Extra, Extra Read all about School News

School news programs in today's school can range from highly sophisticated productions which employ the use advanced broadcasting technology to simple productions that use a video camera. My school uses the latter. Our media specialist is responsible for producing the school news. This has been the case for several other elementary schools I've visited. My media specialist is not very technologically savvy and actually detests this chore. Since it is not one of her favorite tasks our school news reflects her ability and interest. Our news program is presented daily and must be no longer than 10 minutes. It is one of the privileges of being a fifth grader. The pledge, weather, lunch menu, calendar math information, teacher announcements, and school events are the basic content of each program. At the beginning of each school year she makes a presentation to the fifth graders about the school news. Those interested complete an application and indicate which position they would like to take on. She reviews applications and divides the students into different teams. Each team has two sessions to share the news. Sessions last 2-3 weeks. There are 5 student jobs: anchor, announcer, menu/weather person, props, and camera. The props person sets up the new back drop, anchor desk, flag, and computer. They set up the power point and handle the music that plays during the opening of the new program. The camera person simply turns on the camera and make sure it stays on the tripod. The media specialist types the script each week for the anchor and announcer to read. The media clerk prints out the lunch menu for the menu/weather person. This student must use the newspaper to find the daily weather. There is one other teacher who assists the media specialist with the morning news. Either the media specialist or teacher will handle the switch box. This box allows the media specialist to switch from the Power Point to digital camera images and things of that sort.

Problems with our morning news program are student focused rather than technical. Occasionally there are problems with cables not being pushed in or issues with the switch box. However, the students themselves pose more problems. The media specialist has found that some students become disinterested and don't show up or come late. She has also had to deal with replacing students due to academic or behavioral concerns. The only other problem she noted was time. She said it's hard to get all of the information in within her allotted ten minutes. Especially when teachers come up at the last minute with something that they are just dying to share.

As a future media specialist, I look forward to presenting a morning news broadcast. I think that it can be an invaluable too for students and teachers. I like how the school in Stockbridge didn't simply use their news to be a place to share announcements. This is similar to what is done at the high school level and gives students in the school a sense of ownership. Although I know nothing about broadcasting and using multiple forms of equipment I look forward to learning on the go to produce an noteworthy school news program.

Social Networking in Schools

Social networking is here to stay. At least it seems that way. We are supposed to meet our students where they are "at" and raise them to a higher level of learning. If a primary source of communication is a social network then we are missing the boat if we fail to utilize one. In a forum about social networking in schools on the Teacher Librarian Ning, Karen Lippencott stated "we are supposed to meet our students where they are "at" and raise them to a higher level of learning. If a primary source of communication is a social network then we are missing the boat if we fail to utilize one." I like Karen believe that we should meet our students where they are "at" and raise them to a higher level of learning. If a primary source of communication is a social network then we are missing the boat if we fail to utilize one. So what does that mean with regard to social networks in schools? I personally think that it is time for us to embrace them. As an elementary school teacher I have several students that love to meet online to chat, play games, or search for information. I find it fascinating that my fourth graders come to school recounting online conversations they've had via Google chat with their classmates. One student was even able to get a homework assignment this way!

This class has opened my eyes in a multitude of ways and using Web 2.0 applications in the classroom has been one of the most inspiring. Since I did Ning for my tech tip I've been tossing around the idea about how to use it with students. I presented an idea to my grade level and we're currently in the process of developing a Ning site for our fourth grade students. Unfortunately social networking sites are blocked at my school so our students will not have access to it on school grounds. That has led us to design a Ning site that will be up and running just before spring break with an emphasis on keeping the wheels in their heads moving before the CRCT. We're designing a test prep Ning. This site will feature blogs or forums about reading and math topics. Reading related blogs can serve as a literature circle or book club discussion. One forum is designed to initiate conversation comparing the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie to the book. Students will be encouraged to post titles of good books they've read. Story starters will be provided for students to finish writing an ending. Students will be asked to do or highlight certain aspects of their writing. For example, highlighting vivid verbs or words that are homophones. Math practice activities will include a computation problem of the day as well as a word problem for students to solve. We've used a lot of photographs in math this year and will feature a Geometry in My World photo album where students can add photos that highlight people, places, or things they find during their break that relate to geometry. The events section will feature events at local neighborhood facilities that students can participate in such as programs at the public library or book signings at the local bookstore. Students who access and contribute to the Ning will receive praise on the site as well as when we return to school after spring break.

