The Forum

Thing #11.5 -- Library 2 Play 2

2009-08-09T15:52:00.003-05:00

Evaluation:

1. My favorite: Posting to YouTube and using Jing for Screencasts....so simple! Jing I will definitely use on our library web page. And I was all excited about using Skype, until my daughter said a friend warned her about it bringing in viruses...and then she started getting email invitations from the "non-friendly" type to join Skype conversations. Is Skype a virus issue?

2. Lifelong learning: When I think I've learned it all...turn on the computer! Every minute a new (and FREE!) program comes out that makes life just a little more exciting ...and easy.

3. Facebook: I was VERY apprehensive about starting a Facebook account and was debating closing it when the course was through. Then a long lost friend I have not seen in 25 years asked to "friend" me. When I responded affirmatively, we had a wonderful reminiscent conversation (real-time chat) online...and she was in England! It was fabulous and thanks for that.

4. It wasn't you that had to make the change...it was me. During 23 Things I was using dial-up Internet and stayed frustrated during the entire ordeal. It was like have dangling chocolate right inside the gate and I couldn't reach in and get my hands on it. Because of 23 Things I invested in high-speed Internet at home and it is the smartest money I spend. This time around, 11.5 things was a blast. Is there another one coming???

Because of 23 Things and 11.5 Things, I will start a LUV2LEARN tech blog for my teachers, posting new technologies for them to try with tutorials, links, examples, and suggestions. I am also revamping my library web page for students, where I will include tutorials through screencasts, video hosting, and PowerPoint slideshares. I will also try to include Animoto book trailers along with other research links. Will it get done overnight? Nope...that's why Webster invented the word "ongoing!"

Thanks to Spring Branch ISD Libraries for allowing those of us in tiny "one district, one librarian" worlds an anchor for learning in the digital world.

Thing #11 -- Library 2 Play 2

2009-08-09T14:57:00.004-05:00

I'm glad digital citizenship is included at the conclusion of this course. It has been much in my thoughts as I "played" with each tool. I could see so much potential for education, and then a dark side would show where I saw some drawbacks to each one too.

These are the 5 points I will make during library orientation on digital citizenship:
1. Don't believe everything you read on the Internet.
2. The first hit is not always the best.
3. Keep it safe -- for you and me.
4. Be the nice guy.
5. Make smart choices.

On purpose I did not use any of the current watchwords - critical thinking, problem solving, responsibility, evaluate sources, effective research, lifelong learning as in the ISTE standards for students. Do I want them? Absolutely! But I know that when I start throwing out these terms, that students are becoming immune to these repeated phrases and when they start hearing them...they tune me out. I've chosen simple terms that encompass all these things...in kid language -- short and sweet.

I like Cool Cat Teacher's simple matrix -- The student needs to learn literacy, safety, etiquette, and searching strategies. I want to add one more dimension to her matrix -- the TEACHER and the student need to learn these four aspects. I find that most of my teachers don't fully understand each of these aspects and that lack of understanding trickles down to the student when they accept just anything from the students...because the teacher doesn't know any better either. When my teachers become more discerning and demanding of higher quality and safer practices, then my students will be more likely to deliver.

We need to follow this simple philosophy in the digital world as well as other areas of education: EXPECT IT -- DEMAND IT -- GET IT! If we do not, we will continue to produce inferior products from uneducated students led by uniformed educators.

With the help of the TEA website, here are my 5 pointers for teachers too:
1. Create only meaningful activities and expect quality products.
2. Demand best practices and safe work habits.
3. Know and enforce rules and guidelines.
4. Practice what you preach: know how to use a program/Internet site yourself before turning your students loose with it.
5. MONITOR! MONITOR! MONITOR!

Life doesn't have to be complicated to be effective...neither does technology.

Thing #10 -- Library 2 Play 2

2009-08-07T22:02:00.003-05:00

I am now Shay Fairlady in Second Life! I created an avator that looked 18 (which I am not), which could explain why I attracted conversation from another avator (who claimed to be 18 and from Columbia!) Explaining that you are a school librarian old enough to be his grandmother sometimes deters unnecessary conversation!

Anyway I changed my pant color on my avator (just to say I did), walked all over Help Island (and out into the sea!), sat on a chair on a patio, walked inside a building and sat on a ledge (where I met the Columbian...moral: be careful where you sit!). I also chatted for a while with him (before he found out why I was REALLY there), built a triangular wedge on a patio (that could possibly be a handicap ramp, although it was not pretty but pretty much in the right place), and tried out most of the gestures (glad I wasn't blowing kisses when the 18-year-old newbie stumbled by).

