tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89110115612252998482024-03-06T06:42:55.254+03:00LibraryBondit's all about the promise of libraries...Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256773454826202266noreply@blogger.comBlogger168125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911011561225299848.post-56348257763390378352016-06-22T14:29:00.001+03:002016-06-22T14:29:20.970+03:00Backing up and moving<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
With rumours continuing about Google shutting down Blogger I have imported my Blogger Blog into my <a href="http://abond.edublogs.org/" target="_blank">Edublogs hosted blog</a>. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div>
What are the rumours? Well they have been around since 2011 which, since Blogger is still around, might show that there is no truth to them. In the article <a href="http://www.technogeekzone.com/2015/04/is-there-any-chance-that-google-will-close-blogpsot-blogger-one-day-soon.html">Is There Any Chance That Google Will Shut Down Blogger(Blogspot) One Day Soon?</a> Technogeek, <a href="https://plus.google.com/103627443421230308932">Satyendra Maurya</a> suggests that there are signs that Google may shut Blogger down. This article presents reasons to go to another platform as well as benefits from staying with Blogger.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Whatever happens in the future it is clear that purchasing important aspects of your online life may be the way to go. I have a purchased subscription to <a href="https://www.librarything.com/profile/A.Bond" target="_blank">Librarything</a> as well as using the free version of Good Reads. I purchased the edublogs subscription as part of completing my Masters programme and feel it is good value. Backing up the platforms you use makes sense and enables you to see which you prefer. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Purchasing online subscriptions not only assists me with continuity and use of a better product it supports the developers behind the software. This may be the way of the future for us all.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256773454826202266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911011561225299848.post-60615194646616778632016-05-01T13:14:00.001+03:002016-05-01T13:14:51.747+03:00Broadening our horizons - the effects of attending a workshop at a conference <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi85txe9o9tNwr5V943J-wdDgTobQ7L2PAy_jlp5AS0RFD1aNUDoszosThTKkIPpvBSCcU-YvJf5h7AuHY19txKnn4kprIniyS87W0VFSWFHx0jDE-XvZ8cfbVeN4stkMhuLrNT1X6Rh0pu/s1600/1400339_10207995208465338_6440109232849999498_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi85txe9o9tNwr5V943J-wdDgTobQ7L2PAy_jlp5AS0RFD1aNUDoszosThTKkIPpvBSCcU-YvJf5h7AuHY19txKnn4kprIniyS87W0VFSWFHx0jDE-XvZ8cfbVeN4stkMhuLrNT1X6Rh0pu/s640/1400339_10207995208465338_6440109232849999498_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the Bosphorus from the CEESA 2016 conference venue. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I am extremely fortunate to be a staff member at a school that values professional development in many forms. Our school encourages us to work in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), to attend city wide Network meetings such as <a href="http://lten.info/" target="_blank">LTEN</a> or the <a href="http://turkkutuphane.wikispaces.com/" target="_blank">Istanbul Librarians' Network</a>, to go to IB trainings and attend conferences. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
While at the <a href="http://www.ceesa.org/istanbul-2016-conference-home.html" target="_blank">CEESA conference</a> in March here in Istanbul I attended a workshop about Collaboration. <a href="http://www.ceesa.org/conference-2016/item/2054-collaboration-cooperation-and-collegiality-strategies-for-school-leaders-to-ensure-planning-for-learning-leads-to-increased-student-growth-and-achievement-by-michael-palmer.html">Collaboration, Cooperation and Collegiality: Strategies for school leaders to ensure planning for learning leads to increased student growth and achievement by Michael Palmer</a> I almost didn't go - I am not a school administrator or leader. I am so glad that I did go. The workshop was described as an opportunity to explore the differences between collaboration, cooperation and collegiality and help participants develop an understanding of the ways in which their schools can increase collaborative capacity to support student learning. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Actually what I learned was what can happen when someone attends a workshop at a conference. Michael Palmer had attended the last CEESA conference held in Istanbul - in 2008 I think it was. He gave a workshop on the PYP exhibition and only one person attended his session. This was mostly because the teachers at IICS were presenting about Exhibition at the same time and many people attended their workshop. Fortunately the workshop was run twice and Michael was able to attend the second run through himself. What he saw was a way to run the Exhibition and a way to plan Units of Inquiry in the PYP that really inspired him. He visited the school later that year and began to implement changes to the way Units were planned in his own school. Then he began to explore collaboration and ways to collaborate in a school setting - thus the new workshop and sharing his learning with us this year.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have found that as I attend conference workshops I return to school willing to try out the ideas that were presented. We now have the Battle of the Books - after I attended a conference workshop about BOB at the ECIS librarians conference September 2014. Our school is working on developing a culture of independent reading using some of the ideas about reading journals shared at a CEESA conference workshop in Prague in 2013. Conference workshops can lead to marvellous actions within schools.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In a few weeks time our library team will be working with our guidance counsellor with all our classes over one week to try out some ideas presented at a workshop with the title <a href="http://www.ceesa.org/conference-2016/item/2056-meeting-the-social-emotional-needs-of-elementary-school-students-through-library-and-counseling-collaboration-by-rebecca-battistoni-and-laura-giosh-markov.html" target="_blank">Meeting the Social-Emotional Needs of Elementary School Students through Library and Counseling Collaboration </a>by Rebecca Battistoni and Laura Giosh-Markov. This workshop was attended by two members of our library team and our Guidance Counsellor. While we won't be launching into the year long collaboration that Rebecca and Laura had we will be giving their ideas of adding a social-emotional component to our library lessons for that week.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.901961); color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans'; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
So thank you to all my wonderful colleagues who present workshops and conferences. In doing so you lift our gaze to new horizons and enrich the teaching and learning in so many schools.<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.901961); color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans'; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjns042j3QI19Q0Gdw5yphRj1pMKX5P02Q40i2qg2l4xvUQXJ30JpVGQ3wY_7MRDqWd-VTof4uIi70KFyWlb6pF3ANXTOY7AiYYl5ON2u8HxF8NT7f3NY_JQ6tu1uUjAzbGedeDXghM6Yub/s1600/12795121_10207995207865323_2556942094378730789_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjns042j3QI19Q0Gdw5yphRj1pMKX5P02Q40i2qg2l4xvUQXJ30JpVGQ3wY_7MRDqWd-VTof4uIi70KFyWlb6pF3ANXTOY7AiYYl5ON2u8HxF8NT7f3NY_JQ6tu1uUjAzbGedeDXghM6Yub/s640/12795121_10207995207865323_2556942094378730789_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view of the Bosphorus. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256773454826202266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911011561225299848.post-90805832518778822272016-04-20T16:56:00.000+03:002016-04-20T17:03:40.155+03:00Professional development through Teacher Inquiry<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Looking forward to learning from <a href="https://twitter.com/alohalavina">@alohalavina</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ceesa2016?src=hash">#ceesa2016</a> <a href="https://t.co/OnmLJfpzc0">pic.twitter.com/OnmLJfpzc0</a></div>
