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ERIC Number: EJ998134
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 7
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1094-9046
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Opening the Space: Making the School Library a Site of Participatory Culture
Plemmons, Andy
Knowledge Quest, v41 n1 p8-14 Sep-Oct 2012
In "Confronting the Challenges of Participatory Culture" Henry Jenkins defines participatory culture as having "relatively low barriers to artistic expression and civic engagement, strong support for creating and sharing with others, and informal mentorship whereby experienced participants pass along knowledge to novices. Members believe their contributions matter and have some degree of social connection with one another." Embedding these principles within the lessons and overall environment of the school library to establish the library as a site of participatory culture is an essential part of the author's vision for libraries. Offering students a space to create in multiple formats through multiple methods, including technology and online tools, breaks down the barriers the author has seen when a blank piece of paper and a pencil are placed in front of a student. Mistakes aren't really mistakes in a participatory culture supported with multiple mediums of creation. Students play, explore, learn what works and what doesn't, and teach one another when they discover solutions. Students are more engaged because, rather than sit and listen to one person dispense information, they are each in charge of exploring, learning, and contributing. Experts in a variety of areas begin to emerge. (Contains 6 figures.)
American Association of School Librarians. Available from: American Library Association. 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611. Tel: 1-800-545-2433; Web site: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/aaslpubsandjournals/knowledgequest/knowledgequest.cfm
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A