Big and blurry library lady

Sometimes at the end of the day I feel as blurry and "in your face" like the Avatar reveals. Sorry if it scared you! Nothing like a Halloween posting......

The 23 Thing thing (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 16)

Due to the fact I have been doing MANY lessons with MANY classes on research techniques (billed as a way to help all of you get an A), I have covered with several Social Studies and some English classes this past week the following items:

• The Research Calculator and how to set it up
• Remind students how to access their spps email accounts
• Plagiarism and how to cite sources properly using the library website
• The various differences between a search engine search and a database search
• How to do a smart Google search and how to access the databases, strengths of each database (passing out bookmarks with passwords when not at a spps site)
• Help students acquire a public library card (explaing the MELSA system of checkouts and how to use mnlink)
• Show students all parts of the Library website (produced with Urban Planet)
• Refresh how to use the Destiny Library system (card catalog) and where items are located
• This encompasses Things 1,2,4,5,6,7,8,10,12,13,16
• At the last staff meeting, all staff were given a red notebook of pages (with permission to copy) of items to help us be on the same page doing research. The positive comments from teachers was overwhelming!
• WHEW! I LOVE MY JOB! The look of happiness when students see what an asset these tools are for them makes my job very rewarding.

Got any handouts in teaching 1,2,3 person writing?

Does anyone have any handouts they use for teaching students (and teachers) what first, second, and person writing is and examples of it? Also, what is passive and active voice? We are trying to put a suggested guide together for all teachers at Central so we have common vocabulary on writing and the research process. The "Research Calculator" is a big hit. Teachers like the organization element of it as well as helping the procrastinator get into the project. Of course, we need to have permission to print the items we use. THANKS!

Since I am getting old, I must do things right when I remember them. Such is the case with regaling how fun it is to teach smart google searching vs. database searching. I take the approach of a football team, one side vs. the other side. Both sides are represented with their strengths and weaknesses. The points to compare are reliability, relevance (how each ranks the responses you receive), how each one really works as it searches for information, etc. When doing a "Smart Google Search," students are taught the five steps. They are:

1. Did you check the URL? Do you know what .com, .edu, .org, .net, etc. mean?
2. Is there a person or group in charge of the site?
3. Are they an expert in their field?
4. When was it last updated? (maybe not so vital for a site on "Mythology")
5. What do you think the purpose is for the site creation? Is it to educate, persuade, sell, etc? How does it compare to other information found?

Other lessons I do with the LCD projector are:

1. "Bogus websites from Joyce Valenza" (steps to ascertain what is real vs. what is bogus)
2. How to use boolean generators

Future lessons include:

1. Incorporation of a "United Streaming" clip or YouTubeSound items since I will be getting "surround sound" in the Media Center next week with eight speakers mounted
2. Sky is the limit here......

The Good, the bad and the ugly

What a treat to be able to collaborate with the one and only teacher that could be in the program from Central! Lindsay is fabulous! We even brainstormed a way to make the laptop work for me, since I have to give back the Dell flat screen I was given last year. The "bad" comes in play when I realize the time it will take to move my entire office into a near-by conference room so I can incorporate a cart that can be transported easily. It will take time to move a desk, shelves, carts, filing cabinets, wall hangings, etc. I will breathe a sigh of relief when it is all functional again. By the way, I will finally get away from the one and only adult bathroom on our floor that is in my office right next to my desk.

Too many hats to wear

The past three weeks have been way too frenzied for my life! Mom had major surgery and daughter (ME) made the trek every night to make dinner for the folks way across town through rush hour traffic. Daily shots, medications, cleaning up people and the house was a labor of love, but left little time for anything extra. My husband has me working with him part-time on week-ends with his company, as well. I also have a problem with certain technology decisions I need to make in my office of the Media Center, but will focus on that one at another time.

Frustration

• After MANY, MANY weeks of frustration with trying to change my "draft" blog into an original, I gave up and deleted the entire mess and began again.
• Now that textbook distribution has gone down to a dull roar, I can maybe think about being a real Media Specialist again. Hot dog! Several classes have come in for lessons on database acquisition from many differing disciplines. Word spread last year about the positive feeling students had locating information by not using a search engine. Looking for information in isolation instead of a specific goal in mind doesn't form a lasting impression on the students. Teachers collaborated with me and we got successful results for the students.