I tried flying (because I thought it would get me off that confounded island), but that didn't work (I just flew around over the sea). When I created an account, though I signed up to be on that cruise ship (naturally), but I did not start out there and never figured out why or how to go somewhere else.

Based on what I read about SL, I think going to the other places and exploring would be fun and educational too. Using the build feature would be great to stimulate creativity, solve problems, and be daring with imagination. I like going in with a friend and working together as a team to build something or accomplish something. That would be a fun challenge. I would want my students in a controlled area...controlling who could get in. Would that be the part that costs real money...getting your own space?

I like the book club idea, although I need to figure out how to get to the library first! Wander if that young Columbian knew the way...maybe I should have followed him!

Thing #9 -- Library 2 Play 2

2009-08-04T21:07:00.007-05:00

Regardless of the web site used to share PowerPoint slide shows...it's a great idea. Teachers can share work created and not have to reinvent the wheel for all presentations. Students can share slide shows created in class. There's a great wealth of info already out there.

I tested a couple of hosting sites by uploading a PowerPoint I had already created. The first upload was to SlideShare. The slide show is a program presented to a teen read club at our public library this summer on Genealogy for Teens. It was relatively simple registration and short wait time for upload. After choosing tags, titles, categories, etc. I then clicked Public and waited while SlideShare converted my PPT...which took less than 30 seconds. It allowed me to view online or embed.

Genealogy for Teens

View more presentations from sharanfarmer.

Observations: None of my animations work in SlideShare, however there is an embedded YouTube video and if you click on the video icon it will link and play in YouTube. Also all my font styles do not transfer.

I also tried uploading the same PPT Genealogy for Teens to AuthorStream. They asked the same basic registration questions and it too only took a few minutes to upload. It too had to go through the conversion process which took just a little longer than SlideShare. It also gave the link and html embed.

Genealogy for Teens

Uploaded on authorSTREAM by sfarmer Upload your own presentation

Observations: Voila! All the animations work and YouTube will play in the link. What I noticed on both platforms is that both will allow you to go to full screen with the PPT and the quality looks pretty good, but neither will let you advance to the next slide in full screen. My pick goes to AuthorStream because of the animations. Yet I agree with Joyce Valenza that it doesn't hurt to search in several hosting sites for PPTs that might be useful in your library or classroom.

I also took a look at 280 Slides as an option to Microsoft PPT. Even though it does not have as many bells and whistles, I like the fact that it is easily accessible via the web and students who do not have the Microsoft package on home computers can still work on projects at home and then convert to MS PPT at school.

Thing #8 -- Library 2 Play 2

2009-08-03T21:50:00.003-05:00

I cannot believe how incredibly easy Jing is!!! All these years I've been going from student to student telling each one (over and over) how to do something on the computer...in addition to giving them complete written directions. This is the best thing I've learned so far and plan to make many tutorials.

I chose Jing over the others that I looked at primarily because it is the one I've read the most about so I figured that it had to have some good pointers...and it did. Super simple to download. The screencast video tutorials within the help site told me exactly what to do. The video screencast I created was only my second try. I would have kept the first one...but I didn't realize the mute button was on!

My students use a free online bibliography generator called NoodleTools. The tutorial I created shows them how to create a free account. New User Registration on NoodleTools. I plan to create other short ones on creating citations for a book, database, web site, etc.

I linked the title to the Screencast.com link. I also followed the directions and created a new button to embed the html code into my blog, but I can't figure out how to find the code from the video in history. I know the tutorial in Jing said it is now on my clipboard, but I don't know how to access my clipboard. Can somebody help me?

I went to this site How to Find a Clipboard Viewer and got this shortcut on my desktop. It will show the embed code but it will not allow me to copy it. What am I doing wrong?

Thing #7 -- Library 2 Play 2

2009-07-29T18:12:00.008-05:00

I have tried to provide online video resources for my teachers for years, but in the past few years our computers and internet connections got so slow that they could not watch anything I found...if I could see it myself. I am excited that in the coming year, we are getting new computers, greater speed internet, and video projectors for all our classrooms. This should be a great resource for the classroom now.

I have used Hulu for some time now to watch movies, but have not considered it for the classroom until now. One of my favorites with the anniversary of the moon landing was found there. It is SpaceRip: Apollo 11: To the Sea of Tranquility. It would be great to use in our Earth Science class.

