2008 Conference Wrap Up

Greetings!

A little late, but it is conference wrap up time! This was to be published in the most recent Media Center Messenger, but was left out at printing time, so here is the wrap up you have been waiting for!

Power Up @ your library!

Conference Wrap Up!

Valerie Byrd Fort, SCASL President Elect

valeriebyrdfort@gmail.com

 

More than 800 South Carolina school librarians, technology specialists, teachers, and administrators came to Columbia in March for the 33^rd Annual SCASL Conference, Power Up @ your library! To everyone who facilitated, presented, hosted a tour, worked at the Information Booth, took tickets, picked up (or dropped off) a special guest, set up technology, or modeled in our fashion show, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Conference can not happen without the help of SCASL members.

Each year, our conference provides our members a chance to get together and network with peers, as well as learn new ways of doing and thinking. This year was no different – hopefully, you left conference feeling “powered up” for the rest of the school year. Have you checked out that blog you noted or tried to podcast yet? Be sure that before the end of the school year, you try at least one thing you learned at conference. That’s the point! I have already seen my Twitter (www.twitter.com) network expand by at least 12 South Carolina connections – all new because of conference!

I know you are bursting with ideas after listening to presenters like Joyce Valenza, Annette Lamb and Larry Johnson. I know you are rejuvenated after hearing authors like Alan Katz, Eloise Greenfield, Will Hobbs, and Jaime Adoff. I know you are motivated to do more after going to sessions by your colleges. My hope is that you were able to take something away from each and every session you went to. Let us know what you have tried by posting to SCASL Blogs!

We tried some new things this year: online evaluation and volunteer forms, podcasts of book award book talks, a conference wiki (look for directions on how to participate in this issue of Media Center Messenger), and tours on Wednesdays. All of these were ideas and suggestions gathered from reading evaluation forms from past conferences. After reading this year’s evaluation forms, I know that there were many powerful concurrent sessions, even though I did not get to attend any of them. I also know that you loved the authors we had this year and that you want more and more technology sessions – the more “hands on,” the better. The Conference Steering Committee looks at each and every evaluation and thinks about them when planning future conferences. Thank you for your suggestions!

I hope you have a wonderful rest of the school year…start thinking about how you can participate in next year’s conference! We’ll see you in Greenville, March 11-13, 2009.

Pictures of conference can be found on our Flickr site!

Valerie Byrd Fort, SCASL President Elect

Conference Program ONLINE

Big update for today!

The SCASL Conference Program is ONLINE! Go to www.scasl.net .

Plan some of your sessions before you get to Columbia!

Enjoy,

Valerie

Conference Reminders-from Ida Thompson

Colleagues,
The days are quickly drawing closer to conference time!  I do hope to see each of you in Columbia at our 33rd Annual Conference.  Lots of hard work,time and effort has gone into conference preparations to ensure that you will have an enjoyable and informative experience.
Just a few reminders:

Professional Development Credit
Please be sure to contact your district’s professional development coordinator for approval of the conference as a bonafide professional development activity.  The appropriate contacts have been made with the State Department of Education’s Recertification Office.  You can find a listing of district contacts at http://www.sc.teachers.org/cert/recert/rc_provider.cfm

Remember that you are responsible for turning in the verification to the appropriate district renewal credit plan coordinator following the conference. (A form will be provided in the conference program booklet)….and always keep a copy for your personal files.

Driving Directions
If you are registered for pre-conference tours or seminars, you will find driving directions posted on the SCASL website.  Please note that buses are provided for all tours, but not for off-site pre-conferences.  Some persons prefer to drive to tours so the directions are there for your convenience.

Registration Packet
If you are pre-registered, go ahead and put that bright yellow envelope in your purse, glove compartment or suitcase…wherever you can remember it.  The important thing is NOT TO FORGET IT.

Participation
Our conference is only as good as those who volunteer to plan and present it.  If you want to assist in some way and have not already been assigned a task, please e-mail me directly at ithompson@richlandone.org) or give me a call at 803.231.6803.  We always welcome the support of our members!

Take care, and drive safely!

SCASL Update-Speakers

I want to give you all a quick update on some of the wonderful speakers that will be at our conference…this is in addition to the authors I updated you on last week!

You can look forward to hearing:

Gail Dickinson – she will be speaking about National Boards and the Library Media Specialist as well as helping us understand the new Standards for the 21st Century Learner.

Annette Lamb and Larry Johnson will be talking about effective ways of using technology.

Joyce Valenza will be one of our keynote speakers and will be talking about school library websites as well as Web 2.0.

Karen Lowe will help us get our collections in line!

Joanne Bongaarts (you heard and loved her last year) will return to tell you about great books!

Professors (experts!) from the School of Library & Information Science who will be speaking include: Dr. Hastings, Dr. Shannon, and Dr. Naidoo. Also be sure to stop by the SLIS Alumni Tea on Thursday, March 13 at 3pm.

