Here are my final thoughts on this program:
What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?
I discovered that I do not know as much as I think I do about the technoology tools out there. And the ones that I am using today, might be old news tomorrow.
How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?
It has affected my outlook on lifelong learning goals by showing me that there is much more out there than just the programs that I know. It taught me to go and look for more tools to add to my tool belt, which I have learned has infinate space.
Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
What surprised me is how much I can take away for my life away from school. I have already started putting things in place for the school year, and things to use at home.
What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?
I love the concept, and I think you guys need to advertise it more. Maybe send an email out to the library coordinators, if you do not already do that.
If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you choose to participate?
Absolutely
How would you describe your learning experience in ONE WORD or in ONE SENTENCE, so we could use your words to promote 23 Things learning activities?
It will open your eyes to tools you did not know were there.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Thing #22- Ning
The Ning that I joined belongs to my district at http://friscoisdlibraries.ning.com/. I took a few mintues to get a aquainted with the actual sight. I find it very similar to a wiki or a blog. What I do like about Ning that is different from the wiki or blog is that there is a discussion feature that is similar to Instant Messaging each other, but instead with a big group.
Another group that I joined is Sarah Dessen's http://sarah-land.ning.com/. I love her books and I enjoyed getting to see it. (I also enjoying putting my name in for some free books!
Another group that I joined is Sarah Dessen's http://sarah-land.ning.com/. I love her books and I enjoyed getting to see it. (I also enjoying putting my name in for some free books!
Friday, July 16, 2010
Thing #21- Vodcast
Photostory is something that I have used before and enjoy using. My students created booktrailers for a book report. During all of this, I had to create a book trailer for one of my master's classes. I have posted the one I did and student example.
Thing #20- Videos
On youtube.com, I found this great video about the future of libraries:
From teachertube.com, I found a video with an intro into U.S. History:
Teachers can only create so much, and so many of our students are visual learners. By using Youtube and Teachertube, you can grab many resources without having to create!
Okay, here is a little treat...this video always makes me smile!
From teachertube.com, I found a video with an intro into U.S. History:
Teachers can only create so much, and so many of our students are visual learners. By using Youtube and Teachertube, you can grab many resources without having to create!
Okay, here is a little treat...this video always makes me smile!
Thing #19- Web 2.0 Awards List
So many tools, so little time!! One thing that made me proud was the fact that I have used at least a few of these sites...GO ME!!!
So after scrolling through them for awhile, I decide to use one that is part personal and part library. I signed into http://www.myheritage.com. (This site is blocked by my district, but I plan on talking with them about that.)
This site is used in order to create a family tree. I did the basic sign-up, which is free, but you can do more in depth ones, but you have to pay for those. Essentially, this site is for families to put together family trees. You can invited people to work together on it. My mom has been working on one for awhile but I have yet to seen one put down on paper so I sent her this site.
For using this in the library, I see creating some for books with many characters. I could also use it when students are researching their own family trees.
This tool is very easy to use and I think the students would have fun using it...as well as teachers.
So after scrolling through them for awhile, I decide to use one that is part personal and part library. I signed into http://www.myheritage.com. (This site is blocked by my district, but I plan on talking with them about that.)
This site is used in order to create a family tree. I did the basic sign-up, which is free, but you can do more in depth ones, but you have to pay for those. Essentially, this site is for families to put together family trees. You can invited people to work together on it. My mom has been working on one for awhile but I have yet to seen one put down on paper so I sent her this site.
For using this in the library, I see creating some for books with many characters. I could also use it when students are researching their own family trees.
This tool is very easy to use and I think the students would have fun using it...as well as teachers.
Thing #18- Online Productivity Tools
The tool that I am going to focus on is Google Docs. This is a program that I started playing with at the end of this school year. I used most of the different applications; Document, Presentation, Spreadsheet, and the Form. I have found all of them useful, especially the Form application.
I am going into a unique situation. I am going to be the librarian at the school that I have taught at for 2 years. There are many pros and cons to this, and there are expectations that are there from the old librarian. In order to better understand what each person needs, I have created a Form on Google Docs to survey the teachers and their needs.
There is one pro that outweighs all of the others....COLLABORATION! You and a group of people can work on a test...and you do not have to send it back and forth through email, saving it under all of these different names every time.
The one con that I have found is that the documents do not always work well when you are trying to change things at the same time. The idea is that you should be able to change things and the other person see it, but I have noticed that there are many kinks in this.
Overall, Google Docs is something that I plan on using A LOT of in the months to come!
I am going into a unique situation. I am going to be the librarian at the school that I have taught at for 2 years. There are many pros and cons to this, and there are expectations that are there from the old librarian. In order to better understand what each person needs, I have created a Form on Google Docs to survey the teachers and their needs.
