Does Your Web Site Help You Do Your Job?
Are webpages marketing tools used to promote the media program?
Is it a replica of the school mission and goal statement? Does it reflect the media
specialists knowledge and understanding of technology usage in the 21st century? Author David
Warlick pose a valid question concerning school media centers "Does Your Web Site Help You Do Your
Job?" In reflecting on the statement, websites should guide, as well as,
engage stakeholders in utilizing services offered by the media center.
As
I admired several media centers' websites from the
assignment, I was intrigued with the media
specialists new era technology skills. Of the three
media programs noted for viewing, North Elementary
impressed me the most. It provided curriculum and pleasurable information
for engaging students in learning as instructional literature to
assist teachers in teaching. The
website I thought I would like the least was Creekview High School due to
the assumed simplistic nature;
however, six icons or images spoke volume. What an
excellent demonstration of Web 2.0 technology
tools being used to engage students in learning. The icons for Facebook, Flickr, Twitter,
Wordpress, and YouTube all were available for staff and students use;
thus, no internet filtering going
on there. Pictures of students in the media center engaging in various assignments were
published via Flickr.
As I continued my sight-seeing tour of modern day
media centers websites, I looked
at several websites posted to the School Library Websites (Wikispace) in which I found to be
interesting. I am in the middle for the traditional and digital era
websites. Many of the websites created
via Wiki appeared to be less human or less inviting. Even though
elementary students are savvy tech
students, presentation is still needed to attract the students
as well as keep them engaged.
The
dilemma I foresee is the Librarians who are baby boomers or those
who have not gone through a
rigorous instructional technology class such as this one; thus, having
limited Web 2.0 digital technology skills
needed to captivate students in a digital society. As noted
earlier, "Does Your Website Help You Do
Your Job?" What patrons see, is what they say you do!
**What is your take on doing away with the traditional website
layouts and using Wiki as the layout format for webpage designs for media
centers?
I agree that websites should reflect the knowledge of the Media Specialist in regards to today's technology. It is always good to visit other Media Specialist's sites to see how the sites are formatted as well as see the information on the site. We are all lifelong learners, so how great is it to see great ideas on other sites and be able to take those same ideas, "tweak" them, and use them on your own websites to improve your media program and website.
ReplyDeleteAs a media specialist, I am pulled in a hundred different directions throughout any given week. Still, I have to remember to do the simple things like keeping my media center's page current and relevant. I do not want someone to visit my page for the first time and think it is not worth the click. At the same time, I do not want those who have visited the site in the past to choose not to return because they know the information will not be new, interesting or helpful. Websites are an extension of the many tasks we have to complete as Media Specialist. Because many Media Specialists serve as primary technology integration specialists in their buildings, it is imperative to have good, informative sites that show advanced technology skills as well as the seamless integration of the Media program into the curriculum.
I loved the question that was asked, "Does your website help your job?" If it doesn't, then why in the world would someone go through the trouble of creating the thing. I have seen several media center webpages in my school district where it is obvious the media specialist was required to create the page, and they did the minimum to check it off of their list. This does not help the media specialist, nor does it help the students. I will be the first to admit that keeping up a webpage is a lot of work and takes a great deal of time, however, if it helps my students and my teachers, and in turn helps me. I feel that it is time well spent. I have only been a media specialist for 9 weeks, and I honestly have not been able to think about a media center webpage. However, I can absolutely see how it could be helpful. I have teachers ask me daily to pull books or movies. Students who come in with questions for how to research. It would be wonderful if I could link a Google Doc. sign up/ request sheet to the "Teacher's Corner" and a list of research references for the "Student Help Center". Both of these would help me stay organized and it would give me the opportunity to direct teachers and students to the webpage and make it a more beneficial tool for everyone.
ReplyDeleteI am in agreement with you in that there needs to be a good balance between the traditional websites and the incorporation of technology. I know that we are moving towards more technology, but we can't forget what still works especially as the question was posed earlier, "Does your website help you do your job?" To a degree, I agree that it is difficult for babyboomers, but not only with Media Specialists, but teachers as well. However, what works best for students is always going to be priority and we have to get on board.
ReplyDeleteI do think that the question at the end is a great one. Making sure that your website helps you, the students, and the teachers is very important. I started thinking about our school website, my weebly in my classroom, and if I use them to the fullest. I will definitely be examining the site and thinking about how I can adapt the website to help the students. Hopefully teachers that are apprehensive about using technology will have the opportunity to be trained on the newest trends and use them for the benefit of there students.
ReplyDeleteGreat Job! I totally agree with the comment of "Does your website help you do your job?" Yes, it should. It should be informative for the students to answer simple questions about the media center, but also to help guide them and get them started on projects that they may be working on within the media center. It is also a great way to help keep the students abreast of the new technologies that enter the media center for their use as well as all the new books you might get from year to year. I am currently working on my own website for our media center. Trying to figure out just what needs to be on the website takes a lot of preparation and thought.
ReplyDelete