Frank Baker and Martha Alewine will be speaking about media literacy and information literacy.

And, there will be so much more – I’m very excited about all of the wonderful sessions that will be presented by our very own SCASL membership! We have a wealth of knowledge out there…be ready to soak it all up! Expect to leave conference feeling POWERful!

Please note! In the Call to Conference, it states that Dr. Ruth Cox Clark will be attending our conference. Unfortunately, she has had to cancel because of a medical reason. But I know you will enjoy all the other wonderful speakers who will be at our conference!

Watch for more updates as the week draws to a close and conference gets closer and closer…

Valerie

SCASL Conference Update-Authors

Your SCASL 2008 Annual Conference is just a few weeks away!

It’s not too late to register…fill out the registration form available in the Call to Conference posted on www.scasl.net

There will be LOTS of authors at conference!

Michelle Knudsen, author of 2008-2009 South Carolina Picture Book Award Nominee, Library Lion.

Alan Katz, author of Take me out of the Bathtub.

Jaime Adoff, author of 2007-2008 South Carolina Young Adult Book Award Nominee, Names will Never Hurt Me.

Will Hobbs, author of 2008-2009 South Carolina Junior Book Award Nominee, Crossing the Wire.

Eloise Greenfield, poet, author of Honey, I Love

Melinda Long, author of Pirates Don’t Change Diapers, will be speaking at our Author Celebration Luncheon

*JUST ANNOUNCED!*

Local authors including Frank Baker, Cynthia Stroud, Theresa Lubbers, Emily Smith Pearce will also be in attendance!

The countdown is on! Before you leave school for the holiday, send in your registration for the 2008 SCASL Annual Conference, March 12-14, 2008 in Columbia! The deadline for the BEST rates is December 31! 5 folks who register by December 31 will get a free ticket to the Authors Celebration Luncheon on Friday, March 14, 2008!

Pre-Conference day is Wednesday, March 12, 2008 and there are lots of options for pre-conference. Please note that ALL TOURS are scheduled for pre-conference day this year.

Options for pre-conference include… 

A FULL DAY pre-conference (10am – 4pm). All FULL DAY pre-conferences are $50, which includes a box lunch. 

Choose from:
Dr. Pat Feehan, Powerful (and fun) Programming in the Library Media Center

Ever wish you could take Dr. Feehan’s programming class at SLIS? If so, this pre-conference is for you! Let Dr. Feehan help you put more fun (and substance) in your library programming with stories, puppets, creative dramatics, films and other activities. This pre-conference takes place at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.

Heather South, Disaster Preparedness in the Library Media Center

Just last week there was talk about Disaster Plans on the listserv…this pre-conference will help you establish a disaster plan and show you what to do with your collection in a hands-on mock disaster. This pre-conference takes place at the South Carolina Department of Archives & History (be sure to wear clothing that can get dirty).

Annette Lamb, E-scrapbooking Synergy

The very energetic Annette Lamb will help you use technology to bring learning to life. This pre-conference takes place at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.

Frank Baker and Martha Alewine, Do you have K.A.T.S. in your Library?

Learn how to match K.A.T.S. (knowledge, attitudes, technology, and skills) to the curriculum through information and media literacy! This pre-conference takes place at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.

Richland One Instructional Team, Power Up to the Future…with Web 2.0!

Find out about wikis, blogs and other Web 2.0 online tools and explore ways to use these technologies as media center and classroom tools for communication and collaboration! This pre-conference takes place at Richland One Instructional Technology Services – Olympia

OR, you could attend a MORNING PRE-CONFERENCE (10am – 12:30pm) or TOUR (9:30am). All HALF-DAY pre-conferences are $25 (except tours).

Choose from:

A local school or State House tour (check out the SCASL Call to Conference or SCASL Blogs! for tour information). All TOURS are $15.

Larry Johnson, Survive and Thrive: Strategies for Leadership and Collaboration

Find out techniques for invigorating your program by connecting to essential school functions, nurturing critical relationships, and establishing exciting learning environments. This pre-conference takes place at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.

Ellen Shuler and Helen Fellers, Shooting for the Stars: Improving Literacy in South Carolina

Check out the new trends in children’s literature and preview the new books of the season! This pre-conference takes place at the Center for Children’s Books and Literacy.

  

Can’t get to Columbia early on Wednesday? Try an AFTERNOON PRE-CONFERENCE (1:30pm – 4pm) or State House tour (1:30). All HALF-DAY pre-conferences are $25 (except tour).

Choose from:

State House Tour. Tour is $15.
Larry Johnson, Building Partnerships

This session will focus on strategies for building collaborative relationships and developing effective, evidence-based programs that increase student achievement. This pre-conference takes place at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.