— Deb ReymundoAtchison (@DebAtchison) <a href="https://twitter.com/DebAtchison/status/710745081163194368">March 18, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /><br />The first workshop I attended at CEESA 2016 was run by <a href="https://hr.linkedin.com/in/alohalavina">Aloha Lavina.</a> What attracted me to this workshop was the idea of teachers engaged in inquiry learning. Aloha is the Upper School Principal at <a href="https://www.aisz.hr/">American International School of Zagreb.</a> Her school had been using the tools from the <a href="http://www.thinkingcollaborative.com/">Adaptive Schools workshop </a>that she and others had attended. <br /><br />The teachers at AISZ identified areas that they wanted to investigate within their school roles or areas of responsibility. Then they formed groups to meet regularly to investigate their self selected topic. While they were working on their inquiry the teachers kept professional portfolios. These were hard copy binders which had specific areas for the teachers to maintain. Throughout the inquiry the teachers investigated, designed specific interventions, observed outcomes, gave each other feedback and reflected on their learning.<br /><br /><br /> One aspect I was intrigued by was the professional portfolio. I have been exploring the possible options for electronic portfolios since this session. There are a number of e-portfolio options available such as <a href="http://www.portfoliogen.com/">portfoliogen</a>, <a href="https://pathbrite.com/#maker">pathbrite</a> and <a href="https://www.exibi.com/Account/FederatedLogin?ReturnUrl=%2F">exibi</a>. As someone who has to maintain a professional portfolio for my <a href="http://www.lianza.org.nz/professional-registration">LIANZA registration</a> which is due every three years I would like to choose one of these options and try it out. At the moment I use Evernote as a way to keep track of the many aspects of the LIANZA registration process. While I know I can share these notes I can see that a portfolio may be a better way to go about reflecting on my learning. I can see the value of keeping records of my professional inquiries with my colleagues. Our school uses Professional Learning Communities to try to achieve something similar. I think the AISZ model that Aloha shared with us has this dimension of keeping a record of progress, questions, reflections which adds value to the teacher and to the school community that she works in. <br /><br /><br /> I also decided to follow up on Adaptive Schools and find out more about it. Thanks so much to Aloha for an interactive and thought provoking workshop. I will be taking action - watch for future blog posts.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Teacher inquiry is aspirational and asks what will our school look like? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ceesa2016?src=hash">#ceesa2016</a></div>
— Amanda Bond (@kiwionthego) <a href="https://twitter.com/kiwionthego/status/710750001455095808">March 18, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</div>
</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256773454826202266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911011561225299848.post-91386944407511498282016-04-03T14:05:00.002+03:002016-04-03T14:08:12.903+03:00Greg Curtis - Personalisation, Start with the WHY<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Continuing my CEESA conference reflections; I am going through the conference sessions and exploring the ideas presented.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://gregcurtis-consulting.ca/dir/" target="_blank">Greg Curtis</a> gave the only Key Note address of the conference on Friday morning, 18 March. He talked about the large transformational process that is required when a school undertakes to pursue the idea of personalisation of learning. So it is best to start with the WHY. Why is personalisation the answer? The most obvious thing is how quickly the world is changing and developing. We need adults who can think creatively, who can leverage the tools at their disposal to come up with solutions to major problems. Education for the future isn't about learning facts it is about developing and maximising potential.So all schools need to start with the question of WHY. In fact starting with the WHY leads to success and adaptivity. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPnXmr2EaFE2TNOxKGBRWxxFoQphGVBGrQnbZ34GyS0AuZzX3I-yK_czkaHEmeAo6f_JxBPrCpDxuy07PUAxP5eiPnYl19GA9Wonpmj_UaKPXB5bsAukgZs6iPXshvteOUcQigykcAb5z/s1600/GOlden+Circle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPnXmr2EaFE2TNOxKGBRWxxFoQphGVBGrQnbZ34GyS0AuZzX3I-yK_czkaHEmeAo6f_JxBPrCpDxuy07PUAxP5eiPnYl19GA9Wonpmj_UaKPXB5bsAukgZs6iPXshvteOUcQigykcAb5z/s400/GOlden+Circle.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://media.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/p/3/005/075/2ac/01c043a.jpg">https://media.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/p/3/005/075/2ac/01c043a.jpg</a><br />
<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="https://embed-ssl.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action.html" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />
<a allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" h="" height="315" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" iframe="" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XKWr_OCdVEs" width="560"></a></div>
Yong Zhao challenges us to move beyond education to make everyone the same to educating students to be the best versions of themselves. Learning should extend, amplify and elevate. In the TED talk below he asks teachers to teach to the child's strengths rather than trying to fix their deficiencies.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XKWr_OCdVEs" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So once we have the WHY then we can explore the WHAT. The what things can we do to achieve this. Unfortunately there is no manual for how to create personalized learning in your school. There are continuums of personalization and many schools are working on how to develop ways in which students can indeed develop their strengths.<br /><br />One school in New Zealand that was built and developed to do just this is <a href="http://www.hpss.school.nz/Curriculum/">Hobsonville Point Secondary School </a>- a new secondary school that opened at the beginning of 2014. Deputy Principal Claire Amos has been blogging about their personalisation journey in <a href="http://www.teachingandelearning.com/">"Learning Leading Change"</a> Claire and her colleagues in leadership in this school spent one year before the school was built exploring personalised learning in schools around the world. They have developed their own model and have been working successfully with students for the past two years.<br /><br /><br /> Goal clarity is essential. I wonder what personalization in our library would look like? I really want to create opportunities for student choice and voice in the library. All things to explore in the new academic year. I want to set some goals for our learning before the end of this year.<br /><br /><br /> I took notes about this session on <a href="https://www.evernote.com/shard/s103/sh/469a51af-16e7-44fe-bb57-79d8a8d25a4f/a78f823cd3763b39945819c4670fc68a">Evernote</a></div>
</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256773454826202266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911011561225299848.post-22655445999025658402016-03-26T15:52:00.000+02:002016-03-26T15:52:24.784+02:00Libraries - the first place of personalisation <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The day before the 2016 <a href="http://www.ceesa.org/istanbul-2016-conference-home.html" target="_blank">CEESA conference in Istanbul</a> there was a job-a-like for librarians. Guest speaker for our group was Katie Day, teacher librarian at United World College, Singapore and author of the blog <a href="http://www.thelibrarianedge.com/" target="_blank">The Librarian Edge</a>. Her presentation is available below - recorded using photo booth and then published to YouTube.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The theme for the conference was personalised learning. It seems to me that libraries have traditionally been the place for that. Throughout the ages people have been able to go to libraries and pursue their interests in reading and research.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
School libraries can offer their communities so much as they seek to develop personalised learning for their students. Our collections have moved beyond the traditional print resource to electronic books, databases and online portals. There are web tools to enable us to curate resources for student learning - libguides, <a href="http://library.iics-k12.com/web-resources-for-students/" target="_blank">livebinders</a> and <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/librarybond" target="_blank">Diigo</a> to name only a few tools. As teacher librarians we can teach our colleagues and students how to curate their own resources. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Katie's presentation went further than these observations by looking at library as place and the need to offer a variety of learning spaces. Students need rooms to meet and collaborate as well as spaces to totally tune out and concentrate on their own. One <a href="http://www.cultofpedagogy.com/school-library/" target="_blank">school principal, Penny Sturtevant,</a> when redesigning the library had a vision that was a bit different from the makerspaces she was seeing. She wanted her library to be a place that was a little less open-ended, a place where students did hands-on work, but as an extension of what was happening their classrooms. Instead of taking her inspiration from the maker movement, Sturtevant was interested in trends she was seeing toward more personalised learning. So the space within the library has to be utilised with personalisation in mind. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I will be following up on this presentation by reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Deep-Work-Focused-Success-Distracted/dp/1455586692/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458999786&sr=8-1&keywords=Deep+work+by+cal" target="_blank">Deep Work by Cal Newport</a> - how to focus in a distracted world. Also <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Change-Design-Transforms-Organizations-Innovation/dp/0061766089/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1459000124&sr=8-1&keywords=change+by+design" target="_blank">Change by Design </a> by Tim Brown looking at using the design process to guide change.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Katie challenged us to be people who bring treasure to our students, like a travel guide who brings the traveller to the best parts of the city. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Thanks for the inspiration Katie. Much fuel for further learning.</div>
