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Joshua Mika <jmika@NAPERVILLE203.ORG> writes:
>      Never did I thought I would spark such a debate (albeit between
>only four people) concerning Sybil's share of the "Vision of Students
>Today" video.  However, the recourse have me all mixed up inside.
>       Much of this stems from people's schema when they watch the
>video, but also their position in the school.  As a school librarian I
>view myself as a teacher.  I do not describe my role as one who simply
>orders materials & shares literature.  When I work with classrooms I'm
>teaching a lesson.  Sure I stop along the way and share literature in
>various formats, but when I do I also suggest authorship, activities
>(online and on paper), and games.
>       Another need might be that there's a new generation of teachers
>and librarians who might need to hear this.  As much as I hate "updated"
>versions of classic movies or songs, I recognize their need for the next
>generation.  Maybe they need to hear this today?  Have you ever stopped
>to think that if students are still making these videos that things
>AREN'T changing as much as we might think?
>
>>JEFF<I thought they were saying that they had an abundance of expensive
>tech tools already at their disposal, but just weren't interested in
>using them for their studies.>HASTINGS<
>
>       There it is!  Here's a clear-cut reason for us (librarians and
>teachers) to step up and teach.  Use and model its use.  Create projects
>like this video to spark the need and interest of others to do the same.
>Heck, write the grants necessary to fill that cost gap we all have to
>get more.
>
>>JEFF< My question though is this: BASED STRICTLY UPON THIS PARTICULAR
>VIDEO:
>Did the students seem to WANT to learn, by any means?>HASTINGS<
>
>       There are always students who may not want to learn in the
>environment they're given.  How does one help a student find the
>intrinsic motivation that we all possess?  Everyone has their method,
>but I choose to model and inspire.  The tools of literature, models,
>manipulatives, and access to technology is everything I need.
>       We all know that the roles of school librarians have changed.
>School librarians are teachers and we need to teach.  Instead of
>complaining, I would rally that we be a model for staff and students.
>Ask yourself if you are... 
>1) ...teaming with your teachers to work with them to support curricular
>goals and intertwine information literacy goals?
>2) ...providing David Loertscher's flexible scheduling with your school
>and teaching lessons not only about literature, but information literacy
>(and I would add on media/visual and ICT literacies)?
>3) ...helping your students take command of the information age by
>teaching 21st Century Skills like IMSA's 21st Century Information
>Fluency Project?
>
>>TONI<For me, it all comes down to the excitement and lasting change
>that a good education provides.  It requires a tremendous investment on
>the part of educators and an equal investment from students (and
>remember, as educators, it is WE who set the expectations for the
>students).  That student investment, I think, is more likely to come
>when we step into new teaching territory that is exciting for them.  I
>suppose it comes down to my same old song--education is, at all levels,
>meant to be about student learning and achievement.  As educators, we
>must continually ask ourselves how we are ENSURING that
>learning.>BUZZEO<
>
>       In the words of failed 90s rapper, Vanilla Ice: "Word." Couldn't
>have said it better myself Toni.  ;-)
>
>Stepping down off the soap box,
>
>Josh Mika
>LRC Director
>Beebe Elementary
>Naperville, IL
>jmika@naperville203.org
>
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>

I know the point of the video was to point out how this generation is
different by what it is exposed to, namely the technology.  Unfortunately,
the author makes it sound whiney and self absorbed by placing the blame
for this generations lack of connectedness on the unfathomable non-tech
adult world. Been there, done that and traded the tie dye in for a
corporate suit.  The bottom line is that human nature being what it is we
would all rather play then work.  Today's students have alot more high
tech diversions than 100, 50, 30 years ago.  The kids are the same, the
diversions have changed and the adults don't seem to be able to get it
together enough to say school is about working hard to learn so you can go
on and be productive in jobs that haven't even been created or thought of
yet.  And that kind of self discipline takes no technology and pays off in
the future whatever it may be.  
Becky Vasilakis
District Library Media Specialist
Amanda Clearcreek SD
328 E. Main St. 
Amanda OH 43102
1-740-969-7480
becky_vasilakis@amanda.k12.oh.us

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