What's In a Name?

What's in a name?  If you're a school library media specialist,  A LOT.

Previously called librarians, we now have many names, with little consensus.  While public schools have widely embraced the term "school library media specialist," there are still a lot of creative options circulating through the communities of librarianship.

I am here going to provide a running list of names for libraries and their facilitators, in no particular order.  If you know of any names that I haven't listed, please add it in the comments or contact me.  Enjoy and vote for your favorites!

Back to the Beginning

I decided to disconnect my IFTTT from this blog for a number of reasons.  IFTTT is incredible for automation, but it removes the human element; the personal touch.  It also, frankly, makes rather ugly blog posts which clashed with my design sensibilities.
When I started writing this blog, it was under professional duress.  I was in grad school at the time and made to feel like I "should" blog.  It was a job-hunting gimick that I was happy to employ, in the hopes that someone would then employ me.  Well, whether or not the blog had anything to do with it, I did eventually get a job and - with that goal then realized - the blog dissolved in to obscurity.  In other words, the blog did its job in getting me a job, so I had no additional reason to continue contributing to it.

But good librarians are supposed to have blogs, right?  You can't be a Joyce Valenza or a Buffy Hamilton without one.  Or at least that's what "they" told me.

I approached the blog again a few months ago with trepidation and a touch of sorrow.  Trepidation because I realized that dedicating myself to it again was going to be a lot of work.  Sorrow because it was such an outdated and abandoned little thing.  Barely more than a dozen people were reading it, so it didn't feel like there was much of a point.

But I realized that I do have things to say.  I was just too scared to say them.

I've always been a very outspoken person with "cutting edge" ideas.  But sometimes those ideas can cut both ways...ways that could be dangerous for a non-tenured teacher.  I spoke my ideas, but I tailored them for very specific audiences at appropriate times in controlled situations as I felt out the political climate of my school and professional community.

Now that I have a solid hold on my third year as a library media specialist, I've grown more confident in what I have to say and my personal philosophies regarding education and librarianship as an evolving field. Especially since I ended up in such an innovative and supportive school district.   I'm ready to return to the original concept of this blog:  the record of my journey as a fledgling media specialist.

There are tons of blogs out there from veterans, so I intend to supply the voice of a pioneer just starting out.  I'll talk about what has worked, what totally doesn't, and anything else that I feel might be of interest to the greater educational media community.  Here's to going back to the beginning!

Is Technology shoving Pedagogy to the center stage? TPACK Reviewed

Guest post by Silvana Meneghini, Academic Technology Coordinator, Graded- American School of São Paulo. Originally posted on her blog On the Edge.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://langwitches.org/blog/2013/12/10/is-technology-shoving-pedagogy-to-the-center-stage-tpack-reviewed/



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Google Takes One Giant Leap in Building the Connected Classroom

As our students prepare to graduate into an exponentially changing economy, there's one skill that often goes unchecked in the development of Common Core curriculum: the ability to think, act and communicate globally.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-w-guay/google-takes-one-giant-le_b_4411803.html



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What tools do you use to maintain your PLN, librarians?

I've been a member of LM_Net since about 1992. It was my first online PLN even before the term was invented. A PLN has been a big part of my professional career. I've written about them here, here (with Dr. Joyce), and here for admins.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2013/12/10/what-tools-do-you-use-to-maintain-your-pln-librarians.html



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Millennials View Education as Least Satisfying Segment for Empowerment, Workplace Collaboration

For young people seeking innovation in the organizations where they work, education as a sector may not be the most conducive environment.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://thejournal.com/articles/2013/12/10/millennials-view-education-as-least-satisfying-segment-for-empowerment-workplace-collaboration.aspx



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The 200 best special education apps

When you step into a modern classroom, you probably notice at least a little bit of technology. There might be a computer in the corner, an iPad in a desk, or perhaps even a smartphone on a student’s desk. The pervasiveness of edtech in the classroom is palpable.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://learnegg.com/best-special-education-apps/



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6 Great Gifts For Your Early Adopter Friends (Or You!)

December is in full swing, and regardless of what holiday you’re celebrating, this month signifies gift buying time for many of us. Hanukkah may have visited us a little bit earlier than usual this year, but there are still plenty of celebrations coming our way.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://www.edudemic.com/great-gifts/



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Top 5 tips for schools using social media

There are many potential benefits of using social media in the classroom: it can improve your relationship with pupils, and inspire them to spend more time on their work. Before setting up a Facebook or Twitter account, however, significant preparation is required. Here are my top 5 tips:



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://www.innovatemyschool.com/industry-expert-articles/item/804-top-5-tips-for-schools-using-social-media.html



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20 Movies Every Educator Should See

“This is a list of 20 must-see films for educators, compiled by Nicholas Provenzano in this article for Edutopia. Most of these are well-worn classics that you've probably already seen, but if you haven't, they're all pretty much worth viewing. The article explains why for each one below.”



