Blog 6: Technology Training

Blog 6: Technology Training 

Melissa Campbell

            Staff development is an essential part of a school. I believe that technology staff development is one of the most important areas due to how rapidly the field is changing and growing. In a school there are teachers with a wide range of experience. There may be teachers who have taught with technology their whole careers. While others are having a hard time embracing the change. This can be a huge challenge for a media specialist when designing staff developments. It is similar to our classroom of students. There are many different learning styles in one room and a variety of experience levels and background knowledge that are present. The library today looks vastly different than the one twenty years ago, and this will continue to be true in even twenty more years (Jurkowski, 2010).

            At Peachtree Elementary the range of technology skills of the staff begins with those who are afraid to use the SMART Board attached to their walls and don’t know how to create folders on the computer, to teachers who use the laptop carts weekly, develop interactive websites, and bring their students to the computer labs for various activities. I think this is typical of most schools. Some teachers are naturally hesitant to change their teaching styles or incorporate new or unfamiliar technology, while others embrace it. After talking with the media specialists at my school I see that it is always an uphill battle to find a balance between the skill levels of the staff.

 pment established. learning styles in one room and a variety of experience lekil           Every school has some type of professional development established. At Peachtree the media specialists plan a staff development every month. Each month the topic is different. A few examples of topics include digital cameras, NEOs, SMART Boards, OPAC, Accelerated Reader, projects ideas for students, and using data bases. There is a great media team that always stays up to date on the latest technology our school has to use. Time for these meetings can be an issue.

Teachers are already overwhelmed with their jobs. Most staff development is planned after school when attention and participation is low (Jurkowski, 2010). Sometimes these sessions are during our planning which is in the middle of the day but takes away when we can plan for our students. The media team really tries to be productive during this time and provide teachers with useful information they can actually take back to their rooms and use.

            Instead of hosting a required staff development meeting sometimes the media staff will host “Yall Comes.” An email is sent out to the staff letting them know the date, time, and topic of the y’all come. This way teachers can decide if the meetings will benefit them or not. These meetings are often hosted by teachers that have a special skill in a certain technology area. By utilizing experts inside the school this can save on outside costs. Also if the meeting is being hosted by someone teachers know and feel comfortable with. They may get more out of the meeting.

            If I were to provide technology staff development I would make sure the topics varied, but not so much as to provide too much information. Sometimes in education I feel that we provide a little bit of everything, to the point of not learning enough of one thing to be effective. I would make sure to focus on certain areas enough to help teachers feel comfortable and proficient. A few things I would do with technology training is provide clear and easy to use training aids, make it enjoyable not a chore. Have some optional sessions for teachers who need the extra help. I would not overwhelm teachers with too many new items at one time. I would make sure to be organized with the resources I provide to alleviate confusion. Technology is a great asset for teachers to use. It is the media team’s job to make teachers feel comfortable and ready to use the tools presented to them.

Jurkowski, O. (2010). Technology and the school library: A comprehensive guide for media

specialists and other educators (revised ed.). Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press.   

 

Blog 5: video distribution systems, Georgia Public Broadcasting education resources, school TV news

For this assignment, I talked with the media specialist via the internet (chat line,userplane, by accident) at Northfield Middle School about both subjects each subject concerning broadcasting and educational resources.  First, I spoke with Amy Sieve, media specialist of Northfield Middle School. Firstly, she did say that the school does have a closed-circuit system, which is broadcasted with the school (building-level broadcast only). She said for the most part, it tends to mostly be the school news, but there are also televised events, such as school meetings and sometimes cable and local network televsion. For cable, she explain that the school had to be very careful of the kind of stations that are broadcasted over their airwaves, during school hours. She said they typically keep it to CNN, History Channel, and CSPAN, while for local station they keep to KTCA (PBS, Channel 2), WCCO (CBS, Channel 4), KSTP (ABC, Channel 5), KMSP (FOX), and KARE (NBC). Teachers do not have access to the distribution system, itself. It's primarily up to the main user (Media specialist), of how the content is distributed across the school.  The school uses a webservice called Eduvision.TV, which serves as a video streaming service for organizations, educational institution, and business who would like to broadcast their content across the internet, rather easily, with a higher degree of security management, compared to independent uploading or even more popular video uploading sites.
https://www.eduvision.tv/about-eduvision.html

Users receive greater distribution of bandwidth, large file storage, automated transcoding, embeddable players, and unique portal page.

