Hello, my name is Liz, and I’m obsessed with Candy Crush. For those of you who aren’t playing . . . . Candy Crush Saga is a game you can play on your phone or computer. It’s one of those “match 3 objects” games, (in this case candies) with each board having a different set of challenges (get a [...]
You Don’t Need to Go to Comic-Con to Have Fan Literacies
By on July 19, 2013
Many popular fanfiction stories are based on books that can be found in school libraries: The Hunger Games, Percy Jackson, and, of course, Harry Potter. For most fanfiction authors, though, that’s where the connection between fanfiction and school ends: they’ve never been asked by a teacher or librarian about their out-of-school writing.
Fanfiction: What Educators Really Need to Know
By on July 17, 2013
Do young fanfiction authors seek the kind of feedback that educators would find “useful” in K-12 settings, and are fanfiction communities really the nurturing environments of peer-critique that some make them out to be?
‘World War Z’ At the Movies: Some Critical Thinking Questions
By on June 23, 2013
Media literacy discussion points covering novel-to-film adaptations, marketing, genre, screen violence, and more.
DIY Summer Fun | Crafts, Games, and More!
By on June 4, 2013 Leave a Comment
Want to keep kids occupied and reading all summer? Share these craft and activity books with them. In addition to offering an outlet for creativity, they’ll have children working with numbers and decoding and interpreting diagrams and symbols. The books also make excellent resources for adults leading summer programs and year-round groups.
Transmedia in Schools and Libraries: Thoughts and Strategies from Tyler Weaver
By on February 7, 2013
Transmedia in Schools and Libraries: Thoughts and Strategies from Tyler Weaver
By on February 7, 2013
Teaching Transmedia with Comics: A Conversation with Tyler Weaver
By on February 6, 2013
Media Literacy, Powerfully: A Model for School Librarian and Classroom Teacher Collaboration
By on February 1, 2013
Exploring Common Core’s Informational Text… with Violent Video Games
By on January 24, 2013
2012 Gift Guide for Pop Culture Geeks and Media Mavens
By on December 20, 2012
U.S. State Department Launches Online Game to Aid English Learners
By on December 20, 2012
The U. S. government has joined the list of organizations using gaming to enhance learning. This week, the Department of State released a new game to give English-language students a hands-on way to augment their mastery of English.
BrainPop Game(s)Up on the election
By on October 31, 2012
At the ISLMA Conference last week, Lisa Perez of Chicago Public Schools shared BrainPop’s election resources (free through Election Day) and its new GameUp features, that she has found valuable in gamifying professional development with the librarians in her district.
Although because of Sandy we are without power at home and school, the kind folks [...]
BrainPop Game(s)Up the election
By on October 31, 2012
At the ISLMA Conference last week, Lisa Perez of Chicago Public Schools shared BrainPop’s election resources (free through Election Day) and its new GameUp features, that she has found valuable in gamifying professional development with the librarians in her district.
Although because of Sandy we are without power at home and school, the kind folks [...]
BrainPop Game(s)Up on the election
By on October 31, 2012
At the ISLMA Conference last week, Lisa Perez of Chicago Public Schools shared BrainPop’s election resources (free through Election Day) and its new GameUp features, that she has found valuable in gamifying professional development with the librarians in her district.
Although because of Sandy we are without power at home and school, the kind folks [...]
Explore, Create, Survive: ‘Minecraft’ is a versatile and fun game with broad appeal
By on May 1, 2012
“Can you teleport me?” “How do I fly?” “I need a sword.” “What are you building?” These eclectic exclamations are the sounds of a room full of teens playing Minecraft (www.minecraft.net). We play every other Wednesday in Chicopee (MA) Public Library’s computer lab, often filling all ten computers, and are occasionally joined by teens playing from home. They play freely, building whatever suits their fancies. As I’ve watched these teens discover skills in the game, I’ve been thinking about Minecraft’s potential for both structured and unstructured activities.