There is one pro that outweighs all of the others....COLLABORATION! You and a group of people can work on a test...and you do not have to send it back and forth through email, saving it under all of these different names every time.
The one con that I have found is that the documents do not always work well when you are trying to change things at the same time. The idea is that you should be able to change things and the other person see it, but I have noticed that there are many kinks in this.
Overall, Google Docs is something that I plan on using A LOT of in the months to come!
Thing #17- Rollyo
This is SO SIMPLE! I would not believe how easy it was to create a group of websites to search for something. I actually created two different search areas, one for fun, Celebrity News, and one for the library, Reviews. If you look to the left, you will see the search bar that is powered by Rollyo.
I really think this is going to be beneficial for students. They can search the web, but only using the sites that you want them too. What a great idea!!!
I really think this is going to be beneficial for students. They can search the web, but only using the sites that you want them too. What a great idea!!!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Thing #16- Wikis
Talk about a key word on the Web 2.0. I have made so many wikis in the past 9 months it is crazy. I will say at first they scared me to death. I understood blogs and what they represent, but the wiki sites seemed confusing to me.
I will say that not all wiki sites are created the same and each are unique in the resource they offer. Below I have two of the sites that I have used and the pros and cons behind each:
http://www.wikispaces.com: Pros: Free with no advertising if used for educational purposes, a discussion feature that can be used to make sure that people are collaborating. Cons: No spell check and has issues with formatting at times.
http://www.pbworks.com: Pro: Free with no advertising, spell check and formatting relatively easy. Con: No discussion, side bars can be tricky to format.
Overall, my experience with wikis has been a positive one and I look forward to more projects in the future!
I will say that not all wiki sites are created the same and each are unique in the resource they offer. Below I have two of the sites that I have used and the pros and cons behind each:
http://www.wikispaces.com: Pros: Free with no advertising if used for educational purposes, a discussion feature that can be used to make sure that people are collaborating. Cons: No spell check and has issues with formatting at times.
http://www.pbworks.com: Pro: Free with no advertising, spell check and formatting relatively easy. Con: No discussion, side bars can be tricky to format.
Overall, my experience with wikis has been a positive one and I look forward to more projects in the future!
Thing #15- Library 2.0
While completing my master's this term came up often. Questions like: How are you you going to adapt to the new ideas?; What are you going to do to make sure you are still needed?; and What training are you doing for technology?
In my opinion, the printed word will be around forever, just not in the same way. Just like going from scrolls to paper, we are know going to go from paper to e-readers. Just because we are going to do this does not mean that we, as librarians, are going to become obsolete. But we have to make sure we change with the times.
Technology is apart of the Library 2.0 but it is not the only part. We need make sure we are there to support Web 2.0 and all of its facets, but we also need to teach the patrons how to explore the tools.
I had a professor in my undergrad work say that we all needed to be like a willow tree and bend and sway with the changes. I believe that is what a Library 2.0 is a place that bends and sways with the times.
In my opinion, the printed word will be around forever, just not in the same way. Just like going from scrolls to paper, we are know going to go from paper to e-readers. Just because we are going to do this does not mean that we, as librarians, are going to become obsolete. But we have to make sure we change with the times.
Technology is apart of the Library 2.0 but it is not the only part. We need make sure we are there to support Web 2.0 and all of its facets, but we also need to teach the patrons how to explore the tools.
I had a professor in my undergrad work say that we all needed to be like a willow tree and bend and sway with the changes. I believe that is what a Library 2.0 is a place that bends and sways with the times.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Thing #14- Technorati
Having entered the blogging world just about a year ago, I had never heard of Technorati. After playing with it for a little while, I can see where it can be useful. If you have a really great website you want to get out there then you can register it with them. I also liked that they had a lists of the most popular tags out there.
One thing that I did not like is that you have to register your blog for it to come up, but at the same time that will keep a lot of the nonessential blogs off of the site.
I love reading reviews of books, so I typed in Young "Adult Literature Reviews" and was able to find a lot of cool sites for reviews. This is a site I will use and commend to people who enjoy following blogs!
One thing that I did not like is that you have to register your blog for it to come up, but at the same time that will keep a lot of the nonessential blogs off of the site.
I love reading reviews of books, so I typed in Young "Adult Literature Reviews" and was able to find a lot of cool sites for reviews. This is a site I will use and commend to people who enjoy following blogs!
Thing #13- Tagging and Discovering Delicious
During one of my master's classes, I actually had to get a Delicious account and practice bookmarking and tagging. After the class I really didn't mess with it too much until talking with the librarian I am replacing and realizing that I could do a lot more with it then let it sit there. This summer I have added so many different sites that I am going to have to start tagging more thoughtfully. Between following technology blogs, cool Web 2.0 tools, authors, and other librarians, my list is growing very long.
