Monday, August 17, 2009

Thing 23

Thing 23
Reflection! RAH RAH!! I didn't think I'd get to this spot sometimes.
I have loved being apart of NT23! I have learned new things that I didn't even know existed. I really think our teachers are ready for some of the 23 Things! I plan to introduce them and one way to get teachers to learn these new applications on my campus would be to start by making the initial introduction to the program very enticing as well as fun. Food never hurts and I need to get some really good stuff the first few times (keep them coming back) then offer the sessions monthly after they have practiced with what they learned. I really like how NT23 tings was set up so if I make a page on my website much like you did for the things they need to do and they can work at their own pace or come to sessions monthly, if they work ahead when they have a question would be optimal. I really think that those who participate in learning to use technology would feel more confident and use it to their benefit. I think Google docs is something teachers would really benefit from using.

Favorite Thing: Google Docs. I like that it doesn’t ask us to learn new and different things just to use but use what is already familiar. The sharing is a great way to have a meeting without a meeting place. I do think I will use this a lot now that I have played around with it. I am going to play a lot more before I start calling a meeting. I like Google Reader and the ability to stay in touch with what I want to. I am sharing Google docs with the teachers I think for the first training so they can see the benefits and the sharing capabilities. I like Google Reader and the ability to stay in touch with what I want to. I am sharing Google docs with the teachers I think for the first training so they can see the benefits and the sharing capabilities. I loved the Flickr mashups and the Image Generators that was fun and the end result was fun to look at. I know I am going to those sites to excite our students here at Austin.

Least Favorite Thing: Maybe I have a couple of least favorites, I guess the social networking with the massive search capabilities, Thye had so much information and it seemed almost overwhelming. Many parts of it were good, it was on the edge for me. I think if Digg could clean up their page a little more and simplify it, I enjoyed reading things that are not published by main stream media, but there was a lot in one place and quite confusing. I like the The Libworm and think it will be useful when I really need to find information as well as Librarything, they are huge website with useful things for use to use.

I goofed up a couple of times when I thought I had posted something and it did not show up so I doubled up on two posts at a time. I don’t know what I did wrong except maybe not to hit the post button after I had put them into the post. I hope this will be okay I paniced at first but did the only thing I could think of that would keep them in order is go to edit and post two together and learned to always check a psot before going on.

Thing 22

Thing 22
As an older librarian I always feel like computer is not my first line of thought and so immediately think I won’t be able to do something my younger counterpart does as well with computers. I am very thankful for the opportunity to participate in this challenge to complete the 23 Things. It offered me the opportunity to learn many new things, but not only learn them but have the back-up of help if I needed it. It stretches the comfort zone a little , but it really surprised me that I had done many of the things being presented so maybe I’m not as far behind the learning curve as I think. Irving ISD is a great place to work and learn new things with the computer. It is a mandate almost. We need to keep up in the 21st century. We do need to keep up with the very things our patrons already know so we can communicate effectively. I plan to introduce Things to my staff, maybe not 23 things but in a similar way you had use do the Things, What a great resource you have given us. We don’t have to look them up at all we just have to follow what you’ve given and then teach them or use them at our convenience. I will put aobut about 15 of the things on my webpage that I think are most import to enhance their teaching and make them see that the computer can work for them. Our students are already using these Web 2.0 tools so it is very important that we as librarians become proficient in using them.

Thing 21

I have quite a few Podcasts on my web. I love Nancy Keane and I download podcast for my webpage. The kids love them. I have gone to Nancy Keane’s website and used many of her Podcasts for my students. We have done Podcasts with the student after they listen to hers or mine to understand more clearly what they need to know and how to organize their thoughts. They have to have a script and try several times before they get their nerves under control. The most successful we have been is with students with podcast publishing is our poetry where it is their voice and they come alive because they have performed that piece so many times and have written and rewritten it. In fact they not only podcast they make cds and a book so that everyone in the audience at their performance gets one. We have audacity on all our computers and have microphones readily available for use. I can see how a teacher could use a podcast as a tool for review, make up lessons, and enhance note taking that could it would be very beneficial to the students.
I like University of Washington and how they made a podcast to help make a library search for the students easy giving them full control of their learning. I think I will try a podcast of the catalogue and see how useful it is with the students. Our students always struggle over how to find something and then put holds on it. That would be a quick simple way.
I thought the quality of the ones I listened to was good to great. I think men’s voices carry better or the ones I listened to seemed to, but women seemed to put a little more excitement into the voice which made it more interesting.

Thing 20

YouTube is a great site and I use it predominantly to find booktrailers. I also enjoy the music videos. I have found almost every song I have wanted and most singer are really great. Many of them are the original artist. In our after-school program I would use the science videos from there. It is amazing how many lessons you can find. Every new application you want to learn is quickly available. One time my husband was trying to fix the weed-eater and I went on youtube and he got a full lesson on the exact make and model, saved us a few bucks. Our teachers use youtube and I have heard many of them say how the kids really like it. Like anything you have view it and know what you are getting. I want our Poetry club to post their final poetry on youtube. It will give them confidence and excite more students.

