Thing 23 YAY!

Reflection of 23 Things

I am so glad I had the opportunity to work and play through Library2Play. I feel like I have learned so much about WEb 2.0 and some of the wonderful applications and programs it has to offer.


What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?

My favorite discoveries where Librarything.com and Photostory. I planned with my teammates yesterday and everyone agreed to have our students start a Librarything profile. I can't wait!

I look forward to using Photostory with my class as well. I also liked delicious.com. I like how I can collect and view my favorite sites from where ever.


How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?

I feel like I have really grown as a learner. I feel more confident now knowing so much more about web 2.0 applications. I feel like I am now better able to address the use of technology in my classroom.



Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?

I was surprised at how much time Iwillingly put into the program. I would find myself working on the Things, and hours passing by.


If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you choose to participate?

I wouldn't participate this year, I would wait till next summer. I feel like I have a head full of new knowledge!


How would you describe your learning experience in ONE WORD or in ONE SENTENCE, so we could use your words to promote 23 Things learning activitities?

I have a new level of knowledge of web 2.0 that I know well make me a better teacher!

Thing 22

Nings
I found nings really interesting. Nings are social networking sites for professionals to network and share ideas. I joined the Texas Librarian Group and the Primary Teachers Network group. I also started a 2nd grade teacher group in the Primary Teachers Network site. Once the group is approved I will post the link to the group. Hopefully all my 2nd grade teacher friends will join! I really look forward to networking with people around the country and sharing ideas about learning and teaching.

Thing 21

Podcasts and Vidcasts
This "thing" is my favorite "thing" so far... With Librarything.com running a close second. Dowloading and using Photostory was so incredibly easy. I can't wait to use it in my classroom! I like Photostory because you don't need a video camera to use it, and with all the pictures available online, one is sure to find a photo to go with their recording. I had my daughter write a review of one of her favorite books and recorded her. This is one of the many ways I would use Photostory in the classroom and library.

Thing 20

Youtube and Teachertube

Youtube is one of my family's favorite websites. We love to search funny animal, baby, and wedding movies. We often view our favorite songs and videos. Lately we have been watching videos of Michael Jackson singing classics like ABC and Rockin' Robin. I don't know if I will be using Youtube as a teacher...it seems like alot of time and trouble to get to a video that is blocked.

I love having Teachertube as an alternative to Youtube. As I searched through Teachertube I found many movies featuring students. This website offers the perfect place for teachers and students to share their work. I searched for booktalks and didn't come up with much. I searched Guided Reading and found a very informative video about Guided Reading. Sharing videos is a great way for librarians to pass along information and help teachers. Enjoy.

Thing 19

Web 2.0 Awards List

• http://www.docstoc.com/ Is a great place to go to for ideas on teaching and librarianship I found a great list of ideas for collaboration at this document http://www.docstoc.com/docs/2538702/How-to-Build-Collaboration-With-Teachers
• http://tweetscan.com/ This is a really cool site, Like Technorati.com searches blogs, this site searches tweets and mini-blogs.
• http://www.cocktailbuilder.com/ I looked at this site just for fun :)... not because I like to drink adult beverages! Here is a recipe for one of my faves... Mojitos http://www.cocktailbuilder.com/#.

Thing 18

Online Productivity Tools

I am so impressed with all the tools that are available from google. I think google docs makes it easy to share documents on blogs. I like how you can link people to your work from a website address; it takes out the step of having to PDF your documents. I could not figure out how to email the document that I created. Here is the link to the document...

http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AXRJmNyEYF0zZGc1aDR6amhfMGY3ajQ3dGZn&hl=en

Thing 17

Rollyo

I had a hard time distinguishing the difference between Rollyo and Delicious.com... Do they ultimately have the same purpose? I searched 2nd grade language arts and Reader's and Writer's Workshop. Both searches had useful hits. I created a Rollyo for 2nd Grade Language Arts. I probably will not keep using Rollyo and stick with Delicious.com. When the site is not running so slow I will add my Rollyo search page.

Thing 16

Wikis

I never really knew the true intention of use for wikispaces. Now I know it's for organizing, coordinating, and sharing a group's information. I think it would be an awesome idea for my second grade Language Arts team to plan for lessons on a Wiki, especially since we are always short on time. I loved Library2play's idea about students keeping notes on a Wiki... I'm thinking of doing something on Wiki with my students for Reader's WKSP. Something like keeping anchor charts on Wikis and allowing students to add on what they feel is important.

Thing 15

Library 2.0

The last time I was in college before this past spring was 1999. When I went back to school to start working on my Masters degree I was astonished at how vast the use of computer technology in universities had changed... all thanks to web 2.0. I can now take complete courses online, hold conversations with fellow classmates across town, and do all my research... without ever leaving my house.

Library 2.0 means to bring this same type of ease and convenience of learning, networking, and access of information to its patrons. Its all about meeting the needs of the patrons in their space.

What does this mean for elementary libraries? Well, what are the needs of elementary students?

They too need ease and convenience, networking, and access of information. Can they access databases from home? Is there somewhere they can go to online to ask questions about homework? Can they collaborate with other students outside of school? Can they access all the information they have at school at home?

When I read about the future of libraries, I often think of the library's past, and how things come in full circle. I think that Ranganathan's laws particularly go well with Library 2.0:the library is always growing and changing with the times, the library saves the user time (especially in todays world), the reader his book (whether on a Kindle, Ipod, CD or old school),

every book its reader, (freedom to access of all information, print and digital), and books (information) is for use.

Why have a library surrounded by all this marvelous new technology and not use it and make the best of it for our patrons?

Thing 14

I just finished playing with http://www.technorati.com. I found it really easy to use, and found that I like this blog search tool alot more than the other blog search tools we looked at in Thing 9. I searched 2nd grade. elementary librarian and Reader's Workshop and found some really informative blogs such as http://www.theliteracyblock.com/ and http://ianmclean.edublogs.org/. I like having the tag option in the case that I may be searching for something in particular, such as a book review. I think that using tags saves a user time because it narrows down a search. What were some of your favorite tags or finds on technorati?

Thing 13

Delicious.com is a handy site for professionals and students. I'd like to share my bookmarks with everyone, and look forward to viewing others' bookmarks on Delicious.com I started of with some useful sites for my teaching career and for my librarianship studies. I know that I will soon be adding sites as I start using them for other classes and as the new school year starts. This site offers another way for professionals to collaborate and share ideas. I look forward to continuing the use of this site.