Get+Involved!



Social networking now allows our students to share opinions and experiences with others easily and quickly. Social technologies such as //Facebook//, //MySpace//, //Wikis//, //Blogs//, and //Twitter// allow people to collaborate and communicate across boundaries to share their literary experiences.Libraries can use this technology to create virtual book clubs, allowing students that may not be able to physically attend a meeting to contribute.

media type="youtube" key="aHY_KhJ4VZ8?fs=1" height="385" width="480" align="center"

Online applications such as //Shelfari// and  allow readers to share what they've read with others. They can give commentaries on what they've read or participate in a lively discussion about a book. In Montgomery County Public Schools, //Shelfari// has been used to motivate students to read by challenging students to read a certain number of books (Rocky Hill Middle School) or by creating a Black Eyed Susan discussion group to encourage students to read the BES nominated books ([|Takoma Park MS]). media type="custom" key="7215917" align="center" //VoiceTheads// have been used by schools to promote class discussions on books. These discussions, facilitated by librarians and teachers, have motivated reluctant students to participate in these discussions using this application. It is easier for students to have their say when multiple modalities are provided (i.e. calling in, writing in, etc.) and contributions can be made at any time of day. I think, if used correctly, this application could also encourage more accurate writing and speaking because it is published for a community of viewer (or the public at large, depending upon the settings).