Blog Post 4

Now that we have finished the semester, consider your first assessment of your technology skills. What have you learned about your technology strengths and weaknesses? What skills do you have that are similar to the pre-service school librarians in the article? How will you continue to learn about technology after this class is finished?

 I have learned that my technology strength is that I am quick-learner. When I tried all the technology being introduced in this course, I easily grasped it. After I briefly practiced using the tool, I learned how to use the technology efficiently.

My weakness was the lack of knowledge of technology tools. That has changed for I have learned how to manipulate many tools throughout this course. I also believe that taking this course online (vs. face-to-face) has helped as well.

The skill that I have that is similar to pre-service school librarians is the knowledge of technology. Through this course I have been introduced to many tools that I have become comfortable with. Not only did I learn how to use them, in most cases I had to implement them in real-life situations. I will take those tools and ideas and assist students and teachers.

 I plan to continue to learn about technology through professional development. Professional development in technology should be a requirement for continued certification because it is a vital tool for reaching our “digital natives.”

Smith, D. (2010). Making the case for the leadership role of school librarians in technology integration. Library Hi Tech, 28 (4), 617-631. Retrieved from http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2199/10.1108/07378831011096277

Post 3: eBooks

Locate two articles about implementing eBooks in libraries. Compare and contrast the content of the articles. Summarize the key points of each article. Share your own opinions about the benefits and drawbacks of using eBooks in libraries. Don’t forget to include a reference for the article at the end of your post.



The article, “eBooks and Literacy in K-12 Schools,” is about skills and strategies students need to learn to be able to use e-readers and read e-books. The article, “eBooks – Ready for school libraries?,” is about the advantages and disadvantages of having e-readers accessible to students in a school library. Both articles offer information that is important to anyone trying to implement e-readers and e-books in their library. The first article stresses the need to change the reading literacy pedagogy to facilitate the use of these devices. In print books you are taught to read left to right, top to bottom and then turn the page. All of that is true for e-readers with the exception of turning the page. Most e-readers just require you to scroll down, instead of turning the page. That is an example of the different strategies that students need to know. The second article speaks of the advantages and disadvantages of e-readers. There are a few advantages that students can benefit from. For example, some e-readers have a speaker so the students can listen to the book. Also, there is a function for enlarging text, and of course the potential of having an immense amount of books in one, is also a plus. There were two disadvantages stated: the first was that a credit card could be linked to the e-readers and anyone (including students) could purchase e-books at any time. The second disadvantage was that an e-book could not be transferred from one device to another. If your library bought 5 e-readers, you would have to purchase 5 of the same e-books.



My opinion is that e-readers/e-books should be purchased and be available to students. Students should be able to access this new technology because it is here to stay. It is not to say that e-books will replace print books, but they will co-exist. Also, because it is a novelty item, e-books are instant engagers for students. It is easier to get a student excited about reading with an e-book than a traditional book. While I support the use of e-books, there should be some guidelines to make sure the e-books are properly used. Examples of guidelines could be that e-books can only be used in school, away from food and beverages and used with clean hands. The specifics of the rules can be left up to the instructor, but the guidelines should definitely exist.



Felvégi, Emese and Matthew, Kathryn I. (2012). eBooks and Literacy in K–12 Schools. Computers in the School, 29(1-2), 40-52. Retrieved from

http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:6652/doi/pdf/10.1080/07380569.2012.651421



Pappas, Marjorie. (2009). eBooks-Ready for school Libraries? School Library Monthly, 26(2), 48-52. Retrieved from

https://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2307/login?url=http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2175/pqdweb?did=1864812141&Fmt=1&clientId=87&RQT=309&VName=PQD

Blog Post 2

Locate an article about using handheld devices such as tablets (ie. ipads, nook), cell phones, and ipods for education. Summarize three keypoints from the article. Next, describe how you would use these devices in the library. Don’t forget to include a reference for the article at the end of your post.



The article I read, “An IPad Education, featured Apple’s Ipad as a distance education tool. In Apple’s ITunes U, university students can access complete courses (e.i. lectures, assignments, books, quizzes and syllabuses) from the IPad. It’s is a novel idea, but there are a few setbacks.



This new platform sounds great, but it comes with a price. Most colleges and universities already use a platform called Blackboard. This is the platform also used here at University of North Texas. The price implication comes with the fact that this specific platform would have to be used with IPads only. The cost is not cheap considering the fact that a student at a university can probably access a pc free on campus. The competition, Blackboard can be accessed anywhere you can log on to Internet Explorer.



Another impediment is the fact that all the professors using this platform will have to be retrained with this equipment. This often poses a big challenge. Dr. John Flores, executive director of the United States Distance Learning Association, states, "It’s almost like changing bags or changing doctors or changing barbers. You get comfortable. You want to go to the same resource. The same happens with using a technology." People are reluctant to change.



Legal issues can also arise. The material used by professors in universities is copyright. If the courses are offered on Itunes U, any person can access it, thus breaking copyright. Additionally, students are also involved. Students, their images and words can be included in these lectures. This is a concern over privacy.



Regardless, of the negativity expressed in this article over IPads, as a school librarian IPads can be a great tool for me. Students can read e-books on IPads, and can also utilize other applications that are conducive to education. Applications they can use are games such as Scrabble, Monkey Math, Letter Quiz, and countless others. Students respond great to technology. An IPad is a tool of automatic engagement.

Cooper, Kenneth J. (Mar 15, 2012). AN IPAD EDUCATION? Diverse Issues in Higher Education29. 3. Retrived from http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:7125/docview/993009927.

Blog Post 1

How do you feel about the author’s assertions? Describe your technology strengths and weaknesses. As an educator and/or information professional, how do you plan to use your technology strengths? What do you feel you need to do to overcome your weaknesses? How do you feel our weaknesses effect our ability to share information/teach? What would you like to learn about technology in order to improve your instructional strategies?

I feel the author is making accurate remarks in regards to women and the IT culture. Anyone can make observations by just walking into their local electronic retailer and observing the people working in repair/services department. The result is that most of the time there are males constituting the majority of the employees in that area.

My technology strength is that I easily learn how to use technology tools. While I usually learn enough to get by, I need to deepen my knowledge in order to be a more useful resource. My weakness is the inability to keep up with a fast paced technology world. I feel that the minute I completely understand a new piece of technology and how to use it, the product has been discontinued or is obsolete. Technology is a field that requires for a person to have constant training. It is definitely not stagnant.

I plan to use my technology strength to learn new tools thoroughly.  Since I am a fast-learner, I should focus and learn to use a few tools very well.  That will help me gain confidence and assist students and teachers without a problem.    That goes hand-on hand with overcoming my weakness.  While there are many technology tools, I need to learn a few very well, and then learn more.  I don’t need to use them all, but I do need to extend my repertoire.

My plan to keep up with the technology world is to have constant professional development. Also, most people that learn a technology product well have few problems managing the new reigning one. So one must acquire training, and have extensive practice with technology.

Our weaknesses affect our ability to share information because of the lack of confidence. Unfortunately, this also leads to educators not being motivated about learning new technology, and continue the vicious circle: low confidence equals not learning.

I would like to concentrate on how incorporate technology in new ways in instruction. Lots of concepts have been done successfully, but it is important to keep up with the latest trends to attract more patrons and their abilities.

Lamont, M. (2009). Gender, technology, and libraries. Information Technology and Libraries, 28(3), 137-142. Retrieved from https://libproxy.library.unt.edu:9443/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lih&AN=43690896&site=ehost-live&scope=site