Stumpedia

A totally different way to search than Google, Stumpedia is

a personalized social & real-time collaborative discovery tool that relies on human participation to index, organize, and review the world wide web.  Stumpedia does not depend on automated bots, proprietary algorithms, or company insiders to make decisions on the relevance and ranking of search results.

www.stumpedia

Stumpedia allows you to submit, rank, and personalize your own search results. The relevance of search results are unique to you and are determined by your social graph in the following order: you, your social network friends, friends-of-friends, your followers, and the overall community. A spammer who submits and ranks irrelevant results can be easily identified, blocked, and unfollowed to prevent your search results from being polluted. Users can personalize and customize search results by re-ranking, deleting, adding, and commenting on search results. This data is used to determine the relevancy of search results for the people in your social graph and vice versa.

Upon search results being displayed, users are given the option to

  • like
  • save
  • share
  • dislike
  • bury

specific results. If users click on the appropriate buttons, this then changes the ranking of search results.

Wikipedia defines Stumpedia as

a social project and community effort that relies on human participation and folksonomies to index, organize, and review the world wide web. The aim is to help build Natural Language Processing and the Semantic Web.

Certainly an interesting project and would be useful to show to students just how public opinion can change the way information is presented.

Digital China

D-Lib Magaine: the magazine of digital library research has just released the May/June 2010 edition. The current edition features articles and information on digital collections from China. Topics such as

  • The Hedda Morrison Photographs of China, 1933–1946
  • Special Issue on Digital Libraries in China
  • Overview of Digital Library Development in China
  • Building the New-generation China Academic Digital Library Information System (CADLIS): A Review and Prospectus
  • China National Science and Technology Digital Library (NSTL)
  • The National Digital LIbrary Project

will prove informative and engaging for anyone interested in the way China is developing its digital libraries.

Interested parties may subscribe to this online magazine for free.

Weekly links (weekly)

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

WikiNorthia

Documenting stories from people in Melbourne’s north, WikiNorthia is a wiki with two main assets.

  1. It is open to contributions from anyone.
  2. With topics such as:

  • art and literature,
  • buildings,
  • community,
  • environment,
  • events,
  • people,
  • places,
  • sport and recreation,
  • transport and
  • work and commerce,

there is a vast array of resources available for research.

WikiNorthia

The about page explains the origins of the wiki:

WikiNorthia is an innovative project that will encourage people across five local councils with rich cultural histories and diverse communities to get together and tell their stories providing a snapshot of life in the north of Melbourne now as well as the past. The project is the first of its type in Victoria and in fact Australia.

Students in the regions catered for by WikiNorthia could find an audience for specific pieces of work as well as using the wiki as a research resource. Support materials will be useful for teachers and students.

Pathfinder swap

We’ve all done pathfinders for our students. They take quite a bit of time, but they are so useful to point students (and teachers) in the right direction when researching a topic. Now teacher librarian Dr Joyce Valenza has come up with the brilliant idea of hosting a wiki where anyone can upload their pathfinders and in return, find completed pathfinders by other educators. Pathfinder Swap is the result.

Pathfinder swap

Encompassing the topics of

  • Art
  • Books and Reading
  • Business
  • Current Events
  • ESL
  • Geography
  • Health
  • Language Arts
  • Literature
  • Math
  • Media
  • Music
  • Science
  • Social Issues
  • Social Studies
  • US History
  • World History
  • World Languages
  • Interdisciplinary
  • Professional Development

as well as tools to use to build online pathfinders, this wiki is a sensational idea. What a great way to save time and to share and collaborate with others. Please consider sharing your pathfinders via this great initiative.

History of soccer in South Africa and free game

For anyone studying or interested in the World Cup, the BBC has produced a five minute video of the history of soccer in South Africa. The video is available to viewers in Australia (not always the case with BBC videos).

Kim Baker, the Programme Executive: Document Supply and Information Services at the National Library of South Africa says “Some nice publicity showing the worth of libraries and how they can add value to sport!”

Thanks to Helen Boelens for this link.