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ARq0i2QJ2eA" width="560"></iframe></div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256773454826202266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911011561225299848.post-48393388553113140562016-02-26T12:49:00.003+02:002016-04-03T14:08:43.120+03:00Post Master's degree - a new lease of life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<br /><br />This blog lapsed into a period of hibernation while I studied and blogged my way to my Master's Degree in <a href="http://www.csu.edu.au/courses/master-of-education-teacher-librarianship">Education specialising in Teacher Librarianship </a>with Charles Sturt University in Australia. I really enjoyed my studies but trying to maintain the library blog for school and my blog for my course this blog fell by the way side.<br /><br /><br /> I have decided to bring it back and to use it for professional reflections once again. Businessman <a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/p/peter_drucker.html">Peter Drucker </a>tells us Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action. <br /><br /><br /> This describes what I hope to achieve very well. I have had a very productive time with my studies. They have created a depth and effectiveness in my professional practice that has been transformative. I don't want to stop and be content with that, I want to continue to grow and develop as a Teacher Librarian. I hope this blog will enable me to do so.<br /><br /><br /> What does a new lease of life mean? <a href="http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/a-new-lease-of-life">Cambridge dictionaries on</a><a href="http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/a-new-lease-of-life">l</a><a href="http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/a-new-lease-of-life">ine</a> define it as an occasion when you become more energetic and active than before. I hope that will be my experience these next few months and years - post Master's degree.</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256773454826202266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911011561225299848.post-9673144092734150192015-01-11T16:41:00.001+02:002015-01-11T16:41:31.473+02:00School Librarians as readers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last November we started our Istanbul School Librarians' Book Chat. We met in a cafe near one of our colleague's schools and we all brought three books to chat about. Three books from our collections that we had read. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The disturbing reality about many teachers is that while they may be readers for their own enjoyment they do not read children's literature (Cremin, 2010, p.12). As a result of this research into teacher's reading habit the "Teachers as Readers' project was set up in the UK (Cremin, 2010, p.13). I know my colleagues and I do read children's literature but we wanted to create our own reader's advisory so we can hear about the books being read by the group and expand our knowledge through discussion. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So far we have had three meetings. After each meeting the people involved post their books to the group's <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/149659-istanbul-school-librarians-network" target="_blank">Good Reads bookshelf.</a> That way we keep a record of the books discussed so all members of our Network can see what we are reading and recommending. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Last week we had several snow days as the Governor of Istanbul closed schools during a snow storm. Our book chat went onto Google Hangouts. Instead of going to a cafe we went to the Internet and recorded our book chat. The chat is shown below. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So far we are all seeing the value of this addition to our reading of children's literature. </div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small; text-indent: -48px;">Cremin, T. (2010). </span><a href="https://www.csu.edu.au/division/library/ereserve/pdf/mackenzie-n.pdf" style="color: #d5091c; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -48px;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">Motivating children to read through literature</span></a><span style="font-size: small; text-indent: -48px;">. In J. Fletcher, F. Parkhill & G. T. Gillon (Eds.), <em>Motivating literacy learners in today's world</em>, (pp. 11-21). Wellington, N.Z.: NZCER Press.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small; text-indent: -48px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small; text-indent: -48px;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/o9iWcpYiymY" width="560"></iframe></div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256773454826202266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911011561225299848.post-4155229358093857212014-09-26T22:46:00.001+03:002014-09-26T22:46:52.649+03:00The voices of information literacy. ECIS librarian conferenceThis is my second experience of an ECIS librarian conference and it is just as transformational as the first. Every session has been relevant to my work. I have been inspired by my conversations with my colleagues. I bought a great book. I presented a workshop. It has been exhausting and stimulating.<div><br></div><div>I have been taking notes in every session on Evernote and then tweeting the link to the notes on the conference hashtag #ecislib2014 </div><div><br></div><div>While so much of the conference has had practical applications I have enjoyed the thought provoking sessions. This afternoon Veronica Cunningham of St John's school here in Waterloo gave her session - 7 voices of information literacy. She us completing her PHD thesis exploring h<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">ow an international school community defines and understands information literacy? The 7 voices were students, teachers, parents, librarians, IT, leadership and administrative staff. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Veronica's research invited these groups to meet and discuss their views of information context and information literacy. The first conversation was in homogeneous groups. All discussions were recorded. The second conversation was in mixed groups. This was the first time these people had been gathered together to talk together. It was in the listening that new appreciations and understandings were formed. These groups did not get together usually and it was the first time they had been able to hear each other's views, fears, frustrations and ideas.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The transcripts revealed similarities among the 7 voices. The emphasis on technology was a strong similarity. Other factors shared across many groups was a feeling of being overwhelmed by the number of technical tools, platforms and the flood of information. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I find this research inspirational. I wonder how I can achieve this in our school with our New Literacy curriculum review and feedback? I am waiting with anticipation for this research to be published.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">One keynote address, five workshops, exhibitor booths and buying a book - it has been a great day. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div> Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256773454826202266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911011561225299848.post-13575314116095871492014-09-26T01:16:00.001+03:002014-10-01T11:45:18.842+03:00Provocative and practical - ECIS librarians pre conference workshop<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
First day of the ECIS triennial Librarians' conference at <a href="http://www.stjohns.be/" target="_blank">St John's School </a>Waterloo, Belgium. I attended the day long workshop presented by <a href="http://www.kevinhennah.com.au/" target="_blank">Kevin Hennah</a>, a retail consultant to school and public libraries.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We spent the whole day sitting and listening to him present. There was some discussion but he showed us more than 600 slides and spoke for more than 5 hours. If I get nothing else from this conference (and I know I will) it would have been worthwhile coming for this day alone.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He was provocative. Many times I felt myself squirming in reaction to one of his statements because I realised that my library was not as effective as it could be.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Librarians are forward thinking. They are early adopters of new things. They do, however, hang on to the old as well."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So I need to adopt the new and discard the old. This applies to books as much as it does to technology. Kevin went on later to say that we should buy a book and get rid of an old book, one in and one out. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Some of Kevin's ideas about shelving and painting and furnishings will cost money. Something that costs next to nothing is to weed the entire collection ruthlessly and make space for face out displays. Face out displays allow the customers to see the books. Print will sell itself with great covers if the students and staff can see them. Watch this space for some before and after photos.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Kevin challenged us to think of three big messages we would give our principals when we return home. I am fortunate to have a principal who would have been agreeing with everything Kevin had to say - the three things I know that will make her eyes light up....</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