Thing 19

Google Docs
I really like google docs, I like that it doesn’t ask us to learn new and different things just to use it but use what is already familiar. The sharing is a great way to have a meeting without a meeting place. I do think I will use this a lot now that I have played around with it. I am going to play a lot more before I start calling a meeting to order via docs. I have added official google docs blog to my favorites, I’m sure I’ll be going there often. It just amazes me how much is on that page. I sign up for Google docs about a year ago thinking I’d really get into and never used it, but now what a useful tool to learn and not go into frustration mode simply because something isn’t working, oh maybe I’m the only one that does that. I can see such an advantage to sharing in this common way. One more step in progress

Thing 18

I found Wikipedia a source of great concern, not that it isn’t simple and easy to use and I do use it for quick simple information that I just want to know. I was reading an article about Great Danes which was standard from any dog book or encyclopedia and it was incredible in the comments and how people can change something because they think they are right. I agreed with one post who said make this portion a semi-protected to prevent anonymous users from editing and vandalizing adding unsourced materials. It was interesting when I looked up paraplegia there were comment but because it was within Wikipedia Medical it seemed to be more protected environment. Then an article about police abuse relating to paraplegia seemed so out of place, from all the factual information that was given. It was such a contrast from the Great Dane article where everyone has an opinion. The history is really the place to start to see how many times it has been changed over time.
I have set up and used Wikis before with our middle school librarians, but not often. Our school had a Wiki for our students who went to the King Tut exhibit. It was amazing how much the students commented on comments made. It became a really fun thing for those students and all the other students and teachers in the building.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Thing 17

Libworm
Can I do another RSS feed? It seems so much and overwhelming, but the more I searched I think I really like this and I only have to read what I want I will use some of the information because it is dealing with professional development and we all know we have to be on the cutting edge, it is too bad that districts elsewhere think they can do without librarians, but it is a fact so we better find ways to be over the top on showing our value. I really like the "faculty collaboration" it gave a lot of results on how to incorporate lessons with teachers which is what we all need to do constantly. In the end I found LibWorm to be very handy search tool to find library RSS Feeds by keyword. I know I will use this tool again to find resources and maybe even put it on my Google Reader, I am finding a lot of uses for Google and I thought I would be using it mucc expect to play games.

Thing 16

Librarything is a huge website. I like the authors, the reviewers, and the book give aways. I had 1,000 copies of House of Dies because we had an all school read and that would have been neat to have a place to give them away and know they would have been used. ARC are always fun to get, I’ve ask publishers and gotten them but now I have a place to sign up, it will be great. I added several books, one I added was not there but the others were. I read articles in I See Dead People's Books the best thing I can see from this is the quotes of famous people and sharing with my teachers. I can see where it will be useful for librarians, but I know I don’t have the time for this HUGE website except in small bites. I am glad I have this resource and know I will use it especially with authors and when there is a book in question. It is a ready spot for so much information and I am thankful for the resource.

Thing 15

Digg

I like Digg, you have to have time to read, but it very eclectic, letting you see news that you would not see on networks, headlines on i-net or in any newspapers. The response is interesting and gives you a different thought process. There is way too much on there to even scratch the surface as well as read the comments, but I will probably go there if I really to read tweets (comments) with less propaganda point of view. I was intrigued with a headline “10 Classic Novels Turned Into Games.” You’ll have to go find out which ones and the game they’ve suggested or can you guess.

Thing 14

I have learned about Delicious when I was at a workshop with Naomi B so I have used it and I loved it because all my bookmarks were saved no matter what computer I was on. I really do find it useful when I’m trying to remember something in a meeting and can easily access it. I love it when I’m home and want to work on something and then think no that is at school. I think our middle school librarians group will use be able to find this useful. We are all trying to stay ahead of the game and this will be easy to share.

Thing 13

Thing 13: Tagging
I see tagging on Shelfari and find some value to it, but would never want to get into that. I think it would really help students find the theme of books easier if we ask them to tag the book they just read. A thought to implement this year to see what they do, I know we’re tagging to categorize webs, pictures and things like that just a brain burp. I do not think tagging is for he library. It is so unstructured and random connections would drive me crazy, maybe I’ve been in libraryland to long and have too many categories already to remember. I do think our students would like to do this and I might challenge my 8th grade teachers to try it with books not connecting with I-Net tagging, just informal book tagging connection and see if it makes them think about what they read. I think I’ll show this website and have them think of how they would tag a book. Tagging is not for me it is completely unstructured it sounds like chaos.

