Recommended New Book

Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns by Clayton M. Christensen
Library call number: LB1027.C4662 2008

This paragraph comes from the book cover:
"According to recent studies in neuroscience, the way we learn doesn't always match up with the way we are taught. If we hope to stay competitive--academically, economically, and technologically--we need to rethink our understanding of intelligence, reevaluate our educational system, and reinvigorate our committment to learning. In other words, we need 'disruptive innovation.'"

This book is highly recommended and available in the library.

Is America safe from terrorism today?

Homeland Security
Is America safe from terrorism today?
By Peter Katel
Following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the U.S. government created the Department of Homeland Security, giving it stepped-up power to shadow and detain terrorism suspects. Then-President George W. Bush credited these measures — and intelligence and military operations abroad — with preventing new attacks on U.S. soil in the nearly eight years since 9/11. But some intelligence. . . .read the full report on CQ Researcher online (password protected). Call or stop in the library for access information.
Source: CQ Researcher February 13, 2009

Recommended New Book

Human: The Science Behind What Makes us Unique by Michael S. Gazzaniga

"Readers interested in an overview of current research will find much of it conveniently packaged here. Those looking for answers will instead find ample reminders of how far brain science has to go before speculation and metaphor can be replaced with concrete models. Gazzaniga does not offer any grand conclusions. Despite all we have learned about the brain, we cannot yet explain how it makes us who we are. What Human resembles most is a voyage through Gazzaniga's own left hemisphere, which has amassed a wealth of information to be digested and pondered. Finding yourself in such a rich setting, you may well agree with Gazzaniga's closing sentiment: "Am I ever glad I am not a chimp!"

Source Citation:Semeniuk, Ivan. "We're special and you know it: something in the human brain sets us apart from other animals. Ivan Semeniuk follows an expert guide as he attempts to pin it down.(Book review)." New Scientist 199.2669 (August 16, 2008): 45(1). Academic OneFile. Gale. Goodwin College. 19 Feb. 2009
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Two New Beta Releases to Know About

+ WizeHive

Manage your activities, collaborate with others, and organize your life (or business) all in one integrated platform. Note: At the moment, you need to register for this Beta release. Free!

+ iTrackmine.com - Aggregating Your Collection Online

In a nutshell, iTrackmine stands as a web-based collection manager that lets you import your collection online and easily manage it and share it with whomever you want.

Source: KillerStartUps.com and MoMB

Academic Earth Offers Free Video Lectures

Academic Earth is "building a user-friendly educational ecosystem that will give internet users around the world the ability to easily find, interact with, and learn from full video courses and lectures from the world’s leading scholars. Our goal is to bring the best content together in one place and create an environment that in which that content is remarkably easy to use and in which user contributions make existing content increasingly valuable."
Source: Academic Earth on Facebook
Image: Image from Academic Earth Facebook page

Free Web Seminar

On February 17th, New York Times bestselling author Walter Dean Myers presented a National Council of Teachers of America (NCTE) Web seminar, "Teaching Dope Sick in the Classroom," as part of the National African American Read-In. This book, one of Myers's most recent, is available for free viewing from the Adlit.org website until February 24, 2009. In the Web seminar, Myers talks openly about growing up in Harlem, the origin of his book ideas, the significance of Dope Sick, ways to bridge the gap with inner city youth, and ideas for writing about literature. View the recording of the Web seminar as part of your National African American Read-In celebration during the month of February!
Source: NCTE Inbox February 18 2009

Management Tip of the Week

Schedule Regular Meetings . . . With Yourself
As we continue venturing into uncharted economic waters, how can you keep your job on track and continue delivering your best? Schedule a weekly meeting with yourself. That's right: no matter how busy you are, this is not a luxury. It's essential.

Every week, take a quiet hour to reflect on recent critical events -- conflicts, failures, opportunities you exploited, observations of others' behavior, feedback from others. Consider how you responded, what went well, what didn't, and what might be more effective in the future.

Never cancel this meeting -- it's crucial
Today's Management Tip was adapted from "A New Year's Resolution: Schedule Regular Meetings with Yourself," posted on January 5, 2009, by Gill Corkindale on "Letter from London."
Source for the blog: Direct quote from Harvard Publishing

Life of Zora Neal Hurston

Paul LaRocca has given the library a signed copy of Speak, SoYou Can Speak Again: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston written by her grand-niece, Lucy Anne Hurston. It is a documented journey with an interactive collection of photographs, poetry, articles, cards, handwritten notes, and a CD. Thank you, Paul. This gift is greatly appreciated.
Image: book cover

Global Warming Animated

“Climate change is an enormously complex issue. Some scientists have dedicated their entire lives to researching it. Lately, we've been coming across lots of great animations that can help us understand and discuss these complex issues through their entertainment and educational value, or through political and social commentary. Here are some of the best I found. They range from satirical to musical, public service to comedy:” (Sarah Kuck)

This article last month, Global Warming Animated, by Sarah Kuck in World Changing is not to be missed. She gives you a chance to sample some of these entertaining and education animations. Try “Wake up, Freak Out—Then Get a Grip” first.
Source: World Changing December 18, 2008
Image: www.careglobalwarming.com/global-warming.jpg

Closing the Gap

Closing the Gap Between Education and Technology
"According to Apple curriculum evangelist Mark Benno, we live in a time when "our kids are being pushed harder, faster, and in ways we never would have imagined." And that, he insisted, is creating a variety of challenges for today's educators." You must read this.

Source: The JOURNAL February 2009