All style and no substance….this is something that one would never hear about me as a person, in part because I have very little style. :-) But, I do understand the value of and the need for substance, both in persons and in media center web pages.
As I am not a particularly visually-spatially gifted individual, I have benefited much from reading about what constitutes good design (of web pages, presentations, etc.). Now that I know what to look for, that aspect of it will be much easier for me to address. However, I still think, as I always have, that how something LOOKS is not nearly as important as what it communicates. Still, the tension between visual appeal and content will never decrease when it comes to web pages, much as I might dream otherwise. I will focus on the desired content for media center web pages in this blog post, as it seems to be what I am better able to discuss and explain in an intelligent manner.
I absolutely enjoyed David Warlick’s article, “Building Websites That Work for Your Media Center” (January/February 2005). It not only had some common-sense ideas about site design (which were much appreciated), but the article brought out some important points about the media center’s webpage supporting the daily goals and mission of the media center. For instance, most of us consider the media webpage to be a place where students can link to GALILEO, educational games, and …..yawn. (Sorry, I fell asleep. And, if I did, so did the students and their parents.) Let’s face it, for some parents, that is old news, and it is news that could be gotten from other locations than the media center web page. In terms of research, GALILEO is very important, but if the critical goals of the media center include parent involvement, I agree—you have to capture their attention and let them know that there is information here that is of use to them that is different and current and relatable. For most of the parents in my particular district, GALILEO, although a gold mine of a resource, might not be the way to make that “relatable” connection—at least, not at first—and it certainly would not want to be the only connection to home that the media center tried to make. So, this article presents the media specialist with a challenge—how is your web page reflecting and supporting the goals that you have envisioned for your students, school, and media center?
I absolutely love how Mr. Harvey, the media specialist from North Elementary School in Noblesville, Indiana, has made his Virtual Library Media Center to clearly reflect his goals for the media center. One can tell very easily that he considers parents to be of great importance, as he went to the trouble of creating a Facebook page for them to communicate items of interest from the media center in January of this year; he also includes some quality links to literacy information published by the school. Seeing that he made a Facebook page (with 60 fans!), it is clear that he is trying to meet some parents where they are in their lives—they are fooling around on the computer, chatting with old friends, and they can read all about the happenings of the media center in a few sentences or less. Near the top of the page, he has links to the wiki pages that directly relate to ALL of the subject areas of the teaching professionals in his school. No snobbery here—Mr. Harvey has included wiki pages for art, music, and P.E., where others (perhaps myself included) might have only had the forethought to include grade-level pages, leaving the enrichment teachers out in the cold. Long story short, this media specialist has some special things going on, and he uses Web 2.0 tools, including wikis and social networking sites, to make his web page a wonderful, interactive resource for most all stakeholders. He even reinforces the importance of libraries with his links to the local public library, the state library, and the Library of Congress—such a small thing that says a lot about the beliefs of the media center. Connectedness is a theme on this page, as it should be on all pages, I would argue.
The blog on Wordpress for the Unquiet Library (Creekview HS) is so much more incredible than their webpage connected to the school. I think that anybody who frequents (or has even visited, period) the web pages surrounding the school is probably hip to that, and that makes me think…doesn’t the library’s web page need to be the hip, awesome web page anyway? If I am supposed to be a harbinger of technological awesomeness, then the web page that I create (or blog, or wiki, or whatever) will be held up for scrutiny by people who want to know the technological pulse of the school. One might wonder, then, how having an “awesome” web page would directly relate to the goals of the media center. As Warlick’s article mentioned, there are certain media that can be included on a web page simply for fun that might detract, in the end, from the message of the page, and there are media, like the slideshows on the North Elementary Media Center web page and Ms. Hamilton’s Wordpress blog, that exemplify how students are being involved, what materials and resources there are to support teaching and learning, and that show the relevance of the library in the life of the school.
Something that was also mentioned in the Warlick article was being constrained by certain rules and regulations of the county or school in regard to the media center web page. Yes, just like the rest of us, Ms. Hamilton of Creekview HS is bound by certain rules on her webpage connected to the school, but she has also gotten permission for and taken the time to create an incredible resource for her parents, students, and fellow teaching professionals through her Wordpress account. The library is portrayed as it should be….an interesting, happening, relaxing, informative place that can be whatever you want or need it to be and also encourages YOU to be whatever or whoever you wish to be. I don’t particularly know that having the library give you a “warm, fuzzy feeling” is a goal for the media center at Creekview High School, but I think that Ms. Hamilton does not underestimate the power of a good reputation among some of your harshest critics and most important stakeholders—students. With her cool displays, comfortable setting, and fun activities (Wii at lunch? Wow!), Ms. Hamilton begins to build relationships with a variety of students and sets the stage for further use of technology to assist in learning and researching.
I look forward to creating my own media center online contact point (whether through a web page, wiki, or blog) so that I can communicate the goals for my school and its media center therein.
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I think you were right on target when you mentioned the Facebook page for parents. :O) I would like to create a Twitter group for media specialists to use to talk about great books or upcoming events in the library. Media specialists from across the county could reach their students or parents with a simple text message to Twitter. Imagine how much more engaged students and parents in the community could be! Obviously, there are certain procedures to follow in the world of education. I think that if I show the plan of how to use Twitter or other social media correctly, then the administrators will be more likely to support such an idea. I better go begin my plan. :O)
ReplyDeleteMy lady I think you doth protest too much!!!
ReplyDeleteI loved your posting and that of your fellow contributor, Tiffany. You both articulated the importance of having a vibrant, dynamic webpage that does not bore the reader. I concur with you both that Mr. Harvey has created the gold standard of media center webpages. No small surprise that his curriculum vitae is so distinguished and that he was a candidate for AASL President. I certainly would have voted for him after perusing his state-of- the art webpage; it gave me more webpage envy. Our school uses Teacherweb that has a very limited template selection, but it does allow you the flexibility to create any content you want for your page, so I am going to create a Facebook page a la Carl Harvey. It’s such a great idea. The biggest drawback I have seen from Teacherweb is that it won’t upload podcasts or video, which is actually a huge limitation. It is especially cool that he has raised the technological bar for the teachers at North Elementary School. I totally agree with you when you characterize the media center as the technological pulse of the school.
Tiffany, thanks for the reminder about copyright issues surrounding what goes up on your webpage. I had not realized that linking to a page could get you in trouble or that linking to some pages but not others could be construed as discrimination to others. I agree with Kennedy’s suggestion to devote a portion in our handbooks to Web 2.0 tools and a selection policy regarding what we post on our media webpages. In this case, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Mr. Harvey has left no stone unturned when designing his webpage. He is making an impact, not only on his students, but parents as well. He put a lot of thought into designing this web page. It has much to offer. It is very visually appealing and it is loaded with information. This web page is far from boring...
ReplyDeleteWow! Kudos to Ms. Hamilton and her hip blog. What high school student wouldn't want to be a part of what is going on in her media center. She really knows how to get your attention!
Talk about a hook to get your attention... She has her students hook, line, and sinker.
Your post was very informative, and I really appreciate your views on the two media centers exhibited here. These are exemplary examples! I like you can't wait to start my web page... There are so many cool ideas!