Though it's missing a collaborative element (ie, readers are unable to comment on posts), I feel that Ward Melville High School's Information Center's blog is a great example of how school media centers can more effectively serve students (and teachers) by utilizing blogs:
http://wardmelvillelibrary.blogspot.com/
The blog highlights school library news and services, and is organized in a way that allows users to clearly see in one glance all the digital resources available to them (with pertinent links logically arranged in the sidebar.) Blog posts primarily consist of various assigned research projects and delineate not only the assignment guidelines, but also specific resources students would find most useful when doing their research.
I know many media specialists make research project pages like these for their students, but they are often hidden somewhere deep within the media center's website (where many students may be less likely to take the time to access them.) Posting research guides on a blog gives students an easier and more useful way to find what they need. It has the added benefit of allowing other teachers to see what their colleagues are doing and is easy to search to get ideas on what others have done in the past on different topics.
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2 comments:
This is a great example. I love the list of links, and also that basics like cybersecurity are easily found up top. This is a very attractive blog that draws me in. There's clearly been a great deal of thought put into the design and what is posted on the blog. You're right it would be nice to have some element of interaction, however.
What a great example of a school library blog! I agree with your comment about research project pages being buried within the library website - I work in a K-5 school library, and our project pages certainly aren't easy to find. This is a really accessible way for students to find pertinent information about projects and resources. I know it's missing the comments/interactive pieces, but this blog doesn't seem to need them. I imagine that if comments were allowed, students would start posting about how annoying the teachers are, how difficult the projects are, etc.
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