This looks awesome. HarperTeen editors and authors invite teens to join thousands of others online to collectively create an original short story—one chapter at a time. The beginning of the storyline will be posted on October 27, so get singed up to join in. Participate in author blog posts from Meg Cabot, Farrin Jacobs and others.
Check it out at: http://www.harperteenfanlit.com/
I ran across this the other day and wanted to pass it along. Founded in 2001 Sally Ride Science’s mission is to empower girls to explore the world of science. They have recently announced the TOYchallenge. It is a toy design challenge for imaginative boys and girsl that are 5-8th graders to create a new toy or game. They go on to state that “(t)Toys are a great way to learn about science, engineering, and the design process! As girls and boys create a toy or game, they experience engineering as a fun, creative, collaborative process, relevant to everyday life.”
For more information: http://www.toychallenge.com/abouttc.shtml
Hello All,
I’ve been leading MySpace for Parents workshops within our community at various locations for the past several months and have had mixed opinions and results, but for the most part have been able to really help some parents out with advice, etc.
I had one very thankful mother of a daughter that has had problems in the past with her MySpace page and usage. They are about to allow her access again and just want to make sure that they know what they are getting into. She seemed to be a very concerned parent that wanted to allow for some freedom and flexibility, but also wanted to keep her daughter safe and honest to who she is. Honest in the sense of things that she was writing and communicating, etc.
On another occasion I had four moms from the same bible study. They were all very interested and engaged. In fact, the workshop lasted a full 2 hours. It is only suppose to go an hour. In the process of all that went on that evening we looked up one of the mother’s daughter’s MySpace page, and the mother had never seen it before. I was a bit nervous about doing that, but her daughter’s, who is a freshman/soph. in college, page looked fine. It had nothing really shocking or out of the ordinary for a typical young adult in their late teens/early twenties. It also allowed us the opportunity to go over how to search for their child’s MySpace page.
One evening I talked with a couple who just happened to walk in and gladly attended. This couple was very interesting. I found out later that the man had lived in my old hometown area for over 18 years, so it was good to make that connection with him. They have a daughter and a son. Their daughter is in her late teens/early twenties and was sexually assaulted 5 years ago by a man. This man is suppose to be released from prison soon, and he is pretty savy with computer technology. They were concerned for her and were going to suggest that she change her screen name, etc., so that if he were so inclined he could not find her via MySpace.
Just recently I had a dad, a children’s librarian, and a mother. The dad in the group is very interested in knowing and keeping up with his kids/teens. He stated several times that he just wants to be able to be in the same technology ball park with his kids. The librarian was very excited about what we are doing and is interested in the fact that they are planning to do more of the same at her library.
I thought that this might give you all some food for thought. Attendance and numbers are great but sometimes small groups can give us a more useful exchange with parents.
The Alliance Library System (ALS) and the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (PLCMC) have announce a partnership to offer a culutural and informational service on an island in Teen Second Life. The Eye4You Alliance Island’s leadership comes from, Lori Bell (Director of Innovation at ALS), Kelly Czarnecki (Teen Librarian at ImaginOn of PLCMC) and Matt Gullett (Technology Education Librarian at ImaginOn of PLCMC). They are just at the beggining stages of developing this innovative service and welcome interested partners to submit a statement of interest to either Kelly Czarnecki (kczarnecki@plcmc.org) or Matt Gullett (mgullett@plcmc.org).
See a full press release here: Eye4UAlliance.
While investigating Technorati for my Learning 2.0 exercise I noticed an interesting post and thought that I’d pass it along. I’m still not finished with investigating Technorati, but already am convinced that I need to pay more attention to this for my posts as I do hope to post more frequently in the future.
Just a side note: if anyone is reading or paying attention out there, I’m wondering if you all have taught youth about Techorati or del.icio.us. If so, how have you gone about it and for what purpose.
Back to the MySpace post. I thought this was cool for a couple of reasons one that it was at NC State and another that it was socially oriented and being done by a tenure-track faculty member, i.e., someone that is a bit older than the typical MySpace generation. I would be in that older demographic as well. Enough of my gibberish, here is the actual article.
“Hip Happy Prof” teaches over MySpace, bosses protest …
Evidently a Sociology Professor at NC State is offering a class on Social Movements for Social Change that is using MySpace as its primary place of instruction and interaction. Cool! Yeah go for it, evidently that’s not the case, for he is catching all sorts of flack for it, especially from administrators. When that kind of stuff (flack from folks, etc.) happens within a controlled space of learning you have got to know that you are on to something. My depiction of this does not do it justice please check it out and support such bold innovative thought and movement within our academic environments. http://indyweek.gyrobase.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=38223
Although I tend to focus and all forms of literacy I do believe, as a librarian, that if one were to rely upon one basic form of literacy it should be reading a language. Here is an interesting documentary that I have not watched, but looks to have much promise for those of us in the literacy business, especially libraries and schools. It is hosted/narrated by Henry Winkler (the Fonz).
Check it and more info about it at: http://www.readingrockets.org/shows/watch#brain.
This is a discussion about using technology in creative ways to enrich the lives of youth.
Youth Tech 