Free Soccer Game

For soccer fans comes the free game Can I play this at home? Ideal for schools, this site uses geography, maths and language tasks to help players progress through the soccer game. Select your team and you’re away. It is actually a lot of fun.

Thanks to Greg Pallis for submitting this resource.

More maths screencasts

Further to the post about Mathtrain.TV a few weeks ago, another school site sharing maths screencasts has come to my attention.

maths screencasts

Craig Mantin and Willowgrove Middle School students have created over thirty screencasts embedded in this wiki to share with audiences around the globe.

This site is useful in two ways. The first to provide a resource for students studying maths who may need further explanations on the topic. The second is to provide an exemplar of how students can demonstrate their learning of maths concepts (and media creation skills) by teaching others.

Wesley College investigates eReaders

The 2009 SLAV Research Grant recipients Wilma Kurvink and her team Marie Turnbull, Bart Rutherford, Margaret Pajak, Meg Moores and Cameron McIntosh, at Wesley College have just completed a study into using eReaders at school. Wilma has kindly shared an edited version of her report with readers of Bright Ideas. A fuller account will be published in SLAV’s Synergy online journal shortly.

To be published in the next edition of Synergy
This project explored the potential of e-texts and e-readers as a viable technology to maintaining the linear text as a key modality in an educational setting, and for reducing printed materials and waste.
At the time of writing the research outcomes the Apple iPad was to be launched,  promising a step closer to a seamless integration of e-texts into a device. By now many readers will have seen, or purchased the iPad and some of the information in the article will be outdated, and superseded. This serves to highlight how rapidly the publishing industry is changing as texts are changing into digital formats. Now it is possible to incorporate non text materials into linear text, which challenges traditional notions of material descriptions in library catalogues.
While comparisons with the iPad and its promise of multiple formats, and applications in a single tablet device are tempting, it exceeds the scope of the research. Our trial was conducted on e-readers that use e-ink technology, and the various operating systems they are coupled to. iPads and related tablet technology, have a backlit screen and encompass many functions, including games, video and email.  The e-ink technology, and readers we trialled were solely dedicated to the delivery and consumption of linear text.
Trial summary and results overview
The project consisted of 3 strands of inquiry
A comparative study of 10 older and 21 younger readers was undertaken, examining the affective domains, and the associated experiences of reading in a new device. The devices trialled were Iliad and Cybook e-readers.
The testing of models of delivery and acquisition of e-texts to a device, examining the issue of Digital Rights Management in the acquisition process. Exploration of the potential integration of e-texts into the formal catalogue and purchasing systems in the college.
An investigation of  how the e-Reader and e-text adoption would  influence the publishers and distributers, inquiring into whether publishers and distributors would to adopt models that make purchasing and management practical for the school sector.
The trial took place between April 2008 and November 2009.
The research outcomes show that older readers were significantly more engaged with and accepting of the e-reader device than younger readers. The research also pointed to older readers being more established readers who viewed the e-text and e-reader combination as providing an extension of their reading. Although all younger readers were experienced readers, they related less well to the device overall, and were less inclined to continue to read with it. The research highlighted significant generational difference in the trial groups- both in relation to reading itself and how technology may impact or change it.
The trials revealed significant difficulty for schools in the purchase any e-text to be transferred to a device. Major issues were identified in the current deployment of Digital Rights Management as it is embedded in many of the transactions related to purchase. In addition limited access to titles both locally and globally are affected by restrictive practices in copy right and digital rights management.
The investigation demonstrated that the publishers and distributors had not considered the library sector as a significant player in the e-text expansion, and the school sector as even less so. The research also highlighted a lack of planning across the publishing sector to guarantee a technical delivery of e-text that was seamless across sectors and industry instead opting for multiple formats and delivery in a competitive environment.
Conclusions
The e-reader and e-text trial undertaken by the Wesley College Library team demonstrated that the younger readers in the trial were less satisfied with the e-text and e-reader combination that the adult readers. Adult readers spent more time reading in the trial, and were more committed to continue with an e-reader. Younger readers were more critical consumers of the technology, more inclined to experiment with then and also found less reason to read an e-reader when a hardcopy was available. This tendency became less pronounced when it came to older students who saw benefits in using an e-reader/e-text combination in preference to using hard copy text books.
The implementation of e-texts combined with e-readers in a conventional library acquisition and cataloguing system is practically unworkable, mainly due to the amount of Digital Rights Management embedded not only in the acquisition and title transfer process but also in the restrictions placed by suppliers on the readers themselves and the number of devices that can be used to transfer titles to. It must be conceded that e-readers are most effective when they are personal devices which are personalised by their user. Article collections and e-book titles cannot be transferred from one e-reader to another, and over time an e-reader that belongs to a person becomes as idiosyncratic of the users interests as does their bookshelf at home, or the bookshelf and file in the office.
More advantageous for school libraries and academic libraries are the options of subscribing to e-text collections and e-text libraries such as can be done with Warners, and EBL for instance. These options can be offered in existing technical systems in schools, or could become a reality for many schools via consortia purchase. Equally, involvement by state education departments in developing e-text access for text book delivery may be advantageous from many perspectives, particularly from a sustainability viewpoint and to reduce the weight of school bags for students travelling to and from school.
The paper concluded that while publishers, and on sellers were still formulating models to publish and disseminate e-texts, a window of opportunity exists for libraries to reconsider their role in the mediation of e-text materials. To successfully take up the opportunity will involve cross sector collaboration to overcome digital rights management and copyright issues, as well as overcoming the technical difficulties that accompany the current modes of delivery.  In addition, consortia models for e-text delivery to schools will need to be developed to ensure that school libraries can deliver access to all, regardless of the resourcing levels within individual schools. Ensuring equity for students to be at the heart of all quality library programs, and should drive this innovation.

