Did You Know?

The First Friday in March is the World Day of Prayer.The idea of designating a day for Christians to pray together was suggested in 1887 by the Presbyterian Church in the United States. Today, the observance has spread to other denominations, all of which hold the same service—translated, of course, into the appropriate language—on the first Friday in March. In each community, one church is selected for the service, and throughout the day women of all denominations come and go, each staying as long as she wishes, to take her place in this world-wide chain of prayer.
Source: Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations of the World Dictionary in the Credo Reference Database
Painting: Melozzo da Forli (1438-1494), Angel Musician (fresco) from The Bridgeman Art Library Archive, also available from Credo Reference

Adult Online Learning

“About 70 percent of adult learners taking classes online do not finish their courses,” according to a study by Shawna L. Strickland, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia. The report says that while more introverted or shy personality types, or individuals with schedule conflicts, can thrive in online-learning programs, difficulties with operating the required technology or heavy workloads can stand in the way of course completion. The author drew from academic journals and studies on distance learning for the report, which examined adult learners ages 20 to 40.
Source: Mary C. Breaden, Adult Online Learning, Education Week, March 5, 2008, Vol. 27, Issue 26. Original Report, “Understanding Successful Characteristics of Adult Learners.”

National Women's History Month

In 2009, the National Women's History Project honors women who have taken the lead in the environmental or "green" movement. We are featuring Rachel Carson, the founder of the contemporary environmental movement, as the iconic model of the theme. Rachel Carson's work provides an admirable model for comparison. The 2009 Honorees are scientists, engineers, business leaders, writers, filmmakers, conservationists, teachers, community organizers, religious or workplace leaders or others whose lives show exceptional vision and leadership to save our planet.
Source: National Women"s History Month Project

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

Blackboard 9.0 Release

Blackboard has released an all-new version of Blackboard Learn, formerly known as the Blackboard Academic Suite. The new 9.0 release adds social learning and Web 2.0 tools, as well as capabilities for integrating the software with open source systems like Moodle and Sakai.

Blackboard Learn 9.0 focuses heavily on Web 2.0 and social and collaborative learning tools. These include a variety of enhancements to existing features, as well as some completely new capabilities, in the areas blogs, group tools, journals, notifications, and the UI itself, which has undergone a redesign and is now built on Web 2.0 technologies.

Some of the other new features include:

1) Facebook integration, including access to course information and alerts within Facebook;
2) SafeAssign for plagiarism detection and prevention;
New navigation capabilities, including enhanced keyboard navigation;
3) "Standards based design for ease of use with assistive technologies such as screen readers"; and
4) New integration capabilities for using Blackboard in conjunction with open source and home-grown learning management systems.

America's Favorite Movie Star

I know you have all been waiting for this information. For the third year in a row, Denzel Washington comes in on top as America’s favorite movie star. Returning to the list this year at number two, after a one year absence, is Clint Eastwood. The perennial favorite, John Wayne, who died 30 years ago, is tied with Will Smith at number three. These are the some of the results of The Harris Poll, a new nationwide survey of 2,388 U.S. adults surveyed online by Harris Interactive between December 9 and 15, 2008.
Source: Harris Poll

American History:American Presidency Project

The American Presidency Project is an impressive resource for the study of the Presidency, complete with a searchable database of more than 84,000 records. This project of the University of California-Santa Barbara offers a rich combination of both current and historical information on American Presidents from 1789 to 2008. Researchers and students will find themselves exploring these primary documents for just one more piece of history. The information is presented through an attractive and highly functional web site.
Source: College and Research Libraries News January 2009

Stimulus Plan Aids for Education

The economic stimulus plan that The House of Representatives passed yesterday will shower the nation’s school districts, child care centers and university campuses with $150 billion in new federal spending, a vast two-year investment that would more than double the Department of Education’s current budget. Read the article in the New York Times.

Source: New York Times January 28

Working with Students with Autism

Working With Students With Autism
When: Wednesday, January 28, 4 to 5 p.m. EST
Where: http://www.edweek-chat.org

Children are currently being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders at the staggering rate of 1 in 150. Many of these children are being mainstreamed, but how can general education teachers support them in an inclusive setting? How can teachers transform a challenging classroom situation into a growth experience for all students? Chat guests will discuss teaching strategies and behavior-management techniques for the general and special education classroom. If you are unable to attend the Edweek chat, transcripts are available after the chat.

American Library Association Book Awards

Neil Gaiman's novel The Graveyard Book, won the American Library Association's Newberry Medal while the Caldecott Medal for children's book illustration went to Beth Krommes for The House in the Night, written by Susan Marie Swanson. The Coretta Scott King Award for best author was given to Kadir Nelson, for We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball. The illustrator award went to Floyd Cooper for The Blacker the Berry. The King prizes were founded 40 years ago to honor the works of black Americans. They will be in the Goodwin library soon!

CQ Researcher: REgulating Toxic Chemicals

Chemicals are integral to many everyday products, from electronics and toys to building materials and household goods. But environmental, health and consumer advocates say the agencies responsible for protecting Americans from exposure to harmful chemicals are allowing too many dangerous substances into the market without testing them for toxicity. Some goods, such as medicines, are tested for safety before they can be sold, but many common products do not go through premarket safety screening. Many concerns focus on infants and young children, who are especially sensitive to toxic hazards. Chemical manufacturers say the existing regulatory system works effectively and can be tightened to address new concerns, but critics argue that a precautionary approach — which would require producers to show that materials are safe before they can be marketed — would protect consumers more fully.
This report is available online for the Goodwin community (password protected).