We've all heard of "Doctors Without Borders".
What about
"Librarians Without Borders"?
Do you know the difference between social networking and social media?
Social networking- is an act of engagement-groups of people with common interests build relationships through a networking community
Social media-a way to transmit or share information with a broad audience.
In examining a variety of social networking sites, I have gained a better understanding of how a school library media specialist serves as a "librarian without borders". We need to "connect, teach, share, and lead our students through new informational landscapes". We must consider branching out from the physical landscape of a library media center and into a new virtual landscape which encompasses social networking sites such as FaceBook, wikis, Instagram, blogs, Twitter, and YouTube.
According to the AASL's second longitudinal survey (dated 2008), elementary, middle, and high schools are treating social networking tools as an essential part of preparing students for the 21st Century.
Did you know?....
*53% of schools use some sort of collaborative tool to aid in instruction
*50% of schools use intranet within their school community
*41% of schools use podcasts
*29% of schools use blogs as an instructional platform
*20% of schools use online instruction and social bookmarking
Texting, chatting, virtual worlds, and popular networking sites, like MySpace, are tools used the least in the school community. MySpace has definitely changed from the early 2000's and is now becoming a music based platform with a Pinterest like feel. Social networking tools are moving the educational process towards a more collaborative environment where learning is a social process.
After reading Social Networking and Your Library OPAC, I was very intrigued to learn how Follett's Destiny (which is the OPAC system used at my school), Mandarin Oasis, and SirsiDynix are making the move from interactive communities to our OPACS. Follett's Destiny Quest contains the capabilities where students and teachers can submit text, audio, and video reviews, recommend books, suggest items to be purchased, and request additional copies of a book. School library media specialists can upload digital objects to the MARC records. They can also receive a free 65 titled ebook collection. SirsiDynix's Enterprise, which uses eye-tracking studies to provide optimum graphical interfaces to their general age levels. Enterprise has provided the groundwork that will support social networking capabilities, such as user reviews, rankings, building favorite authors, and types of book lists. Mandarin's Oasis provides a Window's experience in a web format. They can provide a "tag cloud" of alternative words related to a search and will assist users in narrowing and expanding searches. According to this article, media specialists are enthusiastic about the enhancement being made to their OPAC systems; however, they are very cautious. These new changes will allow teachers, school library media specialists, and students to communicate beyond the school setting.
If you haven't heard of TeacherLibrarianNing: A community for teacher-librarians and other educators (http://teacherlibrarian.ning.com), then you are missing out! Once I discovered this site, I felt like the heaven's opened up and I was ready to sing "Hallelujah"! This site is what I've been looking for! From the videos, blogs, book reviews, live Twitter feeds, group chats, chats, webinars, School Library Journal news, YouTube videos posted by SLMS, ALA TechSource...the list of resources are endless. I was thoroughly impressed with all of the resources and support for school library media specialists on this ONE SITE. They offer a diverse selection on group forums, such as new SLMS, high school teacher librarians, and Common Core Conversations. I am definitely going to bookmark this site and check it frequently. It seems like the best place to receive trustworthy support as a future media specialist.
Personal Reflection:
After reviewing these websites, I agree that social networking does play vital role in today's education and preparing students for the 21st Century. As a elementary teacher, I send texts to my students regarding upcoming events and reminders about classroom activities. We use Remind 101 to send text as a school, grade level, or from an individual teacher. I also use online instruction via Study Island and iPad apps to help provide my students with another way of learning the curriculum. I have personal FaceBook and Twitter accounts but I do not feel comfortable sharing these with my students and their parents. My current elementary school does not allow students to have access to social networking or social media sites at school. There is a firewall on all of the accounts protecting the students from accessing these sites. As a future school library media specialist, I see the benefits of creating Twitter account and FaceBook accounts, blogs, and YouTube videos to promote and enhance the media center. There does have to be some caution when posting young students' pictures, voices, names, etc. on social media and social networking sites. It is definitely a part of the school library media specialist's role to help create an acceptable use policy that encompasses social networking/social media sites and the images, work, etc. of the students at his/her school.
Great insight, Shawna! I liked that you defined the difference between social networking and social media, because I had them grouped together as one entity, but they are, in fact, different. I believe that they each have a place in schools, but with guidelines and parameters. I agree that social networking is a great way to increase collaboration for students and teachers. Our media specialists has just recently started a "symbaloo" on her media center website that we are all invited to use to share some of our favorite online resources. Since I work at an elementary school, there is not as great a need for students to be able to work collaboratively on projects outside of the school, but the gifted students do. So, if they could set up their work on wikis, or use some of the Google tools, their group projects may explode with possibilities. I had never thought about features of the OPAC as being social networking, but I can see where it would be helpful and engaging for its users. As far as incorporating social media, like Facebook and Twitter.... I think it is a great tool to use for publicity for the school and media center. Parents love to see what their kids are involved in at school, and its a great way to connect with parents and other people in the community. As far as using these types of sites for instruction, I can't see it...but I'll add yet. Technology changes things everyday, so you just never know! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat insight, Shawna! I liked that you defined the difference between social networking and social media, because I had them grouped together as one entity, but they are, in fact, different. I believe that they each have a place in schools, but with guidelines and parameters. I agree that social networking is a great way to increase collaboration for students and teachers. Our media specialists has just recently started a "symbaloo" on her media center website that we are all invited to use to share some of our favorite online resources. Since I work at an elementary school, there is not as great a need for students to be able to work collaboratively on projects outside of the school, but the gifted students do. So, if they could set up their work on wikis, or use some of the Google tools, their group projects may explode with possibilities. I had never thought about features of the OPAC as being social networking, but I can see where it would be helpful and engaging for its users. As far as incorporating social media, like Facebook and Twitter.... I think it is a great tool to use for publicity for the school and media center. Parents love to see what their kids are involved in at school, and its a great way to connect with parents and other people in the community. As far as using these types of sites for instruction, I can't see it...but I'll add yet. Technology changes things everyday, so you just never know! :)
ReplyDeleteI also use Remind in my class. It is a great way to keep parents up to date on the things happening in the classroom. We also have blocks on social networking. When I look at my student interaction with Kix (a form of social networking like Instagram) I see them getting into alot of trouble. They do not have the understanding of what is appropriate and what is not yet. With that being said I do believe that the media specialist introducing and using social networking and social media in the school may make the transition easier.
