom." />professional development, information literacy, reading promotion, digital storytelling, cool tools
Posted from Diigo. The rest of teacher-librarians group favorite links are here.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Digital Citizenship 05/06/2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Digital Citizenship 05/05/2010
20 Web 2.0 Tools for Teachers
This slideshare from Simon Ward is great little resource for teachers. While there are multiple references to New Zealand the tools themselves are worth looking at. I see things like this as great for informal professional development for teachers. Quick showcasing with the option to see more if desired. Kudos to Simon Ward.
On a side note, slideshare itself is a fantastic tool for finding and sharing resources.
On a side note, slideshare itself is a fantastic tool for finding and sharing resources.
Easy Web 2.0 Tools for Teachers
View more presentations from pingable.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Secrets of Change: Secret 1
It has been a long time since I have posted about what I have been reading, but the one that I am reading now has begun to resonate deeply with me and the new position that I will be starting in about 8 weeks. The current book that I am reading right now is The Six Secrets of Change: What the Best Leaders Do to help their Organizations Survive and Thrive, by Michael Fullan.
Secret One: Love your Employees
While this might sound a bit "hippie-dippy" the idea of loving your employees is as timeless as people. Most of us know it as the golden rule. When we look at education within this paradigm, we need to know that we are talking about how administrators work with their faculties and staff. The best schools will have administrators and leaders that value their employees as much as their students. "the quality of the education system cannot exceed the quality of its teachers" (barber & Mourshed, 2007, p.8). If this is truly the case, then we need to have high quality teachers to have a high quality education. If our teachers don't feel loved, then they will not want to be there. If a teacher does not love being at his or her school, then they will not stay motivated to be great, if they are not great, our system is in failure.
Fullan says that one of the ways we can love our employees is to create the conditions they need to succeed (p.25). When a teacher can feel like they are simultaneously able to fulfill their own goals and the goals of the school they begin to love what they do and want to do it better.
While this concept seems to have been designed for business, the translation to education is not that far off. In the business model Fullan talks about five stakeholder groups; customers, employees, investors, partners and society. When you move this model to education we look at our stakeholders; students are our customers, teachers are our employees, parents are our investors, many groups such as pto's, vendors, and community groups are our partners and well, society is still society. Using this model we are beginning to look at the symbiotic relationship between our teachers and students, but we are also looking at being the best we can be.
Loving our teachers, with respect, encouragement, top notch working conditions and resources to be the best they can will allow both teachers and students to flourish together. This is not about pay, rather human nature.
This image has been licensed by Getty Images as stock photography.
Teacher Librarian Links 05/04/2010
Posted from Diigo. The rest of teacher-librarians group favorite links are here.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Digital Citizenship 05/03/2010
Have Something Nice to Say? Say it On Facebook
An anonymous Facebook page filled with negative comments about Evanston (Ill.) Township High School students became part of a police investigation into cyberbulling earlier this month. But now students at the same school are drawing attention for posting and sharing the nicest comments imaginable about each other.
Posted from Diigo. The rest of Ad4dcss/Digital Citizenship group favorite links are here.
Teacher Librarian Links 05/03/2010
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Digital Citizenship 05/02/2010
Students Protest School Budget Cuts in New Jersey - NYTimes.com
In a demonstration of the power of civics and social media, 18,000 students coordinated a classroom walkout demonstration that was orchestrated from recent high school grad Michelle Ryan Lauto, 18, posting a Facebook invitation last month to take a stand against state budget cuts in education.
Posted from Diigo. The rest of Ad4dcss/Digital Citizenship group favorite links are here.
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