[CASL-L] AASL Hotlinks – January 2013

[IRENE KWIDZINSKI]

FYI


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From: American Association of School Librarians <aasl at ala.org>
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Sent: Mon, January 7, 2013 5:11:24 PM
Subject: AASL Hotlinks – January 2013

AASL Hotlinks – January 2013  
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Volume 11, Issue 10
January 2013
 


In this Issue:Association News
Education News
Resources for School Librarians
Grants & Awards
Partnership News
Member Spotlight


Association News
________________________________
 AASL Awards & Grants Applications Due February 1
AASL will offer more than $50,000 in awards in 2013 to AASL members. The 
association’s awards recognize excellence and showcase best practices in the 
school library field in categories that include research, collaboration, 
leadership and innovation. AASL personal members are required to fill out 
applications using AASL’s online awards database. Recipients of awards and 
grants will be invited to the annual Awards luncheon and ceremony during the ALA 
2013 Annual Conference in Chicago. The deadline for submitting applications or 
nominations for AASL awards and grants is 4:30 p.m. CST on February 1, 2013.

Be Calm, Cool, & Collected when Implementing the Common Core with an Online 
Course from AASL
Register now for AASL's e-Academy course, Common Core: Moving from Complex to 
Calm, Cool, and Collected. This four-week, self-paced course facilitated by 
Paige Jaeger will run from Feb. 4 – March 1, 2013. During the course, 
participants will be guided through how and why inquiry-based instruction 
supports the CCSS and will learn how to repackage current research projects into 
Common Core State Standard (CCSS) aligned research endeavors that foster higher 
level thought. Registration and course information are available on the AASL 
e-Academy page.

Professional Development and School Library Collections Research Discussed in 
New SLR Articles
Two new research articles covering the topics of professional development 
offerings available to school librarians at state-level conferences and the 
 instructional role of the school library collection are now available online as 
part of AASL's peer-reviewed online journal, School Library Research.

	* State Library Conferences as Professional Development Venues: Unbalanced 
Support for the AASL-Defined Roles of the School Librarian
	* Resource Provisions of a High School Library Collection
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Education News
________________________________
 
New Report Available for Parents and Educators on "Pioneering" Digital Apps
Technology changes so quickly that browsing the app store can feel like a 
digital version of entering the Wild West. Parents and educators receive little 
information on how or if digital apps designed to teach young children to read 
and live up to their claims. A new report from the New America Foundation and 
the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop - Pioneering Literacy in the 
Digital Wild West - scans the market of digital apps, shares promising 
practices, and encourages families to use digital media together to help develop 
needed literacy skills.

The Role of Technology in Schools and Communities
A new report from the National Association of State Boards of Education 
addresses how states can ensure schools are ready for the impacts of rapid 
technological change on the processes of teaching and learning. The study also 
examines how educational technologies intersect with other reforms like the 
Common Core, newer data systems, next-generation assessments, and virtual 
courses and schools.

Will Schools be able to Handle New Testing Technology?
The state-led Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium has released guidelines 
with specific technology requirements schools need to administer new online 
standardized tests. However, the guidelines bring into question how feasible 
online testing will be for all schools, especially those with older technology 
and smaller budgets. The non-profit State Educational Technology Directors 
Association (SETDA) has also published guidelines that outline how schools 
should prepare in order to administer tests and warns that schools spending less 
than 5 percent of their budgets on technology will have trouble meeting existing 
and future needs for online testing.

US DOE Seeks Feedback on Digital Learning Report
The US Department of Education is soliciting public comment on a new report, 
“Expanding Evidence Approaches for Learning in a Digital World,” which calls for 
smart uses of emerging data generated by the use of learning technologies. It 
presents educators, policymakers, and funders with an expanded view of evidence 
approaches and sources of data that can help them with decision-making. 