The school news at Northfield Middle takes place everyday in the media center. There are about 33-36 studetns who partake in the production of the TV show, as it is taped live and broadcasted around the school to start each morning on a closed circuit system (but later streamed through internet).

The news typically starts with the Lunch menu; school announcements of school-wide or grade level issues;club and group meetings;  and a great number of smaller segments (independently produced by individual students), such as Karsten on Tech (technlogy segment) Artley's Animals, At the Movies with Luke, Professor Pun, About Gaming, Book Review Weekly and many other unusual segements. More times than not, there's rotation of anchors and segments, though each day, while it's more often than not produced by Ms. Sieve (Media Specialist).

Postitions include one controls manager, one sound manager,  one floor manager, one omputer operator , and several Camera crew, while  the on air includes one main anchor and co-anchor,  two sports anchor, two anchors for Around the World,and many individual students who are able to submit their idea to star on the news show.

Blog #5 - CCTV & GPB Resources

The school where I work has a video distribution system (CCTV).  It has two channels available for showing audiovisual material, and one channel that is dedicated to the morning announcements and a "scrolling screen" of information throughout the day.  The two channels dedicated to movies are easily accessible within the broadcast/announcement room, and it is the media center clerk’s responsibility to play movies when they’re asked for from the grade levels or classroom teachers. There are no forms or approval that is required, teachers just discuss the timing with the clerk.  Movies are supposed to be curriculum related, but are sometimes used as a reward or used during a rainy recess period.  Probably on an average, two-four CCTV movies are played a week (750 students/30 classrooms).  The morning announcements are run every a.m. by a fifth grade team, all classes/students have an opportunity to participate.  If I happen to walk down a hallway during announcements, and see a class not paying attention, it drives me crazy!  There is a lot of work, time, and effort that goes into putting them on live each day!

My school does not utilize the GPB education area that I’m aware of, but I don’t know if individual teachers do.  When I registered to use and see clips, my individual school is not listed, even though the county name is available.  I was astounded by the availability of wonderful material on this site.  The small video clips remind me a lot of BrainPop, a program that my school pays to use.  These videos are very similar and are a great way to introduce material.  I know that the media specialist at my school is a Discovery Education participant, but I rarely see it used.  We are not permitted to stream live during the school day, and must download onto our computers to use it in the classroom.  But I know too that it has wonderful material available, and should be utilized more within our location.  I feel like both of these wonderful areas are VERY underutilized, and I’m making the assumption that it’s due to teachers being unaware of the material.  I’ve already written it all down to take to school tomorrow!  I see a wonderful professional development area here. 

Social Networks in Schools?

Social networking is here so you might as well embrace it.  In a national survey conducted by AASL  (Jones, 2008) found fifty percent of the schools, use Internet in their school community was not surprising.  What was significant was that 41 percent of the schools use podcasts and twenty-nine percent use blogs.  The idea of students collaborating and taking a major rule in their learning can be attributed to how technology engages students in the learning process. 

Web 2.0 provides a wealth of free resources to school which helps tremendously in this environment of budget cuts, furloughs, and layoffs.  Fiehn (2008) discusses the need for OPAC systems to move to include the technology that is already available in Web 2.0.  Auto-Graphics, Fish4Info SirsiDynex’s Enterprise, Mandarin’s OPAC, and Follett’s Destiny are all integrating online searching with colorful graphic, text rating, video reviews and more.  Most counties in Metropolitan Atlanta use Follet’s Destiny.  Destiny Quest also provides media specialist to upload MARC records with ease. Fiehn questions if a library catalogs will ever be viewed as a social network, I think if students are taught how systems like Destiny Quest can be used for more than looking up availability of a book then maybe so.  The other side of this is do teachers want to spend time on teaching one more new thing.  Do they want to monitor their students’ use of these systems?  Do media specialists have the time to take on this task especially when most have lost their media clerks?  This is like most technology, when teachers and media specialist have ‘buy in’, they will use and encourage use of new technology.

