Resource Review 8: Collaborative Learning in Libraries

To begin this journey of reviewing EPals.com, I introduced my own intrigue for collaborative learning. While I have yet to find an article about the use of EPals.com in libraries that is not produced by EPals themselves, I find an article that discussed collaborative learning strategies in libraries, but it was approached in a most unusual way…

Article: Sinclair, Bryan. (2007). Commons 2.0: Library Spaces Designed for Collaborative Learning. EDUCAUSE Quarterly (EQ), 30(4): 4-6.

Article synopsis: Sinclair examines the physical space of libraries in relation to the effects of Web 2.0 technology as seen on social and educational levels. Collaboration is emphasized today in so many more facets of life, and this article argues that because of this, the spaces around people in collaboration with one another should reflect this new flavor of learning. The author terms these new-and-improved spaces as the Commons 2.0. Commons 2.0’s would feature the latest technology, connectivity and comfort in order to encourage creativity and working as a group on projects.

The “Resource Review” verdict: Looking at this suggestion in regards to the digital tool I am reviewing, it is evident that EPals.com makes global connections between users, not just focusing on collaboration but – more importantly – collaboration using digital tools. Aside from some shortcomings (e.g. attempts to enhance global perspective without really addressing the issue of the Digital Divide), EPals.com has demonstrated its ability to bring people together in educational endeavors. So I think for classrooms or libraries working on these projects both globally and locally, a physical space that enhances the learning environment such as a Commons 2.0 would be beneficial for promoting teamwork and get the creative juices flowing. However, I don’t think a Commons 2.0 space would really have as huge an effect on EPals.com users to the extent that this article argues that Commons 2.0 spaces will reap. While spatial factors play a role in influencing learning environments, they are kind of the frosting on the cake. If the program or resource that is used by a person, class or group of people lacks educational quality to start, no amount of trendy furniture, lattes or other Commons 2.0 elements will necessarily make collaboration any more active or original.

So in closing...: I am very interested in hearing more about what librarians think about the upgrade to a Commons 2.0 to the physical spaces of their libraries, and if there is any debate that goes alone with the issue and its close ties with digital tools. In my research for another class, I found there is a growing trend, especially in academic libraries, to create Commons 2.0 spaces, also known as InfoCommons. As we continually adopt new technologies in libraries, I think a central concern should be how to encourage collaborative learning in these environments using the digital tools (especially the free ones like EPals.com!). A Commons 2.0 may look cool and be really comfortable to lounge and work in, but any decision to renovate should be – in my opinion – a supplement to a philosophy of collaboration and education already alive and well in the library space.

Resource Review 7: Alternatives?

As the self-proclaimed leading provider of school-safe collaborative learning products for K-12 students, teachers and parents, I was curious about other options for collaborative learning technology in schools and libraries.

Article: (2009). 10 Social Media Tools for Learning. Retrieved from http://theelearningcoach.com/elearning2-0/10-social-media-tools-for-learning/.

Article synopsis: The author of the article explains how in today's information environment, it can sometimes be overwhelming to imagine engaging in collaborative learning through digital tools, but the challenge is from the level of difficulty presented by individual tools. Rather, the sheer number of options swimming within the cyber-sea of our reach confuses us as we get lost in the question of: what's the difference between them? Why should I choose A over B? Isn't there a C option that gives me the benefits of both without having two separate tools? She then lists her top 10 social media tools that can be utilized for collaborative learning anywhere.

The "Resource Review" verdict: Being such a recently posted article, I felt like her top 10 was up-to-date with the hottest social media tools to be aware of and implementing into programming considerations, whether librarian or educator (though I'm of the belief that as a librarian, you are an educator by nature, but that's another blog entry...). :) Each of the tools the author lists meets at least one of the following criteria: "encourages collaboration; enables user-generated content or input; provides a way to share; and facilitates informal or formal learning" (para. 3). For each tool, she briefly describes what the tool is, how it works, what users are doing with it, key features and potential downsides of the tool, and where to get more information. Her top 10 list (which include a few of the tools being researched by my classmates): Audacity, Dimdim, Edublogs Campus, Elgg, MindMeister, TalkShoe, VoiceThread, Wikispaces, and Yammer.

