Technology

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Kindle or Netbook?

I like to treat myself at the end of the school year. This year, I am struggling over what to buy to satisfy my inner geek.

Netbook or Kindle??

NETBOOK
I already have a laptop.  I love it for working at home because it has a big 17 inch screen and a big keyboard.  But I don’t take it with me as often as I anticipated.  The problem? It is heavy and the battery life is not very long.  A netbook  would fix those problems.  I just feel slightly ridiculous and self-indulgent to spend the money when we already have 2 computers in our house.  New computers.  ……And there are only 2 of us……

KINDLE
I am definitely interested.  Problem?  I don’t buy books.  At least not very often.  Seems an odd thing for a librarian to admit.  But at heart, I am a die-hard library person.  I truly believe in the most fundamental reason to use a library – FREE BOOKS!!  I was excited when our public library system started a downloadable audio book and ebook collection.  Not that I care about audio books.  I am constitutionally incapable of listening to a book.  I MUST read books.  Ebooks seem a good solution.  But the collection currently on offer from the public library is dismal.

So….go to Amazon, right?  No.  It would cost money.  I read fiction.  It is very rare that I would want to read a novel more than once.

So, why on earth should I buy a Kindle?

Guess I’ll resist the siren call.  Even though every time I go to Amazon I hear it.  “Buy me, buy me, buy me…….”, the beautiful device chants seductively.

I will try to be strong.  If I succumb, the Kindle will end up like many a toy I had as a child – abandoned under my bed in favor of my trusted old friends.   Yes…yes…there are definite advantages to the Kindle.  The price is not the barrier.  It’s the maintenance.  Right now the pretty little toy just costs too much to feed….

Long live the free lunch!  Long live the library!

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Beyond PowerPoint

I will TRY to remember to add to this post as I discover  ideas.  Someone on LM_NET recently asked for non-powerpoint presentation ideas for upper level classes.  Some of the ideas that have come in are:

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What INFORMATION technology skills should be in a tech curriculum?

Our district is writing a k-12 technology curriculum. I have been included on the curriculum writing team. Yea!

Alas! I did not have enough time to gather all the resources and get my head around the task before our 2 day summer meeting.

It seems like a very overwhelming task, but…you just have to start eating that elephant one bite at a time. So….Each technology coordinator for each building made a list of skills that students should have by the end of each grade level through 8th grade. For high school, the coordinator made a list of what tech skills should be mastered by the end of 12th grade.

As the high school librarian, I made a list of the INFORMATION technology skills that students should have by the end of 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th.

I am sure that I have forgotten a lot that should be on the list. I would be most appreciative if you would have a look and let me know what glaring things I left out.

Ninth Grade

Students will:

  1. Recognize that the high school library website is a portal to quality information in all formats.
  2. Recognize that public library websites are useful sources for lifelong information needs.
  3. Search the High School Library Online Catalog (OPAC) to locate books using multiple keywords.
  4. Search local library system OPAC to borrow books as needed,
  5. Use Boolean operators to create more effective OPAC searches.
  6. Use multiple search engines.
  7. Use web evaluation skills to choose appropriate Internet sources.
  8. Use basic search features of online research databases (Gale PowerSearch, EBSCO, etc.) to locate full-text, printable information in periodicals & reference books not available via search engines.
  9. Use subject specific databases when appropriate (English Databases).
  10. Use basic Boolean search operators (and, or, not, truncation) when using search engines and research databases.
  11. Understand basic copyright issues.
  12. Understand basic plagiarism issues; the consequences of deliberate plagiarism; and avoid inadvertant plagiarism by using anti-plagiarism software.
  13. Practice ethical information management by citing sources accurately and contact content creators for permission to use media such as pictures and videos.
  14. Use works cited software (EasyBib) to create accurate works cited lists.
  15. Use technologies to organize research information (word processed or PowerPoint notes; using folders to organize project files, online book marking sites*, rss feeds*, blogs*, wikis*, etc.).
  16. Use technologies to present research information (video, podcasts, PowerPoint, webpages etc.).
  17. Recognize that libraries provide access to technology, and librarians are a lifelong source of assistance for using information technology resources.

Tenth Grade

Students will:

  1. Demonstrate all skills learned in 9th grade.
  2. Use high school library web page regularly to access information in all formats.
  3. Use advanced OPAC features such as “bookbags” and sort features to create lists of library resources.
  4. Use advanced search features when searching for information with search engines.
  5. Use advanced web evaluation skills to choose appropriate Internet sources.
  6. Use advanced search features of online research databases (Gale PowerSearch, EBSCO, etc.) to locate full-text, printable information in periodicals & reference books not available via search engines.
  7. Use subject specific databases when appropriate (for example: Health databases).
  8. Use complex Boolean search skills when using search engines and databases.
  9. Demonstrate adherence to copyright laws.
  10. Avoid plagiarism in research assignments; use anti-plagiarism software regularly when possible; & consistently practice ethical information management by creating works cited lists using EasyBib or other citation makers.
  11. Use the library regularly to access technology and seek assistance of the librarian as needed when using information technology resources.

Eleventh Grade

Students will:

  1. Demonstrate all skills learned in 9th and 10th grade.
  2. Recognize that college library websites are an essential portal to college level research. (AP/Gemini courses).
  3. Use online WebQuests designed by teachers.
  4. Use advanced web evaluation skills to choose Internet sources with more advanced, complex information.
  5. Recognize and use highly respected sources of Internet information (such as PBS, National Geographic etc).
  6. Use advanced search features of online research databases (Gale PowerSearch, EBSCO, etc.) to locate full-text, printable information in peer-reviewed, academic level periodicals & reference books not available via search engines.
  7. Use subject specific databases when appropriate (Social Studies databases).
  8. Use the library regularly to access technology and seek assistance of the librarian consistently when encountering difficulty locating the information for research reports or personal interest.

Twelfth Grade

Students will:

  1. Demonstrate all skills learned in 9th , 10th and 11th grade.
  2. Recognize that college library websites are an essential portal to college level research. (All 12th graders).
  3. Demonstrate advanced web evaluation skills in order to locate Internet sources with more advanced, complex information. Be able to defend the quality of sources chosen.
  4. Recognize and consistently use highly respected sources of Internet information. (For example, Johns Hopkins Medical Center; The Pew Institute etc.).
  5. Use advanced search features of online research databases (Gale PowerSearch, EBSCO, etc.) to locate full-text, printable information in peer-reviewed, academic level periodicals. Be able to articulate the difference between the popular press and scholarly journals.
  6. Use advanced search features of online research databases (Gale PowerSearch, EBSCO, etc.) to locate information in online reference books of a more advanced level. Include more of these types of resources into high level research projects.
  7. Use subject specific databases when appropriate (Economics & Government databases).
  8. Demonstrate understanding of complex copyright issues.
  9. Demonstrate understanding of complex plagiarism issues and how to avoid problems in college and the work world.
  10. Use the library regularly to access technology and consult the librarian consistently when starting research or encountering difficulty locating needed information for research reports or personal interest.