Since safety is one of the major concerns of schools considering the implementation of social networks. Our Ning will be a secure site with certain features disabled to ensure the safety of our students. As an extra precautionary measure we will be notifying parents about the site and inviting them to preview it before allowing their child to join. I think it would be awesome if this were something we could have access to at school as well. While I understand wanting to keep students away from things like cyberbullying and online predators I think that schools need to take a good look at their policies regarding social networks. It's a fact of life that there are bad and terrible things in this world. That doesn't mean that we avoid them and hope they'll go away. We celebrate Red Ribbon week each year at school telling students about the dangers of drugs and how they can avoid them. Shouldn't we employ the same type of education with regard to social networks? Since they are very real things that students are likely to encounter and have the ability to enhance learning it's a win win situation in my opinion.

Becoming a Socialite...

I noticed when looking at the 2008 AASL survey that the social networking most accepted in schools isn't authentically social networking: it distributes information with very little give and take. We discussed blogs and podcasts a few weeks ago, but in education, they tend to be less interactive than platforms like Facebook, which is where my students lead their virtual lives.

My students have been working on social media research projects, and many of them have latched onto internet addiction and gaming as topics because of the passion they have for both. Several of them have even given up Facebook for Lent and have incorporated that experience/withdrawal into the body of their project. I have writers in my classroom who publish and solicit feedback constantly almost exclusively on the web, but who won't share anything in class. The freedom of expression she experiences online almost disappears in f2f (face-to-face) encounters. Here's some disconnect we're having with our students. If education can learn ways to incorporate social media into the curriculum, we can learn how to best serve our digital natives.

I have gotten to play around with the MyDestiny features discussed in the Fiehn article, and, although we haven't rolled it out officially with our students, the few I've shown have been really enthusiastic about being able to rate/recommend books for others and for the SLMS, and to share lists. Funny enough, they liked changing their wallpaper almost as much as anything else. I think we're on to something here.

Another social media topic my students have been looking at is maintaining their online reputations, which is the major obstacle school systems must surmount in order to embrace the Web 2.0 paradigm. I really like Alex Ragone's admin statement, "I will maintain common, face-to-face social conventions and boundaries to avoid circumstances which are or could be perceived as inappropriate while using social networking, blogs, or any other interactive websites." I hope that I can nudge our county towards using more of it. I'm going to add the statement to our online newspaper that we're launching next week. Students will be able to post and comment (with my moderation). The question my principal had was, "What happens when your email gets clogged up with all these comments?" I told him, "I'll jump for joy, because that means that kids are reading it!"

My online communities have more pull with me than many of my f2f encounters. I do my professional reading through my Google Reader, maintain my longtime or long distance relationships through Facebook, and have my virtual university right here. We must change our approach in order to meet our kids where they live.

Media Center Websites: The New Media Specialist?

Media center websites today often offer one stop shopping for students, teachers, and parents. The typical media center website will include access to the print catalog and databases. These can be free databases or those to which a particular school subscribes. Links to popular curriculum studies or specific teacher assignments are also popular on media center websites. Several websites also include media center operating information, policies and procedures, and contact information. Some also feature access to bibliographic aids, suggested reading lists, blogs, pathfinders, and lesson plans. These features are fairly common and put students and teachers in direct contact with information or resources needed. More and more websites feature information about favorite authors, contests, event calendars, award book information, book talks, or videos. There are also some that feature games, quotes by authors, student work or projects, and current events. Some of the more innovative media centers have websites that are actually blogs or wikis. This allows form more collaboration between the media specialist and stakeholders. Blogs and wikis make it possible for multiple parties to contribute to content shared by the media center. Ideally, media center websites are designed for one stop shopping when it comes to informational needs of students, teachers, and parents.

The question is are they doing their job too well? Is it possible that a website could replace an actual person? Furloughs, budget cuts, and reductions in force are all popular vocabulary words in schools today. Next week, my school district is going to vote on a proposal for budget cuts that includes reducing the number of high school media specialists from 2 to 1. These cuts also call for the elimination of media paraprofessional positions at the middle school level. I've talked to media specialists in other counties who fear similar or more drastic cuts. So how does this relate to media center websites? If media specialist positions are reduced or eliminated then the services once provided by an actual person may need to be more virtual in nature. A media center website could serve as a virtual media specialist. Let's say that positions were reduced and one media specialist was responsible for their entire school without an assistant. Or let's say that one media specialist was responsible for 3 schools. It is physically impossible for that one media specialist to meet all of the needs of those that he/she would serve. Therefore a media center website could be one way to help students get their needs met. Lesson once taught in the media center could be posted on the websites as a vlog or podcast. Media center orientations could be done via power points that are linked to the website. Collaboration between media specialists and teachers could take place online via wikis. Information about new resources or books of interest could be shared through blogs. These are all features that are becoming increasingly more popular on media center websites.