I have learned to let the video buffer before trying to watch it by clicking the play button and then immediately clicking the pause button and waiting a bit. Mine works better this way. Also Hulu videos have more controls available from the original site than from an embed.

Also, in most cases it would be best to download a video you are planning to show in the classroom rather than play it straight from the internet site. Some of the advertising surrounding the video screens on some of these sites is not very appropriate for students.

I used Blinx to search for videos on the Texas Revolution and found this on YouTube. It is an excellent emotional reading of Travis Letter at the Alamo. It would make a profound difference in our Texas history class to watch this video. The only action is actually the words of the letter projected on a flag background...but the reading is great!

I tried embedding this video from the Blinx site but wasn't successful, so I went to the original YouTube site and embedded from there.

I found a remarkable video on the NARA site from the Lyndon B. Johnson library of a recorded phone conversation between Johnson and Truman. It's unique as a slide show inside a video. American History classes would get a unique perspective of a Texas president in his own words...and it also has Lady Bird Johnson speaking as well. Unique conversation between 2 former presidents.

I did not realize so much of PBS was video online. Lots of educational things going on there. I did not find a way to make all these videos full-screen. However on many sites, going full-screen lessened the visual quality, so showing these on a large screen with a video projector will lose many students. A suggestion would be to go to the computer lab and assign a video to watch individually so the small screen (and better quality) would be an asset, and provide an assignment to do while watching the video. That way, individuals could work at their own speed (stopping and starting when needed) to complete an assignment using online video.

One of my favorite videos is A Fair(y) Use Tale so I used Google Video search to find it again. It sums up fair use and copyright pretty good.

On Joyce Valenza's site I tried searching for Anne Frank on SearchForVideo (since we read the biography in 8th grade) and found this: Anne Frank - My Heart Will Go On through Live Video. It is a music video and a good example of Remix Culture using clips from the movie, historical photos, set to a song not usually associated with Anne Frank....but in this case fits well.

And NeoK12 is awesome! Definitely something to tell teachers about.

Thing #6 -- Library 2 Play 2

2009-07-21T21:25:00.005-05:00

Although this Thing will be a little complicated for me (I do not know anyone with an iPhone and do not live in a town with an Apple Store), I will do the research anyway and see where it leads.

The first thing I found is there is a graphing calculator app! Wow, we provide graphing calculators for all our students via library checkout...and they cost $100 each! We could save thousands of dollars if the students could each download their own for 99 cents from the iTunes store. But...we can't have cell phones in school, but if we did....these would be cool.

I also liked Stanza, the free app that allows you to access and read over 100,000 books and periodicals on your iPhone or iPod Touch. This would be a great asset for students doing research and not finding the book they need in our small library. Also great for having "something to read" at their fingertips, anytime, anywhere.

And my science teachers would love Starmap for finding constellations, planets and shooting star zones. It does cost $11.99 though.

Google Earth is an awesome computer app so having it available on iPhone would be great! Reading a novel in class and it mentions a spot...google earth and find it immediately. Talking about a current event in another part of the world...google earth and find it at the point of discussion. Discussing rainforests in science..google earth to the hot spots and see what they look like right away. Great idea!

Searching for ways to download apps to iTouch, I found these helpful sites:

How to Download an Application on an iTouch
Kathy Schrock's iPod touch online applications for education
And my favorite Learning in Hand by Tony Vincent, a former school teacher who pioneered educational handheld computing. It's a simple straightforward site with simple explanations.

Libraries can create a video tour of the library and loan iTouch phones to play them on such as done by Baker Library.

Thing #5 -- Library 2 Play 2

2009-07-17T21:19:00.004-05:00

I created a Facebook account (I think!) but I have no idea what to do with it. I have never had one and never seen one so I don't have a clue what to do with it. I have been reading about the importance of not posting private information on it and so I'm scared to post anything. I used my Avatar for my photo, hid my birthday, put my school and college, and my religion. Other than that...that's it.

I gave them very little information and it was downright eery how friends, family and others I knew whose names automatically popped up to click for friends!!!! I clicked on a couple and then got leery because I didn't know what was going to happen if I clicked on them....or why I was even clicking on them! I kept saying over and over....how did they know to put those people on there to choose???

At one point it asked me to agree to access my yahoo account...and I backed out. Facebook may be something EVERYBODY already knows about....but not me and the tutorials on this part are not helpful. I did search for a friend's name who has an account and clicked on it to see what it was supposed to look like...everything was private. So I clicked on something and it allowed me to send her an email and I tried to explain what I'd just done. I'm not comfortable with this because I don't have enough explanation on it yet.