In using this with research, I can see teachers find some awesome websites and bookmarking them and then allowing students to use the book marks. I did a book trailer assignment last year and I had typed all of these links to a sheet of paper. Giving the students my blog address and then having them use the sites on there is much more time efficient.
I am also going to use it to give teachers great sites about books, instructional methods, and technology tools.
Look to the left! I was able to put my bookmarks on my blog.
In using this with research, I can see teachers find some awesome websites and bookmarking them and then allowing students to use the book marks. I did a book trailer assignment last year and I had typed all of these links to a sheet of paper. Giving the students my blog address and then having them use the sites on there is much more time efficient.
I am also going to use it to give teachers great sites about books, instructional methods, and technology tools.
Look to the left! I was able to put my bookmarks on my blog.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Thing #12- Commenting
I will be honest...I have never been a big commentor. That is not to say I do not have opinions about what is being said, but more that I just rant at the screen instead of type. ;-)
Why I was reading the ideas about blogs and commenting, two things really stuck out to me:
1. It has to be a meaningful comment. Commenting just to comment is more destructive than anything else. It is like blogging with nothing to say.
2. Students do not know how to comment. This needs to be fixed. With Web 2.0 breaking down our doors, we need to teach students how to survive using the tools and quit fighting the tide!!
The five blogs that I looked at are:
http://eduheretic.blogspot.com/
http://melaniesthings.blogspot.com/
http://j3ddl3man.blogspot.com/
http://mysummeroflearning2010.blogspot.com/
http://mauslibrary.blogspot.com/
The blogs that I found are:
http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/why-libraries-are-important/
What really grabbed me about this blog is is the logo that was at the top of the page. Talk about great marketing. What kept me there was the thoughts posted about library budgets.
http://summeredward.blogspot.com/2010/07/readers-of-caribbean-literacy-workshop.html
This summer I am taking "The Art of Storytelling" for my Masters. The latest blog on here is
"Readers of the Caribbean" Literacy Workshop- How Children Learn Cultural Stereotypes of the Caribbean Through Literature . This is what we have been focusing on in class is the cultural stereotypes and the different stories that are out there that do it. I cannot wait to show it to my professor!
Why I was reading the ideas about blogs and commenting, two things really stuck out to me:
1. It has to be a meaningful comment. Commenting just to comment is more destructive than anything else. It is like blogging with nothing to say.
2. Students do not know how to comment. This needs to be fixed. With Web 2.0 breaking down our doors, we need to teach students how to survive using the tools and quit fighting the tide!!
The five blogs that I looked at are:
http://eduheretic.blogspot.com/
http://melaniesthings.blogspot.com/
http://j3ddl3man.blogspot.com/
http://mysummeroflearning2010.blogspot.com/
http://mauslibrary.blogspot.com/
The blogs that I found are:
http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/why-libraries-are-important/
What really grabbed me about this blog is is the logo that was at the top of the page. Talk about great marketing. What kept me there was the thoughts posted about library budgets.
http://summeredward.blogspot.com/2010/07/readers-of-caribbean-literacy-workshop.html
This summer I am taking "The Art of Storytelling" for my Masters. The latest blog on here is
"Readers of the Caribbean" Literacy Workshop- How Children Learn Cultural Stereotypes of the Caribbean Through Literature . This is what we have been focusing on in class is the cultural stereotypes and the different stories that are out there that do it. I cannot wait to show it to my professor!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Thing #11- Library Thing
Using Library Thing is fairly simple. One of the things I like most is the fact that you can add to your collection and the students can see it. I embedded the widgit into the blog and it was so easy. Now it will just take me awhile to add in all the books I have read.
I think that this could be used in the classroom by teachers to share what they are reading. Making a connection like that to our students and showing them that reading is important could impact the students.
I did go and look at one of the groups and that was the "Banned Books of 2010". Some of them were old books some of them new books. It was interesting to see the passion that people take in their literature and how many people follow that group.
I think that this could be used in the classroom by teachers to share what they are reading. Making a connection like that to our students and showing them that reading is important could impact the students.
I did go and look at one of the groups and that was the "Banned Books of 2010". Some of them were old books some of them new books. It was interesting to see the passion that people take in their literature and how many people follow that group.
Thing #10- Online Image Generator
I had to do a Wordle just because... I LOVE WORDLE!!! I have used it on so many wikis and I very much enjoy using it. I can see using it to introduce vocabulary or a new unit. It is also great for students to use if the are describing a character. The only downfall is that you have to Print Screen and paste into Paint in order to save. (http://wordle.net)
The other one I played with is Trading Card Maker. When my students read Rikki-tikki-tavi, the struggle to visualize what a mongoose was. A trading card like this with information about the animal is a great way to give them information. You could also use this to make posters about historical figures, time periods, math equations, characters from a book, and science terms. (http://bighugelabs.com/deck.php)
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