1. I want an amazing sign outside our library doors that say "Library" - clean letters, great colour.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
2. I want to develop a library brand and learn how to use it effectively across both campuses.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
3. I will be asking for some library furniture this budget round - ottomans (very appropriate for Istanbul) easy chairs and slat boards and perspex for face out displays.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I am very fortunate because I work for a Head of School who has great passion for and understanding of interior design. I understand about the merchandise and together we can work on the visual merchandising of our books. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I can't wait to get back to school to try out these ideas....</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I am tweeting from conference #ECISlib2014 see you tomorrow with the next conference blog post.</div>
</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256773454826202266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911011561225299848.post-25049399116241927882014-05-23T05:43:00.001+03:002014-05-23T05:43:35.553+03:00Need booksWe have recently had a chess master visit our school. Chess is now being played throughout the school and often in the library. Thus week while some high school boys were seriously playing at one table this was the picture at another table... My thanks to the teacher who let me take the photo. I love that she was looking to a book for answers...<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHrivNIGKW5uitcFoYbvEP5fPy29u3FsIx2XZwSBuVd2p1FWZzrUosO7o2HdBw2OKcBz1dU7Uma2VSZ-mEtC7YNWMROVdmofwoEUI0HfcdabSbWnhfBfbmKZi8pjQThsf_KwcT1BQcTO3H/s640/blogger-image--1684683429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHrivNIGKW5uitcFoYbvEP5fPy29u3FsIx2XZwSBuVd2p1FWZzrUosO7o2HdBw2OKcBz1dU7Uma2VSZ-mEtC7YNWMROVdmofwoEUI0HfcdabSbWnhfBfbmKZi8pjQThsf_KwcT1BQcTO3H/s640/blogger-image--1684683429.jpg"></a></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256773454826202266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911011561225299848.post-90738774566310383292014-05-17T15:00:00.000+03:002014-05-17T15:30:40.923+03:00Weeding<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgazSTZ46WtCM92FnSRT_Qe3eZRKXQ3oN8G57oHFtP3l8iVRphzUCOc84GoE-r3DgqQ39B1fJiIkYX2DZZOpsiYuT3AOEsfQ7seYJgzLgA0M9trK7nrN4kxyeLlJBLfZlMOK7QcH-9jkeQ8/s1600/10371113_10203173818373599_213049501_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgazSTZ46WtCM92FnSRT_Qe3eZRKXQ3oN8G57oHFtP3l8iVRphzUCOc84GoE-r3DgqQ39B1fJiIkYX2DZZOpsiYuT3AOEsfQ7seYJgzLgA0M9trK7nrN4kxyeLlJBLfZlMOK7QcH-9jkeQ8/s1600/10371113_10203173818373599_213049501_o.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Last week I posted this photo on Facebook. We have many thistles around our school at the moment and I love their dramatic purple/pink colours. One of my friends commented that these are actually deadly to cows. I am pretty sure she was not suggesting I was a cow, she was simply sharing the information. At the moment I am learning about collection management including how to select books and resources for our collection and of course deselect them - also known as weeding. I realized how conservative I have been in weeding the collection. I think I have been fearful since we are such a distance from sources of books and customs makes it tricky to import them. However, old, musty, dated books are as toxic to our library as purple thistles are to cows. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As I was reading about weeding (now that is fun to say) I found <a href="http://www.doug-johnson.com/dougwri/weed.html" target="_blank">Doug Johnson's article </a>about it and his comment, "Poorly weeded collections are not the sign of poor budgets but of poor librarianship. Period." </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Ouch. That was like coming up against a thistle. But, like so many things, Johnson is right. I have to overcome my fears and get into the collection and get rid of all the weeds. If I don't my students will not find the great new books we have.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There are many great guides to how to weed. <a href="https://www.tsl.texas.gov/ld/pubs/crew/index.html" target="_blank">CREW </a>is a guide from Texas and is downloadable. Then there is the guide from <a href="http://schools.natlib.govt.nz/school-libraries/building-and-managing-collection/weeding-guide" target="_blank">National Library of New Zealand</a> services to schools. Most advice to write a clear collection management policy and set the selection and deselection criteria very clearly. The trouble with weeding is that some people in our schools do not want to part with books. Somehow it can be a very controversial thing to remove books from the library collection. The blog "<a href="http://awfullibrarybooks.net/" target="_blank">Awful library books</a>" actually shows the terrible books that librarians are removing form their collections. It also gives some great reasons why we need to weed. In the section <a href="http://awfullibrarybooks.net/why-weed/" target="_blank">"Why weed?</a>" they make the valid point that libraries have limited space. The SCIS electronic newsletter <a href="http://www2.curriculum.edu.au/scis/connections/issue_63/secret_library_business__part_2.html" target="_blank">'connections' </a>article about weeding makes the valid point that students actually need materials available ina way that they can easily be found, not crammed together, old and new together.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So yesterday, in the effort to make space at our smallest campus I spent the day weeding the picture books. As I did many children came up to ask what I was doing (as I sat amid piles of old dusty and worn out books). Anna in our Prep class (age 5 years old) sat down beside me and asked if she could help. I told her my criteria for deselecting the books and I handed her an old musty book and asked her what should I do with this? She looked through the book carefully while telling me' "I haven't seen anyone look at this book". After looking at the date due slip, noting the browned pages and ripped spine she said no we shouldn't re-shelf this book, put it on the pile. Together we worked through about 20 books. Some of the nice looking books we stopped and considered the copyright date (information she grasped quickly and consulted on a few other books). Unfortunately for me Anna had to go to another class and I was left on my own to ransack the picture books. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That day 580 books were removed from our collection. Don't despair I reordered the tattered favourites and classics. The shelves now show the beautiful new books we have. Children came in and loved browsing the shelves. I have grown stronger in my professionalism as a librarian and yes, though I like the purple thistles they really can be toxic to students use of the collection. I will return and finish the job on the whole collection.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 19.5px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Jp5HLYhR3gAYI6DfEztCzyyCg8IMwNGBcJHwcS6h84hiqYAWaUhQedgsd5PHVVRv6DMe3Lk2srJjnSps8hFqF5bS8L4ZMJQjQbiSvLlloz-EQv4cXjWc_zWUnpqoe7CGY1ycfrwQzjg5/s1600/10364277_10203189758972104_2128228401_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Jp5HLYhR3gAYI6DfEztCzyyCg8IMwNGBcJHwcS6h84hiqYAWaUhQedgsd5PHVVRv6DMe3Lk2srJjnSps8hFqF5bS8L4ZMJQjQbiSvLlloz-EQv4cXjWc_zWUnpqoe7CGY1ycfrwQzjg5/s1600/10364277_10203189758972104_2128228401_o.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cramped shelves.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9OIIDEvJnvkH5NtXnklkuIsnkijti_hhs3HcacdMinXVtCauDPjZUDjz7t9C9Jknr3r9k3U_Wz2mMyfIsnnTgyN5nF5VRQDxilE7gK6kn2x6HAQ03VdEMD7zb2GB5ue3a_AqMnLpWxfzG/s1600/10364394_10203189764332238_1475121146_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9OIIDEvJnvkH5NtXnklkuIsnkijti_hhs3HcacdMinXVtCauDPjZUDjz7t9C9Jknr3r9k3U_Wz2mMyfIsnnTgyN5nF5VRQDxilE7gK6kn2x6HAQ03VdEMD7zb2GB5ue3a_AqMnLpWxfzG/s1600/10364394_10203189764332238_1475121146_o.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weeded shelves</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 19.5px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2cb6ZSvXZxyfWHbUT8BfMWSNSh472_ap3SyafT6Rp_rWAeQ_YNJ77LuVIPUqOqyfITmC9-hyij3uYPIOIdM48coCyw8CW674V8lzRdnBRqkFs1ts_J75ga4_UzHfVoCegnWp08al_15N/s1600/10371313_10203189768852351_1361475845_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2cb6ZSvXZxyfWHbUT8BfMWSNSh472_ap3SyafT6Rp_rWAeQ_YNJ77LuVIPUqOqyfITmC9-hyij3uYPIOIdM48coCyw8CW674V8lzRdnBRqkFs1ts_J75ga4_UzHfVoCegnWp08al_15N/s1600/10371313_10203189768852351_1361475845_o.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The list confirming 580 books were removed. and the box full of old books</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