So in closing...: The author reminds users to be sure to research and compare different tools, and to honestly assess learning needs for individuals and the environment. With that being said, are there any true alternatives to using EPals.com? Yes, though I have not found a tool yet that offers as extensive resources specifically for students, teachers and parents with such a globally focused purpose. Personally, one of my favorite parts about EPals.com is that the guided and independent learning that takes place does encourage such a global perspective without losing the personal touch that gives education meaning. In short, EPals.com is being used effectively in information agencies as a method of mediating international learning projects, and thanks to its outstanding marketing efforts, coverage of its features and news is reaching a wider scope of classrooms every day. I haven't come across any huge outcry against using EPals.com, so they must be doing something right!

Resource Review 6: E-Palling Around

Article: Demski, Jennifer. (2009). E-Palling Around. The Journal (online). Retrieved from http://thejournal.com/Articles/2008/11/01/EPalling-Around.aspx?Page=1.

Article synopsis: Demski, a freelance writer from California, focused mostly on the SchoolMail application through EPals.com, a teacher-monitored email system that educators across America are implementing into their curricula. She describes the ease of navigating the interface and the benefits of being able to limit the inbox/outbox to certain approved classrooms or recipients. She also answers the obvious question: is it safe? Demski writes, "Confined to and tailored specifically for student use, SchoolMail complies with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, the Children's Internet Protection Act, and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act standards" (Demski, para. 2), which ensures the protection of children's email accounts from spammers, unwanted partnering ads and harmful messages.

The "Resource Review" verdict: One of the examples she gives is of a high school teacher from San Diego who connected her classroom to one at a university in Liuzhou, China. For one section of the class, students used SchoolMail to communicate directly with students in China, while the other section only used library and media materials to learn about China. Demski writes, "After surveying both classes, [the teacher] found that 'the students who had used ePals became more "ethno-relative," meaning they saw a lot of value in other cultures, whereas the other students kept themselves more ethnocentric-- [believing] their culture is the superior culture'" (para. 6). Having the advantage of access to email communication for both locales involves, the immediacy of the responses no doubt brought to life for students the reality of other cultures as people, not encyclopedia entries.

So in closing...: With multiple examples presented throughout the article, Demski illustrates the way in which SchoolMail definitely trumps that of the old-fashioned pen pal setup. It's inevitable that students will not only be motivated by but also learn from the email responses. Earlier snail-mail versions of this - penning a letter with great hopes of receiving a reply, but months of waiting with no reply - most likely resembled the season note to Santa Claus for students more than it did an actual letter to people who have a culture very different than their own. With the technology in place and willing educators to guide its use, there is clear evidence that learning will commence. However, it again returns to the issue of the Digital Divide. What of the more remote locations? How can educators bring those cultures to life?

Resource Review 5 (continued)

For even more information about the practical classroom application of EPals.com, I found this article quite helpful: "EPals provides safe student collaboration tools" found at http://education.zdnet.com/?p=1546&tag=content;col1

Resource Review 5: Blogs

One of my biggest questions still with EPals.com is, "Does it really work? And I'm not just talking about the technology part...

Blog: Zigler, J. (2009, October 28). ePals. Retrieved from http://jenzigle.blogspot.com/2009_10_01_archive.html.

Blog synopsis: Despite an empty profile, I can guess by the content of other entries that Jenn Zigler's Blog-W200 focuses primarily on the use of new online technology available for teachers in the K-12 system. Past reviews she has done include Discovery Education, GoogleEarth, Kidpix, and Free Technology for Teachers. While her earlier entries only presented a brief intro to each tool and the benefits, her later entries find the author engaging in a more evaluative look at the tool's use.

The "Resource Review" verdict: On Jenn Zigler's Blog- W200 post from October 28, 2009, she reviews EPals.com as a service to schools and educators. Before concluding that EPals is a wonderful tool to utilize in the classroom, the site's author evaluates the tool's efficiency in use by teachers. She writes that not only does the site increase efficiency thanks to the abundance of effective resources at their fingertips, saving on valuable prep time, but also writes, "...[Teachers are] more effective in their teaching approach as they have an opportunity to collaborate with other teachers," which she sees as a form of professional development. Too often with free software or materials, I assume the quality is significantly lower than it promises to be. However, in tandem with the fun and creative interface, the use of resources found on EPals.com really does seem to hold promise to the teacher interested in not just the up-and-coming but also in keeping current with the learning curve.