I did go back and look at my friend's facebook page. (I guess I was able to because I clicked her to be my friend) I could see her photos (my family was in some of them...and identified....kinda scary) and I could read comments she and others had made. I don't like that....some sound personal. I'm not convinced yet unless I can see a good example of how to use it productively. If I want to post useful information...I see a blog as more positive.

I now have some "friends" on my facebook. I can see one advantage and that is if I want to contact someone for whom I do not have an email, I could search facebook and click under their picture (provided they have a facebook account) and contact them that way.

As to Twitter...you can see me at http://twitter.com/luv2learn2 and my 3 little tweets. I spent the longest time searching for friends who also tweet and came up empty. So I tried searching for some topics I was interested in and either came up bust or a bum search result. For example, I searched for "school library" and got random tweets which happened to have school and library in the same sentence...nothing I could use. So consequently, I did not check anyone to follow. I did add a photo and changed the background.

However, I do see a use for twitter in my school library. I could post the titles of any new books I get or tweet about library events.

Back-channeling looks like it would be a useful tech tool in some schools, but we are such a tiny school that we don't have class settings where that would be feasible. It might work for our teacher in-service sessions though.

Thing #4 -- Library 2 Play 2

2009-07-16T21:25:00.003-05:00

I've looked at YouTube forever, but did not realize how unbelievably easy it is to upload your own videos with basically the same format for TeacherTube. I especially like that you can upload support material with TeacherTube. The tutorial videos were excellent.

I practiced with a video I already had in my file made with my digital camera which has an .mpg extension. The hardest part is the long wait for it to upload. It was easy to embed here in the blog.

Dutch Oven Cooking

I also tried uploading a PhotoStory 3 file with a .wmv extension. Also easy and the music and voice over came through great. It is true that the photos lose their quality the more they are copied. The originals were extremely sharp, then they went into PhotoStory, then into YouTube.

Visiting Rome

I see a great advantage in uploading teaching/learning videos that can be used in the classroom! Sharing video resources shares the load of creation. Why reinvent the wheel when it is already out there and ready to use. By sharing videos, teachers do not have to create one for every lesson and therefore are more inclined to use them. "I don't have time to do this" is what I hear from my teachers who aren't real tech savvy. If they are available they will probably use them...and when they see how easy it is...then maybe they will create one.

My students would love sharing their work online. Motivation is one of our biggest problems in getting students to produce quality work. If they see it can really be published online perhaps they'll take a few more steps to develop something worthy of publishing.

Thing #3 -- Library2Play2

2009-07-16T18:20:00.005-05:00

I downloaded Skype and am trying to get my daughter to set up an account too so I can practice.

I once attended a Texas Library Conference session where the speaker in the auditorium was debating someone using Skype so I have seen the app in use even though I have not used it. I can see a lot of potential for this technology in our small rural 1A school where we do not have a lot of monetary or physical resources.

I see us connecting our Spanish class students with students in a Spanish speaking country. It could be an opportunity for them to practice their English while talking to us and for us to practice our Spanish while talking with them.

I also see an astronomy project with New Zealand or Australia...calling up at times during a month to compare the phases of the moon.

How fantastic it would be to actually have a conversation with the author of a book we are reading or a discussion with a scientist about a scientific principle!

Homebound students meet regularly with our homebound teacher, but say they are having to write their major senior research paper and have specific questions. They could use Skype for an afternoon video call to the senior English teacher to ask and receive help.

I especially liked the 50 Awesome Ways article that provided links to suggestions for use in the classroom.

Thing #2 - Library 2 Play 2

2009-07-10T15:11:00.009-05:00

OK, I thought since I got high-speed internet since 23 Things, everything would run like clockwork... not exactly. I used IE7 and the Wordle image would not show. I followed directions and reinstalled the newest version of Java with a restart and still no luck showing the image on IE. (I had also noticed that lately, my Avatar was not showing...the "Red X Syndrome." I had even changed the Avatar image and no luck).

Then I tried Mozilla and still no Avatar (but no red X box either), but this time my cloud shows up in Mozilla but still not IE. Any suggestions out their on how to get rid of the red X in IE? I followed the directions. And how do I get my Avatar to reappear?

Anyway, I created a Wordle image of the first chapter from the official site of The Alamo - History and the most frequent words are San Antonio and Indians. It would definitely be helpful in bringing the most common words to the forefront for a summary, especially in longer passages. I see here that the mission at San Antonio was built for the Indians.

