Library is Accommodating
In the Main Library, we are always trying to accommodate every need of the school and our community. The mock exams have been a great display of this in action. We see students using every space, the whiteboards, the quiet spaces, and the rooms to prep. At the same time, the HS Science Club has its personal projects on display. The MS art students have their annual ‘Hats on Display’ out front of the Main Library.
At the same time, we are hosting IB Film Classes, and MS Advisory Classes on a regular basis. Then we have the drop-in classes that come or book spaces as well. Have a video room that MS students have been using for green screen projects. We have also taken on managing the over 20,000 textbooks that ISB currently holds for MS and HS students. As you can tell, we have a lot going on in the Main Library.
Next week we have visiting author Christina Soontornvat, who is working with MS and ES students coming for book signings. Many of our students know her books and will want to get an autograph. The last thing is again this weekend, the Main Library will be open for study on Saturday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Bell’s Recommendation
Now is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson.
I grabbed this book because I really liked Kevin Wilson’s other most recent book, Nothing to See Here. That was quite funny. This one is much more a serious book looking at how to kids who are struggling to fit in create something that quickly gets out of their control. There are repercussions for this action that will be lasting. The characters have real struggles and try to work through them. Eventually, everything must be reckoned with. A really crazy story that surprises you and yet seems all too real.
Tech Tools
There is more to AI than just ChatGPT
The latest version of ChatGPT launched just yesterday. At ISB in the high school, we are working with teachers to leverage the power and teach students about the best ways to use this fantastic technology. We have a team of teachers working on streamlining expectations and what students will be allowed to use this for, and where it might cross a line. It is a bit tricky, and we want to be out ahead of this to support our students. That said, a lot of the discussion currently centers around ChatGPT, however, there are some equally powerful tools out there that are already leveraging AI technology for other purposes. This is a good list of ones that might actually make your days easier from Medium.com, called “15 AI Tools that you Must Know Other Than ChatGPT.”
Digital Citizenship
The AI Plagiarism Checkers
Staying with the theme of AI and ChatGPT, I have been working on and testing the plagiarism checkers, as this is obviously a concern in the news for education. As a Librarian, I stand by the rule that we teach citation and plagiarism avoidance to help students understand that we need to support our academic writing with proper authority. However, some places in the world have come out with news that they will be blocking ChatGPT to ensure students are not cheating. Personally, I see this as the wrong approach and a losing battle. As I said in the Tech Tools column, at ISB, we are working to help students leverage these tools for their own work. All that said, the AI Plagiarism tools are already on their way. If you are curious about these tools, here is a really great list of the “12 Best AI Plagiarism Checkers to Detect ChatGPT-Generated Content” from Beebom.com