Hey, hey, hey, what is going on here?!
YouTube is going on! I LOVE YouTube, I use it all the time. It's great for finding hysterical clips of the things mentioned, like commercials or old music videos, and wonderful things like "Conan the Librarian." I also find myself turning to YouTube to see news clips or check pop culture facts, so it really has many uses. I chose the video of "Saved By the Bell," a popular and wacky '90's teen TV show, because these were some of my earliest envisionings of high school.
I know a few teachers in our district who would love to use YouTube for instructional purposes, and only recently the tech support department changed our web privileges so that they could use it. Because it takes so much bandwidth, we have a lot of limits on streaming media. Options in libraries...our students would not be allowed to use YouTube on our school network, but perhaps public libraries could use it to promote short videos made about library services, etc.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Week #8, Thing #19: LibraryThing
LibraryThing is a pretty decent concept and site. While I don't think that I will ever take the time to catalog my own personal collection at home, I could see this being a good tool for work with kids in the library, in coordination with some kind of library blog, or a wonderful tool for small libraries or large private collections. This is one of those tools that kids could use for recommendations, projects, etc., and I'm sure that a lot of librarians are really hyped about it, but I just don't see myself using it a lot. I can see the advantages of being able to connect to other users who read similar titles, or discuss books, but I think I'll keep my Tuesday night book club, thank you very much.
On a positive note, it was very easy to use and add titles. I added a few middle school books that I've read this year and loved, including "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins, and there were several hundred other users who'd read the book and I was able to read a few discussions about it. If you haven't read it, it's DEFINITELY worth checking out!
On a positive note, it was very easy to use and add titles. I added a few middle school books that I've read this year and loved, including "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins, and there were several hundred other users who'd read the book and I was able to read a few discussions about it. If you haven't read it, it's DEFINITELY worth checking out!
Week #8, Week #18: Google Docs
Ohhh I love Google Docs!
I had heard about Google Docs in the past, and boy do I wish I had been familiar with these tools earlier this year! I don't have Office tools on my home computer, so doing anything besides the most rudimentary word processing was impossible, but it certainly is now. I like the fact that I save these documents to a "file" that I can access anywhere.
Also, these tools could have great possibilities for students who don't have computers at home or nearby. In my district, we have a program called eLocker that gives each student an online "locker" in which they can upload and save files for access anywhere. This is a great program, but if the student is like me and doesn't have Office at home, often times the files are not compatable, and he or she can't open files saved at school. Little Jenny works hard on a report at school, saves it to eLocker to continue work in the evening, and goes home only to find that she can't open the document because she doesn't have the correct word processing program on her home computer. Or, she has a Mac (we've had a few problems with Mac compatibility). With Google Docs, these problems are completely eliminated! Woooo hoo! An alternative to this problematic situation!
Also, I should say that I chose to explore Google Docs because I use Gmail and I also use Google Reader for my RSS feeds, so continuing with the Google family of products seemed easiest...and truly, it is VERY easy to use. I found it especially easy because the Google products truly have a similar feel and look to them, so if you use Gmail, you can use Google Docs. If you use Google Docs, you can use the reader, etc.
I had heard about Google Docs in the past, and boy do I wish I had been familiar with these tools earlier this year! I don't have Office tools on my home computer, so doing anything besides the most rudimentary word processing was impossible, but it certainly is now. I like the fact that I save these documents to a "file" that I can access anywhere.
Also, these tools could have great possibilities for students who don't have computers at home or nearby. In my district, we have a program called eLocker that gives each student an online "locker" in which they can upload and save files for access anywhere. This is a great program, but if the student is like me and doesn't have Office at home, often times the files are not compatable, and he or she can't open files saved at school. Little Jenny works hard on a report at school, saves it to eLocker to continue work in the evening, and goes home only to find that she can't open the document because she doesn't have the correct word processing program on her home computer. Or, she has a Mac (we've had a few problems with Mac compatibility). With Google Docs, these problems are completely eliminated! Woooo hoo! An alternative to this problematic situation!
Also, I should say that I chose to explore Google Docs because I use Gmail and I also use Google Reader for my RSS feeds, so continuing with the Google family of products seemed easiest...and truly, it is VERY easy to use. I found it especially easy because the Google products truly have a similar feel and look to them, so if you use Gmail, you can use Google Docs. If you use Google Docs, you can use the reader, etc.
Week #7, Thing #17: PA Curriculum Connections
I have requested permission to access a workspace!
Ok, update. I requested access, which I got a few days later. I posted a comment to the PBWiki under "Image Generators," and included some thoughts that I have on introducing these Web 2.0 tools as an alternative to playing computer games when trying to occupy students.