So in closing...: I think this blog made plain an important piece of information in reviewing EPals.com and it is that the "how does this tool work" doesn't pertain only to technology. Its use impacts both students and has professional advantages for teachers as well. While I commend her for her brief insights, I wished she would have provided more concrete data on if and how the tool is currently being used specifically by the school's library where she works or is studying. Also, she points out what almost everybody agrees is the primary upside of using EPals: "...students [have] the opportunity to gain the skills necessary to be successful in the 21st century." Yet while computer literacy and global awareness are advantages for some users, I think there's a greater lesson to be learned through EPals.com about the Digital Divide and the scope of librarians' commitment to educate users and create a sustainable network of technology assistance within a community of patrons. For users in locations with easy access to the technologies necessary to support EPals' resources, computer literacy will improve; but to what extent do librarians extend their concern for equal access beyond those predefined borders?

Resoure Review 4: Topic-specific News Sources

Many of the resources I found while searching for news and reviews of EPals.com came from what I like to call topic-specific news sources. The sites provide information about technology designed for educational purposes. This entry will examine an article from the site www.mmischols.com, or MultiMedia and Internet@Schools.

Article: (2009). EPals Connects African Classrooms with Schools Worldwide. MultiMedia & Internet@Schools, 15(3). Retrieved from http://www.mmischools.com/Articles/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=13777.

Article synopsis: This article recapped a visit from the EPals co-founder to the eLearning Africa conference in Ghana that focused on ICTs in development, education and training. The conference is held each year with the purpose of connecting leaders, educators and technology providers to build relationships that will foster technology development in Africa. The EPals co-founder's visit was meant to show conference attendees how EPals.com's "collaborative technologies help schools make global project connections to improve critical digital literacy and 21st century skills."

The "Resource Review" verdict: At first, I was afraid the article was merely accessing another piece of propaganda literature to highlight the free pen-pal and project sharing services available for schools in Africa through EPals.com. However, I found the article surprisingly different from other sources I have researched thus far. Its foundation on an actual event that was meant to be educational, not so much promotional, about EPals.com enhanced its status as a significant piece of media communication intended to provide the MMI community with a factual perspective on efforts to encourage use of the website's services.

So in closing...: I think topic-specific sites about certain technologies are very useful for anyone, whether educator, parent or otherwise interested individual. Rather than providing a summary of certain technologies' "About Us" info, these articles focus on news surrounding the technologies' promotion, implementation and everyday use. This type of news isn't the sort you will find on most - if any - sites elsewhere, and even if it is, it would take some committed searching to find it amidst other more "newsworthy" stories. So for those looking for this sort of information, topic-specific sites are the go-to place to get what you need.

Resource Review 3: Online Review Articles

I figured in doing a Resource Review project, probably one of the key places to look for another type of resource to review on my blog would be - quite obviously - other reviews about the tool. So quite simply, this entry will focus on the ins and outs of online review articles.

Article: Gapinski, James. (2009). A Review of EPals.com: Connecting Global Classrooms, Students, and Teachers. Retrieved from http://www.brighthub.com/education/k-12/articles/38129.aspx.

Article synopsis: I found this article on Bright Hub, a website that posts science and technology articles, buyer's guides, how-to tips and software reviews. In this review found in the K-12 Education tab, the author reviews EPals.com. He highlights the interactive and exciting features the website offers free of charge to teachers and administrations. His review spans the services, features, and user-friendliness of EPals.com, but while he emphasizes the site's central commitment to connecting global classrooms, the author cites what he sees are some drawbacks of the digital tool. He ends the article positively, however, with a recommendation to use the site while acknowledging potential shortcomings.

The "Resource Review" verdict: I believe this article balanced enough of the good with the less good in order to stray from any hint of bias. I appreciated the concrete examples he supplied to illustrate both the positive and negative aspects of the website. For example, he referred to African and American classooms' collaboration in book talks using the Chinua Achebe novel Things Fall Apart, and he pointed out the site's busy interface that may take an educator months to learn and to find ways to integrate different elements of it into his/her curriculum. His inclusion of these examples gave me a greater sense of the article's validity, as if to say, "This guy sure knows his stuff." Thus, using my own experience with the both the tool and other online articles discussing EPals.com, it is my opinion that the author provided a straightforward, authentic review of the tool.

So in closing...: Sensing how positively the author's specificity influenced my impression of his review opinion, I was reminded to evaluate my own review writing style for this blog. In general, I have found review articles of EPals.com to be helpful in exposing "both sides of the fence" and providing relatively thorough feedback. However, I realized that sometimes (if not most of the time), it depends on the site with which the article is associated whether the review is objective and/or helpful. All in all, I've found that when I find a good site for dependable reviews, bookmarking it now ensures I remember to check back with them later for more trustworthy, solid reviews of digital tools.

