Learning Resources Newsletter
Page 1
Summer 2009
ONLINE @YOUR LIBRARY
BC3’s Second Life
WITH PROXY FINESMITH1
If you haven’t, yet, checked
online students can meet vir-
Hemmig,
out Second Life, the virtual
tually to communicate, en-
Librarian.
world, you may not know that
gage in synchronous exercises
Bucks has a small but growing
and
faculty and staff presence there
tions.
Gredone and Jim Sell.
Second Life (SL to its inhabi-
Interested in exploring SL?
3
tants) can be used to increase
It’s easy and free.
Marilyn Puchalski and Bill Ford
student engagement and learn-
need to do is go to http://
ing. Yet I and a bunch of my
secondlife.com/,
colleagues are doing just that.
account and download the SL
The photos show just a few of
Viewer.
the thousands of places there
through the process of creat-
are to explore in SL, where
ing an avatar and you’ll be
over 1.5 million avatars live,
taken to Orientation Island
Linda McCann
work, shop, even derive real
where you’ll learn how to get
incomes for their Real Life (RL)
around in SL.
Contributors
counterparts.
sky’s the limit (well, no, you
even
create
presenta-
that’s exploring ways in which
BCCC
Learning Resources
Newsletter
Editor-in-Chief
Catherine Collins
Editor
Catherine Collins
You can even
You’ll
All you
create
be
2
Online
Learning
You may know them as Kelly
A.k.a.
Mary
Ellen
Bornak,
an
guided
After that the
can go to outer space, too).
fly!
Jenny DiPrimio
And there’s a lot more to it
If you’d like more information
than that.
Many colleges and
about SL, the Virtual Worlds
Linda McCann
universities operate their own
subcommittee of the BCCC
Maureen McCreadie
virtual campuses in SL where
Teaching and Learning Tech-
Marzenna Ostrowski
they provide spaces for every-
nology Roundtable (TLTR) has
Marilyn Puchalski
thing from class projects to
put together a terrific SL re-
Carol Seufert
admissions
At
sources web page at http://
Nicole Tracey
Bucks,
my colleagues
Erynn
lbcfaculty.squarespace.com/
2
incor-
tltr-virtual-worlds-investigat/.
Bill Hemmig
Richard Hodges
information.
Clipp and Jams Nitely
In This Issue...
What’s Cookin’ at
Google Labs?
eLearning Courses
Bb Vista
New & Noteworthy
Ask Here PA: 24/7
Reference Service
Tutoring Services
Information Literacy
eTutorials Now Online
porated some simple “in-world”
This
exercises into a Spring ’09 sec-
videos and web links on every
tion of Integration of Knowl-
topic from getting started in
edge in order to introduce the
SL to advanced educational
students to signing on, creating
applications. Check it out.
identities and getting around in
SL. I recently created a group
game in SL inspired by the
“Broken
Squares”
exercise
used in many INTG classes to
promote
Other
group
cooperation.
colleagues,
page
has
sibilities.
groups
your questions!
Look me up when
c/o Bill Hemmig
Online Learning Librarian
hemmigw@bucks.edu
We
of
librarian avatars to answer
Proxy Finesmith
are also exploring the educa-
where
libraries—complete
with a reference desk and
Life!
Winslow and Ratso Renfort ,
ronment
popular
you’ve started your Second
3
tential for providing an envi-
ing out at one of SL’s most
but we’re excited by the pos-
including
think that SL has a huge po-
Here’s Proxy Finesmith hang-
We’re just testing the waters,
Vanya Vandeverre, Francesca
tional possibilities of SL.
information,
________________________
Proxy Finesmith is enjoying a
1
the
bird’s-eye
Bill
University’s virtual campus.
Proxy
Second
Finesmith
Life
avatar
is
of
view
of
Temple
Page 2
Learning Resources
BETTER SEARCHING SKILLS
What’s Cookin’ at Google Labs?
All of us are aware of how indispensable the search engine Google has become in our daily online lives. Most use it for everything from searching basic terms and web information, to getting driving directions via Google Maps. Along with its well used
and familiar offerings, the engineers at Google Labs are constantly working to bring some of the freshest and most innovative
ideas to reality. One of more than a dozen of Google’s newest offerings is a search device that may prove invaluable to those
who find themselves in need of quotes from current political figures.
