(for a colorful, printable, web version, click here)
Last Updated: Monday, October 8, 2007
NOTE: Teachers & Librarians -- Please print these instructions
and share with the media specialist in your school.
CONTENTS:
1. Getting the Most out of The LIVEbrary
2. Ways to Participate
3. Instructions for Live Skype Program
4. The LIVEbrary Letter
5. Lesson Plans
6. Code of Conduct
7. Privacy Policy
8. Copyright Notice
1. Getting the Most out of The LIVEbrary
The LIVEbrary is a 2-year online educational program by Annick Press with support from the Canada Council for the Arts. It is designed for use by teachers and librarians at the middle school to junior high school level, grades 4 through 8, ages 9 - 13. The program is designed to bring classrooms together with authors to discuss issues of topical interest in a safe environment under the supervision of a highly-respected librarian. The goal is to provide educators with a quality program that helps students learn the benefits and drawbacks of online communications.
2. Ways to Participate
We recognize that classrooms, schools, and libraries don't always have the latest technology. We designed the LIVEbrary program to accommodate many different methods of access, from technologically intense (live chat) to no-frills email. Here are some choices:
- LIVEbrary Blog: Students may leave questions for the Author or Series Librarian through comments on the blog. Comments are held for approval before being released. These questions may be used in the live chat, in which case answers will appear on the blog when the transcript of the chat is posted. The blog is located at http://annickpress.blogspot.com.
- Email Exchange: You do not have to be on the web to participate. Teachers and librarians may email questions from an entire classroom or from individual students. Some questions may be used in the live chat program, in which case answers will be emailed in the transcript of the live chat. The email address is LIVEbrary@annickpress.com.
- Live Skype Program: A live, one-hour Skype chat where students can engage the Author and Series Librarian in a fast-paced question and answer session. This is a protected chat and preregistration is required. You must have Skype software installed (it's free) to participate in the live chat. See instructions, below.
=> If you already have a Skype Username
- You need to send your Skype Username to LIVEbrary@annickpress.com so that you can be added to the participant list. Space is limited. You will be notified if the program is full.
- On the day of the chat -- Thursday at 1:50 pm Eastern Time -- your Skype Username will be invited to join a Skype chat with Username
. You must accept the invitation to enter the chat room. The chat will begin at 2:00 pm ET. - We strongly recommend only one connection per classroom or library. The learning experience is best when students take turns entering their questions at a central point, such as the teacher's computer. Teachers might want to designate a typist or type for the students.
- If you can set up a projector to display from the teacher's computer onto a screen, it will be easier for the students to see the interaction. In this case, teachers or librarians should keyboard questions for the students.
- You must download and install Skype software on your computer. The download is free from the Skype download page http://www.skype.com/download. Skype requires a valid email address. You will be asked to select a username. We recommend one username per classroom or library rather than a unique username for each student. Once you have your Skype username, see the instructions, above, "If you already have a Skype Username."
- Installing Skype software on school or library computers might require the assistance of a media specialist. Please pass these instructions to your media specialist and have them call us or contact us and we'll "speak geek" with them until you get hooked up.
- Test your Skype connection in advance. It's possible that your school or library won't allow your computers to connect to Skype. Please have your media specialist contact our media specialist for technical support to get the Skype connection working.
- Installing software might be against school or library policy. In this case we suggest you participate in the program through the LIVEbrary Blog or Email Exchange and get the transcripts of the live chats. The LIVEbrary is a rich technology experience even without a connection to the live chats.
By registering for the program, you subscribe to the LIVEbrary Letter, our ezine for sending information about the program including any format or schedule changes. You may unsubscribe from the LIVEbrary Letter at any time. Unsubscribe instructions are at the beginning and end of every issue.
5. LIVEbrary Lesson Plans
LIVEbrary Lesson Plans are available for each week of the program and can be used anytime, with or without the blog or the chat. Each LIVEbrary Lesson Plan contains a reading from the featured book, an assignment, discussion questions, and a quiz. Answers to the quiz are revealed during the live chats and are then posted to the LIVEbrary Blog, distributed through Email Exchange, and included in the LIVEbrary Letter.
6. Code of Conduct
Annick Press promises to conduct the LIVEbrary program in a manner that best ensures the safety of participants, protects their privacy, and respects their rights. See our Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice, below. By registering for the program, you agree to conduct yourself in a similar manner, including not disrupting the live chats or disrespecting the people in those chats. Violation of the code of conduct may result in immediate expulsion from the chat and from the LIVEbrary program.
7. Privacy Policy
Confidential contact information, such as email addresses and Skype Usernames, is required to facilitate the LIVEbrary program and protect the integrity of the learning environment. This contact information is held by Annick Press and will not be rented or sold. If LIVEbrary users choose to reveal information such as email addresses on the LIVEbrary Blog, the choice resides solely with the User and is not Annick Press' responsibility.
8. Copyright Notice
The LIVEbrary is copyright 2007 by Annick Press. All Rights Reserved. By posting to the LIVEbrary blog, sending messages via email, or contributing to the live chats, you hereby give Annick Press all rights to display your contributions or use them in other formats. You agree not to post anything to the LIVEbrary blog or chats that you do not have the rights to post, such as copyrighted images, text, or video.
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