Synergy: Digital Ethics

DIGITAL ETHICS is concerned with guidelines governing relationships between individuals and/or businesses mediated by interactive technology including social media. Issues include information privacy and security, digital divide, intellectual property, and censorship. Digital ethics address how to manage oneself in online contexts with digital technology.

Read the recently published nonfiction adaptation for young adults, then learn more at the website:

SHARE BETTER AND STRESS LESS by Whitney Phillips and Ryan Milner is a guide to thinking ecologically about social media. This young adult adaptation explores digital ethics and offers ideas for avoiding doom-scrolling by focusing attention on thoughtful use of social media. Case studies and fictional anecdotes are woven through the text to provide context and examples. ARC courtesy of MIT Teen Press, an imprint of Candlewick Press.

COMMON SENSE EDUCATION provides useful resources for teachers working with teens. The Digital Citizenship section provides useful lesson ideas associated with digital ethics. To visit the website, go to https://www.commonsense.org/education.

Website: BBC iReporter

The BBC IREPORTER is an interactive game designed to help students explore the importance of fact checking.

In this online interactive educational game, users become journalists while learning about the benefits and pitfalls of using social media to collect information.

A teacher’s guide provides a series of lessons, exercises, and other learning materials to guide and extend the interactive experience.

Librarians will find this interactive to be an engaging tool in teaching media literacy skills. Youth will particularly enjoy the fast-paced, video and audio enhanced format of the interactive.

To visit the interactive, go to https://bbc.in/2LDkvyj.
To visit the teacher’s guide, go to https://bbc.in/2wvmaR8.

Website Review: BugGuide

BUGGUIDE is a website focusing on insects, spiders, and related creatures.

This online community of naturalists shares information about creatures originating in the US and Canada. The website provides identification, images, and information. Users can click on a guide of interest or request help with identifying a specimen. A forum provides opportunities for interaction.

Librarians will find this website a useful tool for science students. Whether identifying creatures or discussing the benefits of niche, online communities, this science-based website is a useful resource.

To visit the website, go to https://bugguide.net.

Website Review: Word Counter

The WORD COUNTER is a website tool that counts words for social media posts.

Users type or paste in words. The statistics are then shown in a sidebar including characters, words, sentence, paragraphs, and pages in real time. The generator also shows word density and graphs text length against Twitter, Google, and Facebook post standards. A blog and FAQs provide additional information.

Librarians will find this a useful tool for their own social media posts as well as part of a lesson focusing on social media.

To visit the website, go to https://wordcounter.io/.

Website Review: Engineer for the Week

ENGINEER FOR THE WEEK is a computer science program for high school students to explore the world of engineering.

This week-long extracurricular program provides teens with practice applying computer science skills to engineering projects. The website is divided into the showcase, projects, and support. Materials are provided for both students and educators.

Students work in small groups with tools and resources to create products inspired by real-world problems faced by Facebook engineers. Participants use a systematic approach that involves design, development, testing, and iteration.

Librarians will find this website to be an excellent addition to their STEAM program resources. Consider incorporating the program into an after school club focusing on students interested in computer science and engineering.

To visit the website, go to https://engineerfortheweek.fb.com.

Website Review: YourShot

YOURSHOT from National Geographic is a social media project that encourages people to share photos.

The web project provides access to photos submitted by the online community including recent photos, trending images, and editor’s favorites. Users are encouraged to participate by contributing photos and stories based on specific assignments. The editor selects photos to share in the archives.

Librarians will find this website to be a fun way to introduce youth to photography. After exploring the website, participate in a Your Shot assignment or build your own. Discuss the website as an example of social media.

To visit the website, go to http://yourshot.nationalgeographic.com/.

Technology Review: Vimeo

VIMEO is a video streaming service that stores and shares video files.

While most people are aware of YouTube, many web users are unfamiliar of a similar service called Vimeo. The website can be used two ways.

First, visitors can search for videos by topic or person. Millions of videos are available to view on a wide range of topics. Because many teachers use the website, it’s full of original, instructional content. Users can video videos, “like” productions, and add comments.

Second, users can create an account and upload videos. While limited storage is provided for free, advanced tools and features are available as part of their premium service. Similar to YouTube, users can organize their videos into playlists, follow friends, like videos, and create a personal profile.

Librarians will find this to be a useful alternative to YouTube. Consider creating an account for storing original productions such as how-to tutorials, student productions, and student-created book trailers.

To visit the website, go to https://vimeo.com.

Technology Review: Facebook Live Map

FACEBOOK LIVE MAP is a recent feature of the popular social networking website.

Facebook’s Live option allows a Facebook users to stream audio and video live. Viewers can interact with the live stream using Facebook’s regular comments feature.

A Live Map is provided that allows participants to participate in real-time events around the world. Examples include underwater field trips offered by an Aquarium in California, live craft demonstrations by hobbyists, National Park service historical re-enactments, and book release press conferences.

Librarians can easily share author talks with the world beyond the physical library. Or, participate in the many real-time educational programs offered by schools, libraries, museums, parks, and educational nonprofits.

Keep in mind that although well-known news agencies and other organizations stream live events, it’s also possible to find materials that are inappropriate for younger viewers. Consider pre-selecting an event and using it as a whole-class experience. Or, replaying a previously live event.

To visit the website, go to https://www.facebook.com/livemap

Website Review: John and Hank Green Online Resources

Brothers John and Hank Green are social media celebrities, but they also provide important content that young adults love. John is best known for his award-winning YA novels like The Fault in Our Stars, while Hank is the creator of endless online content. Over the past several years they’ve developed a staggering amount of online content.

The CrashCourse YouTube Channel feature short, live action and animated videos exploring key concepts from world history to biology. Go to https://www.youtube.com/user/crashcourse.

The SciShow YouTube Channel uses quick, enthusiastic videos to discuss science news, history, and concepts. Go to https://www.youtube.com/user/scishow.

The vlogbrothers YouTube Channel features videos on current topics of interest to teens. They do an outstanding job putting important global issues into language young people understanding. Go to https://www.youtube.com/user/vlogbrothers.

The Project for Awesome is a great example of social activism focusing on topics such as education and literacy. Users are encouraged to create videos to support their favorite charity. Go to http://www.projectforawesome.com/.

Are you a Nerdfighter? Teacher librarians should be aware of this online community popular with teens. Associated with the Green brothers, the subculture promotes togetherness and positive peer support. Their motto is DFTBA, “Don’t Forget To Be Awesome”. Nerdfighters is a community website that includes book and music discussions and engaging projects such as short story writing contests. Go to http://nerdfighters.ning.com/.

For John and Hank’s website go to http://nerdfighteria.com/.
For John’s Tumbler, go to http://fishingboatproceeds.tumblr.com/.
For Hank’s Tumbler, go to http://edwardspoonhands.com/.

Jennifer Brower - Thur. Sept. 25 to Sat. Sept. 27, 2014

Our first virtual guest is Jennifer Brower, the Library Media Specialist at New Haven High School, IN.

Jenn was awarded the2012 Outstanding New Media Specialist Award presented jointly by the Indiana Library Association and the Association of Indiana School Library Educators (ILF/AISLE). Currently, she is the Treasurer for AISLE.

In a short time-span, Mrs. Brower has established herself at her school as a energetic and knowledgeable leader who is willing to share and collaborate. She is one of the organizers for the Fort Wayne Edcamp and the Fort Wayne K12 Edtech Monthly Meetups

Learn more about Jenn at http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/brower.html

Jennifer will lead off with her response to the startup question - "What is the most important part of your school library program at New Haven High this year?"