In Quotes is a unique search device aimed at providing quotations from current political figures from the United States, Great
Britain, India, and Canada. The user is able to get an actual side-by-side comparison of quotes from various politicians on a
variety of issues. Each quote is also linked to the news article it is derived from, providing the user with not only a useful
quote, but also the ability to see the context in which the quote appears. Linking to the actual news article also makes citing
much easier. To try it out for yourself, go to http://www.google .com and click on “About Google.” Next click on “Google
Labs” and find the link to In Quotes.
The graphic below illustrates an In Quotes comparison of quotations from President Barack Obama and his former GOP challenger John
McCain.
Choose a pre-selected search
term, or type in your own.
Select a politician’s
name and year of
interest from the
dropdown menus.
Click the search term to open a new
page revealing all quotes on that subject, or “spin” to see what randomly
appears. You can also remove the
search term.
Select a country.
Link to the source
article of the quote.
Richard Hodges
Part-time Reference Librarian
hodgesr@bucks.edu
Learning Resources
Page 3
New eLearning Courses for
this Summer and Fall
LOWER BUCKS CAMPUS
Book Discussion Group: The Soloist
As enrollment increases in our eLearning
courses, so too are the number of eLearning
courses being offered. Students will be able
to select from 158 eLearning courses this
summer and from 186 eLearning courses
this fall.
Our new summer and fall eLearning courses
include:
CRIJ120 Criminal Evidence
HIST155 The Peoples of Russia and Eastern Europe
Photo of the LBC Book Discussion Group courtesy of Linda McCann, 2009
HIST190 Afro-American History
HIST202 Law, Taxes, and Zoning for
Historic Preservation
The new book discussion group at the Lower Bucks Campus ended the
spring semester with a discussion of The New York Times’ nonfiction
bestseller The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the
Redemptive Power of Music by Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez.
HIST239 American Pop Culture: History of
The LBC Book Discussion Group is a collaborative effort between the
Rock
Margaret R. Grundy Memorial Library in Bristol and the BCCC Library.
HUMN128 Holy War and Peace in Islam,
sion is facilitated by a member of the Grundy Library staff. Everyone—
Judaism, Christianity
students, faculty, staff, and members of the community—is welcome and
Grundy’s books may be checked out at the LBC Library, and the discus-
encouraged to participate. For more information about the group, please
MATH118 Business Calculus
contact Linda McCann at (215) 968-8003 or at mccannl@bucks.edu.
MUSC103 Introduction to World
Music
Summer Ready, and Some Are Not
MUSC106 History of Jazz
NURS121 Pharmacology
The summer is a great time for current Bb Vista users to update or
OADM290 Professional Development
revise their Bb Vista course spaces, and Online Learning is available to
SOCI120 Introduction to Cultural
to 4:30pm.
Anthropology
help you. Our summer hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:30am
Summer is also a good time for those who have never used Bb Vista to
In addition, we have quite a few instructors
teaching an eLearning course for the first
time,
including:
Jeff
Baumeister,
Alli
Chambers, Christine Delahanty, Jean Dolan,
Maria Dumlao, Millicent Heeney-Stemple,
Hilary Jebitsch, Shelley Milhous, Jeffrey
Ratcliff, Janine Termine, and Charlene Traub.
If you’re interested in teaching an eLearning
or Hybrid course, please speak with your
AAD and contact the Online Learning Office
for information about our OL workshops.
Jenny DiPrimio
Coordinator,
Online Learning Student Services
diprimio@bucks.edu
explore the many ways an online component can enhance your class.
For example, did you know that Bb Vista has a discussion feature which
can extend any discussions started in class, increasing student engagement? Are you teaching a service-oriented section? Why not use Bb
Vista as a forum to post information and allow students to share feedback on their experience?
Coming this fall, instructors will be invited to share “what works” in
their Bb Vista course spaces.
If you have any questions or wish to
schedule an appointment for a training session, please call (215) 9688343.