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://fluency21.com/blog/2013/12/08/20-movies-every-educator-should-see/



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“Flowchart For When A Day Goes Bad In Classroom Management”

As regular readers of this blog and my books know, I love teaching at our school. Nevertheless, it is not a “walk in the park.” One hundred percent of our students receive a free breakfast and lunch, and many face other challenges inherent in the inner-city.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2013/12/10/flowchart-for-when-a-day-goes-bad-in-classroom-management/#.UqhWD10YH5A.twitter



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12 Days of Gifts iOS App Launches on App Store

Apple has launched the 12 Days of Gifts App. It’s a free app that offers 12 gifts (one a day) from December 26 through January 6. You can download the app from the App Store. Right now there’s nothing available, and it’s still 16 days out.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://ismashphone.com/2013/12/12-days-of-gifts-ios-app-launches-on-app-store.html



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Perfect for classrooms: the periodic table illustrated with items made from the elements

Sure, the periodic table of elements is useful. But wouldn’t it be better if we all had an illustrated version that depicts different items made from each element? That’s what this fabulous chart is. Thanks to Jason Elsom for sharing this wonderful chart on Twitter.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://learnegg.com/perfect-classrooms-periodic-table-illustrated-items-made-elements/



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Facebook Is Out, But Blogging and Google+ Are In

If you use Facebook to connect to fans who are interested in your brand or company, your reach will soon diminish. According to AdAge, Facebook stated, "We expect organic distribution of an individual page's posts to gradually decline over time...



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://socialmediatoday.com/crackerjackscribe/1991421/facebooks-out-blogging-and-google



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35 Digital Tools To Create Simple Quizzes And Collect Feedback From Students

If there is one thing teachers lack, it’s time. And while using technology to automate learning has been frowned upon by many, using it to automate time-consuming processes or aggregate data automatically is among the many seamless fits technology can make into any classroom.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://www.teachthought.com/technology/35-digital-tools-create-simple-quizzes-collect-feedback-students/



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Parents Worry Schools Overlook Girls Who Aren't College-Bound

Kyrah Whatley, 17, is a bright student with pretty good grades. But the thought of spending two to four more years in a college classroom is depressing, she says. Masonry, on the other hand, intrigues her. "I'm a kinesthetic learner. ... I learn with my hands," she says.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://www.npr.org/2013/12/11/249975051/parents-worry-schools-overlook-girls-who-arent-college-bound



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Pew Internet Releases “How Americans Value Public Libraries in Their Communities”

The Pew Internet and American Life Project has just released the latest report in their public library research series. Library Journal’s Matt Ennis reports on the Pew study here. He was nice enough to include a couple of comments from yours truly. I’ll have more to say in the near future.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://www.infodocket.com/2013/12/11/pew-internet-releases-how-americans-value-public-libraries-in-their-communities/



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Create interactive learning modules with ThingLink (limited free-for-educators offer)

ThingLink is a cool tool that lets you create interactive images for anything you can imagine. In our touch screen culture, this is a great tool for today’s students to engage with content.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2013/12/create-interactive-learning-modules.html



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The Doctor's Office Of The Future: Coffeeshop, Apple Store, And Fitness Center

As Americans try to figure out what changes the Affordable Care Act will bring to their lives and pocketbooks (and politicians continue wrangling over the rollout), here's one that probably missed everyone's radar: the new experience that could be waiting for people in their primary care doctor's



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://www.fastcoexist.com/3023255/futurist-forum/the-doctors-office-of-the-future-coffeeshop-apple-store-and-fitness-center



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The 20 most amazing gadgets of the ’90s and your childhood

As the year winds down, here’s a look at our favorite gadgets from the 1990s. It wasn’t necessarily pretty, and we’ve come a long way, but at the time we loved them so much. Gadgets like: Before USB drives and Dropbox, we had to rely on these 3.5-square-inch disks to carry our documents.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://bgr.com/2013/12/10/top-20-gadgets-from-the-1990s/



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NASA's Valkyrie robot is a 6-foot 'superhero' designed to save you from disasters

NASA has created a robot for DARPA's upcoming Robotics Challenge Trials. The Valkyrie is a 6-foot-2-inch humanoid machine with detachable arms, sonar sensors, mounted cameras, and a glowing Tony Stark-esque circle in the middle of its chest.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://www.theverge.com/2013/12/11/5198124/nasas-valkyrie-robot-made-for-darpa-robotics-challenge



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Simulations back up theory that Universe is a hologram

In 1997, theoretical physicist Juan Maldacena proposed1 that an audacious model of the Universe in which gravity arises from infinitesimally thin, vibrating strings could be reinterpreted in terms of well-established physics.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://www.nature.com/news/simulations-back-up-theory-that-universe-is-a-hologram-1.14328