Resource Review 2: Internal Marketing Articles

Working three years in the Luther College Public Information Office gave me experience with and training in the art of marketing and public relations, the art of making your company or employer look really good. When EPals.com's cloud-nine press releases kept coming up in my searches for reviews of the site, I knew that people on their marketing team were doing their job while - at the same time - making my job as a reviewer much more difficult.

Article: Fash, Sandy. (2009). Epals honored with two 2009 EDDIE awards from ComputED Learning Center. Retrieved from http://www.cblohm.com/news/ePals/EP_091008/index.html.

Article synopsis: The article announced the two awards recently received by Epals for EPals.com and In2Books. In2Books, the site's literacy e-mentoring program, received the Annual Education Softward Review Award (EDDIES) for Best Language Arts Web Site for Early Elementary from the ComputED Learning Center, and EPals.com received the same award for Best Internet Communication Website in the Multi-Level category. The awards have been given for fourteen years and were chosen from an international applicant pool, awarding "innovative and content-rich programs and Web sites that provide parents and teachers with the technology to foster educational excellence."

The "Resource Review" verdict: Given the source of the article, it is to be understood that the primary purpose of the article is to help enhance EPals.com's image and credibility, providing affirmations of the overall ethos associated with it. Rather than news only being sent to those sites associated with education and collaborative learning, internal marketing seeks a wide reach in its consumer population in order to make people aware of the website and wow audiences with its prestige. The article discussed elements of In2Books that supports how it increases literacy and provides excerpts from the judges' comments, such as, "In2Books is a shining example of what thoughtful educators can do with best-practice methods without a whole lot of funds." Not to mention the article also referenced the site's reception of one of ComputED Learning Center's 2009 Annual Best Educational Software Awards (BESSIE) for Best Internet Communication Web site in the Multi-Level category, too! So this rich collection of evidence and statistics really does accentuate and draw attention to the digital tool and sparks curiosity for users to see what all the hype is about, making it a good source for reviewing the tool.

So in closing...: Let's face it. When asked to think critically about something, we're not looking to be fed all the feel-good fluff of greatness of the thing, person or subject we are reviewing; we're really just looking for a little dirt, some nugget of hard news to give people a "true" look at something. In light of this, internal marketing articles can be a nuisance and cloud our objective vision. But internal marketing is part and parcel to making a product or site known, and I think internal marketing news items are important resources for reviewing any digital tool. They serve as valuable access points to information about and, consequently, awareness of new technologies for a broad scope of potential users and supporters, as well as providing foundational legitimacy useful for building up a site's reputation and status in the Web 2.0 world.

Resource Review 1: Scholarly Journal Articles

Despite my technological deficiencies in not being able to successfully link retrieved journal articles from UW's academic databases to my Delicious account, I was still able to snag the journal article titles. As such, this entry will focus on the helpfulness of scholarly journal articles in reviewing the digital tool of EPals.com.

Article: Gersh, Sheila Offman. (2009). Global Projects and Digital Tools. MultiMedia & Internet@Schools, 16(1), 10-13.

Article synopsis: This article examines the use of digital tool in classroom/learning settings, primarily with those tools that provide learning engagement through project-based methods. The author does an overview of using digital tools, especially Web 2.0 tools, and references EPals.com a few times as a good site to use for collaborative learning. The author highlights some of the challenges that may be associated with implementing digital tools into an educator's curriculum, but also provides a helpful list of resources one can access for different options of digital tools available.

The "Resource Review" verdict: Although the article wasn't helpful in providing extensive information about EPals.com explicitly, I found the article to be - on the whole - useful because it fit the use of digital tools in classrooms into a larger context of meaning and importance. By listing EPals.com among those tools cited by the author as being good digital tools to use in the classroom, EPals.com is getting important academic placement and recognition among a very broad pool of options. With a change in research interests to cause/effect topics (at least the shift I've seen in my years of undergraduate research - less focus on exploring and defining a subject topic and more of a movement toward a sociology-type base of how or why a subject topic brings about certain social influences, responses, etc.), I think it's safe to assume that articles exploring an individual digital tool are on the outs, while research studying their use and effect, and collaborative uses and influences across disciplines, will be expected moreso.

