General

__**General Stuff:**__ Sept. 1 After school the media specialist demonstrated some of the Administrative features of the updated version of Alexandria. We were trying to figure out a more efficient way to run reports. The MS uses this to analyze the collection, especially to report on overdue books. This is then communicated to homeroom teachers so that those students can be notified or reminded that they have overdue books. She does charge a huge amount for overdue books since it isn't really about the money, but with more emphasis on students taking personal responsibility for books that they have borrowed. We also talked about how to approach some of the practicum requirements. We don't have a media/technology committee, so attending a meeting may have to happen at one of the other sites. I still haven't heard back from the high school people, so I'll probably have to go over there in person. (30 minutes)

Sept. 3 The MS was at the other campus today, so I helped our technology specialist make some adjustments on several computers that were recently reimaged and updated. We were basically locking down certain settings on the dock so that students won't be able to change the size, location, or even delete shortcuts to applications. This involved typing in code and then making other adjustments in the finder preferences. After that the technology specialist showed me all of her inexpensive quick fixes, such as how to coil a charger cord to prevent damage. She also used two popsicle sticks and some tape to hold a vga adapter in a straight position. By preventing the wire from bending, a worn out adapter will keep a reasonable connection. She had all kinds of clever quick fixes. (1 hour)

November 4 2010 GaETC in Atlanta was AWESOME! This was my second year attending and I love every minute of it. I went on a Thursday this year and was able to see all the exhibits put on by the vendors, which I missed last year since I went on a Friday. I went to several workshops that included two by Leslie Fisher [|www.lesliefisher.com]. She used to work for Apple, Inc. and was basically discussing her favorite iPad/iPhone apps for personal organization, entertainment, as well as some with educational purposes. Another workshop was put on by some younger folks who are involved in facilitating professional development for Atlanta Schools in Fulton County. Their presentation was not the best one I had seen this year. I also saw one on using Google docs. The facilitator ran into some major connectivity issues, which brought her presentation to a halt. I felt bad for her, because she was doing a great job presenting up until then. The 2009 GaETC was very good as well. I went to an especially good workshop with Tony Vincent, which gave some great examples of some of the tools available out there for 21st century learners. His pbworks page is http://engagethem.pbworks.com/w/page/18934768/FrontPage This is when I got turned on to Prezi, Skype, Glogster, and a lot of the other Web 2.0 tools that we use. The last session I attended that year was with our own Kenneth Clark who was instructing on screen casting. It was very well presented and involved crowd participation which everyone seemed to like. (All day both years...not really sure I can count this toward my required hours) :)

Jan. 25 I spent some time with the technology specialist and we looked at the new iPads that will be part of the growing mobile iPad lab. Very exciting! Another teacher and I will be giving students an option to use Rhymezone.com to create a rap, poem, or song. The iPad has an application called Ladida which is for recording. You have different background track options that you can sing/rap over, it then counts down, keeps a four count with a metronome (visual/audio) and even has pitch changing features to help get a sour note to sound closer to the right note. We experimented with it a little. It worked really well, but made the vocals sound too electronic for me...that's just me...the kids will love it! We demonstrated it with a class later in the day. I had a girl named Haley G. come up to give it a try. She has an excellent voice and the final product sounded very professional. The look on her face was priceless. Some other apps that I want to have her load include Prezi, BrainPop, the 2011 CIA World Factbook, Baby Scratch (for recording raps), and maybe a flashcard app. I believe KeyNote is already installed for making a slide presentations. Since the iPads are new, it's exciting to make suggestions/requests for apps. (2 hours)

Feb. 25 Today I took a personal day and I'm finishing out the day at the high school media center with the two very capable media specialists. They also have a media parapro who works in a computer lab and isn't really in the media center very much. It has been productive and it has been interesting to work with a media specialist who has worked at the elementary and high school levels. She talked to me extensively about how collection management has changed dramatically even within the past ten years. Inventory used to be done by scanning books into a word document, importing those titles into the computer, and then going back and manually checking the ones that had error messages come up. It was a much more tedious process than it is now. After helping them catch up on a major laminating project, they put me to work on the process of discarding a stack of around 300 books. First the bar code had to be peeled off and these were all taped onto 8.5 x 11 paper. Next, the due date envelope and security chip were pulled off and thrown in the trash. The books were marked with a "D" for discard and put in neat pile. Once all the books were complete, I scanned the codes and they were logged in Alexandria as being weeded and discarded. Then the codes were filed away for future reference. This process took much longer than I had anticipated, but I don't think those books will inadvertently make their way back into the collection. At the middle school, our MS separates the cover from the book and documents this in Alexandria. The books that the high school is discarding ending up being available for teachers and students. Some books will go to the public library. All of these books were from the fiction section and were in pretty rough condition. One book was from 1945. Most books hadn't been checked out since the 80's. Definitely time to get rid of them. At first weeding and discarding seemed like book burning to me, but now I see how important it is to keep quality titles on hand that will be enticing to young readers. While I was working a sales rep. from a book company met with the MS to try to sell her a variety of books. They talked for a long time and the MS looked at many samples of the books that the rep had brought with her. The rep was really pushing "Facts on File" for research as well as other reference materials for students doing research. There were some science titles that the MS was interested in, but she said she wouldn't really be ready to make any purchases until the fall when she knows what the budget looks like. It must be hard selling books for a living, with the collection management tools available online. She spent all that time pushing her product to make only a small sale. I guess the potential for more future sales makes it all worthwhile. (7 hours)

