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 * Copies of my posts to the 620 Collaboration site**

Free Speech Matters: Anti-Censorship Video from Leading Contemporary Authors
Authors Stand Up For Free Speech: In this video from Penguin Publishers, we see an effective narrative from familiar authors about the challenges of censorship. I think students would absolutely respond to this video, and I imagine it would ignite an excellent dialogue.

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 * Posted by Alyssa Lipton, 12/7/2011**


 * Librarians Must Be Political but not Partisan**

"Virtual Dave" Lankes is a professor at Syracuse University's School of Information Studies. In this article, he argues that librarians have a responsibility to participate in the political sphere, and to equip patrons with the 21st century skills needed to be informed citizens. He writes, "...libraries are enmeshed into the larger concept of democracy,...we are preparing people for democratic participation. That is preparing people to join the conversation of how they are governed…that is political." In light of some of the chaotic misguided protest that is occurring throughout our nation presently, I especially like Lankes' last line where he writes, "Librarians, however, have a special responsibility to ensure that all participation is informed, nuanced, and ongoing." Amen to that.

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 * Posted by Alyssa Lipton, 12/7/2011**

This article discusses creative ways to teach independent learning and practice on databases. The idea is fun and quirky for late elementary school or middle grade students. The lesson is to have students select different research topics of interest, providing them with school databases, and filling out specific forms with what information to find. Then the teacher has them write a creative essay/story mixing up incongruous information. See example.

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Posted by Alyssa Lipton 11/17/2011

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This article about a successful and popular Waldorf School located in the heart of Silicon Valley offers another perspective on technology's role in schools. The Waldorf philosophy focuses on hands-on experiential learning, which is certainly a valid approach. Although I admire and respect many different teaching methods, I found this article to be a bit pandering and ironically extremist. Read it and see what you think. While there are so many truly wonderful aspects of the Waldorf school and philosophy, student learning can only be accomplished through excellent teaching. We must remember that in every school, it is the teaching that matters most. There is one quote that stands out to me that seems particularly unenlightened. "Those who endorse this approach (Waldorf) say computers inhibit creative thinking, movement, human interaction, and attention spans." It seems they do not understand all that the Web 2.0 technologies can offer as SUPPORT to excellent teaching. All of the things they say computers inhibit, technology can actually enhance!

Posted by Alyssa Lipton 10/25/2011

This is a blog post from Hunter Walk, product manager for youtube, with an innovative idea about increasing technology skills, information literacy, collaboration, and, as I see it, creating a sort of outreach 21st century skills program where LMSs could be vital.

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2011
=== [|Stamped for Approval: Turn the 3700 Closing Post Offices into Tech Centers/Incubators] ===

Over [|3700 post offices are scheduled to be closed] as the USPS deals with the transition to an information economy and the horrible economics of their business. Many of these buildings will probably be sold or just plain shuttered. I've got a different idea.

Turn these old relics of information into digital community centers for the next generation. Call it the Rewiring Jobs Act - let the federal government pay for utilities, broadband and minimal upkeep. Open the spaces as local technology/non-tech startup incubators and job training. Grow the next generation of businesses from the heartland.

Yes most of these centers are in more rural areas but that's exactly the point. We cannot give up large swaths of our country. Help creative classes rise everywhere not just in the largest cities and university towns. Technology and entrepreneurism can flourish anywhere. Smart teams of technical professionals can make a living no matter where they're located.

In many ways post offices were the Internet of 100 years ago so it's only fitting we transform these community centers into job creation and learning hubs for the next hundred years. Posted by Hunter Walk at [|9:05 AM] [|3 comments]  Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook

Posted by Alyssa Lipton 10/8/2011

The following link leads to excellent opinion responses to a NYT article about standards, technology, and test scores. I found the contributors to be articulate and wise in their varied reactions to the original article. As we have repeatedly acknowledged in our program, technology supports the teaching of 21st century skills - research, critical thinking, collaboration, etc., but it does not replace relationships. Along with inspired and deliberate teaching, technology enhances curriculum.

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Alyssa Lipton Posted 9/30/2011