In the mind of the average teenager, libraries might seem passé. After reading Barbara Fein’s article, I noted her ways that “social media” could be incorporated to promote the media program. There are numerous ways! Book reviews, book ratings and sharing research lists are just a few; she suggests linking these to the patron catalog. Blogs, links to profiles of high-interest people or events and contests are all ways to invite students to the media center networking site and drive them to keep coming back. In one of my previous classes, we discussed the (philosophical) idea of the whole school becoming the media center. Social networking would be one facet of the total marketing and promotional plan for the media center.
Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. Judging from all the statistical information that is available about the high number of users, most people love social networking sites. But how do we use social networking in the Media Center? I read Barbara Fiehn’s article with great interest; especially since I have used Delicious, Library Thing and Follette’s Destiny, three applications that she mentioned in her article. I identified with the media specialists who showed “hesitation based on lack of knowledge of how this will really work in their schools”. The Library 2.0 And Beyond text offers excellent ways to get started; ways that I plan to use in my media center. Courtney’s suggestions are as follows:
Step 1: Explore social media. Set up an account and learn your way around. Find out how it works.
Step 2: Set the ground rules. Who “owns” and maintains the media center presence to the community of users? How often and when will it be updated? Who will monitor, approve “friends” and advertise to users?
Step 3: Add content. Create something that will have value, like photos, link to high-interest events, and cool sites, based on the school’s community. Celebrate the media center.
Step 4: Advertise. Invite others to become “friends”. Offer training sessions; publicize in a newsletter, flyers and posters.
Step 5: Update regularly. As the community grows, content will need to be continually inviting and interesting. Add photos, video and invite comments. Use it as an assessment tool by adding an informal survey about the media center.
Step 6: Have fun with it! This is a chance to show off your personality, present a modern image of the media center, and encourage conversations with users.
In conclusion, media specialist should view social networking in the media center with excitement. Social networking within the media center offers new opportunities to reach the school community. Learning new technologies and employing them to interest patrons is one of the most important facets of our job.
With the popularity of social networking with students, using a social networking site for the media center could be very successful. Even elementary school students are members of a social networking site (facebook, myspace, etc). The steps that you provide would definitley be helpful to someone who is hesitant about using social networking in the media center. They would also be helpful for someone who wants to use social networking, but doesn't know how to get started. After following the steps provided and advertising the availibility of the site, it would have a lot of potential. I think the main thing that would keep the site from becoming unvisited would be to keep it updated and full of useful tools.
ReplyDeleteI agree that social networking is a way to connect and get students involved with the media program. It is also a technology that affords itself to the development of writing skills. Social networking within school domain allows educators to monitor student imput. We are presented with a window to view how students think and interact with one another and share ideas. This gives us the perfect opportunity to direct and teach appropriate ways to use this technology. It does however take time and effort to keep focused on students and their networking. Jodye
ReplyDeleteIn 2008, the results of a survey conducted by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) indicated that "the schools are continuing to accept social networking tools and technology as vital parts of the education of a 21st Century student." Our students are the 21st century students. They are using more technology today and the use will continue to increase in the years to come. Our 21st century classrooms are set up with lap top computers for the teachers and students, a Promethean Board, a project, etc. We are trying to make the classroom as interactive as possible and using websites which are interactive and make collaboration available is here. While some systems are slow to make certain sites available, they will in time see that the students will benefit being able to use them.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pressreleases2008/june2008/AASLsurvey.com
Social networking does have many positive uses in media centers. It’s ideal for students to share what they are learning with other students. We use Destiny at my school to blog book reviews. My reading classes are excited about being able to share their views on books with other students. I think social networking sites would be useful for students to learn about and research authors as well. As the media specialist role is changing, there are increasing demands to incorporate technology in the learning process. The steps that you’ve listed would be helpful in getting started in adding technology and to promote the media center. Since Informational skills are an important part of the learning process, the media specialist should provide the interactive technology tools that will enable students to develop effective communication skills to take with them to college and beyond. Therefore, it’s crucial that media programs expose students to a variety of learning tools and opportunities.
ReplyDeleteI think the most important thing you bring into focus here is step 6 from Courtney - have FUN with it! This is a great way to connect with students and actually enjoy your job at the same time! I know for me, and many other educators I work with, the pressure is immense and we tend to forget WHY we got into this profession in the first place! We love and enjoy kids - getting to know them and communicating with them (for whatever purpose)! This is a great tool for getting in on their level and finding common ground.
ReplyDeleteThis week's topic had me thinking about Facebook in particular. Like you said, many students probably see the media center as passe, or old school. I think that one of our challenges is to essentially prove to students how media centers can help them with current issues and topics, not just books. I am more familiar with Facebook than any other networking site and my wheels have been turning on how I could use it to my benefit both as a classroom teacher and as a media specialist. There are tons of parents on Facebook! What a wonderful to get some free PR. Send out information via status updates and I bet we would all be amazed at the response. A hurdle I have is my principal, she is still under the impression the social networking sites only get educators in trouble and none of us should go near them. The challenge is getting people like her on board.
ReplyDeleteCecelia, great post! Your comments hit the high points from our reading this week about social networking. My first thought when I hear the words "social networking" is Facebook. I think of it as being used simply for socializing and I'm not sure the classroom is the place for that. However, through our research for our various blog topics, we've learned about other social networking tools that could be useful in the school setting - Library Thing for booksharing and book reviews, Delicious for bookmarking websites for personal use at any internet linked computer and for sharing with others through the use of tags, wikis for information sharing and collaboration on projects, blogs for communication, book reviews, and discussions, and Flickr for sharing pictures of school events (just to name a few).
ReplyDeleteBuffy Hamilton, media specialist at Creekview High School here in Cherokee County, has links to several networking sites and uses them for some great educational purposes. Check it out at https://sites.google.com/site/theunquietlibrary/
She must never sleep! And she is definitely reaching her students through the 21st century tools that they are interested in using.
Maybe we can all learn from her!