Amazing Wikis

By: Sharon Folds

Wikis are the ultimate worktable among group members on the internet.  It is a web page that can be viewed and modified by any user.  This provides both amazing flexibility and some risk.  Since the wiki is web based, users can access the information from any internet access.  This ease of access also opens the door to risk.  Users can modify information with little or no oversight.

Media centers are beginning to utilize wikis in various ways.  With the reduction in staff, wikis can be designed to answer many of the basic questions stakeholders might have. 

·         Research:  A wiki can be designed to answer basic research questions, link users to available resources, and provide information on sighting sources.  During the research process, students can utilize a wiki to work on the project.  This enables teachers to monitor their work easily, and students can easily collaborate on the project.

·         Homework Help:  Another wiki might be organized by subject area and provide links to websites for homework help.  

·         College:  A wiki can be created to provide a guide for students through the process of selecting, applying, and attending college.  This would be a useful resource for both the students and their parents.

·         Technical Support:  A wiki can be created to help manage technical issues within the school.  A portion of the wiki can be designated for user manuals and trouble shooting, while another portion might be designated for requesting services.

·         Classroom Collaboration:  While collaborating with teachers, the media specialist might create a wiki for a specific topic to provide information and links for teachers.  After completion, the wiki can be easily incorporated into the classroom lesson plan.  

·         Training:  Wikis are also an excellent method to provide training for teachers or extended staff. 

Training and promotion are keys to the success of wikis.  First, stakeholders must be trained on how to access and utilize wikis.  This can be done within the media center utilizing multiple forms of training, such as classes, podcasts, wikis, and handouts.  Promotion of available wikis can be done on the school web page, through newsletters, and in mini-lessons.  As with any form of information, media specialists need to assure all stakeholders are aware and familiar with all forms of information.

One of the greatest appeals of wikis, the ease of use and amazing flexibility, can also be considered one of its greatest weaknesses.  Multiple users can access, modify, and delete existing information.  This level of access can lead to concerns regarding accuracy and lack of standardization and organization.  Policy and procedures can help avoid many of these problems. 

Podcasting and the Media Specialist's Role

By: Kim Sciandra

Does the thought of supporting teachers who wish to create podcasts cause you to worry? Worry no more – podcasts are simply audio or video files that can be shared with others. Often times they are placed on a school website. Listeners can play the audio file on their computer or they can download the audio file to a portable device such as an MP3 player and listen to the podcast on the go. Creating a podcast only requires three simple items – an inexpensive microphone, free audio software, and a few minutes of time. The SLMS does not need to feel overwhelmed at the thought of providing support to teachers wishing to use podcasts. Simply start with an initial level of involvement and progress to a more in-depth level as your confidence grows.

For the initial level of involvement the media specialist simply needs to ensure that media center can provide its patrons with current and useful information about using and creating podcasts. Fortunately, many professional publications for school media specialists contain excellent articles about podcasting. There are also numerous websites that provide tutorials on creating podcasts. The media specialist should create a bibliography of current articles and websites that provide information and instructions for creating podcasts. Also, links to informative websites about podcasting can be posted on the media center webpage. A brief list of resources is provided at the end of this blog to help get you started.

Next, the media specialist can progress to a moderate level of involvement by promoting the use of podcasting in the classroom. This can be accomplished by preparing a short presentation that demonstrates how a podcast can be used in the classroom. Include podcast examples from other schools who have successfully utilized podcasting as a learning tool. The media specialist could also collaborate with the instructional technologist to create and distribute “Technology Tip” sheets that explain how to create a podcast using school equipment. For example, a Tech Tip sheet on how to use Audacity to record a podcast could be provided to teachers. Audacity (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/) is a free open source software program that can be used to record and edit sound for a podcast.

Finally, the media specialist should strive to progress to an in-depth level of involvement by collaborating with the classroom teacher to infuse podcasting into the curriculum. First, the teacher and the media specialist should determine how podcasts could best be used in the classroom to support student learning. There are numerous educational uses for podcasts such as

• Record interviews and newscasts
• Presentation format for students to demonstrate their understanding of a subject
• Provide audio instructions for special needs students
• Provide lectures to students to use at home for review
• Communicate school and classroom information with parents

Next, the teacher, the media specialist, and the instructional technologist can work together to provide students with instruction and support as they create their podcasts.

Ideally, the media specialist would be prepared to support the use of podcasting in classrooms because the media specialist will have already utilized podcasts in the media program. Podcasts are a great way to publish book reviews. Students, teachers, and the media specialist can create simple podcast book reviews of their favorite books. These podcasts could be made available on the media center web page. If your OPAC software allows, a link to the book review podcast could be placed in the OPAC providing students with a quick way to learn more about a book they are considering reading.

Podcasting is a fun and simple way to engage students in the learning process. Use the baby steps outlined above to start providing your patrons with the resources they need to effectively utilize podcasting in the classroom.

Podcasting Resources

Podcasting Tutorial
http://www.guidesandtutorials.com/podcasting-tutorial.html

Audacity Software
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Podcasting 101
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_7729/is_200703/ai_n32211230/?tag=content;col1

School Examples
Radio Cambridge - http://www.ahisd.net/campuses/cambridge/radio/radio.htm
U.S. History Podcasts - http://mrturner.podomatic.com/



References

Fontichiaro, K. (2007, March). Podcasting 101. School Library Media Activities Monthly.

Gatewood, K. (2008). Podcasting: Just the basics. Kappa Delta Pi Record, 44(2), 90-93.

Turner, P. & Riedling, A.M. (2003). Helping teachers teach: A School library media specialist’s role. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.