Authority is a concept we discuss frequently here in The Unquiet Library. Check out this interview and video from TED Talks with Clay Shirky, who discusses how social media is changing the way news is reported and how social media is becoming a medium for authoritative information!
NYU professor Clay Shirky gave a fantastic talk on new media during our TED@State event earlier this month. He revealed how cellphones, the web, Facebook and Twitter had changed the rules of the game, allowing ordinary citizens extraordinary new powers to impact real-world events. As protests in Iran exploded over the weekend, we decided to rush out his talk, because it could hardly be more relevant. I caught up with Clay this afternoon to get his take on the significance of what is happening. HIs excitement was palpable.
After taking a look at the “teaser” video, I am extremely excited about major changes coming to SIRS Researcher, which we here access through GALILEO. The new version will be known as SIRS Issues Researcher, and highlights of the sleeker and more robust version include:
Essential research questions
A more comprehensive look at an issue, including its historical origins and impact on today’s society
More emphasis on the “whys” instead of the “whats” of an issue
More emphasis on the global impact of an issue
More international information sources
More multimedia, primary sources, and statistical data [charts, graphs]
More search enhancements
Topic/subject/keyword clouds and maps
Social bookmarking options (YES!)
Notetaking organizers
Citation generators
New critical thinking modules to help you as students better analyze the issue
More global and diverse perspectives
An audio read aloud option
Print and nonprint sources
Article translation into 10 languages
Correlation to state and national learning standards
These changes should be in place when we return to school in August! In the meantime, check out these great “sneak peek” resources!
Now that we have completed Day 7 of our persuasive research project, it is time to stop and reflect. Please compose a mini-essay following the outline below; your mini-essay should contain at least 8-11 complete sentences.
You will need to address all of the following prompts within your essay and/or paragraph:
1.) What have you learned about your topic within the last week?
2.) What, if any, information has been SURPRISING?
3.) What resources have you used for information?
4.) In your opinion, what has been the best source of information so far?
5.) Describe your progress thus far; please discuss your “game plan” for what you plan to do each day in order to finish on time?
6.) Finally, what are you proud of that you have accomplished so far? What has been challenging or frustrating? Have you done any work outside of class? If so, please discuss.
Directions for Posting
1. Type your work in Microsoft Word. Be sure to save and save often! You may compose this work as a single spaced piece of work.
2. Be sure to indent or use block paragraphs.
3. Please print a copy of your work.
4. Once you have printed, you will post your work to the blog. Please follow Mrs. Hamilton’s instructions for posting. Please use your first and class period only when POSTING.
Keep up the great work!
Adapted with permission from B. Hamilton, Media Specialist
Three of our GALE databases, GALE Student Resource Center Gold, Opposing Viewpoints, and Discovering Collection, now feature Read Speaker support! This feature allows students to listen to an audiofile of the article while reading the text; in addition, students can download the MP3 file of the article to listen at a later time. Take advantage of this cool new audio feature to increase your reading comprehension and listening pleasure!
We are having a blast today in The Unquiet Library researching body systems with Mr. Thigpen and Mr. Powell’s Health Education classes! Check out our research pathfinder below!
Check out how you can use the new “add this” bookmarklet widget in the EBSCOhost 2.0 databases via GALILEO to bookmark your favorite database articles to your del.icio.us account!
If you are taking Sociology this quarter, you will want to check out our new screencast with feeds to the latest and greatest Sociology articles and journals via GALILEO and JSTOR. Please visit our screencast at
If you are student or fan of Psychology, check out our latest Pageflakes screencast! We have pulled RSS feeds from some of the most reputable journals and magazines in the world of Psychology to help you stay current on the latest research and news. Visit the screencast at http://www.pageflakes.com/theunquietlibrary/25282702 !
With the new “bookmark this” feature in the EBSCOhost 2.0 interface, you can now post and link to your favorite EBSCOhost 2.0 database articles on your Facebook page! How cool is THAT?
Here is how:
1. Open the article you want in your favorite EBSCOhost 2.0 database.
2. Click on the “bookmark” icon/widget next to the persistent link to the article.
3. Choose the application you want (in this case, Facebook, but it also works great with del.icio.us!)
4. The application will automatically contact your Facebook account (log in first before opening your database article), and it will post your article. You can copy and paste bibliographic info and/or the abstract into the little text box before you post to your Facebook account.
Research 2.0—I love it!
Buffy Hamilton, Media Specialist
Creekview High School
http://theunquietlibrary.wordpress.com
http://theunquietlibrarian.wordpress.com
• Encyclopedia of Global Warming and Climate Change , 3v, 2008
• Ancient Greece , 3v, 2007
• Novels for Students , Vol. 27, 2008
• Novels for Students , Vol. 28, 2009
• Poetry for Students , Vol. 28, 2008
• Short Stories for Students , Vol. 26, 2008
• Infectious Diseases: In Context , 2v, 2008
• Climate Change: In Context , 2v, 2008
You can open the PDF file, gvrl_list_october1_2008 , to see our complete list of titles! Please see Mrs. Hamilton or Mrs. Fleet for our school GALE password.
You might also want to take a peek at this excellent 3 minute tutorial from the Gladys Marcus Library on how to do a basic search of the GVRL!
