School Library 2.0

Week 7: Thing 12

I really enjoyed this article Library 2.0. We got to Skype with Bob Berkowitz from the Big6, and he argued that technology is just stuff and he is not required to teach that in the library. He said that IF the technology teaches something than that is great, but he argues that we should not be teaching technology just for technology's sake. I understand that viewpoint, and I worry about using tech, and losing the "thinking skills" in the pursuit of technology skills. And yet, I think learning will get to the point that technology MUST be used, and so my job as a librarian-teacher is to find technology that teaches THINKING skills, not just tech skills.

I loved this quote "Redefining the school library is not a response to some inherent failure on the part of the institution. It’s an opportunity for library professionals to engage in some exciting activities that will enable our institutions to remain effective in the midst of fast-moving technological change". I completely agree with this, and I believe that refusal to change or integrate, or even slow change will endanger our profession, AND the learning of our kids. 


For the most part, I loved the suggestions in this article, and I wanted to make a list of the great ideas that I could use in a library.

• Library Thing: suggests that this can be used to have struggling readers create a booklist and give feedback on the book, to help the teachers understand the relationship that struggling readers (or any readers) have with their books. This can help strengthen the teaching/learning interaction between student and teacher.
• Book Talk: This is REALLY cool, kids can phone in their reviews on books. TEACHING THOUGHT: students would need to write their reviews first... to insure learning and thinking.

This is an important point to remember, especially given my "struggle", questions and concerns with technology.

"On the face of it, we’re talking about using blogs and podcasts. The heart of the concept, though, is not about the tools, but rather the communities and the conversations that they make possible."

• "Library Powered" stickers instead of Intel Inside stickers. LOVE IT! (needs to be catchy though)

Final important quote:

"It’s all a part of helping students become literate users of information in order for them to have successful careers in school and beyond. Remember that for some students, a rich school library experience may be their only library experience. Let’s use every opportunity to help our students engage the joy of reading and the power of information."

Considering the article and the overwhelming nature of technology, I think it will be important as a librarian to set a few clear goals, in terms of collaboration or technology and the library, and then focus on choosing technology that will support those goals. If you want good readers, then choose tech that will support that, like blogs, or book talks or book trailers. If you want students to become literate and finding information, then you would use Diigo, Noodletools, Pioneer and Google Docs. If there are no clear goals, it will be difficult to sustain any effort in a long term manner.

Great article with great information and great ideas! :)