Author Archives: Editor

International Report

A new OECD report on youth, skills and employabilty comments on the struggle young people have in gaining entry to the workforce. In some OECD countries, one in four 16-29 year olds is neither employed nor in education or training. Find the report, OECD Skills Outlook 2015, at http://www.oecd.org/education/oecd-skills-outlook-2015-9789264234178-en.htm

A United Nations global survey, MyWorld2015 Analytics, aims to capture people’s voices, priorities and views, so world leaders can be informed as endeavour to define global goals. The highest priority, globally, is that everyone has access to a good education. Check the survey results at http://data.myworld2015.org/ You can filter the results by country, gender, education levels and age groups.

Book Week webinar

Eduwebinar is hosting a free webinar on Wednesday, 15 July 2015, 8.00 pm, AEST
Book week 2015: Digital Resources to Engage Students
with Dr Jennie Bales, Adjunct Lecturer, Charles Sturt University. [BOSTES registered course.]

Register now for this free broadcast at http://eduwebinar.com.au/webinars

Book Week is a significant event on the annual calendar for classroom and English teachers and teacher librarians with its focus on quality literature. Supplementing and extending these reading experiences with resources available on the Internet and the use of web tools for students to respond creatively to the literature enriches the Book Week experience.

At this free webinar you will have:

  • Web links to author information, book reviews, teaching resources and other relevant sites on each of the shortlisted titles.
  • Suggested websites to follow for additional Book Week resources, teaching and display ideas.
  • Digital tools and ideas to stimulate students’ response to the literature
  • Access to an electronic list of the websites and their URLs to facilitate easy access after the event.

Reading formats and gender research

Girls have more firmly embraced digital literacy and formats such as Facebook, email and text message, while boys are more comfortable with traditional printed media such as comics, manuals and newspapers, according to a study published by the National Literacy Trust.

The snapshot – based on responses from 32,000 pupils at more than 130 schools in the UK – found that girls continue to outpace boys in their enthusiasm for reading outside school at all age levels, with black girls in particular showing a prodigious appetite for literature.

Girls studying for GCSEs, for example, were more likely to read emails and social network sites than boys of the same age – and were also more likely to read fiction, suggesting that the growth of digital media has not diminished the popularity of literature.

Boys studying for GCSEs were more likely than girls to read print products such as comics, with 38% saying they read newspapers at least once a month compared with 30% of girls of the same age.

Overall, boys reported lower levels of enjoyment from reading than their female peers, according to the figures compiled by the trust. Boys also tended to read less often and think less positively about reading than girls did.

National Literacy Trust. (2015). Children’s and young people’s reading in 2014. London: National Literacy Trust.

http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/research/nlt_research/6646_childrens_and_young_peoples_reading_in_2014

UNESCO call for literacy projects

The UNESCO International Literacy Prizes reward excellence and innovation in the field of literacy throughout the world. Since 1967, UNESCO has awarded the Prizes to over 460 projects and programs. They have launched a call for nominations of candidates for 2015 under the theme “Literacy and the post-2015 agenda.”

A 2014 Confucius Prize for Literacy was awarded to the Molteno Institute for Language and Literacy (South Africa) and the International Literacy Institute (United States) for the ‘Bridges to the Future Initiative.’  An interactive, computer-based learning tool to improve literacy rates among primary grade learners in local languages and structuring lessons to align with the national curriculum.  This program is a successful North-South partnership between the International Literacy Institute at the University of Pennsylvania and a national South African organization working in several countries in the region. The International Literacy Institute is led by Dr. Dan Wagner, UNESCO Chair in Learning and Literacy and member of the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO.

The Prizes consist of the three UNESCO Confucius Prizes for Literacy and the two UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prizes. Governments of Member States and Non-Governmental Organizations maintaining official relations with UNESCO are invited to submit their nominations.  Entries must be received at UNESCO by May 10, 2015 for Individuals and May 25 for NGOs. Interested parties should contact the U.S. National Commission by May 5th at [email protected].

For more information: http://www.unesco.org/literacy-prizes/

IFLA Mid-Year and IASL Meetings

Austin, Texas was a happening place in April with both IFLA and IASL events drawing people from around the world.

IFLA’s standing committee reviewed the new School Library guidelines, and brainstormed ways to disseminate information: get UNESCO endorsement, create a brochure on the guidelines, provide a guidelines booklet, translate the guidelines (at least the summary), conduct workshops.

They also discussed ways to improve and expand communication: phoenix the listserv, make more use of the section’s Facebook, start a Twitter account

The group also strategized about the section’s future, which can result in programs and publications. Possible themes are: Inclusion and cohesion: contributions of school libraries; Professional development for school library professionals, College and career readiness: roles of school librarians, Evidence-based practice in school libraries, School libraries and sustainability.

That evening both IFLA and IASL participants enjoyed pizza and more at a friendly local restaurants.

The next day was jam-packed with presentations at the IASL Regional Conference — by top professionals in the field.

Building on the prior day’s discussion, Barbara Schultz-Jones gave an overview of the IFLA School Library Guidelines, and Dinne Oberg discussed Canada’s efforts for national school library guidelines.

Access issues were addressed. Tom Adamich virtually shared multi-language catalog record processes, Clayton Copeland gave heartfelt strategies for creating accessible school libraries, and Karfen Gavigan shared how students provided access to HIV/AIDS info through producing a graphic novel on the subject.

Innovations were featured. Amanda Hovious showed how digital games were literacy and learning tools, Lesley Farmer explained how to teach visual literacy through comics, and Daniella Smith talked about teachers’ perceptions about technology integration.

Workplace realities and possibilities were discussed. Jeff DiScala described school district librarian responsibilities, Jennifer Wood noted public-school library collections, and Judi Moreillon showed how Twitter can be used for professional department. Keith Curry Lance and Karen Gavigan shared data about the impact of teacher librarians in South Carolina.

Best Practices were inspiring. Lunch speaker Joan Wink shared the power of storytelling through quilts and other metaphors, Linda Kay showed how a single book title can spread throughout the school, and Kay Gooch explained Camp Summer Read.

The group brainstormed ways to implement these exciting efforts, and ways that IASL can support such ideas. Networking continued at a TexMex restaurant.

The bottom line? IFLA and IASL are in good hands as expert school librarians and educators are leading the way — and encouraging the membership to get involved and contribute to the success of school librarians — and students.