Bonus Activity

This first semester of school has been a great learning experience for me. When we were first given the challenge to complete the 23 Things, I didn't know how I was going to complete them and, as a new librarian, learn how to manage the library at the same time. Well, I did it, and it was well worth it.

I was reluctant at first to subscribe to the RSS feeds but now I find myself automatically looking for feeds as I search the web. I really like the way that Google Reader organizes the information that I want to see. I have already subscribed to too many feeds and spend too much time reading all the articles that I receive. But, I was able to direct my daughter to information on the web that was applicable to her college studies.

The most important thing that I learned from this course is that web tools are evolving at a rapid pace and with just a little bit of effort, anyone can learn how to use them.

After completing this course, I am more confident in my abilities as an Information Specialist/Librarian.

Thing # 23

To find the answer to how this program was modified from the original program, I followed the link that attributed the work to Helene Blowers. Thing 7 and Thing 22 was changed for the MISD program. The format for the MISD was basically the same as the orginal 23 Things. CC allows for a type of collaboration that is knew and innovative. It allows for modifications to be made quickly. As quickly as web technology is changing, some aspects of a program like this could need to be modified even before the course is completed. CC allows 21st century web tools to be used to their fullest. I think that educators will benefit from this type of copyright labeling greatly. Understanding CC principles helps me help the teachers. I would like to present a brief lesson for our faculty about copyright and CC principles. Copyright has always had a negative conotation. It is so nice to finally view using other's works in a positive light.

Thing # 22

Animoto is fun! The website was very user friendly and the results were amazing. It's rare that you can put so little effort into something and get such great results. The first time I tried to post the video to my blog, Blogger wouldn't accept the html. I got an error message. I remixed the video and tried it again and it worked beautifully. Animoto can be used in presentations or as a class project. Earlier in the year, the 5th graders went on a picture-taking scavenger hunt. Sorting the pictures into categories and making videos would have been a great way to process the information. The students would have been so excited to create one of these videos. One of the assets of Animoto is the speed at which you can produce a short video. I think that teachers would be more likely to use this web 2.0 tool over some of the others just because of its simplicity and great results.

Gray Elementary Library

Thing # 21

I enjoyed listening to the Falcon Podcast Network on the Education Podcast network. It was evident that at Louisa-Muscatine Elementary podacsting was a school wide activity. From recording of winter concerts to kindergarten read-alouds, there is a wide variety of student created material. What a wonderful way to validate the students’ participation in academic activities.



I also looked at the podcasts for learning Spanish. I don't think this is for me. The podcasts that I listened to gave information that could be accessed through a web page.I personnaly prefer reading to listening when possible.

I wanted to subscribe to the Discovery Channel podcasts. I updated my iTunes software and subscribed to the Discovery Channel and Science Channel podcasts. I used the search feature with the Google Reader and locate the SLJ feed for their podcasts. There are several podcasts about scary stories and poems. This should be a hit with the students and a good way to review books.

Thing # 20

I chose this video for two reasons. It brought back memories of when my children were young and you can easily substitute other words or phrases for the word cookie and make it relevant. After the book fair, the younger students kept asking where I put all of that stuff and could they buy something. "No, you cannot buy erasers at the library anymore." I enjoy You Tube because you can always find something to make you laugh.

The instructional videos could be linked to the library web site. I found several good videos on how to make books, creative writing, and reading with your children. You could create wiki as a pathfinder for educational videos that promote parental envolvement.

Thing # 19

I experienced one of the downfalls of web based applications with Thing # 19: a very slow connection. I tried to create a map on MindMeister but it was impossible with a slow connection. It looks like it is a great tool. It reminds me of Inspiration. From watching the tutorial video, I get the impression that creating a mind map on MindMeister is be quicker and a little bit easier than Inspiration if the Internet connection is working properly. I will visit MindMeister again at a later date when I am not pressed for time. I frequently use Inspiration so I am sure that I could benefit from MindMeister. I recently created a 3rd grade lesson on genres. I used Inspiration and collaborated with the teachers whenever we just happened to see each other and had enough time to talk for a few moments. If I had created the the mind map online, the teachers could have contributed their ideas also. It would have been much easier to share ideas this way.