Carol Seufert
Assistant Director,
Online Learning
seufertc@bucks.edu
Page 4
Learning Resources
New & Noteworthy in Learning Resources
On
March
Information
Li b rari a n
Montet
3 0 t h , Linda McCann, Director, Library, has been appointed Vice Chair
Literacy of the Pennsylvania Community College Library Consortium, 2009
Ma r ga r et -2010.
and
Collection
has been
Librarian Maureen McCreadie, Dean, Learning Resources,
Ostrowski appointed to three year terms on both the Editorial Board of
spoke at “Reading and College & Research Libraries, the journal of the Association of
Writing
Women,”
an College and Research Libraries, and the Educause Learning
Management
Marzenna
event Initiative (ELI) Advisory Board. BCCC is the only community colsponsored by the BCCC lege represented on either board. In October, Maureen attended
Department of Language the Educause Annual Conference, Orlando, FL, where she met
open-microphone
with the Educause Learning Initiative (ELI) Annual Conference
and Literature.
Program Committee.
Also in October, Maureen attended the
League for Innovation in the Community College's Conference on
Margaret read from A Year in the World by noted travel author Information Technology in Salt Lake City, UT, where she coFrances Mayes. Marzenna read from Judith Viorst’s entertaining presented Strategic Alliance: Leveraging Technological Knowledge
memoir Alexander and the Wonderful, Marvelous, Excellent, and Experience with Dean Annette Conn, BCCC Provost, and VP
Terrific Ninety Days.
Celeste Schwartz of Montgomery County Community College. In
This event was one of
November, Maureen served on a Middle States Visiting Team at
several held as part
Burlington County College in New Jersey.
of
“Eye
attended the Educause Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference in
BCCC’s
Witness
to
In January, she
History”
Philadelphia, where she presented in the Opening Panel, The
series in celebration
Technology Revolution in Higher Education: IT as a Catalyst of
of Women’s
Change, and co-facilitated the discussion session, Meeting the Top
History
Month and involved
Challenges in Teaching and Learning with Technology.
women
men
January, Maureen attended the ELI Annual Conference in Orlando,
from across the BCCC
FL, where she served as a member of the Program Committee for
campus
the ELI, attended a meeting of the ELI Advisory Board, and par-
poetry,
and
reading
prose,
Also in
and
ticipated in the Facilitated Learning Circle: Challenge 3-Reaching
songs written by, for,
and Engaging Today's Learner. Maureen is co-author of "Charting
and about women.
the Course and Tapping the Community: The EDUCAUSE Top
On
March
Resources
Teaching and Learning Challenges 2009" and "Viewpoints: OpenDigital ing Up Learning: From Spaces to Environments," both of which
Librarian Brian appeared in the May/June 2009 issue of EDUCAUSE Review.
13th,
Johnstone spoke on nature
writing in conjunction with a
Congratulations to Jim
screening of the film “A Sense
Library
of Wonder,” a documentary
about
noted
Silent
Spring
the
from BCCC.
cipient of several honors, including
making the Academic Dean’s List.
Women’s
Center.
Kate Brown is joining the Library as
Instructional Designer Mary Ellen Bornak participated in the
the Serials Technician in Newtown.
2009 NMC Symposium on New Media and Learning, March 24th—
Kate studied French Language and
26th. The thirteenth in the NMC’s Series of Virtual Symposia, this
Literature at the Richard Stockton
event explored the ways we create, use, and understand media in
College of New Jersey. Having previ-
its many forms.
ously worked in the BCCC
For more information about the symposium,
During his career at
the College, Jim has been the re-
Commi ssi oners’
BCCC
Upper
degree in Hospitality Management
This event
Advisory Council for Women
and
Shriver,
the
ing in May with an Associate of Arts
was sponsored by The Bucks
County
at
Bucks Campus Library, on graduat-
author and environmentalist
Rachel Carson.
Assistant
Admis-
please visit http://www.nmc.org/2009-nml-symposium or contact
sions Office, Kate is excited for this
Mary Ellen at bornakm@bucks.edu.
new transition to the Library.
Page 5
Learning Resources
New & Noteworthy in Learning Resources (continued)
Over the spring, the Library added three new part-time reference ence in Philadelphia. When not working, Mary enjoys gardening,
librarians to its staff.
Jaqueline
Fritz
hiking, swimming, and knitting.
earned her MS in Library and Information D u r i n g
his
career,
Science from Drexel University. A native of Mohton, PA, she also Patrick Wright has worked
holds a BA in Psychology from Dickinson College. Jackie’s profes- in academic, public, and law
sional interests include using online resources like social network- libraries.
