The Daring Librarian

I am so glad that our ISTE affiliate changed its name from MICCA, which stood for the "Maryland Instructional Computers Coordinators Association to MSET - the Maryland Society for Educational Technology because though it was easier to say MICCA it really did NOT reflect the new 21st century technology shifts or leave room for new innovation. Every year for the past fourteen years I've presented and attended the MICCA conference and it's part of what has made me who i am as a technology educator. Because we've had the opportunity in Maryland to see people like Will Richardson, Kathy Shrock, Hal Davidson, and of course my personal hero...Joyce Valenza and to LEARN cool new cutting edge things and get our minds blown and we only had to drive to Baltimore to do it. It was here that i first heard about Second Life, Wiki's, and web 2.0 tools. And got inspired to dive in and try those new things in my own world. So...in the same year that formerly NECC or the National Ed...

Prizes! Interactive! Collaborative! 1:45 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Session 3 - Room 327 Baltimore Convention Center This interactive, energetic, sharing session will highlight the best new tools in a variety of categories. Members of a panel of technology educators from several different counties, subjects areas, and grade levels will share their top picks and invite audience members to contribute by coming to a central microphone. All ideas generated will be added to a Learning Tools Smackdown session wiki , the MSET Ning and shared with the community! Smackdown Panelists: Andrea Christman Melissa Grabill Kyra Kreinbrook Geordie Paulus - MICCA Outstanding Technology Leader 2009 Matthew Winner Danielle Dunn Gwyneth Jones - The Daring Librarian Aaron Smith - The Art Guy and Selena Ward - The Tech Tiger! adjunct Smackdown contributer: Brenda Anderson - ISTE Professional Development Chair Imagine, Innovate, Inspire: Piecing Together My Learning Journey will share their picks fo...

Is He in Outer Space With Mr. Spock , Lieutenant Uhura , and the Gorn ? Is He in the Steampunk City of New Babbage Second Life? On the roof of Red's Revenge Factory & Public House? ISTE | Where's Blue Bear ? Contest Join in on the Fun! Click above to See the Rules and Directions for the Where's Blue Bear contest....Enter for a change to win an iPod Touch or Digital Camera. Join the Flickr Group to see ALL the fun pictures uploaded already! Thank You ALL! The Votes are in - and I'm your next PK-12 ISTE Board of Directors Representative! Pinch me! I'm just that excited! Thank you Doug Johnson for creating this very unusual and fun picture and for your kind blog post Gwyneth wins ISTE board seat which set me to blush! I also want to say thank you to my friend Diane Cordel and her kind blog post Gwyneth Get's it Done! I am honored and proud to have been elected to the ISTE Board of Directors. Hope to see everyone in Denver this summer when I sh...

I believe in Sara Kelly Johns and i voted for her...and I hope you will consider voting for her, too! SKJ is running for ALA President ....I've met her...and she's cool... not only is she cool, she's smart, approachable, passionate and she really cares about our customers....our kids! And that's why i'm posting a guest message from her - my first ever! ...Because voting this year is down for ALA! Can you believe it? We're in a crisis situation for libraries in this country and we need smart, savvy, passionate leadership most of all! and our voting is down? Gah! So please take a min to read the below....(By the way in a related aside...the Library Crisis Webinar with Buffy J. Hamilton and Chris Harris is tonight at the TL Virtual Cafe!) Now..from Sara Kelly Johns: Are You Suffering from ALA Laryngitis? Vote by Friday in the ALA Elections! "In a speech Hillary Clinton gave as a First Lady. She said, ‘If you don’t participate, you’re going to leave it to t...

Welcome to my newly re-designed blog!! Library Media Tech Musings is out... and The D aring Librarian Blog is in! Huh? Why? How? Meh? Eep! Ok...So...a few months ago i was inspired by several my awesome geek squadders, Twitter PLN, and the School Library Web Presence webinar and decided that though i felt i was a few years late going transparent (a constant inspiration, Buffy J. Hamilton - the Unquiet Librarian branded herself in '07, Selena Ward - The Tech Tiger, Aaron Smith - The Art Guy, etc.), i knew that in this precarious moment in school librarianship and my growing involvement with ISTE , i really should bite the bullet & brand myself. not for my ego (which is, of course, massive! ;-) but to consolidate my message. Dan Schwabel said it best: "...You are your Google results and people are wanting to find you online. If you aren't visible you don't exist, nor will get the opportunities you are working hard for. Another important fact...

(click above for interactive map) "This map marks the cities, towns, communities, and states that have made the decision to either eliminate certified school library positions (indicated in blue) or require one school librarian to work with two (2) or more school library programs throughout the week (indicated in red). Although hundreds of studies show the impact that School Librarians have on student achievement , these school districts believe otherwise. Let's compare the student achievement scores without a school librarian in a year or so to discover what thousands of library supporters already knew. School Librarians DO make a difference! " a Google Maps Project created by Shonda Brisco - Assistant Professor / Curriculum Materials Librarian - Oklahoma State University Shonda...thank you so much for your passion, time, and talent to create this visual epitaph for the sad passing of vibrant learning and support for kids in our nation's schools. thi...

i'm posting my Tweets and blogging them...cause i have more to say gwynethjones my eyes are red & puffy, been crying for 2 hours, mostly happy tears. darn you The Blind Side..!! AWEsome movie! gwynethjones BlindSide: why did Quinton Aaron not get more attention? i saw Precious & now this-both amazing performances-but he wasn't given the same accolades? gwynethjones The Blind Sides Quinton Aaron RL story just as heartwarming as Michael Oher. http://bit.ly/bWA2ZA Why are only Aussies & Brits writing about it? "Rising star Quinton Aaron: I was about to be made homeless when I landed role in hit film The Blind Side" "AT 6ft 8in and 33 stone, Quinton Aaron had spent much of his life struggling to fit in. Just 12 months ago, and holding down a job as a security guard, he was about to be evicted from his home. Then his life was turned upside down as he was cast in the ...