Surveys Illustrate Differences in Reading Habits Across Communities
Surveys by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project reveal 
interesting variations among urban, suburban, and rural communities. Residents 
of these communities (ages 16 and older) vary in their purposes for reading, 
their use of digital content, their engagement with public libraries, and where 
they turn for book recommendations

New Connected Education Survey Results Announced
A new survey of educators by edWeb, MMS Education, and MCH Strategic Data shows 
substantial growth in the number of connected educators, awareness of the 
benefits of connected education, and the adoption of education-specific social 
networking platforms. The report, A Survey of K-12 Educators on Social 
Networking, Online Communities, and Web 2.0 Tools 2012, shows 82% of educators 
have joined a social network - a 34% growth since 2009.

New Report on College Graduates and Problem Solving in the Workplace
A report from Project Information Literacy - Learning Curve: How College 
Graduates Solve Information Problems Once They Join the Workplace - finds a 
distinct difference between today’s college graduates who demonstrate savvy 
online research skills and seasoned employers who recruit graduates, in part, 
for their online searching skills but still expected and needed more traditional 
research competencies.

High Poverty, High Success
A new report from Public Impact investigates why some schools in high-poverty 
communities produce remarkable success where others fail. The report examines 
how principals, teachers, parents, and students define the keys to success, and 
highlights specific strategies and decisions in these high-achieving schools. It 
also looks at how schools sustain effective practices and what helps them 
weather reductions in funding.

Asking Students about Teaching
A review of Asking Students about Teaching: Student Perception Surveys and Their 
Implementation - a recent report from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation about 
its Measures of Effective Teaching Program (MET) - completed by National 
Education Policy Center finds potential in the uses of student surveys in the 
evaluation of and feedback for teachers. However, the reviewer finds the 
report's stance lopsided, placing too much weight on the strengths of student 
surveys and too little on their weaknesses.
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Resources for School Librarians
________________________________
 
New Webinars Posted to AASL eCOLLAB!
The archives of two recent webinars are now available online as a part of AASL's 
professional development repository, eCOLLAB:
	* Making the Most of Professional Learning Communities
	* Worlds of Learning with Inanimate Alice
AASL members can access the webinars via eCOLLAB by logging into the AASL 
website using their ALA-provided website login.

Stakeholder Advocacy Resources Available on Essential Links

Budget season is fast approaching and now is the time to get some advocacy 
strategies in place.  AASL’s Essential Links can help! Visit Essential Links 
this month and get great ideas about connecting with parents, teachers, 
administrators, and policy makers along with general advocacy ideas.  Being 
pro-active early in the budget process can be enormously helpful.  If you have 
additional resources to share, please add them to the links!

Common Core Resources for Urban Schools
The Council of the Great City Schools has launched a new website aimed at 
helping big-city schools districts implement the Common Core State Standards. 
The site offers materials, information, and resources to help educators prepare. 
The site also includes a section for parents, containing roadmaps to help 
parents understand the expectations for children in each grade level.

Resources to Achieve the (Common) Core
Assembled by Student Achievement Partners, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, 
AchieveTheCore.org contains free, high-quality resources to educators 
implementing the Common Core State Standards.
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Grants & Awards
________________________________
 Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries Extends Deadline for Hurricane 
Sandy Affected Schools
The Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries, a component fund of the 
Community Foundation for the National Capital Region in Washington, D.C., seeks 
to provide books and reading materials to the school libraries and students that 
most need them. The foundation provides grants of up to $5,000 to help school 
libraries expand, update, and diversify their book collections. In the last 
funding cycle, the foundation made grants totaling more than $1.1 million to two 
hundred and thirty-eight schools. Schools affected by Hurricane Sandy may apply 
for LBF grants until 5:00 EST January 15, 2013.

