50 Free Online Games for Teaching Information Literacy and Information Fluency

Learn to Search & Evaluate Internet Resources
The 21st Century Information Fluency team just published menus leading to 50 flash based games that teach how to locate and evaluate digital information.

Check it out: Links to nearly 50 learning games, including the new three part Snow Sport Challenge. If you've been wanting to put a menu of learning games on your library or classroom computer come see what we have for you.

They also have an index of all of their Kits: Resource Kit Master Index:

You get easy access to all Articles, Podcasts, Videos, Assessment Articles, Tutorial Games, Curriculum Connections, Annotated Web Resources

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All of these resources are available to you without charge. (FREE).

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Check it out!

Joyce Valenza's Roadmap for professional development

• 
  
  How to retool yourself--a roadmap of at least 16 ways by Joyce Valenza
  
  Tags: no_tag
  
  • 
    
    How to retool yourself--a roadmap of at least 16 ways for school librarians (and
    their classroom teacher colleagues) to develop professionally
    
    
    
  
  

Posted from Diigo. The rest of Info Fluency group favorite links are here.

Diigo Webslide Show: The Internet Search Challenge

Using Diigo Webslides, here are two ways to review the great posts Dr. Carl Heine has been sharing on his Internet Search Blog.



(Launches webslide show in new window.)







Visit the Internet Search Challenge Blog directly for the latest news!

Search Tools Compared

• Search Tools Chart
  
  Strong comparison chart of major search engines. It's good to be reminded of the powerful features of multiple search engines.
  
  Tags: search engines
  
  • - By Dennis OConnor
  
  
  
• Think! Create! Share! Nurturing a Generation of Information Fluent Thinkers  (This is a Wiki created by Annette Lamb.)
  
• Straight from the Horse's Mouth:
  Nonfiction, Technology and Information Fluent Thinkers
  

Posted from Diigo. The rest of Info Fluency group favorite links are here.

Just the facts? A Diigo List of Resources about Cross Checking Data and 21st Century Information Fluency

• FactCheckED.org

  Home base for fine materials, lessson plans, and information about fact checking for educators.

  tags: reference, media, education, literacy, research, 21cif

  • FactCheckED.org is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center supported by a grant from the Flora Family Foundation.
    

• FactCheck.org

  Brilliant resource from the Annenberg Public Policy Center. My research and experience with the 21st Century Information Fluency Project has revealed that teenagers HATE to fact check. Luckily, FactCheck.org also has a highly developed classroom section that provides in-depth lesson plans and media links.\n\nThis is a treasure trove!

  tags: media, research, factcheck, 21cif, evaluation

• The Keyword Blog: Check the Facts! Cross Check the Facts! Lessons & Media

  Superb resources for anyone interested in teaching website evaluation, critical thinking, media literacy or 21st Century learning skills in general.\n\nFactCheck.org and FactCheckEd.org are essential tools for living in this part of the century. 8-)

  tags: medialiteracy, fact checking

  • Check the Facts! Cross Check the Facts! Lessons & Media

     

    Fact checking is essential in a (mis) information rich environment. 
  • Brilliant resource from the Annenberg Public Policy Center
  • FactChecked.org
    Luckily, FactCheck.org also has a highly developed classroom section that provides in-depth lesson plans and media links. These are highly polished materials for educators seeking a way to teach critical thinking and evaluation skills to their students. The Lesson Plan Archive ( http://www.factchecked.org/LessonPlans.aspx ) will intrigue any educator looking for a way to engage students. These plans are edgy and up to date. If you've been looking for a way to teach thinking and evaluation of media.

• 14 Ways K-12 Librarians Can Teach Social Media - NeverEndingSearch - Blog on School Library Journal

  tags: collaboration, libraries, socialmedia, education, web2.0, library

  • This is the best time in history to be a teacher-librarian. Major shifts in our information and communication landscapes present new opportunities for librarians to teach and lead in areas that were always considered part of their role, helping learners of all ages effectively use, manage, evaluate, organize and communicate information, and to love reading in its glorious new variety.
     
    A school’s teacher-librarian is its chief information officer, but in a networked world, the position is more that of moderator or coach, the person who ensures that students and teachers can effectively interact with information and leverage it to create and share and make a difference in the community and beyond.

• The Keyword Blog: Kermit the Frog Search Challenge (Information Literacy Games)

  Information Literacy Games: Finding Kermit\n\nThis blog post features a great video of Kermit the frog singing It Ain't Easy Being Green. It follows up with an explanation of a search game that can be used with the whole class in a lab or on an individual workstation. It's part of a free series of online information literacy / information fluency games available from 21cif.com. \n\nFinding Kermit was the inspiration for one of the first Internet Search Challenges created by Dr. Carl Heine. The task is to track down a picture of Kermit ready for graduation in the least amount of time. The search game is embedded on the page so you can try it without going to the main site. \n\nMany teachers use this as a whole class lab activity. Put up a search challenge and then it's off the races! Most of these games were developed for middle and high school students. Adults find them challenging as well.

  tags: information literacy games, internet search challenges, NETS-S 3

• 21st Century Libraries

  Here's a collection of on point articles for anyone interested in libraries and the future.

  tags: libraries, 21cif

  • Virtual library collections, or databases, give students access to trusted content and research tools with links to authoritative information that has been vetted by subject-matter experts. Today's 21st-century school libraries make use of virtual collections while also giving students ample opportunities for enhancing their digital literacy, research, and collaboration skills which are essential in a globally connected world.

