Using Web 2.0 to Lure Middle School Students to the Library

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An article by Robbie Barber

 

Contents 1 Introduction 1.1 What is Web 2.0? 1.2 What is a Blog? 1.3 What is a Wiki? 1.4 What is a Podcast? 1.5 What is a Google Earth? 2 Libraries Can Do It 3 Why Isn't Everyone Jumping on the Bandwagon? 4 Anyone Can Do It 5 Conclusion 6 Notes 7 References 8 Additional Resources

[edit] Introduction

Middle school libraries are competing for patrons. The competitors include sports, friends, band, friends, after-school activities, and friends. Middle school students are not as easily engaged as younger students are and often less disciplined (Jones, 2008, p.20). If the library can provide an opportunity to experience new relevant things, then students can "develop personal responsibility, self-direction and leadership" (Jones, 2008, p.23).

In elementary school, students are taken to the library and expected to read a variety of books over a certain time period. Not so in middle school. In middle school, outside of the required English reading, students are free to go or not to the library. Then there's the image problem. The library may be seen as a place of books and research, not comfort and fun. It is not necessarily seen as a place to hang out, talk about authors, look at new technology and try new things. But, there are more tools at hand to compete. The library can be attractive by using the most current technology and lure students back to the library.

Bringing the technology into the schools will not be a shock to the students. In a report for the National School Boards Association, 96% of students between the ages of 9 and 17, with online access, use social networking tools including chats, text messaging, blogging, and visiting social network sites (NSBA, 2007, Intro). Providing structure to the students' experimentation may help them achieve greater communication and organizational skills. 72% of the parents believe that the educational value in social networking tools is important (NSBA, 2007, p. 7). The library can help bring out these skills.

So, what is this Web 2.0? How can it help libraries compete? Can we use it in the classroom? The librarian should start with an understanding of different aspects of Web 2.0. If you understand the tools, then you can understand the implications better. This article addresses those questions and provides examples of just what a difference a library can make.

[edit] What is Web 2.0?

Web 2.0 [4] is a concept of using the web to allow the collaborative, creative work. Social networking is using the tools that collectively make up Web 2.0.

Tim O'Reilly is credited with defining Web 2.0 to include seven principles (Courtney, 2007).

1. "The web is a platform" or the web delivers the computer programs instead of resident on your machine.

2. "Harnessing collective intelligence" or everyone contributes to the ideas.

3. "Data is the next 'Intel inside' " or enhancing the data makes things better for the users.

4. "End of the software release cycle" or changes in software delivery via the web mean that things are fixed as they go or changed. There is no big wait for the next improvement.

5. "Lightweight programming model" or simple standards make this more open to use by everyone.

6. "Software above the level of a single device" or making it easy to use computers with other devices, such as iPods.

7. "Rich user experience" or providing an interactive experience that makes the user want to come back again and again.

The effect is that a blog is open to others on the same network, whether it is limited to the school or expanded to the World Wide Web. The wikis can be edited by anyone, anywhere with a connection and permission. A number of school sites are behind a firewall. This means that they are not accessible outside of the school community. The next sound you hear is the podcast some students put together. The combination of the ability to connect to others in a technology frontier and the potential for education are unlimited.

[edit] What is a Blog?

Blog [5] is a combination of the words WEB + LOG. A blog is an online method of having a conversation. One person starts the conversation blog and others can reply to the original and respond to each other. In the library, students can hold online discussions on assignments, current readings or academic topics. What if the book review the student writes, is responded to by the author of the book? What if the author has a blog and invites students to comment on her/his ideas for the next book? What if the teacher starts a discussion on the book their reading in class and allow students to respond to the blog instead of turning in a paper? The potential in the blog is enormous. Libraries and classrooms combine to provide students the best possible introduction to writing, reading, editing, and commenting.

