The benefits of a Library website for the school
Every teacher librarian needs to 'keep up with the times' and be savvy with web 2.0. Part of that process should be to create a school library website. In this website you can have information that stretches from broad to specific. The teacher librarian can advertise resources, events and 'show off' their skills within the web world. With all teachers having daily access to computers and internal networks within schools, having the library website as the log on interface can only positively promote the library.
With the incorporation of Information Skills Processes and useful websites, students benefit from this website as well. Special events and reminders can be incorporated, along with useful information. Curriculum information and resources can be added for teacher use, world wide.
The Teacher librarian needs to use the website as an advertisement for the library collection, both hardcover and digital. The time anf effort that you put in will be appreciated, and in time with careful training, staff and students will come to value this invaluable tool.
One thing that the Teacher librarian must do is to update and delete unwanted or unused links. Just as you cull the physical library collection and the web library collection, so you must within the website.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Pathfinders
Wikis versus Websites
After reading Valenza's article 'Ten reasons why your next pathfinder should be a wiki' I felt encouraged to change my direction form creating a Pathfinder through a web page to creating a pathfinder through a Wiki. Valenza's 10 points did not grab me as being benefits for producing through a Wiki, except for point 6 & 7, edit anywhere and no knowledge of HTML language required, alas I gave the Wiki a try anyway.
I found that producing a Pathfinder through Wiki emphasised the problems of the World Wide Web and had me thinking negatively about the frustration of editing. I first encountered this when working through Goolge Documents. Fonts would not change size nor colour when you required it to, but then would change and save when not requiring it to. Picture importing was not as easy or successful as the 'Help' guide told you it would be. You can only remove the adds if you pay to upgrade. Video linking would not occur after instruction and the biggest downfall was Wiki's very plan and boring scroll down appearance. You can use the navigation buttons to create a 'layered' Wiki,through Wikispaces, but navigating the Navigation buttons to where you want them to be was not possible without much frustration.
After spending hours experiencing the negativity of Wiki's I changed my direction back to creating a Pathfinder through a website. Not knowing nor understanding HTML language has not stopped me creating, what I believe, to be a very informative,appealling and navigatable Pathfinder. Using Frontpage I have been able to insert graphics and create pages for my Pathfinder, one that will cater for all students with their differing learning styles. The only process I can not complete is placing it within a website, this I can leave to the Website co-ordinator, a person will thus skills.
Through my experience, Valenza has it wrong!
Valenza, 2009, Ten reasons why your next pathfinder should be a wiki. Retrieved September 14th, from,
http://informationfluency.wikispaces.com/Ten+reasons+why+your+next+pathfinder+should+be+a+wiki
After reading Valenza's article 'Ten reasons why your next pathfinder should be a wiki' I felt encouraged to change my direction form creating a Pathfinder through a web page to creating a pathfinder through a Wiki. Valenza's 10 points did not grab me as being benefits for producing through a Wiki, except for point 6 & 7, edit anywhere and no knowledge of HTML language required, alas I gave the Wiki a try anyway.
I found that producing a Pathfinder through Wiki emphasised the problems of the World Wide Web and had me thinking negatively about the frustration of editing. I first encountered this when working through Goolge Documents. Fonts would not change size nor colour when you required it to, but then would change and save when not requiring it to. Picture importing was not as easy or successful as the 'Help' guide told you it would be. You can only remove the adds if you pay to upgrade. Video linking would not occur after instruction and the biggest downfall was Wiki's very plan and boring scroll down appearance. You can use the navigation buttons to create a 'layered' Wiki,through Wikispaces, but navigating the Navigation buttons to where you want them to be was not possible without much frustration.
After spending hours experiencing the negativity of Wiki's I changed my direction back to creating a Pathfinder through a website. Not knowing nor understanding HTML language has not stopped me creating, what I believe, to be a very informative,appealling and navigatable Pathfinder. Using Frontpage I have been able to insert graphics and create pages for my Pathfinder, one that will cater for all students with their differing learning styles. The only process I can not complete is placing it within a website, this I can leave to the Website co-ordinator, a person will thus skills.
Through my experience, Valenza has it wrong!
Valenza, 2009, Ten reasons why your next pathfinder should be a wiki. Retrieved September 14th, from,
http://informationfluency.wikispaces.com/Ten+reasons+why+your+next+pathfinder+should+be+a+wiki
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Communication: Processes and problems
Communication as a two way process
Any communication between people, whether they be in the workplace or home environment, requires atleast two people. One person will be the sender and the other the receiver of this communication.
Communication can take many forms; oral, pictures, diagrams/drawings, symbols, colours, sounds, facial expression, appearance, behaviour or insignia.
Communication can be made through many different media; face-to-face, speeches, telephone, letter, bulletin/brochure, newpaper, film and tape recording.
Within the workplace, communication needs to be both downward, from executive and administration, and upward, from the worker and student. Communication is a two way process when this upward and downward process occurs.
Savage, W(1989).
When isssues or conflict arises within the workplace or home they need to be resolved. A focus on the outcome and at times with comprimise. A settlement will need to be negotiated. There are six steps to this settlement;
One person
1.States their opinion.
2.The other person tells what they understand to be your view.
3.You tell whether you are satisfied with their understanding.
The other person will now
4.State their opinion.
5.You tell what you understand as your point of view.
6.They tell whether they are satisfied with your understanding.
Mackay, H (1998)
It is acknowledged that this can be a rather artificial process, but both parties are able to clearly state their issues/ concerns while the other party verbalises their understanding of these issues/concerns.
Cohen,S(2002), suggests using 'The seven pillars of negotiational wisdom' , stated below, as process elements when negotiating.
Any communication between people, whether they be in the workplace or home environment, requires atleast two people. One person will be the sender and the other the receiver of this communication.
Communication can take many forms; oral, pictures, diagrams/drawings, symbols, colours, sounds, facial expression, appearance, behaviour or insignia.
Communication can be made through many different media; face-to-face, speeches, telephone, letter, bulletin/brochure, newpaper, film and tape recording.
Within the workplace, communication needs to be both downward, from executive and administration, and upward, from the worker and student. Communication is a two way process when this upward and downward process occurs.
Savage, W(1989).
When isssues or conflict arises within the workplace or home they need to be resolved. A focus on the outcome and at times with comprimise. A settlement will need to be negotiated. There are six steps to this settlement;
One person
1.States their opinion.
2.The other person tells what they understand to be your view.
3.You tell whether you are satisfied with their understanding.
The other person will now
4.State their opinion.
5.You tell what you understand as your point of view.
6.They tell whether they are satisfied with your understanding.
Mackay, H (1998)
It is acknowledged that this can be a rather artificial process, but both parties are able to clearly state their issues/ concerns while the other party verbalises their understanding of these issues/concerns.
Cohen,S(2002), suggests using 'The seven pillars of negotiational wisdom' , stated below, as process elements when negotiating.
- Relationship
- Interets
- BATNA
- Creativity
- Fairness
- Committmnet
- Communication
Cohen suggests the use of these pillars within the importance of business relationships.
Cohen, S (2002), The seven pillars of negotiational wisdom, in Negotiating skills for managers, McGraw- Hill, New York, pp. 171-187.
Mackay, H (1998), Resolving conflict through listening, in The good listener: Better relationships through better communication, Pan macmillan, Sydeny, pp. 189-199.
Savage, W (1989), Communication: Process and problems, in Human resource management in education, C Riches & C Morgan (eds), Open University Press, Milton Keynes, pp. 103-119.
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