Information Literacy

I have been examining an information literacy technology called buILder -- the capital IL highlights the information literacy component of this software that allows instructors to build lessons online and share those lessons in an online community database -- see the website for this "virtual idea factory." Once you have created an account, you can sign in and access a database of lessons, through 8th grade. I know there are many resources for instruction beyond 8th grade, but I am thinking they are mostly password-protected (behind firewalls within WebCT software). Does anyone have any examples of databases of lessons for higher grade levels?

DyKnow Vision

Here is a description of the DyKnow Vision software from the product's website:

"DyKnow Vision™ software fosters interaction through collaborative note taking, student response tools, content replay, and anywhere, anytime access. Teachers can use DyKnow Vision to instantly transmit content to student screens for annotation. DyKnow Vision works with desktops, laptops, Tablet PCs, and interactive whiteboards in fixed, mobile, and distance environments."

Here are the features of the software:

* Transmit content to student computers
* Annotate notes
* Replay content
* Use pen-based hardware
* Leverage Web content
* Insert images from other sources
* Import PowerPoint slides
* Broadcast screens
* Collaborate on a shared whiteboard
* Poll the class
* Collect student work
* Grade and return student work
* Teach extemporaneously
* Access archived notes

It seems that DyKnow Vision is a powerful tool that combines some of the whiteboard technology with some of the tablet technology. I haven't seen one software package quite so comprehensive.

New Topic: Dynknow Vision

For the next month, well, October 23, 2006 through December 3, 2006, I will be blogging about Dyknow Vision.

Stay tuned. . .

Accessible Technology

Check out Bookshare.org!

Here's a description from the website:

Bookshare.org now has over 29,500 books available for our subscribers to download in DAISY or BRF. Our online accessible etext library reflects the diverse interests and needs of our print-disabled community. Aside from our usual offerings of the latest best-sellers in fiction and non-fiction, computers & technology, sci-fi, romance, children's titles, K-12 and college-level textbooks, we're happy to offer books with topics such as LSAT test preparation, cooking, gardening and travel. Click here to go to list of the 100 newest books added to our collection. Browse our collection by your favorite category or author. You can do a simple search or an advanced search for authors and titles on Bookshare.org. Click here to go to the Bookshare.org Simple Search page or the Bookshare.org Advanced Search page.

Gathering References

Refworks, a subscription web-based citation manager, is a great way to manage bibliographies. Most databases export directly to Refworks, and for those that don't, Refworks can accept imported .txt files. There are various output styles for citations, including MLA, APA and Chicago.

ottobib is a free web widget that converts ISBNs into citations. You can type a list of ISBNs separated by commas and get a bibliography in MLA, APA or Chicago styles.

More Book Exchange Sites

paperback swap

frugal reader

title trader

bookins

and bookshare that "dramatically increases the accessibility of books for people with visual or other print disabilities."

"Handheld Librarian" and Podzinger

A great blog called "The Handheld Librarian" offered an interesting blog on a new tool called Podzinger.

Podzinger was initially discussed in the February issue of Boing Boing Podzinger "aggregates hundreds of thousands of episodes of podcasts, converts the entire text of the casts to text, and then delivers a searachable index," according to the article.

More recently, another related product, Podscope, was released. Podscope, is like Podzinger, but it also indexes video blogs (sometimes called vodcasts).

See the sites for details:

PODZINGER

PODSCOPE

Educators ~ Adapt to Mobile Learning

I ran across an outstanding article in MLA Forum:

http://www.mlaforum.org/volumeIII/issue2/conf1.html

The piece is actually a Conference Presentation from a Symposium for Academic Librarians at Eastern Michigan University, Friday, April 30, 2004.

The article includes a wealth of references, such as the 2003 OCLC Environmental Scan, and articles from the Chronicle and Educause, amongst other valuable resources, and discusses how educators should be changing our practices to adapt to the mindset of the information age. The social landscape has changed significantly, and as educators we need to use m-learning (and iPods that promote that style of learning) as an access point to promote excitement in educational endeavors. Check out the article, but especially the references!

Book Exchange Sites

Recently, I've been learning about sites where folks are sharing books, and it seems that librarians should be watching these sites carefully, and thinking of ways that we can engage in these cultures and refer readers to them, particularly considering that library budgets have been on the decline. Here are some links to websites where users can exchange books (and ideas):

Bookmooch "a community for exchanging used books" (free)

Paperback Exchange a low cost book rental website (about $2.50 per book)

the bookcart a low cost book exchange (about 50 cents per book)

There are many other free online trading services for various media types; we should watch these services and think about ways that libraries might use these services as models or refer folks to these services when it seems appropriate. . .

Design Impetus or Impetus to Design

One of my driving forces is a love for design. Virtual reference services, instructional tools, jewelry, blogs, myspace, workflows: all of these require an adeptness for design. How will we bring the next generation to the task? I came across a blog that cited this very idea; the blogger writes:

"The visual elements hook'em, but the underlying problem-solving rush is what energizes everything they do for the rest of their educational life." See the orginal blog for more context.

Apparently, there is an upcoming conference - October 27-28, 2006, in Chicago, where the Architecture+Design Education Network (A+DEN) will discuss such ideas. See the A+DEN website for details. If you happen to know someone who attends, or you have information about such programs in practice, please add a comment!