Listservs are not new to me I’ve used several of them in the past mostly having to do with libraries. The MSLA listserv, MSLAmembers@yahoogroups.com, is a private listserv for members of the Massachusetts School Library Association. Another one I belong too is an international group LM_Net. Both have been very helpful to me in my field, keeping updated with new trends and ideas. Also if you have a question everyone is usually helpful getting back to you quickly.
I also recently signed up for Freecycle, I found out about this group from a relative. When you go to the website you can locate a group closest to you. You will receive emails from people letting you know what they want to give away. Or you can post if you want to give something away. You never know what you will find. My relative’s friend furnished her whole house.
In class we were asked to sign up for two new listservs both related to technology. The first one I chose was Merlot, the Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching. One of the first things I noticed was the Discipline Communities; they have one for Library and Information Services. On lesson or website I could use with my students is “How to Avoid Plagiarism.” As the librarian teachers can request that I instruct their classes and many different topics and one of them is citing sources and plagiarism. This module was created by UMUC Online Writing Center; it splits up how to use source material in three ways. It shows some guidelines on how to avoid plagiarism and then gives a short quiz at the end. Everyone who completes the lesson will receive a certificate at the end. This would be great to use with seniors to prepare them for college research papers.
Another lesson I could use is “Tool for Real-Time Assessment of Information Literacy Skills (TRAILS)”. This could be used as part as freshman orientation in the library. Each year I hope to hold a freshman orientation with the English classes, showing students how to use the library. The TRAILS website gives several tests that assess the student’s skill or knowledge level in information literacy. This will be helpful to see where students need to develop or where I can focus additional assistance. Each class is set up in the program; each student would be given a code to take the test online. Then the information would be sent to me or their teacher for evaluation. The website suggests using the information for one-on-one instruction, as a class in game show format, or to use the information to help in designing curriculum mapping.
The second new listserv I signed up for Innovative Teaching newsletter. I thought sound liked a great group because it keeps you updated on new technologies to use. I received some of the past message and they mention a website called Surfaquarium. According to the website, it is a location for educators to safely search websites and resources to use in the classroom.
I explored a few different sites I discovered on the Sufaquarium website. The first one was K Haugen’s smartboard Bookmarks, on the delicious website. Delicious is a social bookmarking website and a great place to save all your favorite websites. This website caught my attention because teachers in my school and district are always looking for new smartboard lessons. This website had several games and lessons for teachers or students to use on the smartboard. It looked as if most of them were for younger grades but, could probably also be used for ELL and special needs students.
Another site I looked at was TEFL Clips, this website uses websites like YouTube. Combining a written lesson and video teachers will be able to instruct in a different innovative way. I look forward to sharing this with my fellow colleagues. I thought Lesson plan 25: Misheard lyrics would be a fun lesson to use with students. I also looked at the instructional video section and found a video called “How to charge an iPod using electrolytes and an onion.” I think this would make a great science fair project, or something to think about.
