Using Google more effectively

Google is pretty much the go-to place to start seeking information for most of us. It’s even become a verb, which is pretty impressive given that other search engines have been around much longer. But how effectively do we use Google’s huge range of search tools? I use Google hundreds of times a day, and I didn’t know about most of the cool ways to search mentioned in these two videos!

And this one more specifically targetted at educators.

Studying Pride and Prejudice?

Check out the Lizzie Bennet Diaries on YouTube – such a very clever modernisation of the classic Jane Austen story!

Library staffing

As part of a fairly major rearrangement in my new Learning Hub (library), I’m working through weeding, which means I come across some interesting books! Today, in the teacher reference section, I discovered two books side by side.

Into the 21st century: lbrary and information services in schools by Joyce Kirk, Barbara Poston-Anderson and Hilary Yerbury, 1990 (Commonwealth of Australia / ALIA)

Learning for the Future: developing information services in school 2nd ed. (ASLA / ALIA), 2001

What interested me immediately was the change in the staffing recommendations between the two books. In the 11 years between publication, the suggestion of numbers of professional library staff (ie: teacher librarians and librarians) almost halved, while library support staffing hours increased, though not significantly enough to account for the downsize of professional staff. See the figures below.

1990 recommendations, from Into the 21st century: library and information services in schools

Where to find hard to get books

I often see posts on OZTLnet and other networks from people seeking out of print or hard to find books, so I thought I might share some of my favourite online booksellers which have been helpful in the past.

Better World Books – a great place to find out of find books at reasonable prices (with reasonable shipping rates). As a bonus, BWB has a social conscience, operating to fund world-wide literacy.

Abe Books – another excellent way to find out of print books. Connects with thousands of booksellers all over the world.

Fishpond – source of new and used books at extremely competitive prices (with free shipping). Nominally an Australasian site.

Book Depository (both the .co.uk and .com sites are worth looking at for varying prices) – again, free shipping and competitive pricing.

Amazon – the most well-known of the online retailers, and often with the best list price, but watch out for the shipping costs, which almost always push the price higher than the other options. However, it can be a useful source when all else fails!

Great resource for fiction and film for girls

A Mighty Girl is a website devoted to fiction and films that empower girls. In the words of the founders:

A Mighty Girl is the world’s largest collection of books and movies for parents, teachers, and others dedicated to raising smart, confident, and courageous girls and, of course, for girls themselves!

Highly recommended!

One of my favourite blogs

I read a lot of blogs and filter through them to find useful information and links for teaching and learning. One of my very favourites, which you’ll find linked to on the LCGS Hub site frequently, is the Free Technology for Teachers blog. Richard Byrne, the creator, posts with amazing frequency a huge selection of online resources that are free to use. There is a US-centric view, but the content is excellent still. Highly recommend adding this site to your RSS reader!

The Pros and Cons of Social Media in Schools

A very interesting infographic from Online Universities – how does our school compare?