Greensboro Day School in Greensboro, N.C. uses Blogspot, a popular blogging site. Greensboro's library has a blog with new titles. The school also has an online newspaper that students write, including the webpages. At Strathmore Elementary School, the librarian had a blog site allowing students to post their own book reviews.

[edit] What is a Wiki?

Wiki [6] is a website that allows others to easily edit, expand and change the content. In the nontechnical days we had chalk or wipe boards. Now everyone can interact on the same project without being in the same room. In the library, students can request to make a wiki entry on a topic of interest, like a book review. Teachers can extend their text books. Rather than create and copy additional notes, make changes and more copies, the teacher can put their text additions on a wiki and change at will (Warlick, 2006).

More possibilities exist for involving students. To organize events like Teen Week in the library, set up a wiki and allow the student group to make plans. By sharing one document, they can easily adjust assignments, schedules, discuss ideas all in one internet location. Student clubs can certainly use this feature. Opening the library to training on these ideas will bring in students eager to see what's next.

Kenilworth Junior High has a set of research guides on wikis for the students. Using a wiki for the research guide allows the librarians to quickly and easily and edit and add to their guides. Guides go up at much faster rate than a normal website with HTML coding.

The Academy of Mount St. Ursula, in New York, had students work in a group to create a wiki health report. The reports follow an outline by the teacher, but each group was allowed to design it their own way. This project was a result of the librarian / teacher collaboration.

[edit] What is a Podcast?

Podcast [7] is a combination of the words iPOD + broadCAST. It is an audio or video placed on the internet for easy access and sharing. What can you do with a podcast? Imagine a short daily audio booktalk to introduce the latest additions to the library. Imagine listening to a review for a test while walking the dog (Langhorst, 2007, p. 74). For students who learn best aurally, podcasts are a natural extension of the coursework.

Mabry Middle School, in Marietta, GA, set up a site loaded with podcast information. Podcast Central has podcasts from award ceremonies, chorus performances and all manners of communication. While Mabry appears to have abandoned their site, it does show the large number of possibilities for a school.

Here's an example of a daily podcast for a middle school created for this article: Minute Pick of the Day ^[1].

[edit] What is a Google Earth?

Goolge Earth is a program that downloads to your computer and works with the internet. It provides satellite images, maps, terrain and 3D building images to look at the world's geography. Using Google Earth, a student gains a visual understanding of geographic issues. It allows students to explore and interact with earth (Patterson, 2007, p.146). The downsides include a requirement for a fast internet connection, time, motivation, and resources (Patterson, 2007, p. 146). The overall advantage is that Google Earth gives students the ability to learn to think spatially (Patterson, 2007, p. 151). It also can be as simple or complex as the student is willing to go.

Several schools are starting to venture out into the Google Earth world. Cupertino High School in California is featured on this broadcast from NBC about using Google Earth in the school.

In this example, a class on "Religion in the Axial/Axis Age" is researching religious leaders such as Zoroaster who lived in 600 B.C. Google Earth can help students understand the progress of the religions and the surrounding area. The slideshow with audio acts as an introduction to using Google Earth in the context of this class. To view the slide show, Click Here

 

 

 

[edit] Libraries Can Do It

The librarian is the natural, logical leader for the new wave of technology in schools. Librarians are trained in data management, research guides, as instructors and evaluators of materials and technology. They are aware that the Web has significantly changed how students learn and comprehend (Scott & O'Sullivan, 2005, Hypertext Literacy). Librarians collaborate with teachers to provide resources and lessons to help students learn. They discuss options with students themselves, to help them find books and resources. Author blogs are also becoming the wave of the future, allowing closer communication between the author and reader (Beaman, 2006). How do you schedule middle schoolers to discuss books? It may be easier for everyone, especially the students to talk about books asynchronously. This means creating a blog where the librarian/teacher opens the discussion and students respond (Langhorst, 2007, p. 75). This becomes a virtual book club where students can get in at any time. In fact, one argument is that teens are reading more than ever and it is the responsibility of the librarians to keep in touch with the students' podcasts, blogs, wikis and MySpace pages (Beaman, 2006). Students have different learning styles. Classroom lectures are one method of delivering information, and Web 2.0 is another (Langhorst, 2007, p. 77).