As an educator who is aspiring to become a media specialist I hope that media center websites are not, and will not take the place of media specialists. Hopefully, the powers that be won't read this blog and think "hey that's a great idea." I do think its important to consider that as media center websites become more sophisticated they allow for more one stop shopping and the future implications it could have on our role.

Trice-Wiki Post

I started a wiki this year for my AP Human Geography class and it has been a huge success and something that I am proud of as a classroom teacher. I post word documents, videos, and podcasts to assist in classroom instruction. The students know that if they are absent, need a copy or further explanation the wiki is there to assist them in as a “one stop shop.” As I have learned the process as I go, I have often thought that this could be a great tool when I become a Media Specialist as well. A wiki is basically a website that is extremely user friendly and offers the ability for users to take an active role in creating, editing, adding and changing the wiki. I have found that wikispaces is great site (www.wikispaces.com) for educators and it is free! If you want to view mine, just for an example of how to use or how you could suggest teachers to use go to www.mstrice.wikipaces.com.
Wikis can be a great asset to Media Centers on a variety of levels! They can be used for someone just starting out as an additional resource as “storage cabinet” or as a collaborative tool. As with any technology tool, the more comfortable someone feels the more willing they will be t go one more step, then another and eventual to the level of being an expert. Wikis can be used as a “go to source” for both teachers and students and can be an interactive website used for collaboration and information source. The Media Center can advertise what is going on/programs offered, promote new books, resources and technology , links to teacher projects with valuable resources that can assist in research, lint to resources such as citation sites for APA and MLA styles and much more. I reviewed several of the links and was impressed with what some of the schools were linking. Students can watch videos on Media Center orientations, technology tips, computer lab procedures – teachers and media specialists can post a variety of resources that encourage student involvement such as promoting reading. Student love to see themselves in the spotlight! Another tool, I never thought about was having students create wikispaces to for a unit -gathering and posting information, promoting material or whatever. One of the links that I reviewed was in regards to a teacher not being able to find online sources for a book. She and her class creates a wiki and gathered material in support of the book – now she created an online source that other teachers and students can use to research and learn about content of the book as well as the book itself. All of the resources that were presented showcased wikis as a strong resource to use. As I mentioned before as the creator gets more comfortable with all the wiki can do, the use will become more and more an asset but even as a “beginner wiki” the wiki proves to be an effective tool. As far as drawbacks, there are not many. Wikis can be made public or private. If they are private, they may be less attainable to the community the wiki should serve as people that want to view must request membership. That may be a large task for a media specialist in a large school. If community members are accepted as members, they may have access to editing and changing the wiki depending on how the wiki was initially setup. I think that media specialists may have to think through how wiki was to be used and then can decide on restrictions or access.
In the age of students being engaged in fast connections to information through the internet, the exposure to entertainment through television and video games, the Media Center needs to move with the trends and be as interactive as the other activities that students are so enthralled in. This is their world, they are the technology world. We as Media Specialist need to learn the game, play the game and master the game and offer information to them in ways that they will enjoy, understand and become engaged in. A wiki can do just that – it can be an interactive tool to educate students and expose. As they can be “storage cabinets” (which is not completely bad), they can also be viewed as a tool to promote collaboration. Media Specialists can create wikis where students and teachers can access resources needed on a day to day basis. Wikis can also be a source for teachers to work with the SLMS in which the SLMS can post available resources for students. Teachers can view other teacher’s projects and resources. The wiki can be set up where members can add comments or question or post own resource finds. If you do not want the wiki to be open to the public for change/editing, users can still play a role. Wikis can be set up with a discussion page to create posts, discussions or questions. Also the wiki can “notify” users of changes and additions. It seems that more and more, there is just not enough time in the day! A wiki can create a go to place to support student achievement and learning as well as aid teachers in instruction. In order for the wiki to be a collaborative tool, the SLMS must actively promote how the use of the wiki is a resourceful tool!