Patrick has a BA
ing sites and Web 2.0 resources to enhance curriculum, informa- from LaSalle University, an
tion literacy, and technology literacy. Jackie’s a member of both MS from Drexel University,
the American Library Association and the Pennsylvania Library and a JD from Temple UniAssociation. In her spare time, she enjoys Pilates, yoga, hiking, versity.
His
photography, jewelry making, traveling. and cooking.
include
interests
professional
library
automation and law librari-
A native Rhode Islander, Mary Moulton earned her MLIS, MS in anship. He lives in MorrisEntomology, and BS in Plant Science from the University of ville with his daughter and
Rhode Island . Her areas of expertise include information archi- wife, who is also a librarian,
tecture, design and testing of search user interfaces, and refer- and her beagle. His interence and instruction in the use of technical information sources. ests include history, reading
Photo courtesy of Patrick Wright, 2009
Mary recently presented the results of a project involving evalua- early 19th century authors,
tion of open source applications for library websites were pre- and camping. Patrick is very excited to be working once again in
sented at a poster session at the 2009 Educause regional confer- an academic setting.
A graduate of BCCC, Ken Crowther was hired by the College
as a Media Technician 1979. Over the next thirty years, Ken
contributed to the College community in so many ways, including advising the College radio station, managing equipment
vital to visually impaired students, repairing computers, and
managing and distributing film that was so important to our
distance learning classes before the age of downloads. Ken did
whatever it was the College needed him to do, adapting and
learning as systems came in and out of favor and as his role
shifted and morphed. With the recent advent of Internet2 and
the ease of access to digital video productions, Ken came full
circle over the course of his three-decade career at BCCC. He
has returned to his original love and area of expertise—creative
production work.
On May 15th, Learning Resources bid farewell to retiring BCCC Betty Hughes came to Bucks as a student in 1981 and liked it
so much that she stayed for 28 years, working in Behavioral
employees Dolly Herff, Ken Crowther, and Betty Hughes.
Sciences, Student Life, and finally the Library, where we were
Dolly Herff has 25 years of library experience, the last 20 of proud to count her as a colleague for the last 16 years of her
which have been as a library technician in the BCCC Library. tenure at BCCC.
While at Bucks, Betty was active in several
Libraries have always been a part of her life, first as a child, campus organizations and committees.
She earned two de-
later as a parent, and finally as an employee at several area grees—an Associate's degree in Human Services from BCCC
libraries. One of the greatest days in Dolly’s life was when she and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Holy Family. She
was offered two jobs on the same day. One was an advance- also raised three children, all of whom attended the College.
ment with the Bucks County Libraries, while the other a posi- Betty is looking forward to spending time with her five grandtion with BCCC. Luckily for us, she accepted the position with children, taking some classes, and traveling with her husband.
the College. Over the years, Dolly has enjoyed interacting with
our students, taking classes, and meeting so many interesting Please join us in thanking Dolly, Ken, and Betty for their service and many contributions to the College and our community,
people at the College.
and wishing them the best of luck in their future endeavors.
Note: With the exception of the photo of Patrick Wright, all photos in New & Noteworthy appear courtesy of Linda McCann, 2009.
Page 6
Learning Resources
NEW SERVICE
Ask Here PA Virtual Reference
Learning Resources Salutes Our Volunteers
BCCC Librarians are now participating in and
staffing Ask Here PA. A service of the Office of
Commonwealth
Libraries,
Bureau
of
Library
Development, Ask Here PA provides synchronous
virtual
reference
assistance,
including
online chat services, to the residents of Pennsylvania, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Ask
Here PA is just one of many tools available provided by BCCC to help faculty, staff, and students locate accurate, timely information.
Photo of courtesy of Linda McCann, 2009
On April 22nd, Learning Resources recognized the many contributions of
For more information about this service or to
access
Ask
Here
PA,
please
visit
our volunteers during a special luncheon held in the Learning Studio on the
http://
Newtown Campus.
tinyurl.com/askherepa.
