Library Links

"Content that might be of interest to Teacher-Librarians..."

12.11.15

BC Books Online: Launching November 17th

An extensive online database of BC-published books
"For many years, the Association of Book Publishers of BC has been developing the concept for a comprehensive online database of BC-published books. With the input of library staff from across the province, we have developed a searchable, browsable database that showcases books in print from BC publishers in both print and ebook form. The website is now live and ready for use at bcbooks.49thshelf.com ."
Some key information:
  • The database contains robust bibliographic data for approximately 8,500 books published by BC publishers
  • The database is searchable through both a basic and advanced search function
  • Browse titles by curated "BC Reading Lists", compiled by a BC librarian
"We plan to celebrate the creation of the website with a public announcement on November 17. We will also be finding helpful ways of parsing the database for librarians, including sending dedicated emails with title listings by special-interest category so that we can present groupings of books in manageable numbers to selections librarians."
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10.11.15

Critical Thinking Consortium tackles bullying

TC2 - Investigating Bullying
Students investigate bullying - for Elementary and Seconday students. The objectives of this lesson is to sensitize students to the impact of bullying, and discuss the topic through a variety of literacy strategies. (This TC2-developed critical challenge was previously published as a Tools for Thought resource.)

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9.11.15

Using Wikipedia for Academic Research

The encyclopedia that daren't speak its name!
This short clip from the Cooperative Library Instruction Project (creator: Michael Baird) outlines how students can use Wikipedia to get an overall sense of a topic. They also see where it fits appropriately in the research process. (Key words, bibliography, etc.)

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UCSB Cylinder Audio Archive

Recordings made from the late 1800s to early 1900s
Thanks to the University of California-Santa Barbara Cylinder Audio Archive, you can now download or stream a digital collection of more than 10,000 cylinder recordings. "This searchable database," says UCSB, "features all types of recordings made from the late 1800s to early 1900s, including popular songs, vaudeville acts, classical and operatic music, comedic monologues, ethnic and foreign recordings, speeches and readings." You can also find in the archive a number of "personal recordings," or "home wax recordings," made by everyday people at home (as opposed to by record companies).

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6.11.15

Redesigned Curriculum: lots of new "tools"

Context, Planning, Resources, etc
The BC curriculum website was recently updated with lots of new support materials added under the tools tab, both in English and en français: Planning documents, videos, overview documents, etc. (thanks JN)

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Janice

When Reading carried a health warning

A perilous culture of unrestrained reading  
We used to worry about the influence of reading like we worry about "screen time" today!

"Novels were the focus of a moral panic in 18th century England, criticised for triggering both individual and collective forms of trauma and mental dysfunction. In the late 18th century the terms 'reading epidemic' and 'reading mania' served to both describe and condemn the spread of a perilous culture of unrestrained reading."

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2.11.15

The Library: a new short film on the wonder of libraries

Exploring the relationship between memory and place


"The Library is the story of a 13-year-old girl, Emily ((played by Missy Keating) who rides her bike to the library each day after school. She begins receiving notes slipped to her by a secret admirer, one of the two boys she regularly sees in the library – or so she thinks. These notes correspond to romantic passages in the old books in the library shelves, passages Emily repeats to herself with nervous excitement as each subsequent day brings another note and romantic passage."

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Skills and Strategies | Understanding Plagiarism in a Digital Age

How to discuss the complex notion of originality
Here's an NYT lesson plan with lots of resources to address the issue of plagiarism among high school students. (Some of the links might be useful for upper intermediate as well.)

"Do your students have a hard time defining — and thus, perhaps, avoiding — plagiarism? They're not alone. In a cut-and-paste world, examples of both intentional and unintentional plagiarism are everywhere."

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The Digital #5MinPlan

Cover all the essentials in sketching out a lesson.
(Use with Chrome or Firefox)
This online PDF will let the user enter text into each box/field and then print the finished product. (Paid version allows saving and other features.)
"The 5 Minute Lesson Plan championed by @TeacherToolkit has been adapted into an online tool for teachers.[...] Try out the FREE version which allows you to create an online plan and print the lesson plan as a PDF file." -> from this article.

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Art and War - Australia, Britain and Canada in WWII

"Waiting, preparing, fighting, suffering, celebrating."
"Art and War - Australia, Britain and Canada in the Second World War consists of 96 works of art from the collections of the Canadian War Museum, the Australian War Memorial, and the Imperial War Museum. This is the first exhibition of its kind to explore how Australia, Britain and Canada lived through and recorded the greatest conflict in human history. The works on display highlight notable differences in outlook and expectation, both nationally and individually. Some images do not sit comfortably together; others retain an almost ineffable power to move and disturb."

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30.10.15

Librarybox

Internet in a can?

