While self-published titles may be an option for public libraries when it comes to acquiring ebooks, not so for schools, according to SLJ columnist Christopher Harris, who lays out the ongoing challenges for ebook adoption in K-12.
Pew Study: Why Parents Love Libraries
By on May 1, 2013
The vast majority of parents with children younger than 18 feel libraries are very important for their kids, leading to higher-than-average use of a wide range of library services, a new national report from the Pew Research Center shows.
Create Your Own Magazines with Flipboard | screencast tutorial
By on April 25, 2013
Now anyone can create a beautiful digital zine of customized content, thanks to Flipboard. In a highly touted feature, version 2.0 of the iconic newsstand app allows users to select content they find on Flipboard to create magazines on any interest or topic. SLJ’s screencast shows you how to make your own publication in the image-rich format, add articles, and publish to the world or select subscribers.
Getting Kids Engaged with Primary Sources | Cool Tools
By on April 22, 2013
Primary resources can help bring history to life for students. Make the most of first-hand accounts and other primary source content with tools such as the National Archives’ Digital Vaults, video tour included.
Computers in Libraries Conference Supports Student Learning
By on April 16, 2013
This year’s Computers in Libraries conference included sessions particularly useful to school librarians, with topics ranging from ebook creation to the flipped classroom.
SLJ Reviews Gobstopper and Subtext: Apps that Enable Interactive Classroom Reading
By on April 15, 2013
The ability for teachers and students to embed their own content into digital texts, write notes, and get feedback on student reading—classroom reading just got a lot more dynamic. SLJ columnist Jeff Hastings test driives Gobstopper and Subtext.
SLJ’s Best of Apps and Enhanced Books | April 2013
By on April 15, 2013
High-res 3-D images of black holes and nebulae that you can tweet or post to Facebook are among the features of a companion app to a popular BBC series, which is reviewed this month in School Library Journal.
Welcome to the Mothership: Travis Jonker’s Take on Amazon/Goodreads
By on April 11, 2013
When word came out that Amazon was pulling social network Goodreads into its acquisitional tractor beam, reaction seemed to fall into one of two categories… Travis Jonker, a librarian who blogs at 100 Scope Notes, falls somewhere in between.
ISTE Calls on Obama to Support Broadband for Education
By on April 10, 2013
The International Society for Technology in Education has initiated an online petition urging the White House to take action to invest in school broadband connectivity to bridge the digital divide in education.
California 10th Graders Improve Their Writing Skills—Through an Interactive Fiction Game
By on April 3, 2013
“You hear a lot about gaming and engaging kids in STEM subjects, says teacher Jason Sellers. “So, I wondered, what does gaming look like in English?” Sellers, a teacher at the French American International School in San Francisco, found out, basing a classroom lesson in Playfic, an online community where users write, share, and play games using Inform 7, a programming system for creating interactive fiction based on natural language.
Interactive Storytelling App Versu | screencast tutorial
By on April 2, 2013
In her latest screencast, School Library Journal contributor Linda W. Braun test drives Versu in an assessment that considers the potential of interactive platforms that blur the lines between reader and creator—a particularly compelling concept when it comes to kids and teens.
How Do You Use Technology? School Library Journal Wants to Know
By on March 28, 2013
SLJ wants you… to complete our technology survey. And who knows? You might make our cover.
Minecraft Club: Want to bring the hottest game into your classroom or library? Here’s how.
By on March 27, 2013
The popular game Minecraft “is accessible, fun, and, ultimately, an excellent learning tool for both nerds and non-nerds,” says Sarah Ludwig, who takes us step by step through her process of creating a thriving Minecraft club in her library. New to Minecraft? There’s a video primer.
Pew Study: 37% of Teens Now Have Smartphones
By on March 13, 2013
Smartphone adoption among American teens has increased substantially in the past year, and one in four teens now connects to the internet primarily on mobile devices, according to a national technology-based report from the Pew Research Center.
Understanding HTML Is Critical to Web Literacy, Especially for Young Creators | Opinion
By on March 13, 2013
In a rebuttal to Roy Tennant’s recent blog post, Paul Oh of the National Writing Project, maintains “that knowing HTML—even just knowing how to find the HTML on a webpage or knowing just a few of the tags that comprise the language—makes us increasingly Web literate and gives us critical knowledge in relation to the most important writing production engine of our lifetime, the Internet.”
SLJ Reviews the WiFi Smartpen Sky by Livescribe | Test Drive
By on March 11, 2013
Beyond the bells and whistles, “where the Sky smartpen really shines—like the Echo and Pulse models before it—is its capacity to record and post audio-enhanced notes called “pencasts,” writes School Library Journal gadget columnist Jeff Hastings.
Skype Announces Free Group Video Calling for Teachers | SXSWEdu
By on March 6, 2013
Skype, commonly used by librarians and other K–12 educators to provide real-time engagement for their students, just got better. As of today, existing members of Skype in the classroom or new registrants can use Skype’s Group Video Calling free of charge.
STEM Video Game Challenge Encourages Librarians to Mentor Students
By on March 4, 2013
Students are invited to enter the annual National STEM Video Game Challenge, and organizers are hoping school librarians will help mentor and support kids throughout the process.
Alternative Search Tools: These options to Google will help students become better researchers
By on February 28, 2013
Cool Tools columnist Richard Byrne presents some free options for research that don’t require a login, along with a few quick tips to aid student searches.
Librarian Cites ‘Concerning’ Trends in Digital Collection Development
By on February 26, 2013
Librarians are uniquely positioned to handle the acquisition and management of digital content. But Michelle Luhtala, department chair of the New Canaan (CT) High School Library, sees some troubling trends, reflecting misconceptions about econtent among librarians and administrators alike.