Thing 12

Tweeting sounds fun and not to time consuming. My friend tweets with Ashton Kutcher and loves it. She has a website for hurting Christian women and tweets often and loves it so I wanted to Tweat but didn’t take the time. Well now that I’ve signed up I’m sure I will use it just because it will be fun and maybe I can find a movie star I love and tweat with them (none in mind right now). The one thing I think would be great for students is to learn to communicate using the limited words without the slang. Maybe impossible but..

thing 10

I found Nings a little out there, I hardly have time to keep up with what really needs to be done. I think this is for people with a lot of time and love this sort of thing. You can find anything so I’m not ruling out not ever using it, but it would be way down on my choice list. I love teen lit and read and enjoyed that site. Oh I really found a lot of interesting things, but I can find interesting things everywhere. With ALA and TLA and then all the different author sites teen literature is everywhere and I don’t have to go Nings to find it. I find to many social networks can absorb to much time. Face book and blogs are hard enough to keep up with.

Thing 9

I found the groups very interesting and especially the groups my friends belonged to. It surprised me to see how many of my friends joined groups. I’m no a groupie and really had never explored this, really found it very interesting. I wasn’t surprised when I seen how many groups my church has, they are very techie and try to reach the younger generation and tech is definitely the way. I decided to join the women’s group since I knew many of the people in that group. I was interested in a political group but choose not to join because so many people would be involved and I thing that would open you to a target for a lot of stuff plus something’s I might not like. I do think anonymity is important.
I looked at what my daughter in law joined and was surprised to fine her in a very conservative group. I will investigate groups more now that I know how and know the many different areas there are.

Thing 8

Thing 8
I have had a Facebook account for about 2 or more years and love to keep in touch with friends and show off my beautiful grandkids. A few friends and I made a bet about who could publish more grandkid pictures this summer. Summer is not over so I might win. I think sharing pictures is a great thing, especially sincewe never have our grandkids with and we love to show them off.
I do think the more use of computers for communication takes the personal levels out. Probably Facebook would have more personal level because of you being more transparent there. I think phone and face-to-face is obvious the most personal, but after a busy day it is fun to sit down and chat with friends and family. I really enjoy keeping up with friends and family who live a distance away. My twin lives in WA and with the time zone difference it is great a great way to communicate without that constraint. I like that you can keep it private if you want to.
It really is for the current generation and they are surly 80% of the users but I think us grandmothers are catching up! I am sorry that it is block at school because I think teachers could find some great uses for it, but I can surly understand it because students would much rather be on Facebook than face to face instruction.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Thing 7

RSS you can read updates from a variety of blogs, . I like the idea that I can go to one place and find things that I have chosen to keep up with, the things that interest me. I am glad to have this knowledge because now I will when I find something I want to keep up with or am at a workshop of a speaker with a rrs feed I can add it automatically. I like the idea of news/ information/ etc coming to me not me going to it. I am think this wouldn’t take as much time. I will use it this year and see if I really do use it.

Thing 5 & 6


I found this to be easy and fun and will come back and play with it I love the silly little things that I will incorporate into vocabulary words or fun events. This is easy enough to show a teacher and play with them a while and I think they will take it back to the kids. A great tool for education.
Thing 6: Reader
I was so surprised I followed the directions and realized I already had a Google Reader started. I was at a workshop as I thought back that taught me how to use this with many other things and obviously I didn’t learn enough since I didn’t remember doing it and never using it. It is definitely a great way to keep current with blogs and RSS feeds. I like that it organizes them and you can look at all the blogs quickly Readers are a great way to save time

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Thing 3 & 4


Mashups are something I can really see the students loving to use them. It is so creative and let’s kids express themselves, it is limitless. The devices Flicker offers can have great educational benefits. I really like Mash up and using and it. This is my great Dane Earin and he is so funny, it looked jsut like he was smoking a cigar so...I think I’ll do my Christmas letter with all the bubbles and different things in Mashups with pictures of family and friends. It will be so much fun and my family with thinks I’m so talented. It seems so easy to use and I will love to play if I have time. I better get started!!

Thing 3
I use flickr all the time because I am from a large family and my family live any where but Tx. I want them all here but…so instead we share photos all the especially fun things happening I missed or a new additions. The last photos we shared were of my nieces wedding 6-27. It is great for enjoying family without them being right here.Flickr can be useful in libraries as we share pictures between staff and other schools. Many times and author, illustrator, etc come to a school, by sharing photos it give all the students a real life experience even though they do not get to personally see them, they probably know someone who did. With flickr you can post comments so it makes the picture come alive and students will completely understand what is taking place.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Web 2.0

It is amazing what web 2.0 can do. I feel I’m part of a community of professionals collaborating, creating, and talking together. People are always sharing what they think — and I can tap into those opinions with the same tool. It is really great to discover what people are saying about the issues I am passionate about and have already started the process that is my goal too. I love the idea of posting pictures! Pictures always make things so much more personal. I can't keep up with everything that's happening so this seems like a great resource. There are a lot of tools out there, but I don’t know how to use them and now I have a network of friends that will assist and give great ideas! Using Web 2.0 tools will push me closer to achieving my goals.