References<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Beilharz, R. (2006). Secret library business – part 2. <i>Connections</i>, <i>63</i>. Retrieved from
http://www2.curriculum.edu.au/scis/connections/issue_63/secret_library_business__part_2.html</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Johnson, D. (2003, September). Weed. Retrieved May 17, 2014, from
Doug Johnson website: http://www.doug-johnson.com/dougwri/weed.html</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Kelly, M., & Hibner, H. (2013). Why we weed. Retrieved May 17,
2014, from Awful Library Books website: http://awfullibrarybooks.net/why-weed/</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Larsen, J. (Ed.). (2008). CREW resources and links. Retrieved May
17, 2014, from Texas State Library and Archives Commission website:
https://www.tsl.texas.gov/ld/pubs/crew/index.html</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Services to schools weeding guide. (n.d.). Retrieved May 17, 2014,
from National Library of New Zealand website:
http://schools.natlib.govt.nz/school-libraries/building-and-managing-collection/weeding-guide</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256773454826202266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911011561225299848.post-25621811409960914892014-05-07T21:45:00.000+03:002014-05-07T21:46:36.447+03:00Sharing the love - or passing it on<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RyQxH-x8Th37NB7kqnUry_PouzbtBQoe4AKi8znPJyp9PpLeDeJhP_PS3BVUfme97637IMze0oVrkFb5XoPeSfJuIymUygFvlKDG0H96A43ILbvBUyjcHwZe6v9l_kS4tmobRC3VTXuR/s1600/Caroline+and+me+LTEN+may+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RyQxH-x8Th37NB7kqnUry_PouzbtBQoe4AKi8znPJyp9PpLeDeJhP_PS3BVUfme97637IMze0oVrkFb5XoPeSfJuIymUygFvlKDG0H96A43ILbvBUyjcHwZe6v9l_kS4tmobRC3VTXuR/s1600/Caroline+and+me+LTEN+may+2.jpg" height="209" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caroline Lewicky and Amanda Bond</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I enjoy conferences. I have attended many conferences over the past few years. Here are some photos from the most recent one - last Friday May 2nd the <a href="http://lten.info/" target="_blank">LTEN </a> conference was hosted at our school, by us - the New Literacies team.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As part of our conference Caroline Lewicky and I presented a hands on workshop using <a href="http://photopeach.com/" target="_blank">photopeach</a> and showing how we used it with grade 3 this year at our school. Have a look at some of the <a href="http://lten.info/index.php/previous-meetings/meeting07/iics-lten7-book-trailers" target="_blank">excellent trailers</a> produced in just 15 minutes.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnsBkZVLUoA0aNzvnTKzG9Fswx2O5yexUHZd3HoVegpzPP0YABjerswY5Dckhy2JVu9dDsUBwFjl7I6TQPnl3T4rL5MMiEll8LwlI5AZElWK3TEWHP-Wg05g22Pgm7Q_qi45MFESS3TlN/s1600/Storyboarding+lten+may+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnsBkZVLUoA0aNzvnTKzG9Fswx2O5yexUHZd3HoVegpzPP0YABjerswY5Dckhy2JVu9dDsUBwFjl7I6TQPnl3T4rL5MMiEll8LwlI5AZElWK3TEWHP-Wg05g22Pgm7Q_qi45MFESS3TlN/s1600/Storyboarding+lten+may+2.jpg" height="312" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Storyboarding for the digital stories</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This digital story telling workshop has its origins at another conference I attended here in Istanbul in 2001. It was the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOO8prQCnTI&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">ECIS triennial librarians conference.</a> There I attended a workshop on digital book trailers. So many ideas whirled around in my head but the best advice I got was to try out the websites with small groups before introducing them to a class. I went back to school and did just that. I created an after school activity and worked with five grade 3 and 4 students. We fell into big holes and small and together climbed out and worked out how best to make the trailers.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The following year (2012) I worked with a colleague and her class in grade 4 and then the next year Ayse and I presented our work at the CEESA conference in Prague. The slides are embedded below.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This year Caroline and I were asked to work with the entire grade 3 - 3 classes over two campuses on a digital storytelling assessment. I learned so much working with an expert IT integrator. We refined the whole process once more and linked it all with our school's New Literacies curriculum. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So from one conference as a workshop participant, to many hours working with students and colleagues at school developing great skills and literacy competencies, through to presenting at two conferences with expert colleagues - a conference workshop attended is worth the time and money invested. Thanks so much for sharing the love - look how far it can go.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="356" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/17646091" style="border-width: 1px 1px 0; border: 1px solid #CCC; margin-bottom: 5px; max-width: 100%;" width="427"> </iframe> <br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 5px;">
<strong> <a href="https://www.slideshare.net/librarybond/ceesa-powerpoint-fro-slideshare" target="_blank" title="Ceesa powerpoint for slideshare">Ceesa powerpoint for slideshare</a> </strong> from <strong><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/librarybond" target="_blank">librarybond</a></strong> </div>
</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256773454826202266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911011561225299848.post-45908344922609847662014-04-08T20:38:00.001+03:002014-04-08T20:38:36.354+03:00Selecting Turkish language books - Pandora's box?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0kObp-pu2RpXhi_tATuD3XCAb0_iUcsv-nxexr7jbySaxLOZNQEsMkxnm21WI8e5npq1jAoIARPj4IMy2RYvcKFg5ajpMyOMXz14EziSwBGWIOHfZzT9q_keFgB8tt-H9vZZ5ZvTtkzB/s1600/10170229_10202915135746695_242990410_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0kObp-pu2RpXhi_tATuD3XCAb0_iUcsv-nxexr7jbySaxLOZNQEsMkxnm21WI8e5npq1jAoIARPj4IMy2RYvcKFg5ajpMyOMXz14EziSwBGWIOHfZzT9q_keFgB8tt-H9vZZ5ZvTtkzB/s1600/10170229_10202915135746695_242990410_o.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selcuk Demirel - artist</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This afternoon my colleague Lindsay and I went shopping for nonfiction Turkish language books to add to our library collection. We went to <a href="http://www.pandora.com.tr/" target="_blank">Pandora book shop</a> and met with Merthan who has been helping me get a list together of what we potentially need. Merthan visited our Marmara Campus a few months ago to look at our collection with me. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We spent a wonderful afternoon selecting books - some in English and Turkish, a wonderful book on birds of Turkey. Most of the books were in Turkish language but more importantly written by notable Turkish writers and scholars. Many of our students do personal research on Ataturk and we have no resources in Turkish language by Turkish authors about this important nation maker. The books we purchased for the sciences are all were written by eminent Turkish scholars. We are slowly building up our Mother Tongue (why do I hate that phrase so much?) collection and to do so with a colleague in an actual bookshop was a delight. </div>
</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256773454826202266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911011561225299848.post-46504858644573679042014-01-18T18:30:00.000+02:002014-01-18T18:30:02.210+02:00Destiny at IICS - my first ever i-movie<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Our New Literacies Team (IICS speak for the ITC integration team) was issued a challenge last November - make a movie to show the new literacies in action in our school. I wanted to show how we use the library management system from <a href="http://www.follett.com/" target="_blank">Follett</a> - Destiny. From grade 2 our students are given logins to this system so they can use many of its features which empower their learning and literacy development. I think Destiny is an amazing learning platform and we are encouraging our students and staff to use it to the full.<br />
<br />
