Hi Laura,
What are the students using the laptops for? Wordprocessing ( do they use the
wordprocessing software as a desktop publishing tool or a as a typewriter?) Are
they using them for research? What are they researching - the public domain Web?
Authority of information and their capacity to find the
right/appropriate/authoritative information is questionable - growing body of
research now that indicates that they don't have the skills to do this. They also
need to know how to access the hidden Web - databases you pay for.
Strategies
Relevant, up-to-date displays that change every week - one on developments in
technology using newspaper and magazine clippings - easy to put up and change
regularly. Displays of student work, brag board about past students or school
events - digital photos - get the kids to take them and have print copies on
display the day after the event - they'll always come to see themselves in print.
Helps to establish a community culture in the school with the library being
perceived as the hub.
Literature promotions - target the Principal and literacy outcomes improvement in
the school - use the words - to develop a culture of reading excellence aross the
school. PISA 2000 report from the OECD revealed that students who read fiction
widely, are more successful academically even overcoming social disadvantage
factors. Get the students to write up recommendations for fiction and use these as
the basis for your notes section in the library catalogue. ie. publish their work.
Liaise with the computer department - the library catalogue is a safe example of a
working database and a complex one too. It can be used by students as an working
example.
Set up a virtual library - place here 6-8 websites, journal articles that are
relevant/best websites for topics being studied by students. Include any print
items available in the collection as well. Work with teachers to stipulate that
students must have authoritative public domain websites and a range of resources -
journals, books, database items, because they will have to use these later in their
edcuation at college and university where things like Wikipedia are not acceptable.
Get them used to it now.
Have attached to your website FAQs - generic documents on how to - write an
argumentative essay, conduct an oral presentation, write a report, intext
referencing, writing a bibliography, how to write/create a winning PowerPoint
presentation (design and display)... These are available in print form too, because
some students will prefer this option. Make your library a one-stop shop. Have a
weekly newsletter - what's new (magazines, DVDs, CDs, fiction/nonfiction). Organise
guest speakers and conduct PD for teachers - not necessarily in the library or on
library topics.
Laptops are only a tool and research suggests that they actually remain little more
than very expensive portable typewriters, unless the are used in a pedagogically
sound manner by staff.
Good luck with your PR program.
:)
BC
Barbara Combes
Lecturer, LIS, Edith Cowan Univeristy
-----Original Message-----
From: School Library Media & Network Communications on behalf of Laura Strathman
Sent: Thu 4/01/2007 3:21 AM
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: [LM_NET] TAR: Schools where each student has a laptop
Hi-
Next year, ALL the students at the middle school/high school where I work
(approximately 450 students in grades 7-12) will have laptops. This year,
all the middle school students have them, and I rarely see middle school
students in the library. I would say that about 85-90% of the high school
library use is for the computers. I'm afraid that next year when everyone
has a laptop the library will only be used for its wireless capacity.
I love working in a district that is so forward-thinking, but I want to make
the library relevant to our students. I have checked the archives, but most
of the conversations I found involved situations where teachers had access
to laptop carts, not ones where each student had his or her own computer.
I would love to hear from anyone who works in a school that already has a
one to one laptop ratio. How has your job changed as a result? How do you
interact with students and teachers in meaningful ways (not just supervising
computer use or checking out/repairing laptops)? What advice would you give
someone just beginning the process?
Thanks in advance for your ideas. I'll post a hit if there's interest.
Laura Strathman
Library media specialist
Maplewood Richmond Heights Middle/High School
St. Louis, MO
lstrathm@gmail.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation.
* LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
* LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
* EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/sub/
* LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation.
* LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
* LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
* EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/sub/
* LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------
LM_NET
Mailing List Home