Channel Weekly, Vol. 16, No. 12, December 5, 2013

1. State Superintendent proclaims December 9-13 as Computer Science Education Week
2. Early Literacy Symposium Save-the-Date
3. December edition of the Wisconsin Youth Services Showcase
4. Webinar recording available for "Youth Services by the Numbers: Data and Advocacy"
5. Second annual Teen Video Challenge announced
6. State Document of the Week: Study Guide to the Wisconsin Blue Book
7. BadgerLink Resource of the Week: BadgerLink Quickstart Guide
8. Website of the Week: The Ancient Web
9. Calendar
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1. STATE SUPERINTENDENT PROCLAIMS DECEMBER 9-13 AS COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION WEEK

State Superintendent Tony Evers has proclaimed the week of December 9 through 13, 2013, as Computer Science Week in Wisconsin. The proclamation (http://goo.gl/RyksXG) is designed to encourage schools and districts to give students their first taste of coding in computer science and to raise awareness of the need for students to learn how computer science can be used to get students to think and create.

Most Americans have a vague idea that having computer science skills can help you get a job, but the actual numbers are surprising:

  • New programming jobs are growing 3 times faster than the number of students entering the field.
  • More than 50 percent ofall math and science jobs are for computer scientists.
  • Computer science jobs are the highest-paying jobs for new graduates.

Software powers our economy but less than 2.4 percent of college students graduate with a Computer Science degree. That means there aren't going to be enough graduates to fill the jobs. To make matters worse, 95 percent of our schools don't teach programming.

Fortunately, there's something we can do about it. This December, students can get their first taste of coding by participating in a national hour of computer science instruction called the Hour of Code (http://csedweek.org/participate ). The hour is part of Computer Science Education Week (http://csedweek.org), December 9 through 13, 2013, and the goal is to get kids to think, create, and have a blast -- all while learning some computer programming.

Students (and adults) across the country are getting involved and you can join as well. Here's how you can help:

  • Get the word out. Report the event, blog, tweet, send emails, tell your friends.
  • Give an hour to mentor students during the Hour of Code. Bring the Hour of Code to your company or organization.
  • The event is not just for children; everyone can benefit from knowing more about how software works. Take the Hour of Code yourself. It will be fun -- like playing a game or solving a puzzle.

To get involved, visitcsedweek.org/and sign up. Share your plans for Computer Science Education Week with the Department of Public Instruction by emailing Janice Mertes.


2. EARLY LITERACY SYMPOSIUM SAVE-THE-DATE

Mark your calendars for the 2014 Growing Wisconsin Readers Early Literacy Symposium on Friday, March 21, at the Holiday Inn in Stevens Point. Youth services librarians, public library directors, and early childhood advocates are invited to attend this day-long professional development opportunity. State and national experts will explore the topic of engagement by discussing how books, screens, and physical spaces encourage literacy development in relationships with young children and their caregivers. Panel presentations and a display gallery will highlight early literacy innovations from public libraries around the state.

Registration will open mid-January. There is no cost to attend the symposium and space is limited. This is a must-attend event for early literacy practitioners, so circle 3/21/14 on your calendar and begin organizing a carpool to Stevens Point.

The Growing Wisconsin Readers initiative is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services.

For more information or with questions, contact Tessa Michaelson Schmidt, Youth and Special Services Consultant with the Department of Public Instruction's Division for Libraries and Technology at tessa.schmidt@dpi.wi.gov.


3. DECEMBER EDITION OF THE WISCONSIN YOUTH SERVICES SHOWCASE

Monster makeovers, pretend food playtime, and mad science are a few features in the December edition of the Wisconsin Youth Services Showcase. Check it out here: http://pld.dpi.wi.gov/pld_showcase.

We are still looking for more teen ideas and creative programs and services. What's the best thing you did in 2013? Send in your jpeg/URL/PDF for a future edition of the showcase.


4. WEBINAR RECORDING AVAILABLE FOR "YOUTH SERVICES BY THE NUMBERS: DATA AND ACCURACY"

Curious about what counts as a program or how to measure attendance on the annual report? This past week, Jamie McCanless, the Department of Public Instruction's (DPI) Public Library Data and Finance Coordinator, and Tessa Michaelson Schmidt, Youth and Special Services Consultant at DPI, took a focused look at the annual report to examine how youth services is data generated and what it shows. Check out the 60 minute webinar archive available under "Professional Development" at http://pld.dpi.wi.gov/pld_ys-sn#prof-dev.


5. SECOND ANNUAL TEEN VIDEO CHALLENGE ANNOUNCED

This is the second year that Wisconsin will participate in the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) Teen Video Challenge. Information about the contest, including entry and release forms, can be found at http://pld.dpi.wi.gov/pld_ys-sn.

For the contest, teens should create a video promoting Summer Reading at the public library, including an interpretation of the 2014 CSLP teen slogan "Spark a Reaction," to win $275 and a $125 award for the library. Any teen, aged 13 -18, can enter the CSLP 2014 Teen Video Challenge in the state where they reside. Videos can be created individually or as a team. Each participating CSLP member state will select one winner. Additional information, including promotional resources and video creation resources, can be found at http://cslpreads.org/challenge-overview.html.

The deadline for entries is Friday, February 14, 2014. The state winner will be selected in March 2014 and national selections will be announced in April 2014.

Curious about what teens might make? Take a look at the 2013 winners for inspiration, including the winning submission from the L. E. Phillips Memorial Library in Eau Claire: http://cslpreads.org/programs/young-adult-program/teen-video-challenge/2013-teen-video-winners.html.

Contact Tessa Michaelson Schmidt, the Department of Public Instruction's Youth and Special Services Consultant, with questions: tessa.schmidt@dpi.wi.gov.


6. WISCONSIN DIGITAL ARCHIVES STATE DOCUMENT OF THE WEEK

Study guide to the Wisconsin Blue Book, http://bit.ly/1b9veuC. The Wisconsin Blue Book can be useful to both teachers and students in Wisconsin schools. This study guide is designed to help teachers acquaint students with the content of the Wisconsin Blue Book and to help students understand the importance of government in their daily lives and how they can become productive Wisconsin citizens.


7. BADGERLINK RESOURCE OF THE WEEK

BadgerLink Quickstart guide now available! Download this one page guide that covers how to navigate the BadgerLink Homepage! Go to http://www.badgerlink.net/bulletin#133 for more information.


8. Website of the Week

The Ancient Web: The Ancient World's Great Civilizations -- http://ancientweb.org/index.php/global -- The Ancient Web provides information, and resources for those interested in the cultural heritage left by ancient ancestors. (Website reference courtesy of refdesk.com)


9. CALENDAR

January 10, 2014 – Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND) meeting, web conference

January 24-28, 2014 – American Library Association (ALA) Mid-Winter Meeting, Philadelphia, PA

March 12, 2014 – Spring Interlibrary Loan meeting, Madison

March 14, 2014 – Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND), DePere

March 21, 2014 – Growing Wisconsin Readers Early Literacy Symposium, Stevens Point

May 7-9, 2014 – Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries (WAPL) annual conference, Sheboygan

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go to: http://channel.dpi.wi.gov/
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Roslyn M. Wise
Editor, Channel Weekly
Department of Public Instruction
Division for Libraries and Technology
PO Box 7841
Madison, WI 53707-7841
Phone: (608) 266-6439
FAX: (608) 267-9207

For questions about this information, contact Roslyn Wise (608) 266-6439