As social networking grows and catches on problems arise with cyber bullying and Internet safety at the forefront.   The Child Online Protection Act (CIPA) requires all public school systems to provide Internet filtering.  Social network sites can presents problems for school systems due to the nature of blogs.  As problems arise there are people out there creating solutions.  GetNetWise shows how to change settings in sites to guard against potential problems.  Metz (2008) make it clear that it all begins with education and conducting meaningful dialogs between students and parents and students and teachers. 

One site not mentioned in any of the articles listed is CommonSense.org.  This site provides free digital literacy and citizenship curriculum for teachers to use with their students.  The also provide a complete education resources for parents to use with their children.  It begins as early as kindergarten and goes through twelfth grade.  Their curriculum includes a complete scope and sequence to teach Internet Safety, Privacy & Security, Relationship & Communication, Cyberbulling, Digital Footprint & Reputation, Self-image & Identity, Information Literacy and finally Creative Credit & Copyright.  The curriculum provides lesson plans, handouts, online videos, extension activities, and home activities. Parents are provided with resources to promote discussions in the same topics at home also including videos they can view with their children.

The use of social networking might be controversial but someone needs to teach students how to use and act responsibly. As they grow up in this ‘21^st Century’ we need provide them with the tools they need to be successful.  Technology will empower our children to be lifelong learners. 

 

Jones, M. (2008). AASL’s second longitudinal survey reveals schools’ acceptance of social networking tools. American Library Association. Retrieved March 8, 2013 from: http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pressreleases2008/june2008/AASLsurvey.cfm) 

Metz, G. (2008). Secure Social Networking. School Library Journal. Retrieved March 8, 2013 from: http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6574015.html?industryid=47060

Fiehn, B.  (2008).  "Social Networking and Your Library OPAC!" Retrieved March 9, 2013 from: http://www.mmischools.com/Articles/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=59618
http://www.commonsensemedia.org

Media Center Websites

Post #3 - Media Center Websites

In 2013, everyone has a website!  You can find websites for everything imaginable; even some animals have their own sites (Bo, President Obama’s dog [http://www.obama-dog.com], and Clifford [http://pbskids.org/clifford/index-brd-flash.html], even grumpy cats [http://www.grumpycats.com].  According to Wikipedia, there are more than 40 different types of websites (personal websites, rating websites, humor sites, government sites, etc.)!  As in any other media format, some sites are really awesome and some look like the young student next door put it together.  In researching this topic, the area of web design provides a plethora of dialog regarding the highly complex and subjective task of website design.  It is almost guaranteed that no matter the design of any website and its implementation, monitoring will be required, and most definitely, changes will be essential to the growth of the website. 

Our text brought to our attention a wealth of information regarding websites.  The first and foremost step in design should be setting a goal of the site, and then detailed planning to provide the means to succeed.  Looking at the different stakeholders, determining the use of the site, providing relevant and accurate links, even determining color, text, and layout of the site is necessary.  Thinking of these things in advance can help tremendously with the design.   Jurkowski even lists different priorities that should be considered so that all areas of a site are adequately covered.  

Technology has progressed quickly enough in the last decade that it’s hard to imagine a school and/or media center that doesn’t have its own website.  A website becomes a great location to, not only publicize your media center and the wonderful things that take place there, but to utilize a central location to inform students, parents, teaches, administration and community members of the many things that take place within and outside the walls the media center.

Jurkowski, O.L. (2010). Technology and the school library. Lanham, MD. Scarecrow Press, Inc.