I created an account with Gliffy and explored their flow chart tool. This looks like a good tool for creating presentations as well as a great collaboration tool. Students and teachers could use it for sequencing events in literature, science, social studies and even math.

Thing # 18

Lulu.com caught my eye because of the book publishing capabilities. In the past, I have helped 5th graders write and “publish” their own books. The students loved it. It is a great way to get them to write. Creating and publishing a book online develops word processing skills along with the writing skills. There is a tab for Teachers and Students in the “Publish” category. There are several different options to choose from to publish a book. The Aspiring Authors program allows students to create their own book and have it published in print. The first copy is sent to the student free of charge. The published books can also be sold as a fundraiser project. You can also create comic books and yearbooks through Lulu. I requested more information on the Aspiring Authors program and will pass on the information to the teachers when I get it. This looks like so much fun. Check-out Lulu.com.

Thing # 17

Zoho is a great tool that offers many options and it is very easy to use. I created the very simple document below and posted it to this blog with one simple click.  I am beginning to wrap my brain around how all of these 2.0 tools can work together. The web apps that are available give the average person the ability to create web sites and documents that only web masters were able to create in the past. 

Welcome

Top Ten Reasons PC Software may be a Thing of the Past

1.  Web based email

2.  Zoho Writer

3.  Flickr

4.  PBwiki

5. Del.icio.us

6.  Google Calendar

7.  Zoho Sheet

8.  Zoho Show

9.  Web based apps are free

10. Web access to you personal information

Thing # 16

Wow! Creating a wiki is so much easier than creating a web page using HTML. In my library science classes we touched on how to use HTML to create pathfinders. It was difficult. Wikis allow all of us, even if we are not web masters, to create a web page. It seems that wikis and social networks are alike in some ways. They are both great ways for people with similar interests to organize and share information. They can be made public or private. Wikis don't provide the pernsonal information that social networks do. It is much easier to read the different ideas from the wiki than from each individual blog. What a great way to organize information.

Thing #15

There was a comment in the SLJ article Ten Reasons Why Your Next Pathfinder Should be a Wiki that caught my eye. "If not for my pathfinders, my e-books and my databases would go unused!"(Joyce Valenza)  Wow!  How many times have we said "There is so much information available to MISD teachers and students through the databases but many don't even know it's there ." Navigating the MISD databases can be overwhelming to the inexperienced but wikis are user friendly. Providing easy access to information in the databases is enough reason in itself to create wikis. But since wikis allow any number of people to contribute, it is also a great way to collaborate with teachers. One of the major obstacles to collaborating with teachers is finding the time to get together and discuss the lesson components. A wiki is a work in progress that can allow for collaboration to take place as the wiki is developed thus saving time. 

The Wetpaint site lists several reasons to use wikis in education. It suggests using wikis to communicate with parents and post assignments. It is disappointing that their ad-free education wikis only apply to secondary schools. I think that elementary students could benefit from the use of wikis as well. 

Thing # 14

"This librarian uses Instant Messaging to meet users in their space online, builds Weblogs and wikis as resources to further the mission the library, and mashes up content via API (Application Program Interface) to build useful Web sites" (OCLC Newsletter, Michael Stephens).  For librarians to use these Web 2.0 tools to meet the patrons in their space, librarians must first become proficient using these tools.  Just using these tools on an "as need" basis in the library will not be enough. Web 2.0 tools are evolving and changing daily. Librarians will need to spend a sufficient amount of time on the Internet learning about this continually changing technology.  We need to rethink how we allot our time.  In the past, librarians alloted time for collection development, reading book reviews, carefully selecting materials that met the needs of the patrons. As online data bases evolved, time was spent reviewing and selecting appropriate information. Now we need to incorporate time spent learning and using Web 2.0 tools.  Embracing this new technology cannot be casual: it must be intentional. 

