Monthly Archives: March 2011

Worth reading: SLAV’s Synergy

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Worth readingSynergy is an online publication by the School Library Association of Victoria, edited by Dr. Susan La Marca. The journal is published twice annually in May and October. SLAV members have access to this online resource, using a username and password.

Volume 8, Number 2, 2010 had a particularly thought-provoking article written by the United State’s Kristin Fontichiaro entitled ‘2.0 or 2.Faux?: Wrapping our heads around digital assessment – An interactive article’. Yes, an interactive article. During the article, Fontichiaro has the reader visiting a wikispace she created to compliment and extend the article. As she says, ‘pull up a chair, fire up a laptop, and surf over…’ to the wikispace. Fontichiaro gets you to question how you are using ICT in your school and whether it is ICT for ICT’s sake.

La Marca has suggested this would be a brilliant article to discuss at branch meetings for SLAV members, and would be just as useful being analysed as a professional development opportunity for staff at school. If you are not a SLAV member and want to view this article, contact SLAV on (03) 93495822 or slav@netspace.net.au.

Synergy 

Libraryhack

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It is time to start thinking about Libraryhack, the amazing competition to create mashups and applications open to individuals or teams. This would be a fantastic competition for media students, or any students to partake in that show an interest in creating mashups and apps.

Competitors use data from participating libraries. These libraries include State Library of Victoria (SLV), State Library of South Australia, State Library of Queensland, State Library of Tasmania, State Library of Western Australia, State Library of New South Wales, National Library of Australia, and the National Library of New Zealand/Digital NZ. Datasets will be available from the Australian Government data repository, the New Zealand Government data repository, and through Digital NZ.

The ideas competition in now running.

The ideas competition runs from 8th February – 30th April 2011. The winning prize is $1000 for the best idea for a mashup or app.  All entries in this category must suggest using at least one dataset or content from at least one dataset, from one of the participating libraries. The datalists below are provided by Libraryhack to inspire entries in the ideas competition. SLV’s datasets are listed first. As the datasets become available a link will appear in the list.

Libraryhack - data

The Libraryhack competition will be held in May.

There will be mashup and hack events held across Australia. Check the Libraryhack website, or follow Libraryhack on twitter for venues near you. In Victoria, SLV is hosting ‘Libraryhack’:

When: Fri 20 – Sat 21 May, 10.30am – 5.30pm
Where: State Library of Victoria, Experimedia.
Tickets: Free, bookings required
Bookings: http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/event/libraryhack 

You will be able to access SLV’s library collection content and data in order to remix and create a new application, digital story, image, or other new content. These can then be entered into the libraryhack competition. Reminders will be posted closer to the event.

If you are unsure what a mashup, hack, or app looks like, check out the resources offered on the Libraryhack site.

 

ALERT – Inside a dog. New dog, new tricks.

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The Centre for Youth Literature’s (CYL) website Inside a dog has had a revolution. To make the most of the new-look site, with its new features and resources for teachers, it is well-worth going to the launch on Tuesday 8th March. It will be a celebration, with New Zealand author Bernard Beckett being the keynote speaker. Entry includes a free copy of Beckett’s novel August. Bookings close Friday 4th March. Visit The Age Education Resource Centre for more information on the upcoming lauch.

New dog, new tricks