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?