Social Media Account Privacy Risks Study.

 U.S. schools and districts routinely share student photos and names on public school social media accounts, new research reveals. These photos and names can potentially be used for a variety of harmful purposes including stalking by individuals and data mining by private companies and foreign governments.

Rosenberg, J., et al. (2022). Posts about students on Facebook: A data ethics perspective. Educational Researcher. https://www.doi.org/10.3102/0013189X221120538.

https://www.aera.net/Newsroom/Posts-About-Students-on-Facebook-A-Data-Ethics-Perspective

Teen Life on Social Media Study

 

Majorities of teens credit social media with strengthening their friendships and providing support while also noting the emotionally charged side of these platforms. Those who are positive tend to mention connections, information and learning, and entertainment. Negative aspects include pressure to post, online drama, or feeling left out.; these feelings were mentioned more by girls than by boys. 

Anderson, M. et al. (2022). Connection, creativity and drama: Teen life on social media 2022. Pew Research Center. 

https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/11/16/connection-creativity-and-drama-teen-life-on-social-media-in-2022/

Teacher librarian roles during COVID-19 study

 A recent study examined the nature and depth of school librarians’ involvement, in a position to “lead from the center,” a term used to describe the centrality of school librarians in school spaces, during the COVID-19 pandemic as schools moved from in-person to online contexts.

The research team used a qualitative design based on semi-structured focus groups, allowing researchers to examine participants’ perceptions of their involvement during the pandemic and their perception of the knowledge and skills in their job that could support teachers and students in online teaching and learning. The study found that school librarians’ involvement was not explicitly included in district/school initiatives; however, they voluntarily engaged in informal actions aligned with the CoP framework and worked independently outside district direction to support students and teachers.

The study concludes that schools/districts can and should include school librarians in planning for technology use in teaching and learning and position them as leaders in this work. Additionally, there is evidence that online teaching and learning competencies should be intentionally embedded in preparation programs.

Wake, d., Hu, H., & Shaw, Erin. (2022). School Librarians Leading from the Center in Online Learning Contexts: Informal Communities of Practice Creating Space for Connection and Collaboration. School Library Research. https://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/pubs/slr/wake-hu-shaw.pdf

AI Library Use Report

 This article gives a quick overview of some of areas where AI tools are being used and how they work. It then provides a checklist for assessment. 

Upshall, M. (2022). An AI toolkit for librarians. Library Journal. https://www.infodocket.com/2022/11/04/research-article-an-ai-toolkit-for-libraries/

Social justice storytelling study

 A recent study pointed out the need for librarians to tell stories about social justice, noting its impact on their listeners.“We both felt our field needs to teach students to be diversity advocates,” McDowell said. “We want our students to recognize injustices on the ground when they are happening so they can advocate for student well-being.”

McDowell, K., & Cooke, N. (2022). Social justice storytelling: A pedagogical imperative. Library Quarterly. https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/721391

Secondary School Reading Study in England

 A recent study of reading achievement of students in England's secondary schools revealed several factors that predicted reading gains: leadership of reading such as a deputy head of literacy lead, regular assessment to accurately determine students' reading needs, training staff on emerging reading strategies, highly skilled librarians to select and promote appropriate books, adequate funding to support reader needs, and staff awareness of students' reading levels and needs. 

'Now the whole school is reading': Supporting struggling readers in secondary schools. (2022, Oct.). Ofstead.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/now-the-whole-school-is-reading-supporting-struggling-readers-in-secondary-school/now-the-whole-school-is-reading-supporting-struggling-readers-in-secondary-school#monitoring-the-impact-of-additional-teaching-and-knowing-what-works