Without net neutrality, also known as the open Internet, kids’ access to online resources could be negatively impacted, with commercial sites and services eclipsing other content online, AASL president Gail Dickinson and others say.
Kansas Boy Gets New Hand, Created at a Library Makerspace
By on February 11, 2014
Nine-year-old Matthew is the owner of a brightly-colored prosthetic Robohand that was created in the MakerSpace of the Johnson County Library in Overland Park, KS.
CIPA at 10: Internet Filtering Excessive, Study Finds | ALA Midwinter Meeting
By on February 10, 2014
A decade after the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) went into effect, its implementation in schools and public libraries is problematic and the scale of Internet filtering is excessive, panelist said during the ALA Midwinter session “Revisiting The Children’s Internet Protection Act: 10 Years Later.”
Sonoma Library to Host Minecraft Camp
By on February 3, 2014
Rebecca Forth doesn’t want kids to simply play Minecraft, she wants them to design their own worlds in the virtual building game. They can do just that and learn the necessary coding skills in a program set to launch at the Healdsburg branch of the Sonoma County (CA) Library in March 2014.
Cool Tools for Featuring Student Book Reviews
By on February 3, 2014
There’s nothing like a book recommendation from a friend. Encourage students to share their opinions by creating a student-driven book review site. Richard Byrne shows you how in the accompanying screencasts.
Harvard Study Examines Youth View on Technology Use in Schools
By on January 21, 2014
A new Harvard study examines US students’ attitudes towards technology in schools. Although 78 percent own cell phones, activating them in schools is restricted, which frustrates students. Students also express frustration with school’s limited WiFi access, Internet filtering, monitoring, and the push to embrace tablet computers.
Engaging with Ebooks Can Aid Children’s Literacy, Study Finds
By on January 15, 2014
As younger and younger children recognize and use electronic devices as sources of information and entertainment, what is the impact on their literacy skills? Largely a positive one, according to a study in the January edition of SAGE Open.
SLJ Survey: Ebook Usage in School Libraries Expected to Rise Incrementally
By on January 14, 2014
School library media specialists, especially in high schools, expect ebook usage by their students to rise incrementally, according to the 2013 Survey of Ebook Usage in U.S. School (K–12) Libraries. The annual survey, the fourth of its kind, was produced by School Library Journal and sponsored by Follett.
Animation Made Easy: The best tools for student projects, from stop motion to GIFs
By on January 13, 2014
With accessible tools, you and your students can create your own simple animations to convey powerful ideas. Screencast tutorials will have you up and running with the latest “Cool Tools” from Richard Byrne, SLJ columnist and blogger at “Free Technology for Teachers.”
Tablets in Schools—What’s Ahead in 2014
By on January 6, 2014
“Twenty thirteen was the ‘year of the tablet’ and good riddance,” says Christopher Harris. Time to focus on the real reason to invest in any tool for learning: content and pedagogy.