US Department of Eduction’s 2013-14 Teaching Ambassador Fellowship
Applications are currently available for the US Department of Education’s 
2013-14 Teaching Ambassador Fellowship, offering highly motivated and innovative 
school teachers and instructional leaders the unique opportunity to contribute 
their knowledge and experience to the national dialogue on education, and, in 
turn, facilitate discussions with educators across the country. Up to six 
Washington Fellows will become full-time federal employees in Washington, D.C., 
participating in policy discussions and working on education programs, while up 
to six Classroom Fellows will work on a part-time basis from their home 
communities, primarily by sharing public information and facilitating 
conversation among educators at the state and local level.  Deadline: January 
29, 2013, by 11:59 p.m. Eastern

NEA Foundation: Learning & Leadership Grants
NEA Learning & Leadership Grants support public school teachers, public 
education support professionals, and/or faculty and staff in public institutions 
of higher education for one of two purposes. Grants to individuals fund 
participation in high-quality professional development experiences such as 
summer institutes or action research; grants to groups fund collegial study, 
including study groups, action research, lesson study, or mentoring experiences 
for faculty or staff new to an assignment. Deadline: February 1, 2013.

NEA: Student Achievement Grants
The NEA Foundation Student Achievement Grants provide funds to improve the 
academic achievement of students by engaging in critical thinking and problem 
solving that deepen knowledge of standards-based subject matter. The work should 
also improve students' habits of inquiry, self-directed learning, and critical 
reflection. Deadline: February 1, 2013.

2012-2013 Christopher Columbus Awards
The Christopher Columbus Awards is a national, community- based STEM competition 
for middle school students and teachers looking to make a difference in their 
community. Working in teams, students identify a problem in the community and 
apply the scientific method to create an innovative solution. Maximum award: 
$25,000 grant. Eligibility: schools (grades 6-8) and community groups. Deadline: 
February 4, 2013.

Secret Millionaires Club "Grow Your Own Business Challenge"
The Secret Millionaires Club Learn & Earn program teaches financial literacy and 
entrepreneurship through activities for the classroom, home, and other settings 
where students and families learn. It was developed to extend the lessons of the 
Secret Millionaires Club webisodes and prime-time TV specials, both of which 
feature Warren Buffett. The "Grow Your Own Business Challenge" an annual 
national competition challenging kids throughout the country to come up with new 
business ideas. The grand prize is $5,000 plus a chance to meet Mr. Buffett. 
Teachers can win prizes, too! Deadline: February 15, 2013.

Pathways Within Roads to Reading
Roads to Reading Initiative'sAnnual Competitive Book Donation Program is 
designed to donate books to literacy programming in small and rural communities 
that have little or no means of purchasing quality-reading materials. Deadline: 
March 30, 2013.

Lockheed Martin Offers Grants for Education
Lockheed Martin provides grants for K-16 Science, Technology, Engineering and 
Math (STEM) Education. This includes Lockheed Martin's K-12 STEM Education 
Initiative, Engineers in the Classroom, as well as STEM-focused curricular and 
extracurricular programs that provide employee engagement opportunities in a 
community in which Lockheed Martin has employees or business interests. The 
maximum award varies. 501(c)(3) organizations that deliver standards-based 
science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education to students in K-16 
are eligible. The deadline is rolling.

Pearson Foundation Announces Student Digital Storymakers Award
The Pearson Foundation and digital publisher, Atavist, have announced the 
details of the first annual Digital Storymakers Award -- an award that 
recognizes excellence in original student nonfiction narrative that blends, 
text, photo, video, interactive maps and other rich media features. The award is 
open to high school, college and graduate students, including those studying 
journalism, graphic arts, writing, photography and documentary video/film who 
create a nonfiction, multimedia narrative. The 2013 grand prize is $5,000 and 
publication in the Digital Storymakers App. Story submissions accepted starting 
January 1, 2013, and due April 15, 2013.

