Mary Elliott's 20% project

For this project, I chose to explore and develop online and interactive resources for a reading resources/readers’ advisory webpage I call “Choose a Book, Choose an Author”: http://sites.google.com/site/mediacentervv/Home/choose-a-book-choose-an-author This is a sub-page link off my main VVMS library media center page. The components are: “Find a good book”, “Join the conversation”, “Book trailers: see the video then read the book” and “The authors’ corner” along with links to the EPS Destiny online catalog in school and at home. Prior to this, I did not have a separate page for reading, even though it is an essential part of any media center activity. This also became part of my alt-comp Student Learning Goal (SLG). In designing this page, I tried to view the world of reading through the eyes of a middle school student. What was appealing visually? What would spark their curiosity? How could I build on subjects, authors that were a part of their world, but not necessarily a part of mine? How would I encourage them to participate in a meaningful way? How can I make reading engaging, stimulating and fun for a middle schooler?
2-Design & develop digital age learning experiences & assessments. 3-Model digital age work and learning In selecting links for this webpage, I looked for student-centered interactive sites that could be easily accessed at school or at home by Mac or Windows laptops, desktops and I-Pads. These sites also needed to be age-appropriate while still challenging enough for middle school. I put Wordle and Zooburst in to use as “creative” book report builders. I provided links in “Join the conversation” for any age student to use to reach a larger audience. The Destiny Quest version of the online catalog provides a way for any student to track his/her progress in what he/she has been reading and wants to read next. As the page progressed, I tried it out on a Reading Support class of nine 8th graders with mixed results. The first thing I found was that the “Book trailers for all” site works fine with my account but is blocked with theirs and doesn’t work well on an I-Pad. However, I had other sites listed which did work. I also noticed that they need very explicit guidance in how to use something like this webpage. It doesn’t come naturally for many of them, which is important to remember when setting it up.
4-Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership In developing this page, I surveyed many, many other exemplary media center webpages around the country including Joyce Valencia (Pennsylvania), Buffy Hamilton (Georgia), and of course our own Edina Public School media center sites. I was pleased to find some ready-made interviews with well-known authors on the Scholastic.com site, all in one place. Certainly this 20% project took w-a-y more than the time allotted. It was often hard for me to put it down to do other parts of the course. It will never really be done since it will always be a work in progress. Already I’m thinking about what else I should include. Rework it into a Glogster page? I have to add some good librarian-type blogs too, like Cathy Heller’s from South View. It’s the “neverending webpage” that just keeps on going and going……