Web 2.0 for Schools

There is a new book from colleagues in the School of Education here at Sheffield University: Davies, J. and Merchant, G. (2009) Web 2.0 for Schools: Learning and Social Participation. New York: Peter Lang. They are researchers in digital literacy.

Problem-based learning meets Web 2.0

This presentation by Frances May (University of North Texas) at LOEX 2009 Albuquerque caught my eye. As part of a Basic Communication Studies course, groups of 25 students were brought to the library, shown a 3 minute YouTube video which illustrated a problem. e.g. BBC News about China's grime belt air pollution extreme)They had then to list the facts contained in it, develop a problem statement, determine the information they needed, construct a search and then run it against the OPAC and Academic Search Complete.
Student comments "The video was helpful ...from the problem statement students are able to search relevant topics that support their research" and "helped me to realize how to really research".
Guess the point is that the video grabbed them in a way that just suggesting a topic (or getting them to) would not, and then they get engaged in deciding what they wabt to find out, formulate keywords and start the process of searching. Must try this.

Your School Library : Information Literacy with Web 2.0

I am presenting within the Your School Library II : Information Literacy with Web 2.0

"The first Your School Library online conference – Transforming School Libraries with Web 2.0 – was held over February and attracted in excess of 200 delegates. According to participant feedback, it was highly successful in stimulating debate and discussion about the school library in the Web 2.0 world. Delegates identified the topic that they wanted to next investigate Information Literacy in a Web 2.0 world, which would look at the emerging digital tools but with a sharper focus."
The second conference is bigger and in June with some special presentations coming online in July. The majority of presentations are in English.n July). The main conference started on June 13 and discussion will conclude July 5.
Once again, the conference is “held” on the collaboration website Sosius.com. Delegates use this as a base camp to explore the Web 2.0 world.
Contributors list is impressive :
Mike Eisenberg US
Karen Visser Australia
Lesley Farmer US
S C Kong HK
Barbara Combes Australia
David Kennedy HK
Daniel Churchill HK
Kate Reid Australia
Dana Dukic HK
James Henri Australia
Sharon Markless UK
Lourense Das Netherlands
Patricia Montiel Overall US
Lourdes David Philippines
Mihaela Banek Croatia
Lee FitzGerald Australia
Pat Parungao Canada
Sheila Webber UK
Helen Chan HK
Albert Boekhorst Netherlands
Roeland Smeets Netherlands
Donna DesRoches Canada
Peter Godwin UK
Carlene Walter Canada
My contribution "Information Literacy meets Web 2.0 in schools" will be released to the course in about 10 days. It was an interesting experience recording the 23 minute audio track in one take against the slides! Maybe I'd do it in sections next time...
I shall post again about this course, giving my impressions.

Why students like the Library as a place

Thanks to Michael Stephens' Tame the Web I came across a liitle video of student opinions of their library at Western Washington University. It's very 2.0 and important to find out what our users think. Also for making a video about our library - much better to hear them than a librarian! I was amused by some of the comments though : "I like the Harry Potter room" and weirdest of all "I really like the microfilm room". I thought those things went out with the ark! I spent 19 years of my life as a manager trying to get those things put on the scrap heap - tapes and machines. I won too! Anyway it is a good 1 minute 45 sec. promotional video for their library!

New public library in Newcastle upon Tyne

I'm posting about this because this new public library opens today to the public. I was privileged to have a sneak preview when I visited my son last month. It is a glimpse of what the future holds for public libraries. I have seen external views of this exciting building before but it is only when viewing the interior that is is possible to appreciate its sheer size.

There is a large flexible area for meetings and presentations ; attractive media collection area ; and excellent IT access. I was very interested to hear about the new style help which will not be provided from librarians behind desks but by staff sitting with patrons around open style kiosks.

Many thanks to Kerry Morris of the Library staff for showing me round, and I look forward to hearing about the Web 2.0 tools which they will undoubtedly be employing soon.