As I contemplate how Web 2.0 tools can be used in the elementary school library, I would like to think that we could teach our students how to use these tools. But, until it becomes a TAKS tested subject, I don't think much instruction will be given this area. I hope that secondary teachers begin to use these tools and introduce their students to this wonderful technology. Too many times we assume that teenagers and young adults now more about the Internet than we do but they don't. I think that librarians can be leaders in educating students and teachers about Web applications. In the elementary school, I see these tools being use more as a means to organize and disseminate information for the faculty than as a tool directly used by the students. 

Thing # 13

Social bookmarking could be used in conjuction with research. A link to the bookmark site could be added to the research information page. This is taking internet directories to a new level.  It's nice to know that all of the websites have been reviewed and tagged by a person. The tags help you narrow your searches to retrieve information that is applicable to your needs. As with many of the other 2.0 tools we have looked at, the interaction between others with similar interests maximizes your capabilities for locating valuable information. I like the ratings feature on ma.gnolia. This rating system  could be used to weed out the less desirable sites. This is a quit and easy way to compile a list of websites for a particular topic which is perfect for research.

Thing # 12

I tried to set up a MySpace account but I had some trouble setting up my password so I went to FaceBook. FaceBook was very easy to use. I explored the different options for my personal profile and searched for fellow NMHS graduates from 1979. I am usually in charge of the class reunions and I am so excited about using the web 2.o tools to help me locate classmates, and disseminate and gather information.  

I like the professional format of the Ning site. I looked at several networks that focused on education and was very impressed with the posts. Joining some of these networks could be a great way to continue my web 2.0 learning while brainstorming ways that this technology can be used in the classroom.  Creating a network for a particular assignment is a great way for a teacher to have students submit assignments. Students could actively participate in peer editing and teaching with this type of format. Students could learn valuable web 2.0 skills while learning about traditional topics. They could add links to applicable web sites or download images to enhance the assignment. All the while they would be learning more about the assigned topic and developing 21st century literary skills. 

I have enjoyed reading the posts on the Mesquite Librarian network. It is going to be great way to share information. I like the idea that we are able to see all the responses to a post. This might be a good place to ask some of the questions that are sent through email. Many times a question is asked, I don't know the answer but I could really benefit from the response of the other librarians. Through email, the responses to the questions can only be viewed by the recipient. Posting the questions on a network would allow us to build on each others' ideas. If the posts could be saved and archived, we could search previous posts when necessary. 

Thing #11 LibraryThing

I like the way that LibraryThing links your favorite books to other book lists that are similar. This is a great way to to find books that interest you. Unfortunately, I don't have a large home library. I utilize the public library instead of purchasing books because I don't have the room to store them. I created a short list of books from the few books that I have. I am going to let my brother-in-law know about this web site. He is a minister and has hundreds of books in his library. He is in the process of trying to catalog his collection. I think that he will enjoy the LibraryThing. Another great tool for librarians.

Thing #10

>In addition to the four image generators listed in the discovery resources, I explored several other image generators. Imagegenerator.net only had eight different images to select from but it was fun looking at the many different ways the images were interpreted. JellyMuffin.com has an assortment of layouts, graphics, and icons that can be used in different formats such as web pages, blogs and MySpace. Imagenerator.org has 47 different categories and hundreds of images to choose from. There are 2,500 different avatars to select from at this site. There are so many image generators and they are so easy to use that you are only limited by your own creativity.


These images could be used effectively in presentations for adults or students. They are fun and they grab your attention immediately. They can be used on the library web page to promote special events. I think that students would enjoy creating their own images. It would be a fun way to have students summarize information. Each student or group of students could summarize a paragraph and when you put the summaries together you would have a comic strip of the selected text. It could also be used for character analysis, main idea and many other things.
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Thing # 9

I did not like the lay-out of the web page for Syndic8.com at first but I was able to find a feed that I was interested in, Inside the School Library. I just copied the URL and added it my Google reader list. I liked using the Google search tool. I think that it was the easiest to use because it is so much like searching the web using Google but Syndic8.com seemed to give better search results.