Communication is the crux of Web 2.0. Imagine a class on a specific historical action that is followed by an email discussion with an expert in the field (Langhorst, 2007). Previously, communication may have been too cumbersome and time-consuming to even try. Now, a quick email allows the teachers an opportunity to broaden the lesson immeasurably. "Using the Internet to communicate allows an author (student) to use verbal literacy while extending digital fluency" (Huffaker, 2005, p. 92).

Maureen S. Irwin, Library Director at Rye Country Day School, discussed the effect of a student book review wiki at her school (M.S. Irwin, personal communication, March 3, 2008). According to Ms. Irwin, entering a book review on their site is actually a reward. Students must read and share 12 leisure reading books with their classmates. Then they get a READ poster of themselves and permission to post reviews on the wiki. Those who have read and shared 3 books may post comments to the review of any book they have read. The wiki is highly formatted by a teacher. The students need to follow the format for their review. The librarian reserves the right to correct the spelling, but the sentence structures and ideas are left in place. This is not seen as an assignment, but a reward. Initially there are not many responses to the wiki, but it has already generated a great deal of conversation in the school. Audio book reviews are next on the list. To quote Ms. Irwin, "I have no interest in some of the new toys, but I do love the interactivity of wikis, the ease of establishing them, the empowerment it provides the kids, and the conversations that it engenders. Kids really know they are writing for someone other than their teachers, and it makes them more careful, better writers" (M.S. Irwin, personal communication, March 3, 2008).

 

[edit] Why Isn't Everyone Jumping on the Bandwagon?

Challenges to implementing Web 2.0 in the middle school libraries exist. Knowledge, understanding and training have to extend past the basics of Web 2.0 Consideration of a firewall is important. Librarians should especially understand about protecting students information (no full names or descriptors). Long-term consequences exist on the web. What if a student uploads an inappropriate picture? Is it on the Web, duplicated forever? These considerations should not deter libraries from implementing Web 2.0 products. They should make sure that proper training to all students is part of the program. An ideal situation is to teach a core group about privacy issues and them use Web 2.0 products to teach others. Another challenge is available computers and internet connections. Fortunately, most schools have an internet connection but the school system's firewall may prevent access to the blog or wiki site. Policies are often created at a district level and it is in the best interests of the librarian to become fully cognizant of the internet policies. School administration should not be left out of the loop, but coaxed into a partnership for accomplishing a fully functional Web 2.0 area.

Librarians and teachers need to analyze the curriculum and the after-school opportunities to find ways to teach information literacy. It must be incorporated into their classes and activities and not taught in an isolated manner (Scott & O'Sullivan, 2005, Info Literacy is the Key). These skills bring the students into the forefront of the world and their abilities. It's important to remember some key things about Web 2.0 and teenagers: "It's one of the places they experience and create narrative. It's where reading and learning takes place, where recreational needs are met, communities are formed, and knowledge is constructed" (Kenney, 2007, p. 11).

 

[edit] Anyone Can Do It

One of the best features of Web 2.0 is that anyone really can do it. There are many, many organizations and individuals who have created websites that feature Web 2.0. Websites like LibraryThing or ones that provide support like "Ten Habits of Bloggers That Win" are available. Remember to relax and enjoy the experience. Your major task is to take time to gather information and try out things. You need time to understand the products and time to find ways to incorporate them in your library. And, most importantly, have fun! Try out some of these items to get your feet wet:

