How To Use of Web 2.0 in School Libraries
There are so many new Web 2.0 tools, that is easy to be overwhelmed in trying to decide what to introduce and implement; it is fun for the tech savy, but overwhelming to those who are just beginning to learn about Web 2.0. As a librarian of a school that has been slow to jump on the Web 2.0 bandwagon, I found an article in Library Media Connection detailing how to select a Web 2.0 presentation tool for K-12 schools very illuminating. Basically, deciding which tools to select depends on your school's wants and needs. Key trends involve using “cloud computing” which refers to software tools that do not reside on a single user’s computer but exist on a server, accessible through the internet. Web-based tools are called the next generation presentation tools because they are based on the cloud computing concept. They are also free and easy to use. The article lists popular online presentation tools and an evaluation instrument to determine if this tool is a good fit for your school. Tools like TOOL, Ahead, 280 slides, Emprssr, Google, Docs, MyBrainShark, PreZentit, Prezi, SlideRocket, Vuvox, and Zoho Show are listed with their URLs.
Hodges, C., & Clark, K. (2011). Selecting a web 2.0 presentation tool. Library Media Connection, Retrieved from Library Lit & Inf database.
Another article along that same subject was A Fleet of Freebies: Choosing Web 2.0 Tools for a school Community (School Library Monthly, 2011). The author approaches the subject from the viewpoint that a librarian should help the school community determine a common toolset to further learning and collaboration. She believes that finding a core set of tools can give everyone a common base and provide an introduction to other cool tools. This article provides a chart with 3 colunms: Purpose, tool and URL and lists 21 popular tools. This is great to see the tools associated with their purpose. For instance our English teachers use Wordle a lot; but I didn’t know its purpose is word play. Or for website design Weebly is a great tool. I will keep this article for future reference.
Frederick, K. (2011). A fleet of freebies: choosing web 2.0 tools for a school community. School Library Monthly, 27 (2), 37-38. Retrieved from Library Lit & Inf database.
I guess once a school librarian decides which online tools for the school to adopt, next is to blow out the walls of the library so that it is now a learning commons – the hub of a world of information. And the author is right; broadening traditional pen and paper lessons, to include Web 2.0 skills expands our library walls to include the world of information. In New Essentials for the Library as a Learning Commons, Jay Gamble tells librarians to not miss the chance of being visible: Web 2.0 can make learning exciting for students and teachers. Placing student or faculty work online or in hallways around the library is a way the library can act as a bridge between the old and the new.
Gamble, J. (2011). New Essentials for the Library as Learning Commons. Library Media Connection, 30(2), 54-5. Retrieved from Library Lit & Inf Full Text database.
While these articles give me ideas to focus on and a school library environment to strive for; I am finding reality quite different. I feel like I am doing things right, taking steps slow in introducing Web 2.0 tools. But it was quite disappointing to give a faculty workshop this month on using blogger and no one showed up. No one. Except my library assistant who jumps at the chance to get free training. And I publicized it quite well- gave a short presentation on blogs at the monthly faculty meeting, then offered to do an afternoon workshop to help teachers set up their own blog. This was after performing a needs assessment, in which I determined that very few teachers knew much about blogs. I know not to take this personal; I think maybe the timing was bad and that teachers have so much to do anyway. So, I am going to try to have more of an online presence, and reach teachers that way. I started my own blog for our library, posted the new books in the library and instructions for research papers. I also have posted commoncraft videos on my blog for teachers to use in their instruction. I then emailed teachers with links to my blog. So far I have no comments, no followers. I guess this takes time. So, the new tool, and right now the only one, being implemented in our library is blogger at - http://www.blogger.com
Don't be discouraged. I think part of being a librarian and taking advantage of Web 2.0 is trying new things that might not work. You can take the advice the articles provide, but in the end even if you evaluate the heck out of your users and their needs, it still might not work. Learn from your mistakes or evaluate why it didn't work. I think your approach of attempting another way to communicate with the teachers is a good one.
ReplyDeleteI really liked your approach to this assignment. I desire to be a school librarian and found this information extremely helpful!
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