Texas Library Association Report
Annual Conference - April 2015 - Austin, TX
Tech Camp 2015
Keynote #1 - Culture of Innovation & Branding by the Tech Chicks, Anna Adam & Helen Mowers
In this talk, librarians were encouraged to question the status quo and always look for ways to innovate and improve our practice. One way to do this is by creating and sharing in professional communities.
Breakout #1 - Tools for Stakeholder Response
Introduced several online tools for getting input and feedback from teachers and students. One tool new to me was Mentimeter.
Breakout #2 - Why Video Games Matter
Gamers develop skills that can transfer to learning. They fail 80% of the time, but still play. Because of failure, gamers develop grit and perseverance. They try again and again until they are successful.
Breakout #3 - Coding in the Library
This was interesting to me because MISD elementary librarians taught coding, or programming as we called it, way back in the late 80s/early 90s. Coding is not taught much in K-12 schools anymore and there is a movement to bring it back. There is data to show that almost a million jobs go unfilled because people don't have the coding skills needed to do them. See http://code.org/stats.
Breakout #4 - Makerspaces
Makerspaces are not about crafting - they are about problem solving. This session gave lots of ideas and resources for a robust and rigorous makerspaces program that focuses on creating and not just following directions.
Keynote #2 - Be the Hero
Librarians were challenged to dare to be great and transform programs to engage students.
Cubelets Robot Construction Kits for Kids
Sparkfun Electronics
The Exhibit Hall!
Tech Camp Presentation Slides & Handouts
Conference Sessions Attended
General Session I - David Baldacchi
Best quote:
"The greatest foe of ignorance is knowledge. The greatest tool in acquiring knowledge is reading."
The Badge Effect: Credentials and Learning in the Library
See site below for more information.
New Social Media: School Kids Tell Us What's In
Media outlets/services popular with kids:
- reddit: the front page of the internet
- Snapchat
- Vine (short looping videos)
- Tumblr (blogging platform)
- Kik (texting app that can be used with wifi; no data plan required)
- YouTube
Eyeopener: 90% of kids watch YouTube videos daily. If your library doesn't have a YouTube channel promoting library events and activities, you are missing a huge opportunity for connecting with your students.
Other recommendations from the panel:
- Use social media ACTIVELY and CREATIVELY
- In addition to YouTube, Instagram is huge. Make your library account public, so students don't have to follow you, but can still check out what you are posting.
- Whatever social media you use, involve your students in taking pictures and reporting
Does Self-Selection Affect Student Reading Achievement?
Libraries and E-Content: the Changing Publishing Marketplace
We Can Bridge the Summer Reading Gap
Some of his main points:
- There is a gap between rich and poor in the area of reading achievement, but ANY child who doesn't read over the summer loses ground.
- 2/3 of free lunch students do not have any books of their own,
- Giving poor students 12-15 self-selected books to read over the summer, leads to reading gains.
- Effect size of providing books over the summer was as large or larger than attending summer school.
- The poorest kids benefit the most from having books provided to them over the summer.
After hearing this presentation, my question is:
Why are we worried about losing books over the summer, when we should be worried about our students losing reading proficiency?
Texas Bluebonnet Award Luncheon
Original art by Oliver Jeffers
TLA District 5 Representative
Daywalt and Jeffers
iHave an iPad. How do iUse It?
Author Session: Chris Van Allsburg
Every Child Every Day a Reader
Click here to see the list.