Here is the movie - I hope it gets my message across.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/-rjdIAzoihc" width="560"></iframe></div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256773454826202266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911011561225299848.post-10060691492214197712013-12-20T17:21:00.000+02:002013-12-20T17:25:30.792+02:00Taking an idea and running with it...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Visiting Department meetings can be dangerous. I went to the English Department meeting a few weeks ago to share the news about our new lexile level search facility on our Library Management System Destiny. The news received some moderate response. The discussion then moved on to how to get our students to read and build a reading culture - I just sat back and listened. It was great to hear my colleagues really wanting our students to engage in recreation reading, for fun. Then came the idea - why can't we have an English Department Shelf in the library? <span style="color: #20124d;">Hmmm I was thinking - how would we catalogue that, how will people find books on a separate random shelf?</span><span style="color: blue;"> </span>All the while I was nodding and thinking. This was too good an opportunity to let go by. <span style="color: #20124d;">Okay - let's see what we can do. </span>I found myself saying. So what we did do was create a virtual<a href="https://iics.follettdestiny.com/cataloging/servlet/presentbooklistform.do?listID=6270376" target="_blank"> English Department Shelf</a> on Destiny in the resource List area. Then we photographed the teachers and made little danglers for the books they recommended. The books are now on display throughout the fiction area of the library. The students are enjoying reading the books their teachers recommended and enjoyed. We have a Google Doc list of which book which teacher recommended so that when the book is returned we can return it to the display. Below is a mosaic showing the work in progress...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJf1Y9ZbsZju7ojB_ea49CgwX5Udv9ND17HEihaQ9ZJ9_XTHgDgXrPAtd_PeDYSUDOgORQtybHahyphenhyphenwjU7CePqChJq1WDGC4WhObboNVdMN8Oz1kUuYmTUU99gQ2RxNP7OpS78IXbuRYiq/s1600/mosaic4b55a496bb13a930dfe00c15b8ce32d6c8f0b0c1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJf1Y9ZbsZju7ojB_ea49CgwX5Udv9ND17HEihaQ9ZJ9_XTHgDgXrPAtd_PeDYSUDOgORQtybHahyphenhyphenwjU7CePqChJq1WDGC4WhObboNVdMN8Oz1kUuYmTUU99gQ2RxNP7OpS78IXbuRYiq/s1600/mosaic4b55a496bb13a930dfe00c15b8ce32d6c8f0b0c1.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256773454826202266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911011561225299848.post-4438398614216210442013-11-11T18:26:00.001+02:002013-11-12T13:48:15.462+02:00Not Reading Habits but Reading Innovations<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_N7JUKNbL4RZEt5Msy6-weDXUoXxzNldNIj6cNjXvK2b2CUS91awzS_SmtOqY7wW0vpPHs4hMEIyOceyBXDTtVvXXaO7YZmACpJFko2dPWgxc2wTLJWYp8JNuVVwmiTthonroSD4Lq67g/s1600/Campbell+reading+to+Evan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_N7JUKNbL4RZEt5Msy6-weDXUoXxzNldNIj6cNjXvK2b2CUS91awzS_SmtOqY7wW0vpPHs4hMEIyOceyBXDTtVvXXaO7YZmACpJFko2dPWgxc2wTLJWYp8JNuVVwmiTthonroSD4Lq67g/s1600/Campbell+reading+to+Evan.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I am the guest speaker at the PTA coffee morning this Wednesday. I was asked to speak about <b>Reading Habits. </b> I have been reflecting on my own reading habits, those of my family and friends. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The picture to the left is of my children. Campbell reading to his younger brother, I believe from the cover and knowing Evan at that age it was a book about diggers. Evan's interest was everything and anything about diggers, trucks and other large machinery. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I don't think we can cultivate reading as a habit like we clean our teeth or take our coffee as certain way. I am struggling to find a better word. Reading has always been part of my daily life but I do not think it is a mindless habit. Nothing about our reading should be mindless or routine. Though I have to admit sometimes when the boys were young and they loved certain stories read to them time and time again. it did get rather repetitive. If I tried to skip a page or summarize I was called to account by my ever attentive child. The boys loved those stories for a reason and they certainly were mindful in their appreciation. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Reading Innovation</b> - there is the phrase I am seeking. I can remember not reading anything for pleasure the whole of my University Career. I was majoring in English Literature. I was delightfully re launched into fiction through Douglas Adam's <i>Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy</i> and enjoyed reading the whole series with my husband, we actually read it side by side sharing the same copy. I remember reading <i>The Book Thief</i> and then feeling so unsatisfied with every other book I read for at least 6 months. That book ruined me for the ordinary. I set myself reading goals and enjoy reaching for them. I am inspired by my friends and what they read. I love talking about books with people and going straight to Amazon.com and downloading the free sample to my kindle to try the next day.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I think as parents and educators we should invite our children and students to develop a Reading Innovation and not a Reading Habit. We should enjoy each other's reading innovations as well. </div>
</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256773454826202266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911011561225299848.post-71584617209489651692013-10-25T21:22:00.002+03:002013-10-25T21:26:45.554+03:00Google SLAM - like speed geeking but different<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs44/f/2009/145/0/8/Google_Chrome_icon_by_Obinoobie.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs44/f/2009/145/0/8/Google_Chrome_icon_by_Obinoobie.png" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Since completing the <a href="http://www.gafeclass.com/" target="_blank">GAFE course</a> earlier this year I have wanted to participate in a way of sharing the great things we have at our disposal with Google. Our school is a Google School. We use many of the great apps Google provides - gmail, calendars, all the drive apps and of course youtube. Tomorrow the New Literacies team will be running a Google SLAM event at our Professional Development Day. We will be presenting on some of the Apps available to us through the Google suite.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have chosen to present about SEARCH. After all - search is what Google is all about. I know as a librarian I should be really good at using all the search tricks Google provides but the truth of the matter is there are so many I feel somewhat overwhelmed by them all. Don't get me wrong I love Google and use it all the time. I am not convinced I use it efficiently and some times it takes me a while to find the results I want. So with a little bit of practice I hope to get better. I should try the <a href="http://agoogleaday.com/#game=started" target="_blank">Google-a-day</a> to build my searching muscles. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I love the website <a href="http://www.2lingual.com/" target="_blank">2lingual</a> it offers a google search in two languages simultaneously. My ELL students love this site too. They get great websites in their home language and then the English language sites help with the keywords and vocab. Awesome understanding and language building at the same time.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I was going to share Search Stories as well but in preparing for this presentation I discovered they are no longer supported by Google - too much went into maintaining this marvelous video creation tool. Barry Schwartz blogging for<a href="http://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-stories-video-creator-sunset-16377.html" target="_blank"> Search Engine Round Table shares the sad news</a>.<br />
<br />
Here are the slides for my presentation tomorrow - I hope you find them useful.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="356" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/27574487" style="border-width: 1px 1px 0; border: 1px solid #CCC; margin-bottom: 5px;" width="427"> </iframe> <br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 5px;">
<strong> <a href="https://www.slideshare.net/librarybond/google-slam-search-27574487" target="_blank" title="Google slam search">Google slam search</a> </strong> from <strong><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/librarybond" target="_blank">librarybond</a></strong> </div>
</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256773454826202266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911011561225299848.post-10354306619515632422013-10-07T18:47:00.001+03:002013-10-07T18:47:48.936+03:00The value of Association<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzgl3v7TuUfTVjDxoqsFq1QUghjxp7sDkzX7TZLCvIdWt7qbWdl3cpJ9AbZNhreRyTtPVRd28Lz5NOZtZmroPPDqpMNjLaAil2YEdXynqze-R0vLi6JM7RFtG-l35VBRvNXw8IL3o_Jq5/s1600/SLANZA.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="52" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzgl3v7TuUfTVjDxoqsFq1QUghjxp7sDkzX7TZLCvIdWt7qbWdl3cpJ9AbZNhreRyTtPVRd28Lz5NOZtZmroPPDqpMNjLaAil2YEdXynqze-R0vLi6JM7RFtG-l35VBRvNXw8IL3o_Jq5/s640/SLANZA.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.slanza.org.nz/">http://www.slanza.org.nz/</a> It is great to be a member of this Association.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In July, while on "Summer Vacation" in the winter of New Zealand I attended the SLANZA conference in Wellington. It was inspirational and will be the subject of many subsequent posts. For this post I want to focus on SLANZA itself. I have been a member of SLANZA since its beginning, before I had any library qualifications or responsibilities. I remain a member even though I am many miles from New Zealand.<br />
<br />
What is it about this association that I value so highly? My colleagues. There is a <a href="http://www.korero.maori.nz/forlearners/proverbs.html" target="_blank">Maori proverb</a> that goes ..<br />
<b>He aha te mea nui te ao?</b><br />
<b>He tangata! He tangata! He tangata!</b><br />
What is the most important thing in the world?<br />
