1 Our electronic future Penny Garrod UKOLN University of Bath Bath, BA2 7AY UKOLN is supported by: URL

2 Contents of session 1.initial thoughts on literacy and reading; also the context in which you operate 2.overview of ICT developments & trends 3.The Internet as a resource for teachers, learners and librarians 4.Reader development websites 5.Exploiting different media: pros & cons 6.Conclusions 7.Any questions?

3 Literacy and reading How to engage the TV generation: a picture is worth a thousand words Recent issues: a generation of tabloid spellers Can reading be cool? using the web to promote reading & the Harry Potter phenomenon The librarian -the image – has it changed or is it changing? Image from Types of literacy: embedding Info & ICT skills in core subjects

4 Your work in context Youth Libraries Support for teachers and the national curriculum Support for young people outside of school: personal development; literacy skills; information handling etc. The National agenda NGfL; lifelong learning; citizenship skills; National Literacy Strategy; social inclusion; SENDA bill Involvement of young people e.g. their views incorporated into UKOnline (government portal) Crime rates linked to poor levels of literacy ICT – young people and the networked world

5 Safer use of Services on the Internet

6 ICT infrastructure Peoples Network – computers in all public libraries Schools: all have ICT facilities but usage & access varies (see Ofsted reports) Wireless networks: in some schools for Internet access – more flexible

7 ICT trends Mobile phones: popularity with young people: text messaging etc. Converged technologies: third generation mobiles – hype or shape of things to come? PDAs and MP3 players –portable, multifunctional devices Digital TV: hasnt yet reached critical mass – government driven (online everything) Ebooks: gradual moves towards implementing these – netlibrary + project funded initiatives Internet: ; surfing;chat rooms; word processing (see Ofsted reports re usage)

8 Software issues Standard applications: Windows 95/98/ME; Office 2000 etc. Internet browsers: most people use Internet Explorer some use Netscape (also Opera) Plug-ins: required for multimedia e.g.Realplayer and Real1 player; Shockwave; Quicktime; Adobe Acrobat for Portable Document Format (PDF) files; ebooks: require Adobe Acrobat e-Reader or Microsoft Reader – free but… Digital content - CD ROM or web-based formats. Includes text, data, pictures, animations, videos and sound to create a rich learning environment

9 Internet resources (just a few) National Grid for Learning (NGfL): set up in 1998; good resources for children and teachers. How widely used? Virtual Teacher Centre: facility to search quality-badged resources across the National Grid for Learning. TeacherNet: national curriculum online; lesson plans etc. Guardian + other broadsheets - online education sections BBCi for schools; 24 hour museum; many examples of quality educational resources TEEM –Teachers Evaluating Educational Media Curriculum online- to build digital content

10 BBCi – for schools:

11 TEEM:

12 Web sites for Reader Development Stories from the Web – award winning site from Birmingham Libraries. Now has section for years age group. UKOLN involvement – could incorporate ebooks? Treasure Island – UKOLN pilot for Stories from Web developed in Still used but dated; model could be developed further with genres/core texts etc. Between the Lions – a US public broadcasting corporation site with funding from US Dept of Education –good example of clever use of multimedia for experiential and interactive learning

13 Stories from the Web

14 Treasure Island

15 Pros and cons of e-resources Technical problems: multimedia conflicts with networks e.g. firewalls and permissions when downloading plug-ins public access computers geared to multiple users - IT staff aim to protect machines/networks from viruses, unsolicited materials, abuse etc. cost: lots of freebies e.g. out of copyright ebooks and good authoritative websites takes time and effort to identify, evaluate and apply resources which complement the curriculum, literacy and reader development

16 Conclusions lots of e-stuff out there; look at it and discuss with teachers, pupils, parents, colleagues.. pop culture factor is here to stay –opiate of the masses? decline of reading for pleasure & self development; catch em young or suffer long term consequences? rise of Internet and WWW as medium for communication & as resource; filtering content issues popularity of mobile phones & MP3 – will it extend to handheld devices? technology still young future for books and reading? Remember Harry Potter the book - best seller before film made but… Lord of the Rings – film has mass appeal Reader development – link books to websites and other e-resources to bring them alive; use as jumping off point for activities

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19 BBCi teens chat room

20 Virtual Victorians: ePostcards

21 Rosetta Project:

22 more resources and projects Childrens Literature Web Guide – created by University of Calgary librarian, David Brown. Lots of useful ideas for interactive activities The International Childrens Digital Library : (USA) just started with 5 year grant from NSF to build childrens library. Big money and key players – the one to watch Ways of Reading: NLB website to help find books for blind and partially sighted children GridClub: the official Department for Education and Skills (DfES) education website for 7 to 11 year-old children.