Copyright and the 21st Century Learner -- Dr. Celeste Nalwasky and Joyce Mason
After a review of the U.S. copyright law, the presenters discussed topics like the copyright owner's rights, public domain, public performance or display of copyrighted works, plus limitations and exceptions to the copyright law. Four factors to consider in claiming "fair use" of copyrighted material are:
- the purpose and character of the use
- the nature of the copyrighted work
- the amount of the work being used
- the effect of the use on the market for the work.
For libraries, Section 108 of the copyright law gives limited rights to reproduce and distribute copyrighted works. Under these rights falls interlibrary loan of articles for private study or research, and copying or archiving an entire work which is out of print. Other sections of the law deal with the interlibrary loan of materials, use of digital works in the classroom, and digitization of analog works for classroom teaching. We also discussed copyright infringement and liability--an awful lot to take in during a 2-hour workshop! Fortunately, we were also given bibliographies of sources where we could go for answers to our own copyright questions.
Collaboration: What Makes It Work -- Denise Veal, Follett Software representative
This was a discussion of the neat features in Destiny Quest, the quirky twin of our school library's online catalog, known simply as Destiny. Destiny Quest allows students to search for books in our library collection, just like Destiny does. But Destiny Quest incorporates many Web 2.0 tools to keep patrons interested in their library's collection--features that encourage students and staff to add book reviews (written, audio or video!), a Top 10 List, a 5-Star List, etc. The presenter encouraged us to turn on these features so that patrons could have input into their school library's program. Many of those cool internet tools that fascinate kids and adults alike in websites like FaceBook are already incorporated into Destiny Quest. As the librarian, I just need to know how to access those Web 2.0 tools and make them available to our patrons--and that's what this workshop was all about.
Before the Blank Page: Writing as Research -- Robin Wasserman, author
Wasserman writes futuristic books for young adults. (The one I read, Skinned, is about a teen whose body was dead, useless after a car accident. Her parents had her memories, her essence downloaded into a life-like mechanical body. The girl then had to deal with all the trials of being a non-human in a school full of teenaged "organics.")
Wasserman noted that research strategies are learned in school, and hopefully stick with you the rest of your life. In school is the last place anyone teaches you how to research. Wasserman said that when researching to write, an author could research non-stop, which delays the actual writing of the book.
Because Wasserman's topic for her books deals with the future, she mentioned that she looked at articles in (gasp!) Wikipedia. She indicated that much of the thought in Wikipedia articles is valid. The problem with students using Wikipedia is that they take the site as gospel truth. Students tend to believe anything on the web; they don't make the effort to seek out the work of experts. Adults are much the same. She suggested that this type of research will only become more pervasive as years go by, making information published online less and less valid. This has to change in order to strengthen future research.
GENERAL SESSION -- Stephanie Vance, The Advocacy Guru. Government Isn't Broken: How to Work the System and Beat the Odds.
When working with legislators, Vance told us to use the SPIT Rule: S = specific, P = personal, I = informative, T = trustworthy. When talking to legislators, give them good background information that they can use in their own arguments (informative), make your request hit home for the legislator (personal), ask for exactly what you need (specific), and be as honest as possible in what you say (trustworthy). She also indicated that the one thing that always works is persistence. In advocacy, be passionate, but be smart.
BANQUET SPEAKER -- Robin Wasserman, author
Wasserman indicated two problems in our society that have damaged our American educational program.
1. The insane growth of technology. The explosion of technologies that we all use daily has invaded our schools as well. Not just personal computers and cell phones, but iPods, scanners, blogs (like this one!), FaceBook, etc., etc. are all vieing for our time and our space. Students can't live without all the gadgets, and in order to be meaningful to these digital natives we, as educators, need to find ways to incorporate these devices into our instruction.
2. Standardized testing. We say we're not teaching to the test, but how can we not, when the test scores are what drive the monetary backing schools require? It's avicious cycle!
A Few Good Women: Using an Oral History Collection in Grades 6-12 --Karla Schmit, librarian, Penn State University
The speaker, as Associate Director of the Pennsylvania Center for the Book, discussed the Center's oral history project and free online curriculum. The project, A Few Good Women, includes interviews with key women in our government from the last 60 years, plus a timeline of women in U.S. government, with audio, video and written transcripts. Some of the transcripts have been rewritten into reader's theater format; using them in class would be a great way for students to gain fluency in reading and learn historical content. The Center's website also has a literary and cultural map of Pennsylvania. Access the website at: http://www.afgw.libraries.psu.edu/index.html
Oh, No, Not Another New Technology Workshop: Learning About Social Networking Techniques -- Dr. Pat Kolencik and Jessica Modrzejewski Clarion University
When considering social networking websites, Facebook is the biggest. Twitter is great to use with foreign language classes. Skype is a terrific way to connect with authors, and can also be used in foreign language classes. A suggested class project using Facebook: Students "become" people from history; they post biographies of the historical celebrities, plus pictures, friends, favorite music, etc. Then the class gathers at an online "salon" to share real-time discussions about the historical period and the people of the time. Interesting!
Because social networking is so pervasive in our society, especially with the digital natives who are our students, maybe we should review our Acceptable Use Policies to include the use of social networks in class assignments. Is it time to update? Are we in the 21st century?
Luncheon speaker -- Laura Amy Schlitz, author. "At Least Two Miracles"
As a full-time librarian, storyteller and author, Schlitz is full of delightful stories. But even she was surprised when her book of medieval monologues for middle school students to recite won the coveted Newbery Award. To Schlitz, the world is still brimming with miracles, and she rejoices that some of those miracles are happening in her life.
