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Online Book Clubs: Engaging Busy Kids with Books and Technology. October 15, 2009 Minnesota Library Association Annual Conference. Why offer online book clubs?. Kids many activities computer skills safe online environment live chat experience Parents work schedules.
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Online Book Clubs:Engaging Busy Kids with Books and Technology October 15, 2009 Minnesota Library Association Annual Conference
Why offer online book clubs? • Kids • many activities • computer skills • safe online environment • live chat experience • Parents • work schedules
Book club framework • Structure • Monday – Friday • guys / girls • registration • Technology • book club Web page • Moodle
First steps • Requirements • computer, Internet, active e-mail • Best time • summer • guys / girls book clubs same week • partner with schools • host book club for author event
First steps • Books • read • give-away • Download software
Program description Girls ONLY Online Book Club Monday, June 22 – Friday, June 26 Online book clubs are great fun for kids with busy summer schedules. Participate in the book discussion Web page every day, any time of day, Monday – Friday. You must have a current e-mail address (may use family e-mail), and computer and Internet access. (Hennepin County Library program guide, summer 2009)
Book club activities • Daily question • Daily poll • Author website • author participation • Live chat • Photos / images • Related websites
Software • Online teaching platforms • aka: learning management systems, course management software, e-learning • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_campus • Products • Moodle – www.moodle.com • Blackboard – www.blackboard.com • Desire2Learn (D2L) – www.desire2learn.com
Software • Other possible book club platforms • email, using daily digest • blog • discussion board – PunBB – http://punbb.informer.com • Facebook (teens)
Moodle • Free • Common in schools • Download to local server • Variety of functions • register users • set up course • polls, discussion, live chat www.moodle.com
Planning tips • Build book club Web page • establish password • update each day • Create link on library Web page • Send e-mail reminders • two weeks before book club • during book club Planning Tips
Planning tips • Offer incentives ? • Register kids in Moodle • step 1: register as Moodle user • step 2: enroll in book club • Respect confidentiality • hide last name, e-mail
Evaluation • Tools • U of MN research evaluation (2007-2008) Ph.D. thesis by Cassandra Scharber • HCL evaluation using Survey Monkey (2009) • Results overview • Kids and parents are enthusiastic
Join another online book club? “It was really fun to get to do the book club online” “it was reeally fun” “I was kind of iffy becuase some weeks in the summer i really don't have time”
What did you like about this online book club? “I liked the book and being able to see what other people wrote - in my other book clubs not everyone speaks up” “That you could participate any time of the day” “That you got to talk on the computer. I really like to do things on the computer” “I liked that I got to see what everyone elsewas thinking” “You get to meet new people over the internet”
What could we do to make online book clubs better for you? “Put the questions in easier words” “Have multiple online chat sessions, so that if you can't do one you can do another” “I think it was the best it can be” “Have more chats and make then longer” “Read more challanging books”
Resources • Online Book Clubs for the Net Generation Cassandra Scharber, Ph.D. Dissertation, University of MN • Online Book Clubs for Preteens and Teens Scharber, Melrose, Wurl. Library Review. 2009. Vol 58:3 • Web 2.0 World: Expanding Perspectives of Literacy Carter, VOYA. June, 2009. www.voya.com • Skills for Success in the 21st century www.21stcenturyskills.org/route21
Thank you ! Ann Melrose Senior Librarian, Web Services Hennepin County Library amelrose@hclib.org 952.847.8529 www.hclib.org/extranet