(created at http://www.wordle.net/)

I just got through playing with Glogster and love it. Here is a link to what I created on Traveling. I found it super simple to use. The tutorials were really good and I liked the fact that she gave the same tutorial in several formats. It would be excellent for my students to create posters online instead of the traditional paper poster (which they always forget...or claim to). This way they all have access at school to the internet and can all create a project. It would be good for upper elementary through high school on animals, biomes, artists, biographies, Spanish speaking countries...to name a few we do. I also liked the concept of the teacher created one for information purposes. It is a lot more exciting to look at than all text. Student thinking...I found it is quicker to do this type of poster. It eliminates some steps (printing, cutting, pasting). If internet access is not available at home, time must be provided at school. Students can manipulate what goes on the poster easier...changing sizes and colors at a whim without wasting paper. Students will want to do this more than the traditional poster because it is new and they prefer anything technical.

I also played with Animoto and created a 30-second quickie on travel. It was unbelievably easy. Although it needs more practice to really tweek it, I know it has great potential in the classroom. Librarians already use it for booktalks. History projects showing a sequence of events set to music, art projects showing works of art by a particular artist or showcasing a students own work, using photos to illustrate an abstract concept.

Bookr was a unique little tool from Flickr although working with it I encountered some limitations. However when I looked at a few in the archive I could see that by spending more time I could probably work out some of my issues of picture size as others did. I see a lot of possibilities with this from elementary to high school. K-2 could build a book with the teacher working the computer and the students telling her what pictures to find...as in what do you find on a farm, in a rainforest, in the snow, etc. Older students could do history events, science projects. This could take the place of any of the other tech tools in this lesson or PowerPoint or PhotoStory. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Here is one I did on the Missions of San Antonio.

Thing #1 -- Library 2 Play 2

2009-07-10T14:29:00.004-05:00

Common Craft is one of my favorite online video tutorial sites because it is so simplistic. (As a matter of fact, before I opened Thing #1, I had just sent the Common Craft web site along with both Library2Play sites to 3 other teachers to use!) It is a perfect way to open the door for discussion on using online technology tools.

I agree that the 21st century student needs to be tech savvy to succeed, and I also believe that same student is probably more tech savvy than me! The key is to channel that expertise that he already possesses into the education field and show him/her how it can apply to life after school in meaningful ways. On the way, we can teach each other!

And most definitely...the librarian can play the role of teacher, whether tutoring the student on library computers one on one or co-teaching a lesson with a classroom teacher in the lab.

Thing #23

2008-02-28T21:18:00.003-06:00

Finally...finished!! This has been a very beneficial online course. I have learned so much about Web 2.0 tools and had "assignments" that actually made me put them into practice...so I got real time experience. I see so many possibilities! I have told our tech director about each lesson and he plans to incorporate many of them into his tech summer school for middle schoolers. I plan to develop some sample lessons to introduce to teachers to encourage them to incorporate into lesson plans to enhance student learning.

My frustration with the ability to do several things has convinced me to investigate getting high-speed internet at home. Living in the country, however, does not make it readily available. If the technology had worked when I needed it to work it would have been a less frustrating experience.

Which brings me to the last hurdle...I really did do the online survey and tried 3 times to "submit vote"...but alas, it wouldn't go through either...sigh :( Just know that you got high marks and I included all the comments here. Thanks for the experience!

P.S...to address the questions:
1. Favorites: the ones that worked...widgets, avatars, blogging, and photo story 3.
2. Even though videos were impossible to watch at home, I discovered some wonderful Web 2.0 tutorials I watched at school. Now if I want to learn anything...just search for a video tutorial!
3. Surprises: Blogging is SOOO easy. I want to convert this one now to my library blog. The Forum is the name of our library...our mascot is the gladiaor.
4. I realize some of the best tutorials were in the videos, but when I couldn't see the video for a couple of lessons, I was totally lost. Perhaps make sure that the explanation is in more than one format.
5. I would love to participate!
6. Eye-opening (to a whole new experience I don't know was available on the web)
7. I'll try...What I want to see now is some suggestions on how others have used these tools to incorporate in lessons. Any suggestions on where to look?

Thing #22

2008-02-28T20:52:00.002-06:00

I liked the Teacher Librarian Ning the best as it seemed to have more information already posted in the comments. Texas School Librarian would be good but it seems to be a newer Ning and hasn't developed quite as much. This is a very useful social networking tool for members to post concerns and issues and help each other with proven practices. There is always someone else out there who has already been there...done that so it makes sense to access their expertise. It is particularly useful to those of us in a one-librarian district.

