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=What Do You Think? = =(wiki version) =

Please add your comments as you would have in the comment section of the other website. You can use your name or just your title. Please also add the date that you posted.
== To add comment, click on the Edit button on the upper right of this page. Add your comment and then click Save from the same corner. If you wish to attach a link or file, use the menu bar on the top. == media type="youtube" key="_A-ZVCjfWf8?fs=1" height="257" width="318" =Did you explore Destiny, the new library interface? What did you think?=

= Elementary/Middle School Teachers: = Did you watch the 21st-century learners video above? Do you think that describes your students? How does that impact how you teach? Should it?

Do you use the library now? How? Do you need/want to use it more? What would make it more useful? How could the library or librarian help you with your teaching? With technology? With new ideas for “tired” units? How do you think students could use the library?

Laura Veenema  I think this video describes the new generation of learners well - they are digitally motivated and accustomed to being "engaged" by the computer, television, phone, i-whatever, etc. They are also, most definitely, a visual culture. As I was watching the video, though, I wondered who wrote those white board signs so neatly - it didn't look like the writing of the age of students holding them. This begs the question: if we focus so much on digital learning (blogs, podcasts, typed responses, etc.) do we lose valuable instruction on penmanship, face to face communication or social skills? I agree that students want to and should create, but should it be primarily on a digital surface? I want my students to be able to create solutions from problems, to create strong and healthy relationships, to create meaningful pieces of writing, etc. Can they do that better with a computer than with a pen and paper? These are the questions that I don't know the answer to but am interested in discussing. It is exciting to know that we want our library might be a place of collaborative, in-depth and digital learning - focused on the learner. It seems that there are good things ahead. Saturday, January 15, 2011 - 01:36 PM
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elementary teacher  I like visiting the library to allow the students to check out books. I may also like to visit when we do our units on topics like the ocean or space to help us answer, What do we what to know about the topic? Perhaps we could also use the space once and a while just to work in a different environment. Saturday, January 15, 2011 - 02:41 PM

Elementary teacher My weekly visit to the library with my first graders is a time that they love! As young readers it is so important to help them get books into their hands as they begin to learn to read and love to read! Our librarian treats us to a read aloud and then offers help in locating different books according to their interests as well as suggesting new authors.  As a teacher, our librarian also helps me with units of study and books that I can use for my use as well as with my students. My students are also learning library skills and how to locate books on their own.

 Sunday, January 23, 2011 - 05:18 PM

= Elementary/Middle School Students: = Watch the video on 21st-Century learners. (Wait through the words at the beginning until the students start holding up signs.) Do you think it describes you? Why or why not? Do you think the school needs to change how it teaches to you?

What would you like to be able to do in the library? What would make it a useful space for you? Do you want to be able to do more than just pick out a book to read, or is that what you like? Middle School Student
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After watching the "21st Century Learner" video, I am a supporter of many of the ideas that were spoken, (well, written). Kids today are in the center of the digital age and if they are going to learn, what better place to teach them then in their electronic comfort zone. Open a school wide Facebook page, find online quizzes and tests, find interesting YouTube videos. I also agree with the ideas brought to the library. Our school library is a great place to find information and advice, but as a technology hub, opinion sharing place, and comfortable place to relax, it is somewhat lacking. I think this Destiny Quest software is an amazing addition to the school system. Thank you. Monday, January 24, 2010

= High School Teachers: = Did you watch the 21st-century learners video on the “Students” page? Do you think that describes your students? How does that impact how you teach? Should it?

Do you use the library now? How? Do you need/want to use it more? What would make it more useful? How could the library or librarian help you with your teaching? With technology? With finding resources? With new ideas for “tired” units? How do you think students could use the library?

Jim Kwasteniet
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The library is very valuable for the History of Chicago course. Our collection of books on Chicago history is very good, continues to grow and the librarian is very helpful when I suggest new books to purchase. I have never been turned down. Lets not lose the importance of books in our education. Thursday January 27, 2011.======

= High School Students: = Watch the video about 21st century learners. (It starts out with elementary students, but then incorporates high schoolers as well.) Do you think that accurately describes you? Why or why not? Do you think the school needs to change how it teaches to you?

How do you use the library now? How would you like to use the library? What would make it useful for you? What would you like to be able to do there? How could the space be better used? How would this help you learn? **Add a comment here,** or comment on someone else’s thought.

Ashley Swartwout: I think that libraries should offer web help and online research and should help guide students through the maze of information on the World Wide Web. However, physical books should not and cannot be replaced with online things or digital readers. But, in an effort to be fair and helpful to all, libraries should offer those things to people who are more inclined to use that technology. Since there is so much information out there, the most important thing for libraries to focus on should be teaching students to discern quality from cheap copies. That goes for books, music, film, and sources on the internet.

= Administrators/Others: = What do you think about the directions research says we should be going? Does the “Learning Commons” sound like something we should pursue? How would that look for our three campuses? What about staffing? What about technology? What about website access? Can our current website accommodate the kind of format and traffic that a 24/7/365 library demands?

Feel free to attach any other articles or videos as well as your comments.
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 * My students use it for special projects, such as, a Shakespeare internet hunt or research on civil rights issues connected with To Kill a Mockingbird. Our juniors need to read outside of class and the library has many excellent choices of books. Freshmen search the poetry section as we find different categories of poems as a small project. Our librarian is always helpful. I wish she were here everyday. She helps us teachers find resources (books, tapes) to better teach our units in literature. She has also taught the freshmen how to do research and was the special guest speaker in class. I appreciate all she does and especially appreciate the help she offers students as they write.**
 * high school teacher**
 * I appreciate the balanced approach in the overall presentation offered here -- paying attention to new cultural expectations and resources, while also continuing to support the traditional resources and skills (books, reading, writing) that support and integrate with the use of the newer tools. I strongly agree with Laura Veenema's comments above; while the "21st Century Learners" video sometimes presents traditional and new-media approaches as an either-or decision, actually both are required (and ideally they should support each other).**
 * I find the current SCCS website somewhat difficult to navigate, and not very intuitively organized. Will students and parents be able to access Destiny independently, or does it require access through the school website? It seems like the upgrade will add a number of features similar to those that are already standard in the public-libary (SWAN) and Illinois higher-education-library (CARLI) websites.**
 * Aron Reppmann, parent and board member, Sunday 3/13/11, 5:35 pm**