• LibraryThing LibraryThing is a virtual book club. You can use the Library of Congress and Amazon.com to catalog your books online. Plus, you can add information about books, ratings and students can even participate in a blog. You can post the latest books in the library on a virtual shelf with the cover picture to help advertise new items.
• Five Weeks to a Social Library This is an online course using wikis and other Web 2.0 products to teach librarians about the various software and how to use it in their schools.
• Ten Habits of Bloggers That Win Vicki Davis, the Cool Cat Teacher, provides this advice. You do not have to follow all of it, but for anyone new to blogging, look through the list. The number one concept is to hyperlink anything you can in your blog. This is what makes it so dynamic. You are providing discussion and backing up your comments with specific items.
• School Library 2.0: The 23 Things - This is provided by the California School Library Association to introduce different Web 2.0 tools. It is a tutorial that will help get you started. Reviewing each exercise will give you a good background and understanding of Web 2.0.

• Suggested List of Blogs (B. Saxton, 2008, p. 27):
  • Alternative Teen Services - Young Adult librarians share resources and ideas.
  • Wedblogg-ed - This site is dedicated to discussions and reflections on the use of Weblogs, wikis, RSS, audiocasts and other Read/Write Web related technologies in the K-12 realm, technologies that are transforming classrooms around the world.^[2]
  • Tame the Web - TTW deals with libraries, technology and people - and the fascinating intersection between all three. How do we use technology to further the library’s mission? How do we use technology to learn? What are innovative libraries and librarians doing to explore this realm? ^[3]

• Suggested List of Wikis (B. Saxton, 2008, p. 29):
  • Teacher Librarian Wiki - A collaboration space for teacher-librarians sharing resources, lessons, rubrics, and other ideas.
  • YALSA Wiki - A wiki maintained by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), providing the latest information and recommendations for Young Adults.
  • ATN Reading Lists Wiki - Maintained by Nancy Keane, but contributed by librarians everywhere. This is a collection of book lists by genre, author, subject and themes.

 

[edit] Conclusion

The library is a hot bed of innovation. And, the libraries have the tools to prove it. Priscilla Little, of Harvard Family Research Program, says that middle school students need three things:

• Extrinsic motivation - Family pressure or friends in the program;
• Personal connection - Doing things that matter to them; and
• Intrinsic motivation - Becoming interested in and enjoying the program (Jones, 2008, p. 21).

To meet these needs, libraries can initiate and expand Web 2.0 programs. Students in today's world are searching for the connections that Web 2.0 brings. Starting small, libraries can experiment with several different tools. Using Web 2.0, the library can create a way for students, teachers, staff and even parents to connect better. Initially, the focus was on bringing students to the library, but it is very clear that there is nothing wrong with bringing the library to the students. Podcasts can make a great book review. But do not discount the use of the materials for the classroom. Having a podcast lecture to review the subject will help some students immeasurably. Web 2.0 provides the tools to match learning styles.

How can you start luring students to the library? Begin with following some of the tutorials like Five Weeks to a Social Library to make sure you understand the terms and requirements. Then gather some students and talk to them. Let the administration know what you are doing and make them a participant in the process. Talk to other librarians in the area about your plans and find out what experience they have. Last, but not least, advertise! Tell everyone what you are doing. The students may want to do an example first before announcing it. Once you have your example, announce it on the school PA, send emails, put up posters and tell everyone what you are doing. Getting students excited engages their personal connection.

Nor should Web 2.0 be limited to the library users. The Google Earth example shows how the librarian and the teacher can cooperate to make a lesson more exciting and more meaningful. Collaboration with teachers is the best way to bring the library to the students. The onus is not on the librarian alone. Students themselves need to be a part of the process in planning tools that will help them learn. Let them!

 

[edit] Notes

1. ↑ This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.
   • Schoolyard_kids by Jungh001
   • libros by Plagasul
   • alarm_clock by Xyzr_kx
   • FunkyBass1275 by Tapsa
   • created by Robbie Barber
2. ↑ from About/Disclosure
3. ↑ from About This Blog

 

[edit] References

Beaman, A. (2006). YA lit 2.0: How technology is enhancing the pleasure reading experience for teens. KnowledgeQuest 35(1), 30-33. [8]

Courtney, N. (ed). (2007). Library 2.0 and beyond: Innovative technologies and tomorrow's user. Westport, Conn.: Libraries Unlimited.