Thing #21

2008-02-28T16:12:00.005-06:00

I created a vidcast of sites to see in Rome. It has 8 photos, narration, and Photo Story created music. I tried several times to upload it to this blog at home with dial-up, but each time it failed stating it could not contact blogger.com. So I came to school, downloaded Windows Media Player 11, downloaded Photo Story 3, copied it from my flash drive to my hard drive, and got my tech director to unblock the site so I could post. Again it gave the same message. I spent several hours working on this and really enjoyed using Photo Story 3. It looked pretty simple to post...just click the video icon above, browse to the file, and upload...if it worked. Unless someone can tell me what to do to upload the vidcast, you'll just have to take my word that I did it and tried. It was saved as an wp3 file. This has become frustrating.

Thing #20

2008-02-27T19:20:00.004-06:00

I have searched YouTube and TeacherTube before and am a firm believer in them for use in the classroom. Although I, too, HIGHLY recommend reviewing videos before showing in the classroom.

This embedded video is a tutorial to show students on how to use Photo Story 3.

This is a video from TeacherTube using Google Earth to tour locations of Anne Frank's family.

I downloaded to my hard drive a video of the Great Barrier Reef from Blinx, but when I clicked the video download button on the tool bar it inserted the video screen and then 30 seconds later it disappeared and said there was an error.

Thing #19

2008-02-26T22:17:00.002-06:00

The site I explored was pipl. It was quick and easy to use and you could find out some interesting things about people...if they happened to be on the web anywhere. For some I found a bit...for some nothing. It could be useful in the library for locating other librarians. For example, I recently had a copyright question and wanted to contact one specific person but didn't have contact information. Here I could have found him/her.

Thing #18

2008-02-26T18:31:00.002-06:00

I started to download OpenOffice and found that it took 7 minutes to download 1 MB of 120 MB for the program…at that rate it would take 10 hours just to download. And that’s before I could even start to play with it. It was not worth my time to download. I did watch the Impress presentation tour and it looks like an easy program to use once downloaded.

I did play with Google Docs. I created a document and sent to my daughter to collaborate and make changes. I'm waiting to see how that goes. I also created a document and inserted a photo from my files. It is a very good picture, however it is VERY blurry once inserted. I also sent it for collaboration to my daughter and husband to answer questions on the document. We'll see how easy it is for them to access and revise.

Thing #17

2008-02-22T22:30:00.002-06:00

This has been the most frustrating 2 hours of this course. I had looked forward to learning to do wikis and haven't learned anything. The videos will not play on my dial up. I tried them at school and they sputtered around and wouldn't play enough for me to learn anything. So I tried downloading them at home to play...but I didn't have ShockWave. So I tried installing ShockWave NUMEROUS times and something wasn't working. It did not install. So I decided just to (try and) post on the sandbox wiki. "Playing" around I didn't get a post where everyone else is...but on a different spot in discussion page. I give up....:(

Thing #16

2008-02-20T22:14:00.002-06:00

The best explanation of a wiki was the Common Craft video. I understand wikis much better after viewing that. I looked at all the examples. Our language arts class could create a wiki where students provide additional information for a topic, but are also required to edit and correct the spelling and grammar of the previous poster. Classes in different schools studying the same topic could create and share a wiki to add what they each have learned from different teachers. I'd like to see more teacher created examples for classes.

I am leading an international tour with 30 travelers. I could create a wiki where everyone shares information on what to see, how to pack, how to act, etc. with links to find out more.

Thing #15

2008-02-20T20:46:00.002-06:00

I read all the articles and it makes me worry that our library is not "21st century" enough. I am trying to stay on top of the tech world with my library, but feel like Web 2.0/Library 2.0 is passing us by. This course has been tremendously helpful. My favorite article was "Away with Icebergs." I don't add many nonfiction books simply because they are not read or used for research, but I wonder if I am wasting money on the few I purchase. I know I need to reassess our library paradigm to move forward with changing technology...but just when I think I'm catching up, I fall twice as far behind because the tech world is changing so fast. As I learn about these Web 2.0 resources and think of how to apply them to our library and curriculum, I fear that they will already be yesterday's news by the time I get it done. I note the date for the OCLC article -- 2006. And I'm just now getting there!