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Teachers: How Slowing Down Can Lead to Great Change

Sometimes, in order to gain perspective on a situation, I imagine myself zooming into outer space and looking down on whatever is going on. From a distance of thousands of feet above whatever craziness is happening I can see more clearly and determine the actions that are available for me to take.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://www.edutopia.org/blog/teachers-slowing-down-lead-to-change-elena-aguilar



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10 Ugly Christmas Sweaters for Librarians

It’s the Christmas season and time to drag out that ugly-but-festive sweater that lets everyone know you’ve gotten into the holiday spirit.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://oedb.org/ilibrarian/10-ugly-christmas-sweaters-librarians/



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How to destroy a school library

Think of the library as her program where she sets all the rules, knows all the best practices, and owns all the materials. Invite children into the library, but when they actually get there, set rules and expectations that make them feel uncomfortable, even unwelcome.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2013/12/8/how-to-destroy-a-school-library.html



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5 reasons cell phones benefit a 1:1 environment

Cross posted at Partners in Learning 1:1 Hot Topics Go into any office today and you’ll notice that 1:1 does not exist. To operate effectively in today’s workplace, at the very least, a 2:1 environment, with a computer and a phone, is required.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2013/12/5-reasons-cell-phones-benefit-11.html



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The 14 Greatest Science Fiction Books Of The Year

Why it made the list: If you want to truly run the gamut of incredible short stories then you need to look no further than Yoon Ha Lee’s Conservation of Shadows.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://www.buzzfeed.com/mccarricksean/the-greatest-fantasy-books-of-the-year-fjmu



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QR Code Classroom Implementation Guide

QR Codes (Quick Response Codes) are just barcodes. There is nothing fancy about them. QR Codes are barcodes of information that hardlink the physical world with the online world. They are considered a form of simple augmented reality.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://www.coolcatteacher.com/qr-code-classroom-implementation-guide/



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89 lesson plans and ideas for teaching math – #mathchat

Today, I dedicate this post to my high school Algebra teacher, Noel Martin, who still teaches my own children just down the middle school hallway, the last room on the right. Coach Martin is a fantastic Algebra teacher.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://www.coolcatteacher.com/89-lesson-plans-and-ideas-for-teaching-math-mathchat/



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Medium: A powerful web tool you’re going to be using next year

I like to write. I have gotten to where I am (not very far, mind you) today by writing. It’s almost ironic that I had little focus on writing during my formative years. I was an economics and anthropology major who loved numbers and discussion.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://learnegg.com/medium-web-tools/



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14 Free Resources for Primary Source Documents ~ Educational Technology and Mobile Learning

Primary sources are resources that were first-hand created in a given period of time and never undergone any kind of editing or distortion. These sources are multimodal and they come in different forms. They can be artifacts, documents, pictures, recordings, essays, photographs, maps...etc.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/12/14-free-resources-for-primary-source.html



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Obama kicks off CS Education Week with Code.org: ‘Don’t just play on your phone, program it’

This week is shaping up to be the biggest Computer Science Education Week yet. The annual event, meant to promote computer programming education worldwide, is focusing on a new “Hour of Code” initiative powered by the non-profit Code.org.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://venturebeat.com/2013/12/08/president-obama-kicks-off-cs-education-week-with-code-org-dont-just-play-on-your-phone-program-it/



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Computer Science Education Week: How will you p

Participate in computer science events, which run from Dec. 9-15 Computer Science Education Week begins today, and the week is full of resources and events to help curriculum directors and educators integrate and implement computer science lessons. As of Dec.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://www.eschoolnews.com/2013/12/09/computer-science-week-164/



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Will your class join an 'Hour of Code'?

This week many educators across the globe will be leading their students through an 'Hour of Code' .



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/austeachers/archive/2013/12/09/hourofcode.aspx



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How Has the Internet Changed Education

Sure, we all know that as a subjective, gut-level judgment, but is there data to prove it? Oh yeah. Look at this infographic from Cool Infographics:



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://askatechteacher.wordpress.com/2013/12/09/how-has-the-internet-changed-education/



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An inside look at how Samsung tortures its gadgets

Editors' note: Be sure to catch the other stories in this package: on Samsung's bid to rule the world, on the many pieces of the Samsung Group, on road-testing Samsung's S Translate app, and on TVs and appliances in a Q&A with co-CEO Boo-keun Yoon.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57614687-94/an-inside-look-at-how-samsung-tortures-its-gadgets/



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The Hour of Code - Join the Movement

We live in a computer powered world. Coding is the language our computers speak. As an educator or a parent, have you ever introduced students to coding? Computer science is a top-paying college degree.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://gettingsmart.com/2013/12/hour-code-join-movement/



