The Information Specialist's Scoop

"Twitteracy: Tweeting Improves Learning And Engagement
Education Professor Christine Greenhow, Michigan State University, conducted a study on Twitter as a new form of literacy (http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00131725.2012.709032).

 

Her results showed that adults who tweet during a class and as part of the instruction:

are more engaged with the course content
are more engaged with the instructor
are more egaged with other students
and have higher grades than the other students.
“Tweeting can be thought of as a new form of literacy,” Greenhow said. “The students get more engaged because they feel it is connected to something real, that it’s not just learning for the sake of learning. It feels authentic to them.”

Via Dennis T OConnor, Karen du Toit

IFLA Conference Paper:

 

Gillian M McCombs:

 

"The digital age may well be considered a golden age for Special Collections. Treasures that have long been locked in vaults and available only to researchers onsite are now accessible at the click of a mouse from anywhere in the world. However, for every stunning rare book, photograph or art work that is available electronically, thousands more are still inaccessible. Some libraries have been slow to realize the potential for digital access and have not built the infrastructure needed to put these collections out into the public eye. This paper addresses questions such as: are we hiring the right people for Special Collections; are we retooling current curators so that they are technically adept; are we providing our Special Collections Libraries with necessary resources such as marketing and graphics design staff to develop websites for digital exhibits; have they developed a strategic plan that outlines their long-term goals for incorporating technology; what are the consortial opportunities that will help our Special Collections Libraries; are we working closely enough with library schools and rare book programs to ensure that graduates have the skills, aptitude and attitude that we need?"

source: INFODocket

 

http://conference.ifla.org/sites/default/files/files/papers/wlic2012/87-mccombs-en.pdf

 

Via Karen du Toit

"More than 1,000 archivists from 90 countries have come to Brisbane this week to try and solve the challenges of the digital age.

   Hosted by the National Archives of Australia, the International Council on Archives (ICA) Congress is being held until Thursday (24 August) at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
   The ICA is dedicated to the effective management of records and the preservation, care and use of the world’s archival heritage through its representation of records and archive professionals around the world."

 

Full program can be accessed here: http://ica2012.com/files/data/program/Program-matrix-1508.pdf

 

1,000 meet to explore challenges   

It is the first time the four-yearly congress has been held in Australia and this year’s theme A Climate of Change will be explored by a number of keynote speakers including the Head Archivist for the United States of America, David Ferreiro, who will present the topic, ‘Archives in a world of social media’.

Via Karen du Toit