Global Grid for Learning – 1 million-plus resources — from MJO
Hugh John checks out a BETT newbie, online service provider Global Grid for Learning
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Global Grid for Learning (GGfL) aims to connect teachers and students at all stages in education to single sources of digital multimedia learning resources from multiple providers.
Where the books used to be — from Thomas Frey, futurist
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During the coming years, libraries will be faced with a number of options for replacing their current inventory of books with electronic book readers. As some of the early adopter libraries begin to understand the economics and freedoms/restrictions associated with the devices, they will begin to move forward, replacing thousands of volumes on the rack with what will seem like a relatively few e-readers occupying comparatively little space.
future scenario, new strategy, powerful idea, technology trends
.The centre of academic life at most universities is the library.
The rows and rows of dusty, hastily-mended bound books and journals hint at a vast world of knowledge and draw a link between generations of students who have roamed the halls.
But students in the engineering department at the University of Texas in San Antonio (UTSA) do not get that experience. Instead, they download whatever they want to any one of the terminals or their laptops.
In September, the UTSA opened the first completely bookless library on a university campus in the US.
The sleek glass library seats 80 people and holds 425,000 e-books and 18,000 e-journal subscriptions. And there is no need to share because all these budding engineers can read the same text at the same time.
— Found originally at blog.oer.sbctc.edu
Homework Rescue offers online resource — from savagepacer.com by Keighla Schmidt
There’s Google chat, Facebook chat, AOL instant messaging, Yahoo! messenger and the list goes on when it comes to instant help at your fingertips. Add teenagers into the mix and consider the combo peanut butter and jelly.
And when it’s time to do homework at the Braun house in Savage, mom Sandy has no problem with her Prior Lake High School children Jake, a freshman, and Leigh, a sophomore, going online and chatting.
As long as they’re logged onto Homework Rescue, a free, online live one-on-one instant messaging tutor offered through the library and can be accessed remotely.
Homework Rescue is available at www.scott.lib.mn.us under the online references collection daily from 1-11 p.m. for free by using a library identification number. About 100 metro area libraries are part of the Metropolitan Library Services Agency (MELSA), which financially supports the program.
— originally from:
A World of Learning: Education Portal Speaks With the CEO of Room to Read — educational-portal.com
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Excerpt from the Executive Summary:
Academic libraries have long enjoyed their status as the “heart of the university.” However, in recent decades, higher education environments have changed. Government officials see higher education as a national resource. Employers view higher education institutions as producers of a commodity—student learning. Top academic faculty expect higher education institutions to support and promote cuttingedge research. Parents and students expect higher education to enhance students’ collegiate experience, as well as propel their career placement and earning potential. Not only do stakeholders count on higher education institutions to achieve these goals,
they also require them to demonstrate evidence that they have achieved them. The same is true for academic libraries; they too can provide evidence of their value. Community college, college, and university librarians no longer can rely on their stakeholders’ belief in their importance. Rather, they must demonstrate their value.
Purpose – The following review and report is intended to provide Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) leaders and the academic community with 1) a clear view of the current state of the literature on value of libraries within an institutional context, 2) suggestions for immediate “Next Steps” in the demonstration of academic library value, and 3) a “Research Agenda” for articulating academic library value. It strives to help librarians understand, based on professional literature, the current answer to the question, “How does the library advance the missions of the institution?” The report is also of interest to higher educational professionals external to libraries, including senior leaders, administrators, faculty, and student affairs professionals.
Scope – This report is intended to describe the current state of the research on community college, college, and university library value and suggest focus areas for future research…
Post textbook world — from HuffingtonPost.com by Tom Vander Ark
Most of the digital courseware being used is decidedly first generation–it’s flat and sequential, not engaging and adaptive. But we’re beginning to see adaptive content libraries that enable personalized digital learning. There will still be a role for curation but that will come in the form of content collections, learning games and virtual worlds, and playlists that (like iTunes Genius but smarter) that stitch objects and sequences together.
Because learning object libraries will replace textbooks, eReaders won’t be big in education. They only make sense where there is a tight narrative. Tablets that can support a full web experience and are also a useful input device will compete with netbooks for 1:1 supremacy.
Digital native kids and teachers expect a more social experience than ‘log in, follow directions, and email me if you have a problem.’ The shift from digital textbook to content libraries requires more flexibility than current learning management systems offers and will kick off more data than anyone is ready to handle.
100 extensive university libraries from around the world that anyone can access — from mary & mac design
Universities house an enormous amount of information and their libraries are often the center of it all. You don’t have to be affiliated with any university to take advantage of some of what they have to offer. From digital archives, to religious studies, to national libraries, these university libraries from around the world have plenty of information for you. There are many resources for designers as well. Although this is mainly a blog that caters to designers and artists I have decided to include many other libraries for all to enjoy.
DIGITAL LIBRARIES
Capturing images of manuscripts, art, and artifacts, digital libraries are an excellent way of both preserving the past and sharing it with everyone.
- Harvard University Library. Browse through 24 different collections ranging from cultural images of eastern Asia to 19th century American trade cards.
- Yale University Library: Digital Collections. Find ancient manuscripts or read a classic all preserved digitally courtesy of the Yale University Library.
- Indiana University Digital Library Program. Download manuscripts from Isaac Newton or view photographs, film literature, and music from the collections at this library.
- Michigan State University Digital and Multimedia Center. Find several texts from authors such as Joseph Conrad, Aesop’s Fables, cookbooks, and texts on orchids or veterinary medicine in PDF format.
- Columbia University Libraries Digital Collections. Browse through one of over 10 different digital collections that range from medieval and early Renaissance manuscripts to architectural drawings or visit the online exhibitions for even more.
- Rutgers University Digital Library Projects. Learn about the history of alcohol, New Jersey, Italy’s people, and much more in this diverse digital library.
- Ohio State University Libraries Collections. See photos of Bird’s expedition to the South Pole, learn about the women of Burlesque, and more in these digital archives.
- Syracuse University Digital Library. Find interesting information on the history of the New York area as well as recordings of popular WWII songs.
- Ohio University Libraries Digital Exhibits. Learn about Ohio history, visits from important people, read WWII papers, and more in these archives.
- Brown University Library, Center for Digital Initiatives. This collection includes such interesting topics ranging from Abraham Lincoln, Napoleon, and African American and Yiddish sheet music.
- …More here.
Remaking the college campus — from CampusTechnnology.com by Bridget McCrea
An e-learning veteran envisions a college campus of the future where physical space, technology, and collaboration blend.
Imagine a college library where books are not the focal point. Instead of sitting behind a desk checking out volumes, librarians have become technology experts who are dispatched to help students and faculty who are in the building. The “No Food or Drinks” signs have been removed, allowing students to move freely throughout the building with coffee cups in hand.
Taking a page from Barnes & Noble’s business planning book, the college library is transformed into a place where students pore over laptop computers, PDAs, and iPads alone or in groups. The atmosphere simply oozes collaboration and provokes others to join the party to study, learn, and network with one another.
If this sounds like a far-off pipe dream, consider what’s going on in Glasgow, where the Saltire Centre is the centerpiece of learning and student services at Glasgow Caledonian University. Regarded as “one of the most ambitious and innovative learning environments in the UK,” the 1,800-seat building comprises multiple levels, each of which caters to different types of learning and interaction.
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