Pictured above are Maura Robinson (Tutoring), Ed
Duggan (Library), Inge VanGeel
(Library), Anise Burst (Tutoring), and
Linda McCann
Peter Kraus (Tutoring). Please join us in thanking them and all of our other
Director, Library
hardworking volunteers. Interested in volunteering? Please contact Nicole
Tracey at traceyn@bucks.edu to volunteer in the Tutoring Center and
mccannl@bucks.edu
Poonam Sood at soodp@bucks.edu to volunteer in the Library.
Tutoring Services Available on All Three BCCC Campuses this Summer
Writing tutoring by appointment, Mondays
for AESL, computer, and foreign language
through Thursdays, 10:00am-2:00pm and
courses.
4:00pm-6:30pm, as well as math tutoring
ter’s
on
tutor or call the Center at (215) 968-8044
a
walk-in
basis,
Mondays
through
Please check the Tutoring Cen-
website
at
http://www.bucks.edu/
Thursdays, 10:00am-6:30 pm.
for hours and courses tutored.
During Summer Session I only, the Upper
Tutoring Resources
and Lower Bucks Campuses will offer writ-
For
ing tutoring by appointment and math
tutored,
tutoring on a walk-in basis.
Please check
handouts, and links to helpful Web pages,
updates
online
to
.
hours
writing
and
subjects
tutoring,
online
the Tutoring Center’s website at http://
please visit the Center’s Web site at http://
Throughout the year, the Tutoring Cen-
www.bucks.edu/tutor or call the Center at
www.bucks.edu/tutor. The Tutoring Center
ter provides free tutorial services on a
(215) 968-8044 for hours.
houses many helpful resources, including
variety of subject areas to all students
currently enrolled in credit and noncredit courses offered by the College at
all three BCCC campuses.
During this
summer, we will be offering tutoring to
those students who require help in
mathematics,
writing,
reading,
and
accounting.
.
During Summer Sessions I and II, the
Tutoring
.
During Summer Session I, Accounting tutoring will be offered on a walk-in basis at
the Newtown Campus only. Please check
the Tutoring Center’s website at http://
www.bucks.edu/tutor or call the Center at
(215) 968-8044 for hours and courses
tutored.
Math & Writing
Newtown
Accounting
Center
will
offer
Other Courses
textbooks and handouts, many of which
can also be found online.
Recently, the
Center posted the majority of its writing,
reading, study skills, and AESL handouts
online under the “Writing” section of our
Web site.
To access, please scroll to the
bottom of the Center’s Web site.
Nicole Tracey
.
During Summer I, tutoring will be offered
Director, Tutoring Center
traceyn@bucks.edu
Page 7
Learning Resources
Bucks Global Video
@YOUR LIBRARY
National Month of the Young Child
Mash-Up Contest Winners
Thank you to everyone who participated in our
first
ever
Bucks
Global
Video
Mash-up
Contest. We’re pleased to announce our three
winning videos:
Bucks Recycle
Greg McGraw, Producer
Stop the Hate
Nick Hernandez, Producer
Team Members Phillip Clark, Jan Rustum
Fontanos, Patricia Hannon, Nathaniel Leffever,
Reyna Sosa
Anti-Arab Prejudice Since 9/11
Team Members Zachary Alasha, Jessica
Allessio, Jennifer Golding, Alexandra Graham,
Nicole Ponist, Kristen Walsh
In addition to the contest entries, this event
encouraged multiple faculty
Photo of courtesy of Linda McCann, 2009
In recognition of National Month of the Young Child (MOYC) in April, the
BCCC Library was pleased to host a unique exhibit in the display cases at
the Newtown Campus Library. MOYC focuses public attention on the needs
of children and their families, particularly the need for quality early childhood education, such as the kind offered at the BCCC Early Learning Center (ELC). This exhibit presented 39 block prints and digital photographs
created by the children enrolled at the ELC during the spring semester.
These special works are as individual and beautiful as the artists.
members to
create video class assignments as an alternative to some traditional ones.
This project
was quite successful in generating some interest in assignments that require the use of
multi-media skills!