To be published in full in the next edition of Synergy

The paper concluded that while publishers, and on sellers were still formulating models to publish and disseminate e-texts, a window of opportunity exists for libraries to reconsider their role in the mediation of e-text materials. To successfully take up the opportunity will involve cross sector collaboration to overcome digital rights management and copyright issues, as well as overcoming the technical difficulties that accompany the current modes of delivery.  In addition, consortia models for e-text delivery to schools will need to be developed to ensure that school libraries can deliver access to all, regardless of the resourcing levels within individual schools. Ensuring equity for students to be at the heart of all quality library programs, and should drive this innovation.

This project explored the potential of e-texts and e-readers as a viable technology to maintaining the linear text as a key modality in an educational setting, and for reducing printed materials and waste.

At the time of writing the research outcomes the Apple iPad was to be launched,  promising a step closer to a seamless integration of e-texts into a device. By now many readers will have seen, or purchased the iPad and some of the information in the article will be outdated, and superseded. This serves to highlight how rapidly the publishing industry is changing as texts are changing into digital formats. Now it is possible to incorporate non text materials into linear text, which challenges traditional notions of material descriptions in library catalogues.

While comparisons with the iPad and its promise of multiple formats, and applications in a single tablet device are tempting, it exceeds the scope of the research. Our trial was conducted on e-readers that use e-ink technology, and the various operating systems they are coupled to. iPads and related tablet technology, have a backlit screen and encompass many functions, including games, video and email.  The e-ink technology, and readers we trialled were solely dedicated to the delivery and consumption of linear text.

iLiad

Trial summary and results overview

The project consisted of 3 strands of inquiry

A comparative study of 10 older and 21 younger readers was undertaken, examining the affective domains, and the associated experiences of reading in a new device. The devices trialled were Iliad and Cybook e-readers.

The testing of models of delivery and acquisition of e-texts to a device, examining the issue of Digital Rights Management in the acquisition process. Exploration of the potential integration of e-texts into the formal catalogue and purchasing systems in the college.

An investigation of  how the e-Reader and e-text adoption would  influence the publishers and distributers, inquiring into whether publishers and distributors would to adopt models that make purchasing and management practical for the school sector.

The trial took place between April 2008 and November 2009.