Huffaker, D. (2005). The educated blogger: Using weblogs to promote literacy in the classroom. AACE Journal, 13(2), 91-98.[9]

Jones, W. (2008). Motivating middle school students to attend afterschool programs. SEDL Letter, XX(1), 20-23.

Kenney, B. (2007). You 2.0. School Library Journal, 53(1), 11.

Langhorst, E. (2007). After the bell, beyond the walls. Educational Leadership, 64(8), 74-77.

National School Boards Assocation. (2007). Creating and connecting: Research and guidelines on online social -- and educational -- networking. [Electronic version]. Retrieved on April 8, 2008, from http://www.nsba.org/SecondaryMenu/TLN/CreatingandConnecting.aspx.

Patterson, T.C. (2007). Google Earth as a (not just) geography education tool. Journal of Geography, 106(4), 145-152.

Saxton, B. (2008). Information tools: Using blogs, RSS, and wikis as professional resources. Young Adult Library Services, 6(2), 27-29.

Scott, T.J., & O'Sullivan, M.K. (2005). Analyzing student search strategies: Making a case for integrating information literacy skills into the curriculum. [Electronic version]. Teacher Librarian, 33(1), 21-25.

Warlick, D. (2006). A day in the life of web 2.0. TechLearning.com, October 2006, 20-26.

 

[edit] Additional Resources

Articles

Minds on Fire: Open Education, the Long Tail, and Learning 2.0 by John Seely Brown and Richard P. Adler. These authors look at the impact of Web 2.0 and social networks.

Storybook settings: Google Earth in language arts by M.M. De Craene in TechLearning.com. This article is reproduced in several places on the web. It talks about using Google Earth to take a virtual tour of the story the class is reading. You can even go on a scavenger hunt to try to find descriptions of stories.

Blogs

Eduholic by Emmet Rosenfeldis found in Education Week. Emmet Rosenfeld is a teacher experimenting with different options for the classroom. This can give the librarian and the teacher great ideas.

Juicy Geography's Google Earth Blog A teacher in England created this blog about teaching with Google tools, particularly Google Earth. The blog includes ideas for lessons, user guides, essential files and more.

Blogging in Elementary School: It Starts Here Blogs in the Elementary School are an effective tool for teaching verbal and written literacy.

Wikis

The Controversy About the Use of Wiki's in Public High Schools How can wikis be used in schools and what is the controversy.

Wikis in Public Schools Information about wikis in the public school system.

Morning Shows

Student Created News Programs in Grades K-8 Information on creating a morning show.

Spotlighting Teen TV Production This looks at morning shows at the high school level.

Morning Shows in Elementary Schools: Teaching Life Long Learning Skills Start your elementary school morning with information provided by the students on a morning show.

Other Web 2.0 in Schools

Gaming in the High School Classroom: Successful Use of Electronic Games as a Learning Tool This examines the types of educational opportunities that students get from gaming.

The Function of Videos f(V) in the Math Class Videos in the classroom can be used as a strategy to help students overcome math anxiety and/or facilitate learning math.

Digital Storytelling: Purposes in Secondary Education (High School) Digital storytelling has uses in the High School setting.

Podcasting in High School Library Media Centers Talks about uses of podcasting in the High School library.

More Resources

Shambles.net Library 2.0 by the Educational Project Asia. This site is collection of Library 2.0 sources. It provides links to information all over the world. For the larger Web 2.0, go to the home site.

Exploring Plagiarism, copyright, and paraphrasing From the International Reading Association & National Council of Teachers of English. As more information goes on the internet, it is a good idea to review with students copyright laws and standards. This provides a lesson plan on teaching these concepts.