I am finishing up with the AASL Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. One more day on the exhibition floor and hopefully a few more good conversations with some really switched on secondary school folk. Overall, it has been good and I thought I might share a few of the highlights (both conference related and not).
1. Everyone more or less knowing JSTOR. We had only a handful of people mention that they were not familiar with it. A lot of schools interested in learning more.
2. Conversations with several teachers/librarians on how to incorporate JSTOR into AP curricula. These were very good, pragmatic discussions where we bounced ideas off one another. Really has me thinking about materials to develop when back in the office.
3. Conversation with librarian at Maggie L. Walker School Library on Data for Research (DfR). Very astute and very excited about new ways to conceptualize information. She even recommended a few search examples for DfR to see when language fell out of favor. Great conversation. Be sure to visit the Library’s Blog. If only they had these types of resources when I was in secondary school.
4. Talking to a librarian currently at an American International School in Peru, but who had formerly worked at the American International School in Maputo, Mozambique. He was very very familiar with materials found at Aluka (especially the absolutely brilliant Tempo magazines-so vivid). He had used these materials in class. Great to know they got some use as that is where I started in this organization. I included a few sample covers below.
5. Having someone recommend that, on my night off, I should go to Whiskey River, a saloon (that is the word she used) created by Dale Earnhardt (I think that is what she said). She said I looked like I would enjoy it. I am not sure what that meant.
Flying to Philadelphia Airport tonight and then a drive up 95 to Princeton. There be my wife.