Deep Web

This NYT article discusses the work being done so search engines can search the Deep Web--resources that are not readily available including library catalogs, license information, and similar databases.

I Am...

I took the Book Quiz that Information Woman! pointed out.

You're To Kill a Mockingbird!

by Harper Lee

Perceived as a revolutionary and groundbreaking person, you have
changed the minds of many people. While questioning the authority around you, you've
also taken a significant amount of flack. But you've had the admirable guts to
persevere. There's a weird guy in the neighborhood using dubious means to protect you,
but you're pretty sure it's worth it in the end. In the end, it remains unclear to you
whether finches and mockingbirds get along in real life.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Language Learning

Here is a recent site for learning languages. busuu.com lets learners:

• Connect with native speakers and learn directly from other members of the busuu.com community
• Be completely flexible and learn only what you really need
• Have fun by experiencing a new way of learning languages and forget those boring grammar books

You can add it to this list from ReadWriteWeb of 20+ Ways to Learn a Language.

Update: But wait, there's more--Jane's E-learning Pick of the Day just published this list of 100+ language learning sites.

The Backchannel in Church

Amy from the Chaska MILI group blogs at One Foot in Front of the Other... Shes has a great post about the backchannel and using TodaysMeet in her German class (complete with German versions of "text speech"). Even more interesting is the discussion she had with her fellow congregants about the backchannel at church. The post is here.

It is a great example of what we were discussing--the prevalence of backchannel, how it is related to the presenter's content, and more. If her minister does set up Twitter or another backchannel in church, that will really take things to a different level! Hope she keeps us posted.

More About Facebook

Update 2: Facebook has backed off the change in Terms of Service and returned to the previous version. This is a result of user feedback.
Facebook has started a group called Facebook Bill of Rights and Responsibilities formed specifically to allow people "to give input and suggestions on Facebook's Terms of Use."

The Consumerist pointed out that Facebook has changed its Terms of Service for user-generated content. See discussion of the post/issue in this Mashable article and also at Webware. The change makes it clear that Facebook owns the content, even after you leave Facebook. It does go on to explain the whys of this decision.
Update 1: The New York Times and its readers have weighed in on the issue.

You've probably seen the Facebook 25 Random Things About Me craze and maybe even done it. It has been covered everywhere, it seems. What do you think--too much information, fun, entertaining...?

The Importance of Media Specialists

The latest article in the NYT series The Future of Reading,  In Web Age, Library Job Gets Update, recognizes the value and role of school library media specialists in teaching students how to do research, evaluate information, and present their results. Calling the media specialist "The Digital Librarian," it describes one media specialist:

Ms. Rosalia, 54, is part of a growing cadre of 21st-century multimedia specialists who help guide students through the digital ocean of information that confronts them on a daily basis. These new librarians believe that literacy includes, but also exceeds, books...

Soon Ms. Rosalia progressed to teaching students how to ask more sophisticated questions during research projects, how to decode Internet addresses and how to assess the authors and biases of a Web site’s content.

Now for the bad news,

Yet as school librarians increasingly teach students crucial skills needed not only in school, but also on the job and in daily life, they are often the first casualties of school budget crunches.

Certainly both of these statements are true in Minnesota--media specialists are teaching these vital skills to students and teachers and are among the first programs/staff that are cut to trim budgets. A recent KSTP-TV Investigative Report highlighted both of these issues. 

There is much research, including two Minnesota studies done by Metronet in 2002 and 2004, that shows that a professionally-staffed, well-stocked school library media program impacts student achievement. This research needs to be shared with school administrators at all levels.

Facebook for Parents

To help kids reach their full potential, parents today must know about Facebook. That’s the purpose of this website.

So begins the introduction to this potentially useful resource to share with parents. Facebook for Parents is a four session course offered at Stanford University designed for parents of Facebook users under 18. There is an optional hands-on lab prior to class that includes coaching of participants by Stanford students. Parents--or teachers--can sign up for an e-newsletter published three times a year. It will include updates about Facebook and explain the skills kids learn on Facebook. The Web site will eventually include the class materials.

So, we can't go to Stanford for the class. Can your district develop and offer a similar class?

Here are some Facebook privacy hints for anyone on Facebook from the AllFacebook blog.

What is a cool tool?

This is a cool tool for creating Jeopardy quizzes. The template is ready to go--you add the content. It is free and no registration is required. Just go to Jeopardy Labs and build a game.