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A CMLE member librarian, representing our special library types, suggested an educational technology tool called Ngram Viewer, a subsidiary of Google Research. It illustrates (often in table or graph format) how a word or phase has been used over time including its root, compositions, use in parts of speech and so on.
In May, David Brooks, a political and cultural commentator, wrote an article in the New York Times Opinion Section on how this tool can be used to identify social and cultural paradigm shifts. Click here to read the full article, What Our Words Tell Us.
This week, Merriam-Webster offers a chance to test your vocabulary. Select the best meaning/synonym for 10 randomly selected words. You will be notified immediately if you guessed correctly. At the end of the quiz, it will tally the total number of points earned. Do you want to know how you stack up to your peers? Select your age group (end of the quiz) to compare your scores!
Just for fun, join this week’s quick brainteaser.
Did I mention it’s timed? You will only have 10 seconds to answer each question. Good luck!
This week CMLE highlights a free EdTech Tool to use in your library that encapsulates the United States (U.S.) in pictures (image gallery). The Measuring America—People, Places and Our Economy site was created from the U.S. Census Bureau’s collection of historic photographs of enumerators, advertising, household scenes, buildings and technology. The images are searchable by decade from 1790 to 2010. Click Here to access the free historic images.
Note, the tab titled Through the Decades: Fast Facts provides a “popular culture context” that paints a statistical and cultural portrait of the U.S.. This online timeline highlights the innovations, events and icons through the decades. Click here to access fast facts.
Tip: This EdTech Tool could be a wonderful resource for you to assist teacher(s) in your building or school that assign an annual decades or U.S. history project.
In honor of summer, CMLE is serving-up an article by Publisher Weekly. Here is a list of must have, Standout Barbecue Books of Summer 2013 for your next cookout. Click here to read the full article. Learn about the tools of the trade, flavorful sauces, grilling tips from the pros and more.
Tip: Create an impromptu display in your library focusing on your summer cooking/grilling book collection. Don’t forget props like spatulas, gingham fabric or even plastic food from a child’s play-set you might already have in your play box.
Project ENABLE is a collaborative project between Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies, Center for Digital Literacy, and Burton Blatt Institute. ENABLE strives to provide high quality, comprehensive, train-the-trainer continuing education programs for school librarians with a special focus on delivering effective library and information services to PreK-12 students with disabilities.
If this sounds like a program you would be interested in being a part of, they are currently recruiting 3-person teams consisting of a librarian, general educator and special educator as well as 15 school library faculties in higher education. Participants will be asked to attend a four and a half day workshop on the Syracuse University campus in either June or August 2013. For more information contact cdl@syr.edu.
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