Week of Feb. 28-March 4 This week was an interesting week in the media center. The professional section was just weeded by the media specialist and was ready for inventory which is where I jumped in. The professional section, like the reference section, has many really good books that I didn't realize were there. The professional section has books on curriculum and middle school education in every subject area. There are also subject specific magazines for use in the classroom as well as picture books for use in the media center or classroom. The MS and I were talking about how students love to be read to, regardless of their age. Another activity this week was helping students check out and renew books. To renew a book, you type in "r" in the search field, the student scans their book and they adjust the due date. To check out a book you search for the student's name and check to make sure they don't have any overdue books or outstanding fines. We then have them scan the book and stamp a due date card. As the book is scanned and registers in Alexandria, I say the title of the book and try to comment on something about the book and how I hope they enjoy it. I enjoyed interacting with the students about their reading choices. On another note, I saw an interesting contraption used to repair a loose binding. It was basically a like a little table with a groove down the middle for the spine of the book. A wide roll of clear tape is attached at one end. This makes for a clean, strong repair. The MS said she would show me how to repair/replace a book cover later on. This week I was also able to see the MS in action with students. She talked about some of the newly acquired titles in the media center and how the fiction section has been weeded, as well as the importance of reading nonfiction as well as fiction. The MS attended our grade level curriculum meeting and addressed all the teachers. She talked about the materials available in the professional section and other sections. She also talked about how she is here to support the teachers in whatever way possible. She discussed a wish list that she has for teachers to make requests or suggestions for books, dvds, and any other materials. She also talked about copyright issues that teachers need to be aware of. It is important to model good digital citizenship for our students through our own actions. I thought she did a really good job of making the teachers aware of her role and making herself and the media center accessible to everyone. (4.5 hours)

March 30 I spent the day at Gilbert Elementary school and it I really got a good impression of how a good media specialist runs a media center that is inviting and effective. They have around 300 titles checked out and returned everyday, so there was definitely some shelving to help with. The collection is organized according to AR reading level and then by the Dewey number within that reading level. She discussed the pros and cons with me and how it is much more beneficial at the elementary level than middle school level, however even at the elementary level students sometimes skip over some really good titles just to try to get to the higher levels. Also, really young students who are at a high level may not be mature enough to handle the content of the higher books. It was a good discussion and very eye opening. Two different classes came in for instruction during the day and the theme was "parts of a book." The lesson was integrated technology such as an ELMO document cam and Smartboard to make the lesson fun and engaging for the students. The first group was an inclusion class and they were the most hard working and well behaved class. I was really impressed with what she (the MS) could pull out of them. She began her lesson by reviewing the dictionary/encyclopedia comparison they had done last time the class had been there and then went into her lesson on parts of the book. She discussed the table of contents and then focused on the index. After giving instruction, which involved a lot of back and forth discussion, she gave them a quick quiz to see how they did. Next she had them look through the text of the book to create their own index. They used the existing index, and then added in their own topics and subtopics. I was impressed with the group. They lead teacher and inclusion teacher helped those that needed additional help. The students left for their specials class and came back to present their own index using the ELMO. They finished with game, using the index in a classroom atlas. She would ask them a question and they would use the index to answer the question. They loved it! While the students were out at their other class, she showed me the computer lab, which is part of the media center. The technology teacher was using his Smartboard to reinforce some math concepts. He had just finalized an iPad mobile lab that he was getting ready for student use. He is planning on clearing out the room of computer tables and bringing in bean bags and making it strictly an iPad lab. It's sounds amazing! Next, she took me around to peak on teachers who she knows use technology in their lesson, mostly the ELMO or iPads. We saw several examples of students fully engaged in their learning. I was really impressed by the caliber of teacher in this tiny little school in the country. This students are blessed to be at such a wonderful place. The afternoon lesson was the same as the morning lesson and that was about it. It is amazing how education has evolved over the past few decades and continues to head in positive directions. I feel privileged to be a part of it. (5 hours)