To view the comment, here is the link:
http://pacurriculum.pbworks.com/Image%20Generators%20and%20web%20award%20winners
Ok, update. I requested access, which I got a few days later. I posted a comment to the PBWiki under "Image Generators," and included some thoughts that I have on introducing these Web 2.0 tools as an alternative to playing computer games when trying to occupy students.
To view the comment, here is the link:
http://pacurriculum.pbworks.com/Image%20Generators%20and%20web%20award%20winners
Monday, May 18, 2009
Week #7, Thing #16 and #16A: Wikis and library innovation
It has taken me several days to complete this post because we are almost done with the school year (yeaaaaa!) and we are so busy! In any case, my many days of reading and examining wikis have come to an end and I am finally ready to tell the world my thoughts.
I took a look through several of the wikis posted on the page, including the Book Lovers wiki, the best practices wiki, and the wonderful teacherlibrarian wiki run by Joyce Valenza. The networking and collaboration powers of wikis are endless! I am so glad that I stumbled upon this wiki, but I wish that it was somehow better "advertised" in library land...or maybe it has been, and I've been missing it. In any case, I think that wikis have wonderful power to enable us, as librarians, to learn about what's going on with other librarians, add content to already fantastic suggestions and lessons, and use wikis to have students add content to a curricular-based wiki. I find that as a second year middle school librarian, I'm still working so hard to get my collection in order, build collaborative relationships with teachers, manage classroom behavior, and deal with my frustrating technology situation, that I'm often hesitant to approach teachers with ideas for projects (such as a project using wikis) because I am too concerned about other things. This is such a great tool that the best way to handle this will be to get more comforable with wikis and how they work, set one up and play around with it, and come up with a great project. Only when I know the ins and outs of wikis will I feel comforable using them in my library, but what great potential they have!
I took a look through several of the wikis posted on the page, including the Book Lovers wiki, the best practices wiki, and the wonderful teacherlibrarian wiki run by Joyce Valenza. The networking and collaboration powers of wikis are endless! I am so glad that I stumbled upon this wiki, but I wish that it was somehow better "advertised" in library land...or maybe it has been, and I've been missing it. In any case, I think that wikis have wonderful power to enable us, as librarians, to learn about what's going on with other librarians, add content to already fantastic suggestions and lessons, and use wikis to have students add content to a curricular-based wiki. I find that as a second year middle school librarian, I'm still working so hard to get my collection in order, build collaborative relationships with teachers, manage classroom behavior, and deal with my frustrating technology situation, that I'm often hesitant to approach teachers with ideas for projects (such as a project using wikis) because I am too concerned about other things. This is such a great tool that the best way to handle this will be to get more comforable with wikis and how they work, set one up and play around with it, and come up with a great project. Only when I know the ins and outs of wikis will I feel comforable using them in my library, but what great potential they have!
Friday, May 8, 2009
Week #6, Thing #15: The Future of Libraries and 2.0
I read a few of these 2.0 perspectives, and the one that I appreciated the most is Michael Stephens "Into a New World of Librarianship." I loved the concept of Librarian 2.0 and how today's "Librarian 2.0, then, is the 'strategy guide' for helping users find information, gather knowledge and create content." What a great characterization for today's librarians! While I think that this article seemed to be written more about public librarians, there are certainly applicable traits for School Librarians 2.0 included in Stephens' article.
The concept of a Librarian 2.0 planning for her users is central in school libraries. We need to plan for our users needs and wants. I work extremely hard to take my kids ideas and recommendations into account when ordering materials, making policies, and publicizing new programs. If my students' needs AND wants are not being met, I'm not doing the best job that I can in planning for my users.
Librarian 2.0 "gets content." Students creating content in the library is one of my favorite sights to see. When my students are able to find information and create content based upon their research and information, or take content and mash it up to create new content, they are creating learning and knowledge. I do everything that I can to get kids in here to do just that! On the same note, I am certainly attempting to embrace Web 2.0 tools...one of the main reasons that I'm doing this program is to find Web 2.0 tools to incorporate into my curriculum.
A few of the other characteristics, such as "controlling technolust" don't apply as well in my library, but I hope that I am embracing the Librarian 2.0 profile and applying these characteristics in my own library. From my view, Library 2.0 means embracing the changing technology, patrons, and world itself. Library 2.0 means that my school library will be a place for students to find information and create content, a place for students to interact, a place for students to embrace Web 2.0 tools that I promote. I find that so many educators get caught up in day-to-day struggles with student discipline, constant grading, new initiatives, etc. that we forget to take time to examine exactly why we are educators in the first place, and what we can do differently (and better!) to make our space the most positive area full of learning that is possible. Making my library a Library 2.0 will certainly keep me on the path to greatness.