It is people! It is people! It is people!<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is in a librarian's nature to share. We are a professional that values access to resources, information and knowledge. I guess that makes us predisposed to sharing ideas, strategies and resources. It makes us stronger as a professional and as people.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is through this Association that I have received meaningful professional development. My librarian colleagues meet once a term and each meeting has a professional development focus. I have participated in meetings with publishers and booksellers, educational researchers, professors and professionals. The topics ranged from why we should be buying and promoting graphic novels to how to encourage reluctant readers. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is through SLANZA that I have received valuable one to one professional mentoring and have been able to encourage others to enter into mentoring relationships. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Now I am on the other side of the planet why do I consider this Association so valuable? The electronic Journal <a href="http://www.slanza.org.nz/collected.html" target="_blank">"Collected"</a> is produced 3 - 4 times a year. My colleagues contribute articles and ideas - sharing their expertise and inspiring me in my work. SLANZA is on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads, I am connected in with my colleagues through social networking as well as professional networking. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I will continue to be a member of SLANZA throughout my professional lifetime. It seems crazy to me to try work alone. Crazy and lonely. I truly value the work of the people involved in this Association and I thank them for contributing so generously to my life as a librarian.</div>
<br /></div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256773454826202266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911011561225299848.post-3761432056438253162013-09-29T19:03:00.000+03:002013-09-29T19:03:27.977+03:00Consultation - Collaboration HELP is what matters<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/" target="_blank">Dictionary.com</a> defines Consultation as a meeting for deliberation, discussion or decision and Collaboration as the act of working with another or others on a joint project.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When discussing collaboration with fellow Teacher Librarians I have heard that the aim is to make sure the Teacher Librarian is as involved with the student learning as much as possible. The ideal would be to plan with the teacher, deliver the content/skills to the student together with the teacher and then to evaluate the learning with the students and teachers together. Being involved with the whole process is collaboration nirvana. I wonder if this goal is totally unrealistic and unsustainable in the school environment? </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Often consultation is seen as the poor alternative to collaboration. I think the measure of this should be the person who is seeking your assistance.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Last week I had many experiences working with colleagues and students that would be described as consultation rather than collaboration. My input to their project came at their request and was only a small part in helping them achieve success in their goal. We looked at how to create resource lists in Destiny, how to find books on Destiny and on the library shelves, how to access online databases and how to make notes using Google Docs. All important skills and all essential for the person's success.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I hope to develop better skills at both consultations and collaboration. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4012/4590627612_35e9970486_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="451" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4012/4590627612_35e9970486_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4012/4590627612_35e9970486_o.jpg">http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4012/4590627612_35e9970486_o.jpg</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="luna-Ent">
<table border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="4" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr class="tr3" valign="top"><td align="right" class="td3n1" width="1%"><br /></td><td class="td3n2"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;"><br /></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;"><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">
</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256773454826202266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911011561225299848.post-62833816524702595312013-09-07T17:52:00.003+03:002013-09-07T17:53:38.410+03:00A work in progress...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSerxWaoTmMel9HPni1GleW8ExvIl_ixLmUC49DgP7uixxTWlauJlMx8L1hUuFhSbBzchfqjonfDLha0uhz8samSTnAVfYXh1fXoKhNBtvaI2ncL_KZyvsJmlHUJkHL1aeokoszYEYcjXP/s1600/100_0520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSerxWaoTmMel9HPni1GleW8ExvIl_ixLmUC49DgP7uixxTWlauJlMx8L1hUuFhSbBzchfqjonfDLha0uhz8samSTnAVfYXh1fXoKhNBtvaI2ncL_KZyvsJmlHUJkHL1aeokoszYEYcjXP/s1600/100_0520.JPG" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serife working on her new Welcome display</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This week we welcomed our students back to school. It was not the smoothest start to the year for our library team. We were unable to lend books as our data upload to our LMS (Library Management System) was delayed due to technical difficulties with the Internet and SMS (Student Management System) access problems. Students still came to the library, read the books here, studied here and had classes here. The good news is next week we will be able to resume normal service. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The great thing about life in a school is that each year there is an opportunity to start afresh. A magical time of reinvention. My colleague Serife creates a major welcome display just outside the library doors each year. You can see the beginnings of it on the right here. It is a major work of art and cannot be rushed. It stays with us for the entire year. At the moment it is still a work in progress. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Our library team is a work in progress as well. We welcomed a new team ember this week. Ozlem was still smiling at the end of the week - always a good sign - despite the difficulties with issuing and Internet. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Our Inquiry library is continuing to evolve. We have a new question for the wonderwall next week - "What is cool about school?" Also our wonderwall has evolved from black to green. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
With <a href="http://quartz.syr.edu/blog/?page_id=27" target="_blank">R. David Lankes'</a> books <a href="http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdxHe4Wc0K8Or41zP_Viz8lAC5yiuZdwR" target="_blank">"Expect more"</a> and "<a href="http://www.newlibrarianship.org/wordpress/?author=1" target="_blank">The Atlas of New Librarianship</a>" will also be helping us to work toward our school vision of being forward thinking and exceptional in every respect. As I said we are indeed a work in progress.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpXaRE4EY7I54AH_Sp14gJFcMwY4Z5RnKW4ae_jYhK1daBZt-aCP_KSb3KgLmqGpbnVR106UV6V35FCmfHOBOwO2IEE5HOTkZZXTWyyws-TA6kPObcatwS39mJy20aJaVluUHAs4tG5lw/s1600/lib+team+marm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpXaRE4EY7I54AH_Sp14gJFcMwY4Z5RnKW4ae_jYhK1daBZt-aCP_KSb3KgLmqGpbnVR106UV6V35FCmfHOBOwO2IEE5HOTkZZXTWyyws-TA6kPObcatwS39mJy20aJaVluUHAs4tG5lw/s1600/lib+team+marm.jpg" height="528" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serife, Amanda and Ozlem - Marmara Library Team </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256773454826202266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911011561225299848.post-76144850155147561802013-08-24T16:58:00.000+03:002013-08-24T16:58:23.820+03:00Library Orientation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBaMLJL1sLrKGrQ3Y4W1SyfCynexCIzvjAAS-wABuYFxG2o7IcQ2e1JEr6yFQEwAjx594EzqDJmyRg54VKveqafyW2UjUXFde5Ax6_To0QYHFrRlA5UYlL39Z-SX8wJ6ZQVP3OE6BDF8g/s1600/My+Lib+photo+Browns+Bay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBaMLJL1sLrKGrQ3Y4W1SyfCynexCIzvjAAS-wABuYFxG2o7IcQ2e1JEr6yFQEwAjx594EzqDJmyRg54VKveqafyW2UjUXFde5Ax6_To0QYHFrRlA5UYlL39Z-SX8wJ6ZQVP3OE6BDF8g/s320/My+Lib+photo+Browns+Bay.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">East Coast Bays Library, Auckland, New Zealand</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Every time my colleagues go on vacation I ask them to do something special for me - take their photo outside a library. AS a result of their generosity of time and spirit I have many great photos of my wonderful colleagues outside libraries across the globe. What do I do with these pics? I use them as a resource for library orientation.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In New Zealand we gave all new students in year 9 (start of secondary school) an activity that involved finding out where in the world their library was using clues on the back of the photo. We called the Amazing Library Race - once they had the correct location they had to locate resources about their country at specific places around the library thus getting to know the layout of their new library and some of the online resources (database and library web page) as well. The students loved this activity - our library team loved it too though it was exhausting (so much so we only ever scheduled three in one day)</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUVt2Opn7phpbWyDwV1ArNVKinWP8pZfettOyAPVrkhn3zLS9vi9PEBK3ZNCsSPGRHQarc4mlQfsNuxfeO5FFSFwQnwNkPgUKDhLfAqtkNluMzfyCAXF7bG03Thmbe6RqfvHUthqh2n52/s1600/ab.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUVt2Opn7phpbWyDwV1ArNVKinWP8pZfettOyAPVrkhn3zLS9vi9PEBK3ZNCsSPGRHQarc4mlQfsNuxfeO5FFSFwQnwNkPgUKDhLfAqtkNluMzfyCAXF7bG03Thmbe6RqfvHUthqh2n52/s320/ab.JPG" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celsus library, Ephesus, Turkey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Now I am in Istanbul I am using the same idea but adapted for a teacher orientation. I love our library catalogue "Destiny" and I really want to introduce our new teachers to some of its features. I think it is a great tool for encouraging reading and information literacy skills. We took the new staff through this orientation last Wednesday with some great feedback about how useful it was and how much they enjoyed the experience. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