    With the generous support of Questia School, the editors of eSchool News have compiled this collection of stories from our archives, along with other relevant information from around the web, to help you transform your school libraries for the 21st century.

• Think! Create! Share! Nurturing a Generation of Information Fluent Thinkers

  Fine resources from Annette Lamb

  tags: libraries, 21cif

  • Straight from the Horse's Mouth:
    Nonfiction, Technology and Information Fluent Thinkers

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

21st Century Libraries: an index of article you'll want to read

• 
  
  21st Century Libraries
  
  Here's a collection of on point articles for anyone interested in libraries and the future.
  
  Tags: libraries, 21cif
  
  • - By Dennis OConnor
  • 
    
    Virtual library collections, or databases, give students access to trusted content and research tools with links to authoritative information that has been vetted by subject-matter experts. Today's 21st-century school libraries make use of virtual collections while also giving students ample opportunities for enhancing their digital literacy, research, and collaboration skills which are essential in a globally connected world.
    
    With the generous support of Questia School, the editors of eSchool News have compiled this collection of stories from our archives, along with other relevant information from around the web, to help you transform your school libraries for the 21st century.
    
    
    
  
  

Posted from Diigo. The rest of Info Fluency group favorite links are here.

Information Fluency Games / Information Literacy Games!

Dozens of free flash based online training games.

• No Password required.
  
• Games created by Dr. Carl Heine, Director of the 21CIF Project.
• These resources are published free in our Full Circle Resource Kit. 
• Sign up for our free newsletter to stay posted on our latest games.
  

Virtual Libaries: A collection of articles

• 
  
  21st Century Libraries
  
  Here's a collection of on point articles for anyone interested in libraries and the future.
  
  Tags: libraries, 21cif
  
  • - By Dennis OConnor
  • 
    
    Virtual library collections, or databases, give students access to trusted content and research tools with links to authoritative information that has been vetted by subject-matter experts. Today's 21st-century school libraries make use of virtual collections while also giving students ample opportunities for enhancing their digital literacy, research, and collaboration skills which are essential in a globally connected world.
    
    With the generous support of Questia School, the editors of eSchool News have compiled this collection of stories from our archives, along with other relevant information from around the web, to help you transform your school libraries for the 21st century.
    
    
    
  
  

Posted from Diigo. The rest of Info Fluency group favorite links are here.

David Bar on knowledge, skills, and dispositions for successful searching

Super Searchers Go to School ... - Google Books 

Interview and chapter from Dr. David Barr, founder of the 21st Century Information Fluency Project. This Google book preview article from Joyce Valenza & Reva Basch's book Super Searchers Go to school reveal some of David's thinking about the knowledge, skills and dispositions for successful searching. Anyone who knows David Barr recognizes his amazing understanding of 21st century information systems. This is a gem. Don't miss it.

Tags: search, 21cif, information fluency, information literacy, david barr

Posted from Diigo. The rest of Info Fluency group favorite links are here.

Information Fluency Group For ISTE 2010 Conference: Join us!

Join US! Library Media Specialists, Ed-Technologists, any educator interested in 21st Century Skills

Information Fluency - ISTE 2010 Conference Ning

Get an early Start on ISTE 2010 in Denver!

Tags: iste2010, ning, information fluency, information literacy

Posted from Diigo. The rest of Info Fluency group favorite link are here.

It's more than just words: Data Visualization

Show Me don't Tell Me is classic advice for writers.  The same can be said when displaying data.  This round up of data visualization examples has many images that will help you conceptualize patterns and activities on the Internet.

50 Great Examples of Data Visualization

• Wrapping your brain around data online can be challenging, especially when dealing with huge volumes of information.
  
  
  And trying to find related content can also be difficult, depending on what data you’re looking for.
  
  But data visualizations can make all of that much easier, allowing you to see the concepts that you’re learning about in a more interesting, and often more useful manner.
  
  Below are 50 of the best data visualizations and tools for creating your own visualizations out there, covering everything from Digg activity to network connectivity to what’s currently happening on Twitter.
  

Joyce Valenza On Social Media

 14 Ways K-12 Librarians Can Teach Social Media - NeverEndingSearch - Blog on School Library Journal

• As always, Joyce Valenza's critical eye helps us all see how social networks fit in the complex patterns of information fluency.
  
  • This is the best time in history to be a teacher-librarian. Major shifts in our information and communication landscapes present new opportunities for librarians to teach and lead in areas that were always considered part of their role, helping learners of all ages effectively use, manage, evaluate, organize and communicate information, and to love reading in its glorious new variety.
    
    
    A school’s teacher-librarian is its chief information officer, but in a networked world, the position is more that of moderator or coach, the person who ensures that students and teachers can effectively interact with information and leverage it to create and share and make a difference in the community and beyond.
    
    Tags: collaboration, libraries, socialmedia, education, web2.0, library