NEIT2008-2J

= = = = = = The Google Effect November 13, 2008 neit2008

= = 1. Google has changed the way we teach and the way we do our jobs.1. Google has set the standard for one-stop, quick and easy searching of huge amounts of information (searching databases seem slow and clunky)
 * Current expectations: you can always search full text (unlike library catalog software); highly relevant results appear first
 * Teaching of searching skills is now based on Google rather than another model

2. Google Books (& plans to digitalize [digitize] even more books) affects the way we buy, maintain, develop print collections > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q946sfGLxm4
 * one experimental approach to getting books is the print-on-demand Espresso Machine which could provide books at the price of a penny a page
 * The Espresso Book Machine

3. Using Google Apps in schools Ideas on what google makes available-- http://www.google.com/intl/en/options/ What are the benefits of using google docs?
 * emails are archived; easy searching is possible
 * possible to download documents for ease of reading
 * google docs makes it possible to collaborate on creating and editing shared documents

What are some of the concerns about using google apps/google docs?
 * privacy
 * bandwidth


 * HAS YOUR SCHOOL MOVED TO THE USE OF GOOGLE APPS OR DOCS?** **POST YOUR LINKS HERE:** GOOGLE EDUCATION http://www.google.com/educators/index.html Jeremy Sambuca Browning has made the change


 * __MORE NOTES FROM THE SESSION__**


 * Google and Searching**

One effect of Google is it has vastly changed expectations. If databases don't give kids what Google gives them, they won't like them.

Databases aren't as easy to use as Google. Maybe someday they'll catch up in look, ease of use and function.

Searching the catalog is not like searching Google -- students need to be reminded of this

Maybe one day it'll all merge and you'll be able to search internet and databases at the same time.

Plagiarism -- some kids feel like all information belongs to the universe

Google is only digitizing a small percentage of books in the world. Students will still need to know how to use catalogs and print. But enough digitization is happening that we need to rethink how we build our collections

Print on demand -- would make the library the printer of books rather than the hunter-gatherer-holder of books


 * Google Apps**

At some schools, people seem generally happy with the applications they have so they're not running to Google apps Google apps are a Tech Director's dream, all online, all central, no software installation/maintenance

Google Docs -- share text documents Google Spreadsheets Google Forms Google PowerPoint Calendar

PROS All of the above great for student projects, they can work collaboratively from home Saves parents $150 for the software package Good for environment, cuts down on printing (especially the calendar) Autosaves every minute, can save a local copy

CONS Loss of privacy and security. You can type a Word document and print it, and know it's private. Type the same in Google Docs and it's not so much. Dependent on internet connectivity -- less and less a concern as school are being forced to expand bandwith


 * Google Education**

each school is considered a domain, you can make your own rules and parameters Each mail account gets 7G of memory Don't have to house anything anymore Calendar -- calendar is online for the whole school, parents can see it, don't print calendars anymore, calendars sync and it syncs to mobile devices

Does this alternative search engine one-up google?: [|http://www.smashbox.com]
 * __ RESOURCES AND SITES MENTIONED DURING THIS SESSION: __**

David Lewis: //Libraries in the age of google// http://www.metro.org/images/stories/pdfs/dlewis_metroannualmeeting.pdf

[|The Library in the New Age] by Robert Darnton NY Review of Books, June 12, 2008

The "21st Century Libraries" session was closely related to this one. An important topic is [|Fair Use in Schools - New Guidelines] see also: Copyright Confusion - wikispace for educators, contains video about these new guidelines