FTC -Federal Trade Commission Consumer Protection Websites

ALA Chicago Conference exhibits included the FTC - Federal Trade Commission. Here is a sample of some excellent consumer protection resources promoted at the FTC exhibit.

• CURE-IOUS: be skeptical of websites hawking cures for cancer and such. Order free bookmark and other resources at http://ftc.gov/curious

• Money Matters: Homeowner consumer information - consumer protection and counseling. See FTC Money Matters website at http://ftc.gov/MoneyMatters

• YouAreHere - a site for kids to learn how to be smart shoppers. The site is geared for 5th through 8th grade students and can complement lessons in critical thinking, writing, language arts, media literacy, business, civics, and social studies.Here is a sampling of topics covered in the virtual mall: Shuman’s Shoes (Lesson: Ads and Endorsements), Gr8 Gadgets (Lesson: False or Misleading Ads), Pizza Pizza Pizza (Lesson: Competition), and Triple Cold Creamery (Lesson: Mergers). The teacher and parent section includes a variety of ways for you to promote the site to students. Order free banners, bookmarks, and posters; copy and paste images (like above) or html for webpage buttons for linking to the site. Lots of options.
  

• Bookmark on "6 Signs that your Scholarship is $unk" - scholarship scams

FYI - Academic Librarians have pointed me to a website called Merlot for peer reviewed material. MERLOT stands for: Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching.

In looking around the library & information area, I came across an information literacy game under "learning materials". One-4 players can play the online board game. Check it out.

The California State University has an Information & Communications Technology (ICT) Literacy section. It included professional development, assessment, faculty resources, campus programs, grants & initiatives.

iSkills by ETS

ETS (Educational Testing Service) had a corner booth at the American Library Association exhibits. The ICT Literacy assessment of student information and communications technology skills is ready for prime time! We've heard about it being tested for several years. The product name is iSkills. Check it out -- take the iSkills tour.

Looks like the time is right for academic and high school librarians to position this as a measurement. Strong library programs are a solution for preparing students for 21st Century learning and careers, and iSkills looks like a well-considered and tested way to assess academic gaps or shortcomings.