Ezra Jack Keats Foundation Accepting Mini-Grant Applications
The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation is accepting applications from public schools and 
public libraries anywhere in the United States and its territories for program 
or event mini-grants of up to $500. The funding program provides an opportunity 
for educators, whose efforts are often inadequately funded or recognized, to 
create special activities outside the standard curriculum and make time to 
encourage their students. The application deadline is March 15, 2013.
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Partnership News
________________________________
 
AASL Partners with Carnegie Science Center to Inspire Girls to Pursue STEM 
Careers
Can*TEEN Career Exploration is an innovative resource to inspire girls to see 
themselves in STEM careers through gaming and online activities. The initiative 
encourages tweens and teens to challenge and expand their knowledge of diverse 
STEM subject matter with connections to related professions, potential career 
paths and women out in the world making a difference. AASL, working with the 
Carnegie Science Center: Girls Math & Science Partnership, and with support from 
the Motorola Foundation, will distribute Can*TEEN Trivia Wheel Library 
Interactive CDs to more than 2,500 middle schools serving students ages 10-14. 
This offer is newly expanded to all states and any school librarian serving 
students ages 10-14. Opt-in here to receive the Can*TEEN Trivia Wheel Library 
now through mid-February!

Join the Movement to Transform Literacy Education in America
By registering in the Literacy in Learning Exchange for free, you will get 
recognition and support from AASL and the top foundations and professional 
associations serving educators, as well as access to videos, peer-reviewed 
articles, webinars, and other information resources. Once registered, you will 
have the opportunity to set up a group to put your school on the map as a site 
where professionals work together to advance student literacy learning! Your 
group will become eligible to get direct consultative support from NCLE staff 
and will be connected with others who are doing similar work to share what you 
know/learn.

Celebrate the Potential of Technology in Schools
Digital Learning Day is February 6, 2013! DLD is a great opportunity to 
highlight the school library program and its role in creating a digitally 
literate school community. Sign-up TODAY to join tens of thousands of educators 
in a wave of innovation sweeping across our nation’s schools! Participation is 
free and easy and is open to all interested education leaders. This is a great 
opportunity to highlight the school library program and its role in creating a 
digitally literate school community! As a registered participant of Digital 
Learning Day you’ll receive tips and interactive lessons that you can use on 
Digital Learning Day and beyond.
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Member Spotlight
________________________________
 
Susan Kowalski Receives "I Love My Librarian Award"
Susan Kowalski, school librarian atPine Grove Middle School inEast Syracuse, New 
York, is one of ten recipients of the 2012 Carnegie Corporation of New York/New 
York Times I Love My Librarian Award. The I Love My Librarian Award encourages 
library users to recognize the accomplishments of exceptional public, school, 
college, community college, or university librarians. Each recipient receives a 
$5,000 cash award and were honored at a ceremony and reception in New York, 
hosted by The New York Times, on December 18.  Robert K. Massie, winner of the 
2012 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction, spoke at the ceremony.

One of the nomination letters for Susan read, "If it's happening at Pine Grove 
Middle School, Sue Kowalski is probably involved somehow. Sue should win this 
award because her positive attitude, boundless energy and passion for seeing 
students grow, learn, lead and reach their potential are evident in everything 
she does. It's no coincidence that her library is the heart of the building."

Nina Levine Named Top Innovator in Technology Integration 
Nina Levine, school librarian at Hendrick Hudson High School (New York) has been 
recognized by the Center for Digital Education (CDE) as one of the nation's "Top 
50 Educational Innovators". Nina was profiled in CDE's 2012 Yearbook: Technology 
Innovation in Education as an education innovator who has led the way and 
provided best practice models to imitate. Her profile states in part, "As the 
school librarian, she acts as a leader and an innovator. She has expanded her 
library to include a robust collection of databases and e-books, and she has 
trained staff and students on the effective use of those tools." She is honored 
for transforming the library program into a "true 21st-century learning space."

AASL Members Honored by the Indiana Library Federation & Association of Indiana 
School Library Educators
Karen Ault was awarded the Outstanding Media Specialist Award. This award honors 
and recognizes excellence and innovative leadership in the development of school 
library service and remarkable service to the profession. It is awarded for both 
ongoing leadership to an individual school library and for development of the 
profession. Karen was recognized for many strengths, especially her commitment 
to raising teachers' awareness regarding collaboration with their school 
librarians in educational pursuits and teaching.

