School libraries survey

According to trend data collected by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), library staffing , expenditures and physical usage remains consistent with 2011 results. The data also indicates connectivity to the school library continues to rise through increased networked computers in the school as well as remote access to school library databases. Data was collected as part of AASL’s national longitudinal survey, School Libraries Count! (SLC), conducted yearly since 2007.
AASL. (2012). School Libraries Count! Chicago, IL: AASL.
www.ala.org/aasl/slcsurvey.

Student research study

The teachers who instruct the most advanced American secondary school students render mixed verdicts about students’ research habits and the impact of technology on their studies.
Some 77% of advanced placement (AP) and National Writing Project (NWP) teachers surveyed say that the internet and digital search tools have had a “mostly positive” impact on their students’ research work. But 87% say these technologies are creating an “easily distracted generation with short attention spans” and 64% say today’s digital technologies “do more to distract students than to help them academically.” Some key findings include:

• Virtually all (99%) AP and NWP teachers in this study agree with the notion that “the internet enables students to access a wider range of resources than would otherwise be available,” and 65% agree that “the internet makes today’s students more self-sufficient researchers.”
• At the same time, 76% of teachers surveyed “strongly agree” with the assertion that internet search engines have conditioned students to expect to be able to find information quickly and easily.
• Large majorities also agree with the notion that the amount of information available online today is overwhelming to most students (83%) and that today’s digital technologies discourage students from using a wide range of sources when conducting research (71%).
• Fewer teachers, but still a majority of this sample (60%), agree with the assertion that today’s technologies make it harder for students to find credible sources of information.
• Given these concerns, it is not surprising that 47% of these teachers strongly agree and another 44% somewhat believe that courses and content focusing on digital literacy should be incorporated into every school’s curriculum.

Purcell, K., et al. (2012). How teens do research in the digital age. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center.
http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2012/Student-Research.aspx

School librarians and technology survey

School Library Journal's annual technology survey indicates that teacher librarians often vanguard technology at their sites.So far, the results have been pretty impressive: 87 percent of school librarians report that they’re in charge of their library’s technology, with 60 percent adding that they’ve also introduced it into the classroom. Furthermore, 44 percent now serve on their school’s tech team, and in these budget-troubled times, when many library positions are on the line, that role may mean increased job security. In fact, 55 percent of the elementary, middle, and high school librarians that responded to our survey say that their tech skills have increased their value in administrators’ eyes.
Barack, L. (2012, Nov.). The league of extraordinary librarians. School Library Journal.
 http://www.thedigitalshift.com/2012/11/k-12/the-league-of-extraordinary-librarians-sljs-latest-tech-survey-shows-that-media-specialists-are-leading-the-way/

Los Angeles special education services report

L.A. schools receive mixed progress report on special education
Los Angeles schools are making some progress in the way they serve students with disabilities, but more work is needed, according to a recent report. The report, by an independent monitor, found the schools largely are meeting a target of providing services for students with disabilities but are falling short on providing them with the frequency and duration outlined in their individual education plans. The district also has made progress in hiring adequate numbers of special educators and reducing the number of African-American students identified as having emotional disturbances, the report found.
Los Angeles USD. (2012). Report.
http://oimla.com/pdf/20121024/Report2012_Final.pdf

Pennsylvania school library research

Having access to a full-time, certified school librarian means better outcomes for Pennsylvania’s public school students, according to a new study. The researchers examined the 2010-11 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) tests in Reading and Writing for students in grades three through 11, and tracked outcomes for students based on five school library factors: staffing, collections, digital resources and technology infrastructure, library access, and funding. Overall, the greatest impact on student test scores was seen from having a full-time, certified librarian. 
RSL Research Group. (2012). Supporting the Infrastructure Needs of 21^st Century School Library Programs. Louisville, CO: Author. 
paschoollibraryproject.org.

Youths' reading habits report

More than eight in ten Americans between the ages of 16 and 29 read a book in the past year, and six in ten used their local public library. At the youngest end of the spectrum, high schoolers in their late teens (ages 16-17) and college-aged young adults (ages 18-24) are especially likely to have read a book or used the library in the past 12 months. And although their library usage patterns may often be influenced by the requirements of school assignments, their interest in the possibilities of mobile technology may also point the way toward opportunities of further engagement with libraries later in life. A couple of salient findings include:
- Among Americans who read e-books, those under age 30 are more likely to read their e-books on a cell phone (41%) or computer (55%) than on an e-book reader such as a Kindle (23%) or tablet (16%).
- Many of these young readers do not know they can borrow an e-book from a library, and a majority of them express the wish they could do so on pre-loaded e-readers.
- High schoolers (ages 16-17) are especially reliant on the library for their reading and research needs. They are more likely than other age groups to have used the library in the past year, especially to have checked out print books or received research assistance.
Kathryn Zickuhr, Lee Rainie, Kristen Purcell, Mary Madden and Joanna Brenner. (2012). Younger Americans’ Reading and Library Habits. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center.
http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2012/10/23/younger-americans-reading-and-library-habits/

Handheld devices use report

Report: More students are using smartphones, tablets
The percentage of middle- and high-school students using smartphones and tablet computers on a regular basis has increased since 2007, according to a 2012 report.  50% of high-school students and 40% of middle-schoolers use these tools. The key findings from this report include:

• Mobile devices when combined with social media and wireless connectivity is enabling more personalized learning opportunities for both students and educators.
• Driven by several factors, the incorporation of student owned devices within classroom instruction is quickly becoming a viable solution for many schools and districts.
• Increasingly parental support for mobile learning is changing the district conversation.
• Changing teacher practice is the critical challenge today to expanding mobile learning.
• The future of mobile learning depends upon a shared vision for how to personalize learning.

Blackboard and Project Tomorrow. (2012). Learning in the 21st Century: Mobile + Social Media = Personalized Learning.
http://www.tomorrow.org/speakup/MobileLearningReport2012.html