Thing #14

2008-02-19T21:24:00.002-06:00

An advanced search for "School Library Learning 2.0" did bring up some different items. I liked the tag search the best, although I did read a blog from a librarian who is also doing thisa similar 2.o course through a different source. When looking at the popular blogs, I looked at BoingBoing (what an eclectic site!) and Engadget. What was neat wI liked all the photos, clips, and videos included in each. I can see the value of tagging if looking for info on a specific subject. I've noticed the clouds in Amazon but never really knew what they were. I order a lot from them, so now can better use them. I claimed my blog on Technorati and added the html. I looked at the widgets but didn't want them on my blog.

Thing #13

2008-02-19T20:27:00.002-06:00

I created a del.icio.us account and practiced searching for topics using common tags and then saving them and creating my own tags. I did this with sites about Civil War battlefields that I want our 8th grade social studies teacher to use for students to create a photo story 3 of one of the battlefields as a documentary type project. I envision creating a separate del.icio.us site for my high school. There I'd like to create folders for each different project and store the web sites to use in each. I couldn't figure out how to create a folder and move the web sites into the folder to make it easy for students to locate. Any help on uncluttering the favorites page? I tried creating a CivilWar bundle and did a search in your favorites for civil_war and all the ones I tagged were then listed, but the page is still cluttered with all the favorites on the original page. Students then could search for more del.icio.us sites on the specific battlefield using that name as a specific search tag. I prefer using ikeepbookmarks for my own personal bookmarking site. It is easy to use and I keep it as my homepage.

Thing #13

2008-02-17T16:09:00.002-06:00

I created 2 searchrolls in Rollyo. One is for US Presidents to see if I could streamline an assignment from last week where students had to research a different president. I found several sites and added them to Rollyo. I then tried a search for Harry Truman and it only searched those in my searchroll and quickly found the info fast. Worked great! Wish I had this last week for students.

The second searchroll did not work so well. It is Book Buys. When I purchase a book, I usually check at least two book selling vendors online to find the one with the best buy. I thought it would be great to list 5 -- Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Follett's Titlewave, Perma Bound, and Bound to Stay Bound -- with the hope that one search for a title would find the books simultaneously in all 5 and I could choose the best buy. This didn't work. My searches only found results in Amazon and BN. Can anyone tell me what I did wrong? Did I put the wrong web page for the other 3?

Thing #11

2008-02-16T16:45:00.001-06:00

I set up a Library Thing account and added 31 books from my favorite author Clive Cussler and the 3 books in the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. I found that 700+ have listed Cussler and over 4,000 listed Twilight! I posted in the conversation on Twilight, added a Library Thing widget to my blog with 10 books and covers, added a "chiclet" to my catalog, and learned to delete books from my list. I would like to use this to help in cataloging books in my library, but I could only access details when I added books to my list and then had to delete them. Is there a better way? Details is good for getting a call number and subjects, especially if searching Library of Congress. I did not find summaries except in description and these were from Amazon…where I go sometimes anyway. Any suggestions?

Thing #10

2008-02-16T13:32:00.009-06:00

This library cartoon I created through Comic Strip Generator. Pretty easy. I tried saving image and uploading. Both worked pretty quick (once you learn to read ALL the directions!)

This license plate I made through License Plate Maker through Sign Generator. Saved to my folders and inserted here in the wrong place! Had practice manually moving items around on the page.

This one was made with Glitter Text Effect Maker through Sign Generator.

And this one through Flower Text in Image Chef...as a belated Valentine's message. I tried sending it straight from the site with the Blogger icon. It said it was uploaded but it did not appear here. (Post Note: After I posted this I saw that it sent this image straight to my blog in a separate post. I since deleted it. But learned what would happen if I send straight to the blog.) I saved it to My Pictures and inserted. I also tried the onsite email feature and it didn't work.

And this one through Happy Face Generator...and I've got to stop! This is too easy and could go on and on and on....

Note: As I went back to insert the hyperlinks...I discovered they were all listed in the extensive list under Custom Sign Generator.

I could use these on our website, to make signs for the library and display cases, to teach students in technology classes when they build web sites, powerpoints, or photo story 3.

Thing #9

2008-02-15T18:32:00.002-06:00

This was my least favorite lesson. I searched most of the suggested websites for feeds, but didn't find a lot I liked. I added several to my GoogleReader, but I must not be doing it correctly because nowhere did I see the RSS box in an address bar to click to add to my reader. All that I added I copied and pasted the web address to GoogleReader when I clicked add subscription.