Jennifer Brower was awarded the Outstanding New Media Specialist which honors 
and recognizes a current school librarian who is making contributions to student 
learning. Jennifer was recently admitted to the Indiana Leadership Academy, is 
active in AISLE district activities, and is a strong advocate for school 
libraries.

Vicki Builta was awarded the Peggy L. Pfeiffer Service Award. The service award 
honors and recognizes outstanding service to the Indiana Library Federation 
Association for Indiana School Librarian Educators (AISLE) and to school library 
programs within Indiana. Currently the director of the Daleville Community 
Library, a position she accepted after retiring from decades of service in the 
Anderson Community School System, Vicki was recognized for her "can do" attitude 
and tireless advocacy for libraries.

Robyn Young was presented the Esther V. Burrin (School Media) Award which honors 
and recognizes an exemplary project in an Indiana school library program or a 
project that impacts of supports school library programs throughout Indiana. 
Robyn was recognized for her creation of a rubric which allows schools to 
recognize the indispensable role of professional staff in providing school 
library services. The rubric has been linked to by the Indiana Department of 
Education and has been adopted by other states.

Article Published in NJEA Review
LaDawna Harrington's article, Collaborative Learning in Digital Environment, was 
published in the New Jersey Education Association's December 2012 "NJEA Review." 
LaDawna, library/media specialist at Millburn High School, guides readers 
through how to use Google Docs to guide students through inquiry learning.

Kansas School Librarians Earn NBPTS Recertification
Three school librarians from the Blue Valley (KS) district received their 
re-certification from the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards:
      
From left to right:
Ronda Hassig, Harmony Middle School
Rebecca Stith Munson, District Office
Ann Schuster, Valley Park Elementary School

Duluth High School Library Program Named Exemplary Program
The Duluth High School library program in Gwinnett County was recently named an 
"Exceptional Media Program" by the Georgia State Department of Education. The 
Exemplary/Exceptional Library Media program is the Department of Education’s 
method of honoring, saluting, and spotlighting outstanding Library Media 
programs throughout the state. The media centers and their staff are recognized 
for doing an exceptional job in the following areas: student achievement and 
instruction; staffing; facilities, access, and resources; administrative 
support; and staff development.

Kathy Mansfield Appears on Wheel of Fortune
Kathy Mansfield, school librarian at Shelby County (Kentucky) Public Schools and 
former library media consultant for the Kentucky Department of Education 
appeared on the Emmy winning game show on November 23rd. She blogs about her 
appearance - and her winnings - on two contestant blog posts appearing on the 
show site: November 19 and November 24. She writes, "I remember Pat Sajak asking 
me about my family during the introduction time, but I was so nervous I don't 
even remember what all I said! I know I gave a shout-out to the school where I 
teach: Heritage Elementary School in Shelby County, Kentucky. I knew the 
students and staff there would be cheering me on!!"
 
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AASL Hotlist





















 
Making the Most of Professional Learning Communities

Worlds of Learning with Inanimate Alice
 
(Clicking these links will first prompt you to log in to the AASL website.)


State Library Conferences as PD Venues

Resource Provisions of a High School Library Collection


Primary Sources

Taking Action for Human Rights 1: Define

Taking Action for Human Rights 2: Plan

Taking Action for Human Rights 3: Do

Taking Action for Human Rights 4: Evaluate

________________________________
 
AASL Calendar
2013
January25-29: ALA 2013 Midwinter Meeting in Seattle, Wash.


February1: Awards Applications Due

4: e-Academy Course begins - Common Core: Moving from Complex to Calm, Cool, and 
Collected

6: Digital Learning Day

12: KQ Webinar

________________________________
 
Latest AASLblog posts:Sharing Research in Our Field

AASL Presidential Rotation Visit – California School Library Association

Get Involved – Volunteers Give the Best Gift, Themselves

Social Media and Intellectual Freedom

Best Websites for Teaching and Learning: Looking Back while Moving Forward


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