The concept of a Librarian 2.0 planning for her users is central in school libraries. We need to plan for our users needs and wants. I work extremely hard to take my kids ideas and recommendations into account when ordering materials, making policies, and publicizing new programs. If my students' needs AND wants are not being met, I'm not doing the best job that I can in planning for my users.
Librarian 2.0 "gets content." Students creating content in the library is one of my favorite sights to see. When my students are able to find information and create content based upon their research and information, or take content and mash it up to create new content, they are creating learning and knowledge. I do everything that I can to get kids in here to do just that! On the same note, I am certainly attempting to embrace Web 2.0 tools...one of the main reasons that I'm doing this program is to find Web 2.0 tools to incorporate into my curriculum.
A few of the other characteristics, such as "controlling technolust" don't apply as well in my library, but I hope that I am embracing the Librarian 2.0 profile and applying these characteristics in my own library. From my view, Library 2.0 means embracing the changing technology, patrons, and world itself. Library 2.0 means that my school library will be a place for students to find information and create content, a place for students to interact, a place for students to embrace Web 2.0 tools that I promote. I find that so many educators get caught up in day-to-day struggles with student discipline, constant grading, new initiatives, etc. that we forget to take time to examine exactly why we are educators in the first place, and what we can do differently (and better!) to make our space the most positive area full of learning that is possible. Making my library a Library 2.0 will certainly keep me on the path to greatness.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Week #6, Thing #14: Technorati
Ok, Technorati. I spent some time poking around Technorati and I did two different searches. I searched "School Library Learning 2.0" in the Search the Blogosphere... box, and I got a lot of iffy results. A few of the blogs somehow applied to Web 2.0, but the format was not pleasing to view and I quickly realized that I'd probably need to have a more general topic to use that search tool. I also went to Blogs-->Blog Directory-->Web 2.0, and I found a lot of great sites. I viewed a few of them and my favorite so far is Mashable. I don't think that I completely understand all the tools or even the purpose of Mashable, but it has great listings for different sites and a variety of information. Love that!
I looked at the popular blogs and searches, and nothing terribly interesting. There were a few surprises about the popular searches...good to know that the environment ranks slightly higher than Paris Hilton in people's level of interest.
My main thought about tagging is that I still don't completely understand all it's purposes and functions, or simply that I find it much more usuable on sites like Flickr. I'm interested in viewing photos of weddings, I can look for sites with a wedding tag, etc. I'm getting something concrete from that (in Flickr's case, lots of photos). I think that I'm still having a hard time wrapping my mind around the concept of tagging things like blogs to find other blogs, etc. It's too much intangibility, if that makes any sense. I'm sure that I'm not expressing this as well as I'd like, but alas...I'm done.
I looked at the popular blogs and searches, and nothing terribly interesting. There were a few surprises about the popular searches...good to know that the environment ranks slightly higher than Paris Hilton in people's level of interest.
My main thought about tagging is that I still don't completely understand all it's purposes and functions, or simply that I find it much more usuable on sites like Flickr. I'm interested in viewing photos of weddings, I can look for sites with a wedding tag, etc. I'm getting something concrete from that (in Flickr's case, lots of photos). I think that I'm still having a hard time wrapping my mind around the concept of tagging things like blogs to find other blogs, etc. It's too much intangibility, if that makes any sense. I'm sure that I'm not expressing this as well as I'd like, but alas...I'm done.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Week #6, Thing #13: Del.icio.us
I spent some time looking around on Del.icio.us. Not really so thrilled. Maybe I just don't spend enough time on the internet to really feel like I need something like this, or more importantly, maybe I don't spend enough time on the internet to WANT something like this. I didn't find it very user friendly, although I did watch the tutorial and that did help a little bit. I guess I just feel as though this is a tool that actually takes up more time than it helps me, thereby making the negatives outweigh the positives.
I'm sure that there are advantages for this kind of tool in research, but I prefer to have my students do their own investigative work on the internet. When it comes to personal types of research, it may allow patrons the advantages of easier breadcrumbs to other sites.
I'm sure that there are advantages for this kind of tool in research, but I prefer to have my students do their own investigative work on the internet. When it comes to personal types of research, it may allow patrons the advantages of easier breadcrumbs to other sites.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Week #5, Thing #12: Rollyo
Hmmm...Rollyo. I can see great possibilities for this wonderful tool, especially in libraries. Now I just need to figure out how to use it in my own library!
