LibraryRemix

I enjoyed participating in an online interactive interview with author James Bach on Self-Education and Passion held this evening and hosted by FutureofEducation.com.  Bach is the son of author Richard Bach who penned Jonathan Livingston Seagull, the first book I read that encouraged independent and critical thinking.  James dropped out of high school and has gone on to build an impressive career in the software world, self-education.  He supported his own son’s decision to leave formal education at the age of twelve, choosing to facilitate his son’s learning as interests in subjects and topics arise.

Bach’s ideas are radical, to be sure.  Many educators will cringe at the ideas of unschooling heralded by self-made individuals such as Bach.  As a librarian, I don’t find it such a stretch.  I strive to provide students  with an IDEA lab…a place where they can explore and learn what and through those subjects/ideas that draw them.  There are lots of people who agree.  Check out SelfMadeScholar, a blog dedicated to these concepts.

Two puzzles are continuing to rattle around…things I’ll need to think more about.

1.  Many of the individuals who associate themselves with unschooling actually promote it through the institutionalized concept of “home-schooling.”  It seems to me that doing so not only appears a bit converse to their own concept (why use the work schooling at all?) but also pairs these learning revolutionaries with others whose opposition to public schools is founded in very different ideals…fear that public schools are not strict, not structured enough.  Strange marriage.  Read more... (346 words, 1 image, estimated 1:23 minutes reading time)

Embedding this digital book to showcase the Issuu digital publishing tool.  There is no doubt that Mike Zimmer did a great job in putting this together.  This is an absolute MUST have tool!  

I often create graphic collages for use in marketing my library.  Because my school’s colors are orange and black, I often search for images that in those colors.  I love iDee’s multicolor search engine.  You can enter any combination of colors and zero in on a great selection.

Curricular uses?

• Have literature/writing students analyze and digitally illustrate a poem or text passage (use movie or presentation software such as Animoto).  Color can reinforce mood and audience interpretation.
• Students in Family and Consumer Ed Classes locate images that are ideally suited to the color schemes they have used in designing a space.  Or have them locate images to be displayed during a fashion show of garments they have made.
• Explore how different cultures perceive color, reinforcing this with image searches.

…with classroom support materials at MacMillian Dictionary Online (here).

In a time where the dialogue centers around the ACQUISITION of languages (as a means towards globalization), it’s mind-bending (and inspiring) when we turn the conversation towards language BUILDING.  It may be politically incorrect to applaud the use of English as a global language today, but it’s hard to deny the flexibility of form we enjoy, as English speakers.  I’d never argue that we quit the quest to learn and use other languages–there’s much cultural respect in the practice, and certainly beauty in learning to express ourselves in new ways–but I say HURRAH! for celebrating the dynamic nature of language itself…and of English, in particular.

I shuffled through the mail left by my daughter on the kitchen table. The cover of  the newly arrived November edition of ISTE’s Learning and Leading with Technology reached out to me….Cool Tools for School.  Ahhh…worth looking at.  Below that?  Is Your Website Accessible?, Students Without Borders, and (!!!!) Do Schools Still Need Brick-and-Mortar Libraries?  (READ IT HERE)

Kudos, to Doug…obviously.  Yes, I am a school library media specialist and I appreciate the support he offers to our programs, particularly in light of Mastrion’s out-of-touch stereotyping that leaves me “alone, in [my] information monarchy” surrounded by words, words, words…and nothing more.

But it isn’t enough to disagree with Mastrion’s point-of-view…mostly because I am a librarian, which makes my own intentions instantly suspect.  “Perhaps” I am simply an apologist who values traditional literacy over the more “progressive” approach.

So…let’s start with Mastrion’s assertion that Google (a tool I consider myself proficient in using) offers a simpler and more efficient means of finding information for students today.  I tested that theory in a quest to find out exactly “who” Johnson and Mastrion are, and how their thinking is impacting learning,  specifically with regards to technology.

Now, I’ve read Johnson before.  He’s a well-known writer in the fields of information and technology education.  Still, would the novice researcher find his work as easily online as off?  The answer is YES.  I Google his name, and irregardless of it’s commonality, Doug Johnson’s site hits the top of the list.  Johnson has made his ideas and research available across platforms (print and online).

Next, I Google Mastrion’s name (in quotes, to keep the first and surname relative to one another, of course) and get 751 hits.  Below are the results:

Hit # 1 – He graduated in 1985 from Courtland High School in Fredricksburg, VA.  I can’t tell more, since this is a subscription site to which I do not belong.  Read more... (1410 words, estimated 5:38 minutes reading time)

There isn’t generally much “new” about a new search engine, at least when it comes to their appeal among young adults. Google, with it’s images and broad/deep search extras reigns.

But wait… Duck Duck Go turns out to be more than just another search engine. Aside from it’s slick interface and fast results, the engine is embracing Web 2.0 by sporting a handy little right-hand dashboard that lets you search popular social media sites with a simple click. Take time to play with this one.

No competition for Google…but since I’m looking for content to on Facebook, Twitter, and a slew of other app sites, it’s worth the time to stow this in my toolbox.