ReplyDeleteWow! Shawna you have really given me food for thought. I too believe that social media is a wonderful tool for students of all ages to use at school. The students are already familiar with the applications so tailoring it to fit the needs of the school or an assignment will be a breeze. I have a lot of ways in which I would like to use Facebook and twitter just to name a few in my media center but it seems that I must first help my teachers become comfortable with the programs first. I would like to empower students to use social media in a positive way just as you mention about Destiny Quest etc. but I need a title wave to come a do a big push to help my students and teachers buy-in. You gave a wealth of information in reference to tools for the LMS too. I will be checking out your recommended site!!
ReplyDeleteShawna-
ReplyDeleteAs others have said before me, I appreciate that you laid out the actual difference between social networking and social media platforms. Even though, I felt that I instinctively knew the difference, it made sense to see it written out in plain terms.
Your post's reflections gave me the most food for thought. I am an elementary school teacher as well and have struggled a bit with what social media platforms are appropriate for my students (since most of them are below the age requirement of 13). A teacher across the hall from me has come up with a great way to incorporate social media in her classroom. She has a blog attached to her website where she asks a discussion question on Monday. It has to do with what they are discussing in a certain subject. The students have until Friday afternoon to reflect (with more than just, "I agree" or "Me too!"). She allows students who do not have access to the internet outside of school to use the computers in the mornings before class starts. She has formulated some interesting discussions. It also allows students to build on others conversations before simply answering with the quickest answer. Overall, I think this is an amazing strategy since these students will most likely be attending college with courses like ours! She is prepping them in 3rd grade! I have toyed with implementing something similar next year as well. I would just want to make sure the conversations were meaningful and the topics were relevant to what we were learning in class.
Shawna, firstly - I didn't even know MySpace still existed! Holy moly, that takes me back! I can't wait to check out Teacher Librarian Ning - it does sound quite useful. Angie Wood mentioned Destiny Quest in her blog post about Social Media and I noted that my school's OPAC system, RenWeb, to my knowledge, does not have anything comparable to this form of social media. How I wish they did. It sounds like it's a really neat tool, and one that makes life just a bit easier for media specialists and teachers alike. I also really liked your bit about "Librarians without borders" - I had never considered that before, but the concept is wonderful, as well as spot on. Another point that I wholeheartedly agree with is that social networking plays a role in the way in which our students today learn. I mean, look at all of us. We all take our classes online, communicating through texts, emails, and videoconferences and we have never once stepped foot inside a classroom. Education is constantly evolving and with technology at its side, there is no telling where it is headed.
ReplyDeleteHi Shawna, You did a great job of clarifying the distinction between social networking and social media, and of explaining how that distinction helps us think more clearly about implementing social networking in the media center. I am BLOWN AWAY by what you're telling us about the expansion of Destiny, et al in the OPAC capabilities. My school uses a very primitive automation system and we aspire to Destiny, but the concepts you're describing here are mind boggling. I read something in another class about Library 2.0 and it talked about how libraries have gotten stuck in a rut in terms of automation when compared to sites like Amazon. That article got me thinking about how OPAC systems could begin to compete, and what you've reported sounds like they are doing just that! How cool. I think you're right, though, in that caution must be used. Thank you for such an informational post and for a great deal of food for thought. I'm looking forward to what the horizon holds for libraries.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the educational process is being changed since the introduction of technology because the world is running toward it and we need to follow its lead. I think it is interesting what Follet’s Destiny Quest is doing for their users. I have not seen this in action yet since I have worked with Destiny Quest. I really did not look much into the TeacherLibrarianNing site that we had because I did not understand why we had it as a tool. Thanks to your explanation I will be going back and saving this site for my use in the future. It is a ModPodge of different ways of connecting to others and seeing others ideas for the media center. I wish I had this last semester when I needed ideas for my two year plan programs. I have Twitter and Instagram accounts that I use but I use them in the sense that I know students would be watching what I retweeted or what pictures I posted. There is always a way to make it safe for yourself so no one will be harmed in the process.
ReplyDeleteI had never thought about the difference between social networking and social media but after reading your blog, I can definitely see the difference. I really appreciated your personal reflection after giving us the facts and I agree that social networking does have a place in all classrooms and in the media center. Learning and growing is so enriched when there is a two way or in the case of social networking multi-communication between educators and students. It makes me appreciate learning about weebly and wiki so much more now that I've had these classes. I feel confident to use them for social networking in my media center. I have also enjoyed blogging, which I never really thought would be my thing. I read many blogs for fitness and education but don't usually contribute. This gives me the courage to contribute. Thanks for the insight.
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