Thing #8

2008-02-14T21:38:00.003-06:00

Although I basically understand RSS feeds, never having used one before I will have to use it for a few days/weeks and see how easy/useful it can be. It was simple enough to create. I created an account with Google Reader and added 5 sites...3 librarian blogs, 1 for Rick Steves Travel blog, and 1 for Rootsweb news. The last two are my hobbies...travel and genealogy. Libraries could use the feeds to just get tips for school or public libraries or to get info on book reviews, etc.

Thing #7

2008-01-28T21:24:00.000-06:00

Google Earth was great fun, however, again dial-up issues. It took 1-1/2 hours to download the program. But then I spent hours playing with it. I suppose it was because of dial-up that some images took a while to load, but after finding my house, of course, I then "toured" in England and France and actually saw Stonehenge and the Eiffel Tower! Awesome!!! I have seen Google Earth demonstrated before and was shown some 3D images of structures...like the Colosseum in Rome for example. Try as I might I could not find where to make these appear on my maps. Anyone know how? Also one irritating thing was all the little camera icons all over some locations. I realize they were actual photos when clicked on, but could never get them to open with my dial-up. I just wanted to get rid of them so I could see things better (the Eiffel Tower was covered in them obstructing the image). Anyone know how to "turn off" the camera icons. I can see much potential for using this in classes...especially our world geography class.

I also played with Picasa Web Album. I use Picasa to store and enhance my photos but did not know about Web Album. I uploaded one photo just to see how it works. I was afraid my dial-up would take forever, but it only took a few minutes to upload one photo. It is online here. My husband said he would use it to show his friends he really had met Red Steagall at Palo Duro Canyon! I can foresee using it for sharing photos with friends and photos taken of library events.

Thing #6

2008-01-26T17:12:00.000-06:00

Try as I might to understand about mashups while reading the information, I'm just not techno savvy enough to understand them...it was like reading another language!! Regardless, I did explore the suggested sites and play around with them. CD cover in FD Toys I really liked and can use for most any CD I create. I really liked the look of movie poster and thought we might could use it during Teen Read Week. Students could dress up and/or create backdrops to represent a favorite book, and we could put the photos into movie posters to advertise Teen Read Week. I also tried mappr, trading cards, guess the title, jigsaw, and mosaic maker and just wasn't that taken with any of them.

Thing #5

2008-01-20T22:02:00.000-06:00

I could spend days playing with this site. Tried uploading 8 photos. With dial-up it is a little slow, but doing a few photos at a time (and doing something else while they upload!) works OK. I think I understand tags, sets, and groups. I created my own flickr address and put some vacation pictures on the map. I opened it only to some family and friends and am sending them the site to check and see what they think.

Twilight Fans

2008-01-20T15:36:00.000-06:00

This blog post is for fans of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series. If you have a comment on the the author, the books in the series, the upcoming movie, related web sites, or any similar book on paranormal fiction to recommend, please click on comments and add to the post.

Thing #4

2008-01-20T15:15:00.000-06:00

Registering by email was easy enough. I have an idea for a blog but now need to figure out how to do it. My students (and some teachers) are HUGE fans of the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyers. I want to set up a blog for students to log on and make comments about the series as well as comments about other books on vampires and other paranormal fiction. It seems when we get them hooked on Twilight, they read everything we have on the subject. They are always asking for a recommendation on the new vampire books but I haven't had time to read them all. Student comments would help.

Thing #3

2008-01-19T17:07:00.000-06:00

Again dial-up issues. I could not open the PowerPoint on blogging at home and had to open and read it at school. However, I was able to set up my blog, post to it, and create my avatar at home. Fun, fun, fun! I am discovering that you can play forever and will have to self-pace to complete this course on time! I also learned (because I did not do it the first two times on the main blog posting) to include my html so that others can get to my site. I did go on a couple of other blogs and read them which gave me a good idea of what I'm supposed to be doing.

Thing #2

2008-01-19T17:02:00.000-06:00

I am discovering that some "things" do not work so well at home in my pajamas. Although I have fairly good dial-up internet service, I am finding some items do not open well at home. The slide show for lifelong learners only opened half the time. I'm glad the words were printed on the side. Easiest for me--accept responsiblity for my own learning. I like to be totally in charge. Hardest for me--view problems as challenges. I tend to see problems as crises. I have to work on this constantly.

Thing #1

2008-01-19T16:54:00.000-06:00

I had mixed emotions before starting this online course...excited to learn about all the "things" I've been reading about in School Library Journal and apprehensive about starting something new. I am grateful for the opportunity to get to participate in this course. As a "one-woman" librarian in a small rural district, it is hard to get real-time practice with new ideas.