ISTE SIGMS Webinar - Gaming in School Libraries

Webinar for April
Gaming in School Libraries
Thursday, April 22nd at 8pm ET/7pm CT/6pm MT/5 pm PT
Presenters: Kelly Czarnecki, Christopher Harris, and Brian Mayer

Join SIGMS for a free, winning webinar on Gaming in School Libraries. Authors Christopher Harris and Brian Mayer reveal reasons why modern board games need to be a part of your collection from their new book on gaming in school libraries. From curriculum alignments to the creation of socially networked learning, the games that make their top lists are proven hits in K-12 libraries.

Kelly Czarnecki, Technology Education Librarian in Charlotte, NC. will share ideas on how to host gaming events for all different types of users from her new book, Gaming in Libraries. She will discuss how to incorporate problem solving and content-area learning in K-12 classes by using modern board games, video games and virtual worlds. Learn how librarians have already found success using games as instructional resources and a surefire way to draw students to the library.

Directions to join the SIGMS webinar event
1. Check that your computer is set up for Adobe Connect by visiting Adobe Connect Pro Connection Test
2. Use this URL to enter the webinar room 10 - 15 minutes before starting time: http://Montgomery.na4.acrobat.com/SIGMS
3. Enter as a guest and type your first and last name.
4. Here is a link to a Visual Quick Start guide (pdf) to help you if this is your first webinar event.

A Nation Without School Libraries

Check out this map. It marks the cities, towns, communities, and states that have made the decision to either eliminate certified school library positions (indicated in blue) or require one school librarian to work with two (2) or more school library programs throughout the week (indicated in red).

And then visit my friend gwyneth's blog post (the daring librarian) to read more details.


View A Nation Without School Librarians in a larger map

“Constructing New Learning Landscapes: Evolving Practices in Education”

Make plans to attend the ISTE SIGMS webinar “Constructing New Learning Landscapes: Evolving Practices in Education” hosted by Joyce Valenza, Doug Johnson, and David Loertscher.  It will take place on Tuesday, March 23 at 5pm ET/4pm CT/3pm MT/2pm PT.  Visit http://sigms.iste.wikispaces.net for more information and to register.

About the webinar:

With the evolution of dozens of powerful Web 2.0 tools, new learning frontiers are opening every day. The new emphasis is on building knowledge rather than mastering the tools. How can emerging technologies be leveraged to create transparent, interactive online spaces that promote collaboration, critical thinking, and accountability? How can schools manage their web presences to facilitate student learning? What role should trans-literacy information skills play in the development of Common Core standards? Attend this webinar to discuss how you can support your students in their quest to explore these new frontiers of learning.

Space is limited; register today!

A Virtual SL Chat with Sara Kelly Johns

Make plans to join your colleagues on Tuesday, March 16th at 8pm ET/7pm CT/6pm MT/5pm PT for a very special event, “A Chat with Sara Kelly Johns”. Sara is a candidate in the election for ALA President and she will speak to librarians about her platform and her vision for ALA. Just as voting opens, this will be your opportunity to inform yourself and share your priorities. Join us at http://slurl.com/secondlife/ALA%20Island/127/104/29 or IM Elaine Tulip for a teleport. Please forward this message to other appropriate listservs.

If you are new to Second Life, set up an account to join us:
1. Go to the Second Life website at https://join.secondlife.com/?lang=en-US several days in advance to set up your free basic account.
2. Verify that your computer and connectivity meets the systems requirements at http://secondlife.com/support/sysreqs.php.
3. Click on the orange “Get Started!” button. Go through the subsequent screens to create your avatar account.
4. Download and install the Second Life viewer software at http://secondlife.com/support/downloads.php.
5. Open the software and log into Second Life using your avatar first name, last name, and password. Watch your avatar “be born”. Complete the orientation activities to learn about how to communicate, move, search, and edit your appearance.
6. When finished, search “Places” for locations such as ISTE or the American Library Association. Teleport to a favorite location, explore, and become acquainted with Second Life. (When searching, make sure the “search mature places” square is checked.)
7. Fifteen minutes prior to the scheduled meeting, log on and IM Elaine Tulip for a teleport to the meeting location or use provided SLURL.

What is Your Web Presence?

Come join the folks of the TL Virtual Cafe as we discuss creating a school library web presence.


Thanks to gwyneth jones for another Sir Bolt animation.

See you at 8 pm EST tonight at Learn Central.

ISTE SIGMS Free Webinar - Peer Coaching Coast to Coast

Have you been wondering what Peer Coaching is all about? Looking for a way to engage in meaningful professional growth and leadership that will support you in transforming your classroom into a 21st century learning space? Come join the next FREE ISTE SIGMS webinar on Wednesday, February 17th at 8 pm E.S.T.

Hear how Florida's Broward County Schools empower district media specialists to create dynamic and vibrant 21st century media programs that engage learners as producers of information and creators of innovation. Discover how teachers from Arizona's Isaac School District collaborate to promote best practices for lesson improvement and technology infusion. Learn about available resources to build your own Peer Coaching Program that develops coaching skills, builds teacher leaders, and adds value to existing district and/or school initiatives.

You do not need to be a member of ISTE to attend the webinar.


I know that this is going to be a very inspiring and informative presentation. Last summer I had the pleasure of working with Michele Rivera (Broward County), Lynne Oakvik (Broward County) and Shelee King George, EdLab Group. We were part of the team that planned the ISTE SIGMS Playground at NECC09. They brought their energy and innovative ideas which helped to create a very successful playground. I am looking forward to meeting and learning from Ann Lumm (Issac Elementary School District).

You can check out the presentation information at this wiki: http://peercoach-coast2coast.wikispaces.com/)

To attend the webinar, just use this URL to enter the meeting room: http://montgomery.na4.acrobat.com/SIGMS/. Enter as a guest and type in your first and last name.

To view the previous ISTE SIGMS webinars visit the webinar resource page on the wiki.  Buffy Hamilton presented insightful ideas on "Fighting the Filter" and Gwyneth Jones dazzled us with "Library Media Marketing Through Easy Animation."

Book Trailers: Seen Any Good Books Lately? SL presentation with Bernajean Porter

Second Life: AASL-SIGMS Virtual Learning Community
Feb 8:  8pm ET/7pm CT/6pm MT/5pm PT
Guest facilitator:  Bernajean Porter
Book Trailers: Seen Any Good Books Lately?

Book trailers are NOT book reports. Similar to movie trailers, video book trailers are short, minute and a half to two-minute videos that introduce the basic storyline in ways that arouse your audience interest to read THAT book. Engage students in the artful video advertisement or PSA of a book with techniques and creative decisions being made by the director that tells enough to interest but not to spoil the plot. Merging the technology of books with digital tools is an engaging adventure for students – explore resources, ideas, tools, and processes for starting your own book club theater! Join us on Monday, February 8th, 8:00 PM ET/5pm PT @ Atlantis Underwater Paideia Colluseum. SLURL Location: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Eduisland%206/61/156/7

Bernajean Porter is a nationally-recognized expert in educational technology.  She is a well-respected consultant who specializes in curriculum, facilitation, and consensus building.  For more information, see her DigiTales website at http://www.digitales.us/about/about_bernajean.php.