MLA: Bibliographies: Books no longer standard

Modern Language Association

From Ars Technica. Seems that even the conservative MLA sees the writing on the wall. No longer are books the standard for making a bibliography entry. Now you have to say which kind of media. Also, other arguments about how to quote a web page.

The changes are part of MLA’s seventh edition of the Handbook, published last month, whose predictably soporific cover design belies the radical citation changes within. As Inside Higher Ed describes the changes, “print is the default no more” and the new edition suggests “that the medium of publication should be included in each works cited entry.”

Did you know?

David Wiley thinks that the university as it stands will be irrelevant by 2020. He suggested we take a look at a couple of videos. Here is one of them.

New Reading, New Writing

Will Richardson over at Web-logg-ed has a very interesting article about how new technology will change how we read. He points us toward an article in the Wall Street Journal by Steven Johnson, one of my favorite writers. Johnson talks about how the eBook will change reading, primarily through its ease of use, immediate access to an entire library, and linked information and sharing your thoughts in an ongoing discussion with friends and strangers.

This linking and discussion takes place using web sites like diigo, or digg, or evernote. Annotating, marking up, adding comments in the “margins”, tagging and sharing. I think he is spot on. I can’t wait to get my Kindle.

Tool #100: ShowaELC

ShowaELC Logo

Showa ELC, or English Language and Communication, is our unofficial department website for students and community building. I’ll be posting any further tools for students over there, and tools for teachers here. I’ll be maintaining that web site too, so keep a look out for new stuff there. Set up your News Reader to get both this site and that one. You won’t be sorry.

This ends the 100 Tools in 100 Days. I’ll continue posting ideas and tools here, but add other topics like Japan, social life, economics and politics as well. I hope you have enjoyed these tools and will use some of them. I certainly will.

Tool #99: Screeds: Liven up your web pages

Scrolling messages in a .gif picture

Some of you will end up making web pages for your students. This will liven up any message you have to send to them, such as a warning about a deadline or important information they need to see. It is called a screed. Try it, it only takes about 30 seconds to make one, then just save it to your computer and use it like any regular picture.

Tool #98: Japanese IQ test

Get everyone across the river

This is supposed to be a Japanese IQ test, given to all students in Japan. The online version is like a game. I would guess many fail it, but the best thing about it is they could discuss between themselves in small groups, how to get everyone across the river. There are many rules (reading practice) and this would create lots of discussion about hypotheticals.

Tool #97: 100 Ways to use the iPod for learning

Anytime, anywhere

I’ve also recommended using an iPod for learning before, but here is a list of 100 things you can use with the iPod to make it work like a learning machine. All different kinds of ways.

Tool #96: Twitter: A Teacher’s Guide

Teaching with Twitter

I’ve recommended Twitter already, in Tool #53, but here is a long list of ideas about how to use twitter for learning and teaching.

Twitter is very, very popular these days. It is gaining in popularity in Japan. You post short messages about what you are doing thinking or discovering, and people follow you, they can read these posts. It is easy to set up a class like this and get feedback on your lectures, but there are many more ways to use this tool.

Tool #95: Game: Broken Picture Telephone

Pass the message in a chain

A simple mis-communication game. Remember “Telephone” or “Chinese Whispers?” This is done with a chain message like that, but online, and with pictures and writing instead of whispering in your neighbor’s ear. Broken Picture Telephone.

Tool #94: Myngle: Live long-distance language learning

Students and Teachers meet online

Teaching is no longer tethered to geography. If I want to learn German, I can get a German teacher from Germany, living IN Germany right now. If I want to teach English to someone in Argentina, I put up my rate and other details at Myngle. Students find me and I teach using Skype, with up to 4 other students. The simple interface and ease of matching students with teachers made this a recent winner at a teachers conference in Europe.