Leslie Tetreault, Richland County Public Library

Very popular session from last year returns! Learn about the latest and greatest books for children and teens! This pre-conference takes place at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.
Riverbanks Zoo Educational Staff

Find out what’s new at the zoo and how you can link your teaching in the library to the resources at Riverbanks Zoo!  This pre-conference takes place at Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens.

Want to try a little of everything? You can create your own combo! 

Combine a MORNING pre-conference and an AFTERNOON pre-conference, the cost is $50, which includes lunch.

Go to a MORNING pre-conference OR an AFTERNOON pre-conference, and you’ll pay $35 and get a lunch or $25 for no lunch.

Go on a TOUR in the morning and an AFTERNOON pre-conference session. Tour is $15; pre-conference is $25.

Go to a MORNING pre-conference and a TOUR of the State House. Tour is $15; pre-conference is $25.

It’s up to you!

Now, send in those registrations!

Conference Update-Tours!

Another SCASL Annual Conference update for you!

This year, we have moved the tours to WEDNESDAY as a pre-conference “session.” Why? Because this year, they really are more of a pre-conference than just a “tour.” Sign up for one of the tours and you will leave with SO MANY ideas from not only the Library Media Specialist(s) at the school you visit, but others they have invited to share ideas as well! This will give you a chance to see a few outstanding programs instead of one and will also allow you to go to Thursday concurrent offerings. Why not pair a tour with another pre-conference session and have a FULL DAY of learning? 

Where are the tours taking you this year? Choose from:

Special Public/Independent School Tour- Heathwood Hall Episcopal School (http://www.heathwood.org/)

Library Media Specialists, Nancy Reeder and Milly Hart

Milly Hart will divulge secrets of her amazingly successful summer reading program for the elementary grades. Find out how she inspires 250 students to read more than 250,000 pages when they could be letting their reading skills slip over vacation. Gina Riley from Beaufort Academy will be describing ways to network and the benefits of forming regional/county associations of Independent School Librarians/Media Specialists. She will also be discussing the findings from surveys of SPIS that will determine how situations differ and how they are similar. Tom Simpson, the person in charge of IT for everything Apple/Mac at Heathwood will show you amazing software that is new and often free! Finally, there will be time to brag on ideas that have worked, bounce ideas off of each other, steal a few tidbits to take back and share (funny now, but not then) war stories.

High School Tour- Dreher High School (http://dreher.rcsd1.org/home.aspx)

Library Media Specialists, Janet Kenney and Laura Haverkamp

Janet and Laura along with other dynamic high school library media specialists from the Columbia area will take you on a tour of the new Dreher High School Library Media Center. Hear how they are supporting teachers and students by hosting special promotions during Banned Books Week, Teen Read Week, National Poetry Month, and National Library Week. Their school-wide book club with Facebook, a new Animé club and the Monty Python club will also be highlighted.  This newly constructed media center features two walls of 40’ glass windows, a student café, production studio and videoconferencing lab.

Middle School Tour-Dutch Fork Middle School (http://www.lex5.k12.sc.us/DutchForkMS.cfm)

Library Media Specialists, Melinda Hare and Sheri Carpenter

Visit the Dutch Fork Middle School Library Media Center and hear a plethora of best practice ideas on collaboration and curriculum design incorporating technology from a group of seasoned library media specialists.  Successful collaborative lessons across content areas on a variety of topics such as the Holocaust, colonialism, diseases, and dictators will be shared.  Find out how they are creating exceptional units of study school-wide by teaming with the literacy coaches.  See how technology is featured in instructional plans, including podcasting, Moviemaker, Inspiration, and other programs.  Discover new ideas for promoting reading such as hosting an incentive called “The Biggest Reader,” based on a popular television show. 

Elementary School Tour-Sandlapper Elementary School (http://www.sandlapperlive.org/)

Library Media Specialist, Ashley Paddock

Learn what it takes to have a cutting edge library media program! Want to use biometrics, digital yearbooks, Vbrick, SMARTboards, wikis, and teleconferencing in your library media programs??? Ashley Paddock, Michal Hope Brandon (from Polo Road Elementary), and Cindy Symonds (from Round Top Elementary) will show you how!

South Carolina State House Tour (http://www.scstatehouse.net/)

There are two S.C. State House tours–one in the morning and one at 1:30pm. Choose one and pair it with an AM or PM pre-conference! This tour will take you around the South Carolina State House grounds and you will learn about what happens when the House and Senate are in session!  Cost of tour includes “Strive for $25” t-shirt (this year’s conference t-shirt) – wear it proudly on the tour!

The SCASL Call to Conference has been posted (www.scasl.net) and mailed out…I hope that you are all very excited about our conference…I know I am!

I am going to start sending out a little more information each week about our conference…details about sessions and tours, announcements, and more. If you have questions or want more information about something I send out, do not hesitate to let me know! The SCASL Conference is YOUR conference and I want you to get the most out of it! 