Ting, I. H., Kimble, C., & Kudenko, D. (2004, September). Visualizing and classifying the pattern of user’s browsing behavior for website design recommendation. In International Workshop on Knowledge Discovery in Data Stream, Pisa, Italy (Vol. 24, pp. 101-102).

Post 4: Social Networking in Schools

Blog 4: Social Networking & SLMCs

Melissa Campbell

             Social networking sites are everywhere on the internet. They are almost overwhelming at times. You cannot possibly join all of them or you would constantly be using some piece of technology, or maybe you are. We use them to stay in contact with friends, network, and learn more about our interests. Do social networking sites belong in schools, or should they stay at home? “The allure of online social networking websites is that not only do they provide a virtual environment allowing members to interact with family and friends, but they also greatly expand the channels to social discovery” (Courtney, 2007).

I do think that social networking sites can be used to the schools advantage. There is a time and a place for them and it is important that they are used properly. A clear purpose needs to be established for them with the staff and students. As I stated before my school does not use many social networking applications. I think there is a fear that comes along with them, because they are so new and many people do not know a lot about them. When Fiehn (2008) interviewed media specialists on the topic she found a sense of hesitation with some excitement. Along with a, we will see what happens, attitude. Some of the teachers are still trying to get used to interactive boards and document cameras. Exploring social networking with their students just seems overwhelming and scary. I think it is important to take it one step at a time. Don’t try and tackle every networking site at once. The media and administration team can collaboratively decide which social networking site would benefit the school the most. Then the media team can work with teachers to establish knowledge and a level of comfort before it is used with students.

Currently my school does not use many social networking sites in the library or the school. Some of the sites, Facebook and Twitter, are blocked to teachers and students, although the PTA does have a Facebook page. Teachers do have their own websites, but the requirements are very basic. Youtube, wikis, and blogging are not blocked, but are not utilized. I do feel that my school is forward thinking when it comes to the curriculum and news approaches to teaching and learning, but technology is thought of more as actual items. Not tools that can be accessed through the Web. We do have many pieces of technology that the teachers use often, such as Smartboards, document cameras, and individual keyboards, but the idea of social networking doesn’t seem to be a topic of conversation. So many teachers talk about it as pertains to their personal lives, but not their academic lives. I do teach at an elementary school. Sometimes I think it would be easier to use social sites with older students, but with that come different risks.

In elementary school Google can be very overwhelming and not always safe. That is how social networking sites are viewed. There are many kid friendly and safe alternatives to Google. Where students can search and explore the internet safely and understand what they are reading. Why can’t we use a similar approach to social networking. Metz’s (2008) article discusses ways to adjust privacy settings, monitor students, and educate students and parents on social networking. There are many sites that have examples for keeping everyone safe while using social networking.

I think blogging would be a fun social networking tool to incorporate with my students. A class or media center could set up a blog and write about different topics that are being learned at the time. This gives students a chance to write about what they are learning about and see what other students have to say and share. In my third grade class this would be a fun activity to do in small groups or as a whole class. I think it would make learning about new topics more fun. I also like the idea of social networking involving books, such as the site LibraryThing. It would give students an opportunity to build an online library and keep track of what they like to read. If the class set up a group them we could all communicate with each other and the whole school. It would get students more involved and excited about reading.

Social networking is something we all use and enjoy. It does not have to be a scary idea that is only for home and not safe at school. As long as the process of how it will be used is thought out, and safety precautions are taken, then it can be used to strengthen teaching and learning.

           

Courtney, N. (Ed.). (2007). Library 2.0 and beyond: Innovative technologies and

tomorrow’s user. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.

Fiehn, B (2008, September). Social networking and your library OPAC! Internet @ Schools.

Retrieved March 4, 2013, from http://www.mmischools.com/Articles/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=59618

Metz, G. J. (2008, July). These sites help teens stay safe as they join the global conversation.

School Library Journal. Retrieved March 4, 2013, from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6574015.html?industryid=47060