Marilyn Puchalski
Faculty Liaison for Teaching and Learning
Technologies
puchalsk@bucks.edu
Linda McCann
Director, Library
mccannl@bucks.edu
Now Available Online:
Information Literacy eTutorials
CHANGES IN LEARNING RESOURCES
DIRECTOR, LEARNING TECHONOLOGIES
Learning
pleased to
Resources
is
announce that
Karl Carter has been hired
as Director, Learning Tech-
Web tutorials created by BCCC librarians for
our Embedded eBrarian Program (Information
Literacy instruction for online learners) are
now available on the Library Website.
These
tutorials are designed to orient students to the
College’s research resources and services and
nologies.
to provide students with basic searching skills.
Karl began working in Web
conjunction with course assignments or for
Services nine years ago and
students to use independently. For a listing of
most
as
what’s available, visit http://www.bucks.edu/
Director, Intranet Services.
infolit/tutorials.php. We’ll be adding new ones
An accomplished artist, he
in the future, so please check back.
recently
The tutorials are provided for faculty to use in
worked
has also been a glassblowing
instructor
in
the
College’s Department of the
Arts for the last 14 years.
Bill Hemmig
Online Learning Librarian
hemmigw@bucks.edu
Summer 2009 Library Hours
© opyright at BCCC
BCCC adheres to copyright laws protecting the rights of owners of works of intellectual property. It is the responsibility of
All Three Campus Libraries:
every member of the College to follow the copyright laws set
May 26th through August 13th
forth by Congress in the Copyright Act of 1976, the Digital
Monday - Thursday: 8:00am - 9:00pm
Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), and the Technology Educa-
Friday - Sunday: Closed
information, visit http://www.bucks.edu/library/copyright/.
The Newtown Campus Library will also be
open during the summer intersession, August
17th through 25th, 8:00am - 3:30pm.
tion and Copyright Harmonization Act (TEACH Act). For more
BCCC Learning Resources Offices
………
Maureen McCreadie, Dean, Learning Resources
All dates are subject to change. For more information, please visit our website at http://
www.bucks.edu/library/hours/ or call (215)
968-8009.
(215) 968-8004 mccreadi@bucks.edu
Dolores Smith, Administrative Assistant
(215) 968-8001 smithd@bucks.edu
Library
Linda McCann, Director
(215) 968-8003 mccannl@bucks.edu
Academic Department Liaisons
Each academic department at BCCC has a professional
librarian assigned as that department’s liaison to assist
faculty and staff with their Library and research needs.
Please contact the appropriate liaison, who will be happy to
assist you.
Margaret Montet
(215) 968-8373
montetm@bucks.edu
.
Newtown Campus (215) 968-8009
Upper Bucks Campus (215) 258-7721
Lower Bucks Campus (267) 685-4825
Online Learning
Georglyn Davidson, Director
(215) 968-8251 davidson@bucks.edu
Carol Seufert, Assistant Director
(215) 968-8343 seufertc@bucks.edu
Arts
(Visual Arts, Communication,
and Music)
Jenny DiPrimio
(215) 968-8109 diprimio@bucks.edu
Technology Learning Center
Liz Sette, Director
Bill Hemmig
(215) 504-8611
hemmigw@bucks.edu
Jerry Fedorijczuk
(215) 968-8013
fedorijc@bucks.edu
Behavioral and Social Sciences
(215) 968-8337 settel@bucks.edu
Rhonda Warfield
(215) 968-8250 warfield@bucks.edu
Business Studies
Learning Technologies
Karl Carter, Director
(215) 504-8548
Operations Technicians (215) 968-8050
Linda McCann
(215) 968-8003
mccannl@bucks.edu
Tutoring Center
Nicole Tracey, Director
(215) 968-8218 traceyn@bucks.edu
Marzenna Ostrowski
(215) 504-8619
ostrowsk@bucks.edu
Health, Physical Education,
and Nursing
Charlene Traub, Math / Lauren Humphries, Writing
Faculty Liaison for Teaching and Learning Technologies
Marilyn Puchalski
(215) 968-8056 puchalsk@bucks.edu
Brian Johnstone
Math, Science, and Technology
(215) 504-8554
(MaST)
johnston@bucks.edu
Poonam Sood
(215) 504-8574
soodp@bucks.edu
Instructional Design
Mary Ellen Bornak
(215) 504-8592 bornakm@bucks.edu
Language and Literature
Copyright Liaison
Linda McCann
(215) 968-8003 copyright@bucks.edu