Cathy Nelson’s Professional Thoughts

View more presentations from Stephen Abram.

After Abram’s keynote, we were entertained with short “Ted Like Sessions.”

Francey Harris brought four students from her school, and charged them with answering questions on “what teens” want.  This was a very entertaining session as we met her students who traveled down 120 miles from their school to be with us.  The students came across as typical teens, all proclaiming they like fantasy and sci-fi, and none particularly like any of the market’s e-readers.  One identified cost as a big factor, while just about all said they didn’t particularly want to give up the feel of paper and turning pages.  Many acknowledged they read online, even using readers for their news and such.  As for selecting books, they all like to browse the shelves.  One in the group admitted following Harper Teen and other young adult literature blogs, and another said he read reviews from Amazon’s site to help make book selections.  All acknowledged taking recommendations from friends as always getting them in some good books.  Charlie talked of helping his Mom who is a teacher in grade school select books for her classroom library. He called himself her “acquisitions manager!”  Maybe I’ll use that as a way to solicit volunteers for a library advisory group? The kids were extremely entertaining, and handled audience questions extremely well.  One participant asked about property, bringing up “piracy” as a way to acquire media.  He asked the kids not to answer, but to instead stomp the floor one time to let us know who had gotten music without paying for it–to which all of them stomped and then broke into laughter.  (We could not see their feet due to the floor length table cloth at the head table where they sat for the panel discussion.)  Each students was an entertaining and informative piece of the panel, and their contributions helped the audience to truly see “what teens want.”

Chris Harris – Plotting Digital Resources: a purchasing framework for electronic sources

Chris compared the search for collection development to math and plotting dimensions.  Interacting with those near us we  used our arms to create an x-axis, a y-xis, and even added vertical and horizontal.  He explained that with the move toward embracing other literacies as well as other formats for reading, we are quickly moving towards a multifaceted, multi-dimensional interface in general.  It was also impressed upon  us that in order to model the plots he gave, it took team work.  From this I took that we need to work together to express our needs, or better, make our demands known regarding e-books in our collection.  He reminded the vendors in the room clearly and quite loudly, “If I BUY something I own it!” He said what matters is that kids are reading and loving the experience. Chris says we need to get beyond foaming over formats to nurturing the passion.  He strongly recommended that all in the audience have a look at the iPad interactive app e-book format of the new interactive book available called  Sink your fangs into a Dracula.

As an avid fan of Ted Talks, this was the sole presenter’s session to me that really felt and behaved like a Ted Talks session. Now mind you I missed some while doing the exit interviews I was assigned to do at the summit.

Joyce Valenza – Ebooks and more questions

Joyce’s session was about all the questions that have arisen in her quest to conceptually understand how an e-book can be a successful device in her school library, especially when considering the vast issues that had already been brought up (proprietary devices, e-books formats that do not cross platforms or devices, how to get content on them, the issue of money and credit lines to make acquisitions, number for devices that e-books can be simultaneously shared on, etc.)  She reminded us that for the first time ever, e-books outsell hardcovers through the Amazon site. So what are the implications for schools?  More specifically, she asks, where is the school model for implementing e-books? While there are some schools having success implemting their own models, there is no consistency or even pattern to help others who want to dive in to pattern themselves after. It’s like being a pioneer, feeling your way along on how to purchase, get e-books, and implement a successful program. So what holds many back?  There are so many more unanswered questions than actual advice. For this reason, there is an urgent need for school librarians to be involved in vendor decision-making and development.  But many hold back for fear that what they jump in and buy now (still at a steep expense) may no longer be the application or device of the future.  How many schools in these slim budgetary times can afford to make such a leap of faith?  The problem is not desire or faith, but rather cost and fear for how the market will go.  So essentially we end this session with more questions than answers.

It is satisfying to know that a lead practicing librarian such as Joyce Valenza has echoed aloud many of the same questions I have.  She is one step ahead in the game as her school is implementing a Kindle program for a small group of struggling readers. We will all await anxiously to read or hear about the program and its effectiveness.

I am being reminded that I must take my own advice that I dish out all the time–in order to understand how any of this can work in my own educational context, I too must jump in.  This makes me feel somewhat guilty that I haven’t jumped in and bought an e-reader device of any kind, my excuse being expense, no definite fore runner for education, etc.  Okay so now I want one, or two, or three….all different kinds.

Mother/Daughter duo Kathy Parker and Sara Evans – Re-Kindle kids with a Passion for Reading-Implementing an E Reader Pilot Program

This sessions was another well planned out session, as daughter Sara Evans took the approach of interviewing her mom on the beginnings of the now 180+kindles used in her elementary school program. The pilot program as she referred to it seems to be solidly implemented (at least I feel comfortably saying this knowing they have 180+ kindles in use in her school.)

School Library Journal recently had a spread on this program if you want to read more about it.  The article titled “Librarian Brings Kindles into the Classroom” is available online.  (Note to self-go back and re read this one!!) Kathy and Sara also recommend we go back and have a look at the link for Kindle for Educators.

On a side note, I learned that Kathy Parker is none other than the author of Marian’s Librarian. See? I told you I was surrounded by my reader at the summit.

Don Leu, John and Maria Neag Endowed Chair in Literacy and Technology, and Director, The News Literacies Research Lab, University of Connectitcut

The session, titled “The Future of Reading: Misalignments of Public Policy, Assessment, and Instruction in an Online World of New Literacies” was quite dynamic.  Often Leu felt like he was preaching to the choir.  But his content was still invigorating and quenching a needed thirst for substantiating what many already believe about instruction in online environments. So first let me share a link to his slide deck.