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How to focus in the age of distraction

So many of us are connected and/or using our connected devices regularly. Some might say we / you are addicted to them and suffer withdrawal symptoms when we forget them or leave home home without them.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://www.dontwasteyourtime.co.uk/social-network/how-to-focus-in-the-age-of-distraction/



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10 Surprising Twitter Statistics To Help You Reach More Followers

"Retweet" or "RT"? To #hashtag or not? How do you get the most engagement from your Twitter followers? Let's dive right in. Since social media is changing so often, it can be really hard to keep up with stats and trends that affect how you use it.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://www.fastcompany.com/3023067/10-surprising-twitter-statistics-to-help-you-reach-more-followers



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8 Ways To Unlock The Power Of Your Interactive Whiteboard

Interactive whiteboards are a great classroom tool. Many teachers use them to project and capture images – basically as a high tech, connected chalkboard.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://www.edudemic.com/power-of-interactive-whiteboard/



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No Internet? Twitter to arrive for the unconnected

Geared toward emerging markets where access to the Internet on entry-level mobile phones is a rarity, Singabore-based startup U2opia Mobile plans to bring a text-only Twitter experience to its users without the need for a data plan, Reuters reported Thursday.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57614688-93/no-internet-twitter-to-arrive-for-the-unconnected/



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The Use of Social Media in School Infographic

11 Facts That Should Encourage You To Use Social Media in Your School for Educational purposes 96%: of students with internet access report using social networking technologies 75%: of 7th through 12th graders have at least one social media profile 63%: increase in the amount of time kids ages 2-11



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://elearninginfographics.com/the-use-of-social-media-in-school-infographic/



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Metta A Good Presentation Tool Integrated with Google Drive and Edmodo

Metta is an excellent multimedia presentation tool I have recently discovered through Richard Byrne. Using Metta will enable you to create powerful presentations that embed pictures, texts, voice recordings, and even feeds from your Pinterest and Twitter.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/12/metta-good-presentation-tool-integrated.html



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Spotify is reportedly launching a free, ad-supported mobile version of its music streaming service

Music streaming service Spotify only has a free desktop version — its mobile version is limited to paying subscribers — but that could change soon.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://thenextweb.com/media/2013/12/06/spotify-is-reportedly-launching-a-free-ad-supported-mobile-version-of-its-music-streaming-service/



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Easily Organize your Dropbox Files with This Awesome iPad App ~ Educational Technology and Mobile Learning

If you are like me then Dropbox is one of the tools you use on everyday basis. The cloud-based facilities it provides are too valuable to be missed and barring Google Drive, no other web tool provides as powerful and free cloud-based services as Dropbox.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/12/easily-organize-your-dropbox-files-with.html



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Establishing A Growth Mindset As A Teacher: 9 Statements Of Affirmation

The ability to change is among the least-appreciated professional characteristics of a teacher. This is especially true as education systems react to both external pressure, and internal instinct to change into something closer to truly progressive learning environments.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://www.teachthought.com/teaching/establishing-growth-mindset-teacher-9-statements-affirmation/



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Getting Students to Talk About Their Learning

The War of 1812 gym-sized map provoked a great deal of curiosity among my grade 7 students. Once the map was repacked for shipping we discussed what would have made the experience better. The class really wanted to play War of 1812 Risk right on the map.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://www.heidisiwak.com/2013/12/the-war-of-1812-gym-sized-map-provoked.html



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Harry Potter's new image revealed

JK Rowling's bestselling boy wizard is due for a makeover, with the launch of award-winning illustrator Jim Kay's fully-illustrated edition of Harry Potter in 2015.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/dec/06/harry-potter-fully-illustrated-jim-kay



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MUGGLES CAN MAKE MAGIC, TOO! Turning Non-Readers into Readers and Writers by Dennis Jolley (with Justin Jones)

When a friend and I decided to implement a new reading program in our high school classrooms several years ago, our goal was to create a true culture of reading. I’d been guilty of saying to my teacher friends, “These kids just won’t read.



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2013/12/06/muggles-can-make-magic-too-turning-non-readers-into-readers-and-writers-by-dennis-jolley-with-justin-jones/



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Education vs Incarceration Infographic

Using Philadelphia as an example, this graphic compares the cost, both financial and societal, of education and incarceration. Designed by Jason Killinger for Maskar Design



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://elearninginfographics.com/education-vs-incarceration-infographic/



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We need pedagogy, not just cool tools

Photo Credit: César Poyatos via Compfight Whether we have fully integrated technology or not, few of us can deny that learning technologies can revolutionise language learning and teaching; we can find information at the click of a button, create content and share it with the world, communicate a



Click here to read the rest of the article: http://sophiamavridi.edublogs.org/2013/12/06/we-need-pedagogy-not-just-cool-tools/



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