My challenge this year is to add a great library orientation for our new students. I want to use the photos and the activities. My New Literacies Team colleague Caroline suggested I use a buddy approach so that someone in the class who has used Destiny before team up with the new student and they work through a checklist activity to ensure the student has some hands on introduction to the system. I love this idea. I will start to craft such a thing to try out as soon as possible. I guess it should be in grade level for relevance and appropriateness. My mind is a whirl with ideas. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In the meantime - why the photos of libraries around the world? Relevance and context - I want my colleagues and students to be aware that libraries are contributing positively to communities all around the world. </div>
</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256773454826202266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911011561225299848.post-272841753758570222013-08-12T16:35:00.002+03:002013-08-24T16:59:19.799+03:00Happy New Year?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/43/86898565_563dab2319_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="365" src="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/43/86898565_563dab2319_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/43/86898565_563dab2319_o.jpg">http://farm1.staticflickr.com/43/86898565_563dab2319_o.jpg</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I am a Southern Hemisphere girl. I have just been on Summer holiday to the winter in New Zealand. Now I am back and about to start the school year I want to greet my colleagues with "Happy New Year". I get mixed and mystified reactions to this salutation. To me it is the most natural thing in the world to say "Happy New Year" at the start of a school year simply because in New Zealand the school year starts in January, after the summer holidays. </div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
What I like most about new years is the chance to set goals. Once we get back to school and gather as a library team we will try to do that together. What shall we continue to improve on? What new things shall we try? What things shall we abandon all together? The key to all these questions is our desire to become an Inquiry Library that enables our school community to be the best that they can be. OK I know that is a little clumsy as a vision statement but it is a good starting point. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So "Happy New Year" to all my Northern Hemisphere Colleagues as start the 2013- 2014 academic year.</div>
</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256773454826202266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911011561225299848.post-69697058476506683182013-06-23T19:33:00.000+03:002013-08-24T17:00:49.420+03:00Weeding and weaving<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We try to have a planned approach to weeding. We take a different area each month to weed but as with some house keeping tasks other things take priority. I recently weeded the entire fiction collection - adult, young adult and PYP. My criteria - condition of the book, how old it is, how often is has been borrowed and whether it serves a greater purpose staying on the shelf (if we have no other fiction set in Kenya for example) I also order many replacements as we go.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
What to do with all the old books? This year our secondary school had a field day in the last week. Each Community and Service group had to come up with a game. Our student librarians came up with this game - balancing a book on your head while navigating a trail. It was surprising popular and a welcome change of pace from the other more rowdy and race type of games.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYd2I33IxnndGjv-H1XwKzmN9EpX-k9UpffyJhI8ZWYRtfTOGrSeMP07icUtPDMSbDWtqqxJvED8T3p1f8ETQklvDcB0EyKym93nTcFULuMarrR2Ufe2o8KBUhTFUe_muEBHILBxwoQ5e/s1600/1019577_10200939849845782_1957658672_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYd2I33IxnndGjv-H1XwKzmN9EpX-k9UpffyJhI8ZWYRtfTOGrSeMP07icUtPDMSbDWtqqxJvED8T3p1f8ETQklvDcB0EyKym93nTcFULuMarrR2Ufe2o8KBUhTFUe_muEBHILBxwoQ5e/s400/1019577_10200939849845782_1957658672_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256773454826202266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911011561225299848.post-71051562492498617902013-04-21T21:01:00.002+03:002013-04-21T21:01:34.948+03:00An inquiry key<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhz5yl_f1aDqhnSIJWCmwbO4vdvzlPxzf7tBv5ai2tpIyi0ACN5cenKEmsukZgByVO-S68r0RkoVZHfEx7w2yKQB6qDzl57hBV2XoBEI8Txh1tu-EI2GqoM-MVQcHJLmpehmPic68GbHP/s1600/mosaic404c1cf0ca8759ee3114f6128ee9325fd8a3a68a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhz5yl_f1aDqhnSIJWCmwbO4vdvzlPxzf7tBv5ai2tpIyi0ACN5cenKEmsukZgByVO-S68r0RkoVZHfEx7w2yKQB6qDzl57hBV2XoBEI8Txh1tu-EI2GqoM-MVQcHJLmpehmPic68GbHP/s640/mosaic404c1cf0ca8759ee3114f6128ee9325fd8a3a68a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
We are working on making very clear links between our ideas and practice, especial;ly for the lower grades. When it comes to searching for information we all use KEY words. For our grades 1 and 2 we made colourful keys and laminated them. The students can use whiteboard markers to write their key words on the keys. They write the main search word on the large line and then alternative words on the lines along side the main word. Then if their main word is not found in our catalogue, Destiny, or search engine or index then they have alternative words to search. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Here a student is searching for "hummingbirds" and he alternative word is "birds". There were no books on "hummingbirds" in our library but many books about birds. Once she had found a book about birds she used her KEY once more to search the index for "hummingbirds. Using the KEY brought success in her search and helped to teach her the importance of using synonyms when using key words. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
A simple idea which seems to be working well for our students. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT94LltJbiiw_Sbx1CLy0dnaVmNXuRI331SWQXW6qi5f6hdAvMGwj3NlQEE28yRIiRBRDLMpjctNPQzli4I1Miq2O9A9foTVm8Mfb3pnVHWdNNQdsEaZTFW0ARnnXVOZLnzcaGjLc8natU/s1600/101_0211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT94LltJbiiw_Sbx1CLy0dnaVmNXuRI331SWQXW6qi5f6hdAvMGwj3NlQEE28yRIiRBRDLMpjctNPQzli4I1Miq2O9A9foTVm8Mfb3pnVHWdNNQdsEaZTFW0ARnnXVOZLnzcaGjLc8natU/s400/101_0211.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256773454826202266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911011561225299848.post-68313325435757248642013-04-16T10:14:00.001+03:002013-04-16T10:14:28.930+03:00The Tipping Point 302 GLA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://coultercurated.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/thetippingpoint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://coultercurated.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/thetippingpoint.jpg" height="320" width="215" /></a></div>
This book is all about libraries and librarians. We are agents of change in our communities and we need to be aware and leverage the three agents of change to create tipping points: the Law of the Few, the Stickiness Factor and the Power of Context.<br />
<br />
Librarians must embody the three persona Gladwell speaks of in the Law of the Few we have to be Connectors, Mavens and Persuaders. Today at my work I was a Maven, bringing information to colleagues and students alike. I connected people with ideas, tools, resources and one another. I persuaded a student to read a novel version of a graphic novel he had read and enjoyed.<br />
<br />
This is a great read for all and especially affirming for librarians.... <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.gladwell.com/tippingpoint/" target="_blank">Malcolm Gladwell's website</a></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="http://embed.ted.com/talks/malcolm_gladwell_on_spaghetti_sauce.html" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="560"></iframe></div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11256773454826202266noreply@blogger.com