Week 8 (March 29-April 2)

Hello SLA's!
We have two weeks left of the quarter. We will continue to learn about resources through the end of April, then begin to produce our SLA handbook and informational screencasts. Be thinking about topics that you have become expert in and how you might share that knowledge.

This week:
1. Review your progress report for missing assignments or scores that I might have missed. Look through your personnel folder for returned papers. Most of you are doing quite well, but there are some things missing.
2. Continue to work on your BibMe reading record. As library assistants, I do expect you to read! During a nine-week quarter, I would expect a minimum of 4-5 book reviews. Remember that you must read in order to make recommendations to others.
3. Log in to E-library. Use the username and PW on the poster in the library. Set yourself up a "my e-library" account so that you can save your searches. Use good keywords to search for an article related to your webspiration research topic. Print it out and add the citation to your BibMe account. Read the article.
4. In the comments section below, record three facts you learned about your topic.

Week 7 Assignment (March 22-26)

My fault, I did not get the email addresses up for you all until late in the week. Hopefully you were able to get your webspiration shared out. We'll extend that assignment another week. To view others' webs, you have to go to your email and follow the link there. Then you can do #2 down below. Carry on with the others too. See repeat below:

2. Visit two other SLA's webs and add questions or comments. Use another shape and/or color and sign your first name in your boxes, so we know who did what. Help your fellow SLA's craft their research questions.
3. Work on your BibMe reading log!!!!!!!
4. Concentrate on your non-fiction sections this week. Read them for order! I'm serious! They should be beautiful!!! Identify three amazing, interesting, attractive books from your sections and set them on display above your shelves.

Week 6 March 15-19

Good morning!

It is Battle week, so things will be crazy! We are holding most battles in the library, so if you are a battling SLA, we might send you away to preserve security.

This week, you have four assignments:

1. Share your webspiration web with other SLA's. You will find their e-mail addresses posted on the white board in the office.
2. Visit two other SLA's webs and add questions or comments. Use another shape and/or color and sign your first name in your boxes, so we know who did what. Help your fellow SLA's craft their research questions.
3. Work on your BibMe reading log!!!!!!!
4. Concentrate on your non-fiction sections this week. Read them for order! I'm serious! They should be beautiful!!! Identify three amazing, interesting, attractive books from your sections and set them on display above your shelves.

Have a great week and do good work!

Week 5 Assignment (Mar 8-12)

Happy week!

Thanks again for all your hard work last week when both Ms. Trumm and I were out. I appreciate your doing what you are supposed no matter who the adult personnel is.

This week we will practice Step 1 of the research process. Last week you identified a topic and research question that you could research in our library. Many of you wrote great questions! Remember that a good research question does not have just one answer and will not require just one source. Information is gathered from many sources and perspectives in order to create answers to big, interesting questions and LOTS OF LITTLE QUESTIONS.

We are also going to use a new tool called mywebspiration.com Set yourself up a new account or use the SLA account info to sign in, and use the mindmap template for brainstorming. You want to put your topic or main question in the center of the web, and then generate all the related questions, ideas, and words you can think of. Don't discount anything yet. This is a brainstorm so anything goes! Aim for at least nine bubbles off your main idea. Under the "share" menu, add me as a collaborator. Later this week, I will ask you to add other SLA's as collaborators too, and you will comment and add to each other's brainstorms.

Keep working on your BibMe reading log. Please comment below on how Wednesday and Thursday went for you last week. This is your check-in! What did you accomplish last week that you are proud of? What struggles did you have? What should I know?

Assignments - due by Friday
1. Mywebspiration.com brainstorm on your topic. Main topic/question bubble with 9+ offshoots.
2. Blog comment on your work last week.
3. BibMe - keep working on that reading log!

Thanks for keeping things going!

Hi, wonderful SLA's, from the Seattle Convention Center!

Thanks for keeping things running smoothly in our Library Information & Technology (LIT) Center. I am at a technology conference and one of the things I have been reminded of is how integral technology must be in our library. We are all about information, in all its forms.

Right now I am listening to the keynote speaker, Philippe Cousteau. His grandfather was the famous marine explorer and environmentalist, Jacques Cousteau. Look Jacques up in our catalog to find out more about him. Philippe now has a show on the Discovery Channel about the world's oceans and the need to protect them. Find out more on this link: http://www.earthecho.org/ and planetgreen.com

Enjoy your long weekend. See you Monday!

Week 4 Assignment (March 1-4)

I was so impressed with your thoughtfulness and focus at our SLA monthly meeting on Friday. Thank you for sharing your book reviews with the group, for asking good questions, and for being such wonderful people. I told Mr. Hitchman on Friday that I really felt that the meeting had been a valuable use of time for all concerned (plus we ate donuts!). Our next meeting will be Friday, March 26, during 3rd period.

This week you will use some of the features of the library catalog to create a resource list. Please complete the following tasks:

1. Go to one of your assigned non-fiction or reference sections and choose a topic for "research." The topic might be something like recycling, dragons in fairy tales, iguanas and other lizards, the Vietnam War, etc. Find at least one book in your section that would help you begin this research. NOTE: You will not actually be DOING this research (at least this week).

2. In the comments section below, record your research topic idea, the title of one book, and a research question that you could pursue. Research questions are large in scope and require information from many different sources. They are not answerable in only a few words. Examples of research questions: How could we encourage more recycling in our community? Why would an iguana make a great pet (or not)? What were some of the major events leading up to U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War?

3. Go to the library catalog. Sign in with your username and PW. Under catalog, choose "Resource Lists" from the left hand menu. Add a new list and give it a title related to your research topic.

4. Add at least three titles and three websites to your resource list. Use the subject search button or begin with the title that you have already selected to find more sources of information. Follow the linked subject headings "find it" and "webpath express." Print your resource lists when they are completed using the "printable" button. Turn in your resource lists (one for Library Materials, one for Online Resources).

5. Continue to work on your BibMe reading log.

Okay, I know that seems like a lot of steps to follow, but here is what you should end up with: (1) comment on blog regarding research topic and question and one title (2) printed resource lists with three books and three websites (3) BibMe.