I found that searching for blogs could be very time consuming. Most of the blogs that I looked at were not useful to me. Blogs are a great way to share information between personal contacts such as a group of librarians or between teachers and students. I personally don’t like searching the web for blogs. There are too many. No matter how much I narrowed my search, I still got too many blogs that were about someone’s personal life.

Thing #8

Setting up the RSS feeds through Google Reader was very easy. I selected several different feeds that pertained to book reviews. Several feeds are strictly for children’s literature and I have found them to be very helpful. I enjoy reading the reviews and seeing the posted book covers. This is an easy way to keep up with the latest best sellers and most popular children’s books. I think that this will be very helpful when ordering books. I also subscribed to a feed that is for Christian children’s literature. I am going to try to update the children’s collection at my church library and this feed is going to be very helpful.

RSS feeds are a great way to keep up with current trends that pertain to the library whether it is technology, educational issues or book reviews. Selecting appropriate feeds from reliable sources is a quick way to add valuable information to your busy day. It is nice to have the information filtered for relevant information before is every reaches your computer. It saves so much time.

Thing #7

I really like the iGoogle homepage option. It is nice to have the current information that you need in one place. There are many things that could be helpful to teachers: current political issues, new scientific information, the dictionary and thesaurus and much more. Daily weather data could be recorded for a month and then analyzed in the science class and graphs created for math. After browsing the most popular gadgets I used the search term “literature” and found many gadgets that were of interest to me as a librarian; literary quotes, book reviews, best seller lists, and much more. The “Writer’s Idea Bank” looks like it would be very helpful to teachers and students alike. The only problem with iGoogle is that there are so many things that I want to include on my homepage that it is going to be too crowded.

I created a Google notebook. I started a list of best selling children’s books and featured a few selected books. I wanted to share the notebook because I thought it would be good for librarians to add their favorite picks but I decided not to publish it because of copyright concerns. I linked every entry back to the original website but I’m not sure if that is sufficient. So to be safe, I decided not to make it public. If I share it with selected people, I must know their Google email addresses. I think that this is a great tool.

I also think that the calendar could be very helpful for posting the library schedule. I would like to purchase my own domain name and explore this option further when I have more time.

Thing #6

I think that Mappr and Mosaic Maker could both be used a presentation tools. Mappr could be used with geography lessons with links to information and current pictures. Mosaic Maker could be used in the same way. You could use your own photos or select photos from Flickr.

The Mosaic Maker was very easy to use. I created a mosaic using the tags feature. Within a matter of seconds I had create a mosaic of monarch butterflies. I never could figure out how to use Mappr. I found lots of information on what it was but never information on how to use it. I’m sure that I am just overlooking something.

Thing #5

iraq
Originally uploaded by soldiersmediacenter

There are so many pictures on Flickr that I had a hard time deciding where to start. I decided to begin by searching “libraries”. I got too many pictures so I narrowed my search by adding “elementary”. I was hoping to get some decorating ideas but I was unimpressed. Then I browsed the pictures that Flickr has selected as being the most interesting. Scenic pictures seem to be very popular. After viewing the beautiful scenes from America, I wanted to see if Flickr had any pictures from Iraq. My nephew was deployed about a week ago and I wanted to see what he will be doing during the next 15 months. I was able to quickly located pictures that represented his duties by typing in key words. I learned how important it is to correctly tag the pictures. My nephew is an army scout and he operates the gun on a Stryker. I chose this picture to honor him and all the other soldiers fighting in Iraq.

Accessing Flickr and setting up the necessary accounts wasn’t that difficult but it was time consuming. Once everything is set up, Flickr should be very easy to use. I think that it is a great way to share information. A picture is worth a thousand words. The way that it is organized by groups is very helpful. Librarians can share ideas by posting pictures of bulletin boards, special activities, displays and many other things that take place in the library.