Technology is such an important aspect to our jobs and there are lots of exciting events happening this week for S.C. LMS to learn more about using technology with students and teachers. The EdTech Conference in Myrtle Beach, AASL in Reno, and the wrap up of the K12 Online Conference! Whew!

If you cannot attend EdTech or AASL, never fear! SCASL is bringing lots of technology sessions to OUR conference, March 12-14, 2008 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. We will give you the tools you need to successfully integrate technology into the classroom and library!

Here’s just a little of what you can look forward to:

Annette Lamb (she will be at the AASL conference!)

Annette will be doing a variety of sessions for us on Wednesday, March 12 and Thursday, March 13. You can attend an all day pre-conference with her about E-scrapbooking; or pick a concurrent session to attend. She’ll be talking about using existing classroom technology tools (such as PowerPoint) to create engaging project starters in “PowerPoint Sidekicks and Desktop Learning Spaces.” Learn about using Google Earth to track a book character and using video conferencing for meetings in “Re-imagine, Rejuvenate, Renew” on Thursday. Her husband, Larry Johnson, will also be presenting sessions…you can catch an AM or PM pre-conference with Larry. He’ll be talking about collaborating with your classroom teachers and on Thursday, he’ll be talking about how to get out of the “Information Avalanche” by using RSS feeds to keep up with blog reading and other information we often find ourselves buried under! Find out more at their website: http://eduscapes.com/

Joyce Valenza

We all love her so much! Joyce will be one of our keynote speakers on Thursday and will be doing a couple concurrent sessions. Joyce is a blogger for School Library Journal (add it to your RSS feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/SLJNeverEndingSearch) and an all around technology/library role model. Be sure to check her out!

Confused about all of those different 2.0 tools out there or not sure how to use them with your students? Attend the all day pre-conference session, “Power Up to the Future…with Web 2.0″ with the Richland One Instructional Technology Team. Be on the lookout for concurrent sessions by members of the team as well, many of whom are also presenting at EdTech!

Not sure what to do with that SMARTBoard (or any interactive whiteboard) in your library? We’ll have a concurrent session to help you! Barbie Zinkovich, Marilyn Gramling, and Lucy Ballew will be presenting this session at EdTech AND SCASL!

Martha Alewine and Frank Baker will help you provide your teachers with the best resources in understanding information/media/technology literacy at their concurrent session (they will also be presenting an all day pre-conference about using K.A.T.S. in your library)!  

Want time to explore Knowitall.org, DISCUS, and StreamlineSC? Our friends Andrea Thorpe, Amy Duernberger, and Donna Thompson will help you!

You know that SCASL has a blog and Flickr page, right? If you do not know how to post to these tools or want to learn more about them, visit our very own “Technology Queen,” Cathy Nelson, as she guides you through the use of these tools at our Exploritorium on Wednesday evening!

Finally, other technology related concurrent sessions to look for include (and this isn’t even ALL of them!):

Using 3D images and Videos

iPods in the Classroom

Introduction to SchoolRooms

Nuts and Bolts of Podcasting

MovieMaker Magic

Library of Congress resources online

WOW!

If you are going to a conference this week, have fun and learn lots! If you are stuck at school and you are waiting to go to the SCASL Conference, please look forward to excellent technology sessions!

More SCASL Conference updates next week!

Valerie Byrd Fort

SCASL 2008 Call to Conference!

The time has come-the SCASL Call to Conference is here! Take a look at what we have planned for our annual conference–pre-conference tours, sessions SURE to please, and so many wonderful guests including Jaime Adoff, Alan Katz, JOYCE VALENZA, and Will Hobbs.

If you get your registration in by December 31, 2007, you will not only get a reduced registration ($90 for a current member!!!), but you will also be eligible to win a ticket to our Authors Celebration Luncheon!

Can’t wait to see you at conference in Columbia, March 12-14, 2008!

Valerie Byrd Fort

SCASL President Elect

2008-call-to-conf-final.pdf

Conference Update

We are speeding through September and the next thing you know, it will be October! There’s already Halloween and CHRISTMAS stuff out in the stores!!!

Don’t let time go by too quickly…make sure you pay your SCASL membership dues by October 1 so that you will get member rates at conference as well as all the other goodies your SCASL membership gives you (MCM, the listserv, etc.)!

Speaking of conference, I’ve got an update!
You already know that Annette Lamb, Larry Johnson, Eloise Greenfield, Jaime Adoff, and Alan Katz are coming…but, did you know that Michelle Knudson (author of Library Lion) is coming? How about Ruth Cox Clark, book talker extraordinaire and blogger (http://madchatterya.blogspot.com/)?!

Plan to join us March 12-14, 2008 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center~you won’t be disappointed!!

More to come…
Valerie Byrd Fort