Choose your attitude

In Ross Todd’s introduction to his article on ‘youth and their virtual networked worlds’ reference is made to a new paradigm wherein the school library morphs into an information technology environment to accommodate new learners and new learner styles. The author’s borrowed metaphor of libraries turning on the light says it all (Prensky, 2008, pp. 41, 42): the main challenge for schools is to harness the social networking phenomenon while integrating knowledge creation and expression in the Web 2.0 world. School communities must provide leadership and guidance in social conventions through personal contact and direct experience.

Evidence from researchers reveals that ‘students need to apply retrieval and search capabilities in their learning and that school libraries can play a central role to reshape instructional and access practices’ (Rowlands & Nicholas, 2008, p. 23). Another cited author in this article views the Web 2.0 as the ‘next phase of the information society’, as ‘architecture of participation’ and a ‘commons of cyberspace’ (Harrigan, 2007, p.24). Todd refers to further studies where social networking sites (e.g. Facebook, MySpace, Tagged, Bebo) have grown exponentially in 2006-07 especially in Europe and North America (200 million, mainly Caucasian at present) and that teacher-librarians must imagine a different information landscape, being adventurous to explore these networks building on potential in school life.

Accordingly, the older generations are making greater use of Web 2.0 technologies in information creation and dissemination, which I believe bodes well for the future of inter-generational understanding as it reveals our capacity to adapt and pursue lifelong learning, also essential in bridging ‘digital and print terrain’. I support Todd’s position that searching out social network sites / tools and assessing them for ourselves as teachers then integrating what is beneficial to inquiry, knowledge construction and communication will be fertile ground for libraries and schools.(Todd, p.31-32).

The potential for growth remains the same at whatever age… as noted in the following You Tube creation on the timeless theme of choosing one's attitude ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42E2fAWM6rA

Bibliography:

Todd, R. (2008). Youth and their Virtual Networked Worlds: Research Findings and Implications for School Libraries, School Wide Libraries (p.19-32), IASL.

http://schoollibrariesworldwide-vol14no2.blogspot.com/ and

http://asselindoiron.pbwiki.com/SLW14%3A2+AsselinDoiron

You Tube. U@50 (2007). Sponsored by The American Association of Retired People (AARP). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42E2fAWM6rA