I created a search roll for poetry. Every year, my 6th graders do a poetry anthology and are asked to use websites and poetry books to find a limerick, a haiku, a concrete poem, a rhyming narrative, a poem with a simile, an acrostic, etc. They have to find around 10 poems. While I think that this is a great, fun project that exposes them to lots of kinds of poetry, they often come to me and say, "Ms. Hill, I can't find a ______." Insert some kind of poem. The first thing that I do is make sure that they know how to identify one of those types of poems, but then the task is finding one...sometimes this isn't as easy as it seems. I have one teacher who wants the kids to alternate using books and computers. If Johnny is using a computer that day, we need to use a website to find a limerick...and finding a clean limerick for a 12-year-old is not always easy on the web! I figured that maybe I could make a Rollyo for kids poetry, and attach the link to my Destiny homepage.
I created the search roll, and it works ok. I would need to find at least 10 or 20 more sites (I used 7 or 8) in the Rollyo setup for the search roll to be really effective. I think that this tool has great possibilities for limiting searches to trusted sites, but it also seems as though it is enabling the kids just a tad too much. It's probably not a tool that I will use often, unless I have a stroke of genius as to how to use it more effectively!
I created a search roll for poetry. Every year, my 6th graders do a poetry anthology and are asked to use websites and poetry books to find a limerick, a haiku, a concrete poem, a rhyming narrative, a poem with a simile, an acrostic, etc. They have to find around 10 poems. While I think that this is a great, fun project that exposes them to lots of kinds of poetry, they often come to me and say, "Ms. Hill, I can't find a ______." Insert some kind of poem. The first thing that I do is make sure that they know how to identify one of those types of poems, but then the task is finding one...sometimes this isn't as easy as it seems. I have one teacher who wants the kids to alternate using books and computers. If Johnny is using a computer that day, we need to use a website to find a limerick...and finding a clean limerick for a 12-year-old is not always easy on the web! I figured that maybe I could make a Rollyo for kids poetry, and attach the link to my Destiny homepage.
I created the search roll, and it works ok. I would need to find at least 10 or 20 more sites (I used 7 or 8) in the Rollyo setup for the search roll to be really effective. I think that this tool has great possibilities for limiting searches to trusted sites, but it also seems as though it is enabling the kids just a tad too much. It's probably not a tool that I will use often, unless I have a stroke of genius as to how to use it more effectively!
Week #5, Thing #11: Web 2.0 Award-Winning Applications and Ning
I love Web 2.0! This list of award-winning applications is absolutely fantastic. I actually spent more time with this week's applications than I have with any other week's tools. While I will admit that I didn't explore sites that applied directly to libraries or literacy, I found tons of great applications for my life outside the library!
I chose www.zillow.com, a real estate application, because I am interested in buying my first home in the near future. This site is unlike so many other real estate sites because you can browse for listings by city, state, county, or STREET, which is incredible! We are interested in buying a home on a road that is several miles long, but it almost impossible to search for listings simply on that road on any other site. Also, Zillow uses Microsoft Virtual Earth to show other properties in the area that you are looking, and gives Zestimates (Zillow estimates) of approximate appraisal value. What a cool way to explore! You can also explore the map by moving around with your mouse, and explore a small area for available properties. I have spent many hours at home exploring this site for new listings, and I'm sure that I will explore many of the other award-winning sites. I already use a few, such as Urbanspoon for restaurants and Etsy for handmade items, and I love them both.
In terms of library applications, I don't see many of these things being used at my level, which is middle school. Perhaps in a public library some patrons would find these sites useful, especially when searching for jobs (Standout Jobs, Career Builder, Monster), documents (DocStoc), language tools (Mango), etc. Some of these applications could be extremely successful in aiding adult patrons, or even high school students. At the middle school level, I think that I will need to keep searching a little bit before I find applications for my students.
I chose www.zillow.com, a real estate application, because I am interested in buying my first home in the near future. This site is unlike so many other real estate sites because you can browse for listings by city, state, county, or STREET, which is incredible! We are interested in buying a home on a road that is several miles long, but it almost impossible to search for listings simply on that road on any other site. Also, Zillow uses Microsoft Virtual Earth to show other properties in the area that you are looking, and gives Zestimates (Zillow estimates) of approximate appraisal value. What a cool way to explore! You can also explore the map by moving around with your mouse, and explore a small area for available properties. I have spent many hours at home exploring this site for new listings, and I'm sure that I will explore many of the other award-winning sites. I already use a few, such as Urbanspoon for restaurants and Etsy for handmade items, and I love them both.
In terms of library applications, I don't see many of these things being used at my level, which is middle school. Perhaps in a public library some patrons would find these sites useful, especially when searching for jobs (Standout Jobs, Career Builder, Monster), documents (DocStoc), language tools (Mango), etc. Some of these applications could be extremely successful in aiding adult patrons, or even high school students. At the middle school level, I think that I will need to keep searching a little bit before I find applications for my students.
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