What is Librarybox? It's a low-powered wifi router that can be run from a solar panel, battery or even a bicycle charger. It sounds like an interesting "work around" for lots of applications - it can be purchased for $150 and the source code is available for free - great was to create a private LAN.

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29.10.15

Bookish webinar archive from Booklist Online

Pro-D when you want it!

Booklist offers a number of archived webinars on a range of topics - some in conjunction with vendors or digital platforms. These are a great way to get some free, just-in-time Pro-D.

A sample of some of the topics (more on the site!)
  • Adventures of an Information Sleuth   (October 13, 2015)
  • Reaching Reluctant Readers:   (September 24, 2015)
  • Marvelous Middle-Grade Books   (August 25, 2015)  
  • YA Announcements: Fall 2015 Titles to Know    (August 18, 2015)
  • Discovering Great Historical Fiction    (July 21, 2015)   
  • Reading Initiatives & Celebrations  (June 2, 2015)   
  • We've Got Diverse Books:  (May 14, 2015)
  • Makerspaces, Hacking Fashion, and e-Textiles  (April 30, 2015)
  • Let's Hear It for Middle-Grade    (April 21, 2015)
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28.10.15

ReaLITy Reads - Real books for real teens

Memorable voices and important themes
This program features titles that shine a light on realistic YA fiction. Strong writing, important themes and memorable voices are all part of these offerings.

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'C'est l'Halloween': the story behind the greatest French Halloween song ever

"J'ai peur de cette citrouille."
Find out about the song writer Matt Maxwell, get a link to a Youtube version with words, and bonus, an audio link to the 2012 version (a bit more polished & top 10 sounding, complete with backup singers.)

"Every October for the past three decades, thousands of French students across Canada have sung the same spooky song: "C'est l'Halloween," a perfect tune for kids learning the language. If you're not familiar with it, it's basically a list of spooky Halloween imagery — a witch, a ghost, a gloomy night — but it never crosses over into actual terror. On top of that, the simple two-word chorus is "C'est l'Halloween," which just means "It's Halloween." Plus, it offers kids an opportunity to yell "HEY!" at the top of their lungs."

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"Oversharing" - Digital Citizenship Musical Video clip

"...I think before I'm postin'... "
Catchy little tune paired with animation that highlights the 10 things kids (-> anyone really) should think about before posting online. This clip could be an exemplar for students to use in creating a cybersafety PSA of their own. (Thanks CW for the heads up.)

(NB: the complete library of hip-hop/rap animations are available by subscription from Flocabulary, but they offer a couple of dozen to peruse for free on their Youtube channel:

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Neil Gaiman: Why our future depends on libraries, reading and daydreaming

"Libraries are about freedom, education, entertainment, safe spaces, and access to information."
Neil Gaiman gave "The Reading Agency" annual lecture in 2013 on the future of reading and libraries with a focus on young people.

"I am going to be talking to you about reading. I'm going to tell you that libraries are important. I'm going to suggest that reading fiction, that reading for pleasure, is one of the most important things one can do. I'm going to make an impassioned plea for people to understand what libraries and librarians are, and to preserve both of these things."

(Thanks KE for reminding me about this article!)
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30 Holiday Dishes - Historica Canada Blog

Dishes with a distinctly Canadian flavour
Here are 30 recipes, in English and in French, to warm up the festive season:

"For most of us, Thanksgiving marks the real arrival of autumn. With leaves already bright on the trees, it's the beginning of a holiday season running straight through to the New Year. And holidays of any kind are all about the food. Here are 30 dishes, many of them with a distinctly Canadian flavour, to help you make the most of the holiday season."

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Contests, content and canadiana

October/Octobre 2015 Newsletter - Historica


Consult the latest e-newsletter from Historica to see what's new this month. (Among the features is the "What's New" section from the Canadian Encyclopedia.)

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27.10.15

Books-to-Games: Transforming Classic Novels Into Role Playing Adventures

What if a completed book was just the beginning of the story?

Ki Sung discusses how students can explore the world of a novel via a tabletop role-playing game, deeping their understanding of characters, themes and setting.

"Through tabletop role-playing games, educators are beginning to tinker with traditional works of literature and, in the process, reimagine how writing and character development are taught. [...] The use of tabletop RPGs in the classroom is still rare, but teachers investing time and energy into turning traditional activities into games are seeing rewarding results. Students who had previously been uninterested in school are engaged, and the experience of making the game includes lessons applicable in students' lives."

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26.10.15

Creating Videos for Instruction

Short videos that really work
Alice Keeler  works at California State University Fresno as Teacher and Technology Coach. Attends Boise State University.

"When I create my videos in one shot I pause, I think about what I am going to say, I ramble. I have a lot of seconds that could be edited out. Record yourself saying the information you are trying to get across. Now do it again in 30 second or less segments (Mine are usually about 12 seconds.) Put together in a playlist. Compare the total run time. Same content. My 20-minute video went down to 7 minutes!"

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