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.