So in closing...: All in all, I found that searching journal articles on UW's E-Resource gateway was very helpful for reviewing my digital tool because the articles provide subject headings either directly correlating to those issued by Library or Congress or some type of subject heading that gives the user more direction in finding information similar or related to the given article. This helped a lot for me in concept mapping for my search query, which has proven beneficial for the topic of EPals.com specifically given that the site itself is relatively new and therefore hasn't been studied much in academic research published in peer-reviewed journals.

EPals.com: Resource Review

One of the ongoing assignments in my Digital Tools, Trends and Databses (LIS644) course is called a Resource Review. Students were instructed to focus on a digital tool or product and identify, bookmark, review and share quality resources via the social bookmarking site Delicious.com and their blogs. In addition to presentations presenting and demonstrating their digital tool of choice to the class, each student will write a paper synthesizing the materials to produce an overarching review of the tool.

At first, in my defensive anti-technology mood, I grumbled at the thought of this assignment and fretted over my lack of basic skills in order to complete the assignment. I didn't even know what was considered a digital tool and what wasn't, let alone thought myself capable enough to demonstrate the thing to my whole class of what seem to be tech-savvy experts. So I initially thought, "Google Docs. I can do Google Docs because it's something I actually do use on a daily basis and am good at." Because researching something you already know is the reason you go to graduate school, right? :)

So I planted myself at square #1 and googled "digital tools" to just cast a line and find out what exactly my "options" were for this assignment topic. It turns out there are lists out there of digital tools - not just a few, but countless digital tools! (And for those of you snappy-pants who knew this before you could do algebra, great. But I'm still learning, so a little slack and celebrate with me, please!) :) Given my interest in building connections between people in learning communities as well as international relations, I was immediately attracted to EPals.com and chose it for the focus of my resource review.

EPals.com is a collaborative learning site where teachers or administrators in schools around the world are paired up with a school/classroom in another country or region, and their students participate in interactive blogging, emails, lessons and share photos, experiences and stories. These cross-cultural connections make up what EPals.com claims to be "the Internet's largest global community of connected classrooms" in a completely secure and protected site managed by the teachers and integrated into syllabi. In some aspects, the site reflects many of the social networking functions now popular in other tools like facebook and myspace, in tools like chat, video, email pen-pals and messaging.

I've tagged a number of websites that discuss/review EPals.com on my Delicious account (username: westka04) and I'll be posting responses periodically here to get some of my thoughts on these reviews "down on paper." Until then, feel free to check out EPals.com to get a feel for the benefits of its opportunities and any potential shortcomings it presents. Collaborative learning - an everyday phenomenon with unlimited and awesome potential, in my opinion. :) Enjoy!

Confession: Technology is NOT my thing!

To be honest, I was not excited about taking this class and even less enthused about this project--digital tools? Demonstrating technology to the class? Delicious what? I'm not a technophobe, but I do think I was born a generation or two late. Technology and the digital world has never really sparked my fancy, but rather held an unprivileged position at the top of my "Unnecessary" list, despite the countless conveniences - and more often, necessities - that I take advantage of as a result of advanced technology. Maybe it's fear, maybe it's an aversion to social trend bandwagoning, maybe it's complete idiocy; but the facts remain--technology typically confuses, overwhelms and frustrates me. So why am I in this class?

As an librarian and information professional, it is my job to not only grapple with the conveniences and challenges of technology in order to better serve as an educator for communities I serve, but also to welcome the changing face of information distribution so as to not be left behind in ignorant existence while the rest of the progressive world moves ahead. While I am becoming increasingly open to adapting to, and perhaps even becoming fond of, the digital world, I still maintain an air of caution in supporting too strongly the go-ahead with tech advances because of my own experience with the digital divide between a place like the United States and developing nations like Tanzania.

Discussions and readings in LIS644 have been an immense influence on my perspective and ideas about technology, information distribution and the world of libraries both domestically and internationally, and as it turns out, I am loving the class! I look forward to each session in order to better educate myself on useful tools and helpful strategies for assessing and implementing appropriate technologies in a dynamic professional field.

Kate@SLIS

My name is Katherine, and I'm excited to be starting in the SLIS program at UW-Madison. This is my second blog, the first having been created during my time living in Tanzania, East Africa. Check it out (kateintz.blogspot.com) and be sure to visit back here for all the exciting SLIS updates and development of my own librarianship trek - coming straight your way from Kate@SLIS!