Our users know that NoodleTools is unique because we focus on helping teachers and students learn. Not mindless fill-in-the-blanks software, NoodleBib is a powerful and accurate citation and notetaking program where students get the support they need when they need it. Throughout the research process students are learning to investigate analytically, think critically, articulate ideas clearly and document their evidence accurately.

Sharing these goals, Pearson Education recognized that we were the right partner for the next generation of their writing software. We’re delighted to announce that NoodleBib is seamlessly integrated into the new version of Pearson’s MyCompLab, a writing instruction environment. From the MyCompLab composing space, a student can click the “Cite sources” link in the Writer’s Toolkit to open NoodleBib, create a source list and notecards, and then import that work directly back into the MyCompLab editor. Users will find NoodleBib a slick fit with MyCompLab’s intuitive composing space and writing instruction resources.

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About Pearson: Pearson Education is the global leader in educational publishing, providing scientifically research-based print and digital programs to help students learn at their own pace, in their own way. “The new MyCompLab empowers student writers and facilitates writing instruction by uniquely integrating a composing space and ePortfolio with proven resources and tools. In this revolutionary application, students receive feedback within the context of their own writing—encouraging critical thinking and revision while honing their skills based on individual needs. Administrative features developed specifically for writing instruction bring instructors closer to their student writers, make managing assignments and evaluating papers more efficient, and save instructors time.” More…

Debbie spoke in two AASL/ISS sponsored sessions at the ALA Annual Conference last week, one on visual information literacy and another about ethics in a Web 2.0 environment. Thanks for attending, and to those of you who came by to say hi!

Visual Literacy Ain’t Just Watching Ads: Decoders, fluent readers and finally expressive readers and writers — these stages apply to visual literacy as well as to reading print. In an image-drenched world, we’ll look at the rhetorical situation of an image, examine some signs and symbols, and see how point of view is created by interaction of the reader, audience, and medium. We’ll consider some emerging issues and teaching strategies for various types of images.

Ethics in the Age of Web 2.0: The ALA Code of Ethics for Librarians has served school and youth services librarians for almost 70 years. How has it supported the intellectual freedom of school and public library youthful users? Does it continue to offer us the guidance we need to face the new challenges and new roles we face in a socially networked, repaidly changing digital world? What needs updating? What’s missing? What has aged well? A panel of experts, library educators, and practitioners will discuss ethical issues associated with social technologies, privacy, intellectual property, cesorship, access to information, leveling and labeling a collection, and selection.

NoodleTools’ Online Opportunities for Young Writers Web page was just selected as one of Writer’s Digest’s 10th annual 101 Best Sites for Writers in 2008. Used by teachers of English, history, and science as well as elementary school teachers in collaboration with the school librarian, this site describes authentic opportunities for student writers in online publications. Each publication is described in a critical annotation that includes age range, guidelines, and reader focus.

To suggest additions, we encourage you to write to debbie[at]noodletools.com.