The research outcomes show that older readers were significantly more engaged with and accepting of the e-reader device than younger readers. The research also pointed to older readers being more established readers who viewed the e-text and e-reader combination as providing an extension of their reading. Although all younger readers were experienced readers, they related less well to the device overall, and were less inclined to continue to read with it. The research highlighted significant generational difference in the trial groups- both in relation to reading itself and how technology may impact or change it.

eReader image

The trials revealed significant difficulty for schools in the purchase any e-text to be transferred to a device. Major issues were identified in the current deployment of Digital Rights Management as it is embedded in many of the transactions related to purchase. In addition limited access to titles both locally and globally are affected by restrictive practices in copy right and digital rights management.

The investigation demonstrated that the publishers and distributors had not considered the library sector as a significant player in the e-text expansion, and the school sector as even less so. The research also highlighted a lack of planning across the publishing sector to guarantee a technical delivery of e-text that was seamless across sectors and industry instead opting for multiple formats and delivery in a competitive environment.

Conclusions

The e-reader and e-text trial undertaken by the Wesley College Library team demonstrated that the younger readers in the trial were less satisfied with the e-text and e-reader combination that the adult readers. Adult readers spent more time reading in the trial, and were more committed to continue with an e-reader. Younger readers were more critical consumers of the technology, more inclined to experiment with then and also found less reason to read an e-reader when a hardcopy was available. This tendency became less pronounced when it came to older students who saw benefits in using an e-reader/e-text combination in preference to using hard copy text books.

eReader satisfaction survey

6 rated as excellent, 5 rated as very good, 4as good, 3 as acceptable, 2 as poor and 1 as very poor

The implementation of e-texts combined with e-readers in a conventional library acquisition and cataloguing system is practically unworkable, mainly due to the amount of Digital Rights Management embedded not only in the acquisition and title transfer process but also in the restrictions placed by suppliers on the readers themselves and the number of devices that can be used to transfer titles to. It must be conceded that e-readers are most effective when they are personal devices which are personalised by their user. Article collections and e-book titles cannot be transferred from one e-reader to another, and over time an e-reader that belongs to a person becomes as idiosyncratic of the users interests as does their bookshelf at home, or the bookshelf and file in the office.

6 rated as excellent, 5 rated as very good, 4 as good, 3 as acceptable, 2 as poor and 1 as very poor

6 rated as excellent, 5 rated as very good, 4 as good, 3 as acceptable, 2 as poor and 1 as very poor

More advantageous for school libraries and academic libraries are the options of subscribing to e-text collections and e-text libraries such as can be done with Warners, and EBL for instance. These options can be offered in existing technical systems in schools, or could become a reality for many schools via consortia purchase. Equally, involvement by state education departments in developing e-text access for text book delivery may be advantageous from many perspectives, particularly from a sustainability viewpoint and to reduce the weight of school bags for students travelling to and from school.

Thanks to Wilma and her team for undertaking and sharing this valuable research. A reminder that the full account of the research will be published in the next online edition of Synergy. A reminder to SLAV members that if you have mislaid your Synergy login details, please contact the SLAV office for assistance.

Weekly links (weekly)

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Museum Box

This is a nifty site that is available to teachers and schools worldwide. The site explains how Museum Box

provides the tools for you to build up an argument or description of an event, person or historical period by placing items in a virtual box. What items, for example, would you put in a box to describe your life; the life of a Victorian Servant or Roman soldier; or to show that slavery was wrong and unnecessary? You can display anything from a text file to a movie. You can also view and comment on the museum boxes submitted by others.

Museum box

The site also explains how

You can add text, images, video and sound to the side of the cubes. To save your box you will need to register. For teachers there is lesson guidance and instructions for use are available in the Teachers Area and you can Register your school.

Anyone can view the Museum Boxes, but if you wish to make and save your own box, it does require registration, which is approved (in my case) in about five days.

What an engaging way of putting together resources on a historical (or any) topic.

Thanks to Richard Byrne from Free Technology for Teachers for alerting Bright Ideas to Museum Box!