This class has been wonderful... I think the best testament to that is how many times I've found myself talking about the class to other people, sharing things I've learned, or teaching my husband how to use all these great new tools!
I've always thought of myself as somewhat tech savvy... but it's amazing how quickly you can fall behind if you don't make the time to explore and play with new technology. I've certainly heard of podcasts, wikis, and Google Docs. But for some reason, I never took the time to learn more or see what they could do for me. This class forced me to do so, and now I wish I had done it on my own a long time ago. As new technology continues to emerge, I'm going to make a point of learning about it sooner rather than later!
The best part of this class was that it legitimized the "play" time for me. Life itself can be so busy, and it's hard to justify blocking off time to play with iTunes. It makes me feel unproductive and guilty. But thanks to this class, I had to play around as part of each weekly assignment. Now I see that this "play" time is actually very productive and worthwhile... within reason, of course! It's still easy to get side tracked on Teacher Tube!
Tools I learned about in this class that I will definitely use regularly: podcasts, Teacher Tube, more Digital Pipeline resources, Library Thing (not to catalog my library, but as a tool to find other books to read & for reviews), Google Docs, wikis, del.icio.us, RSS feeds & Google Reader, Voice Thread, and blogging in general. At this time I don't see myself using Technorati, Flickr, eBooks, or avatars & image generators too much... but once I'm back to work that may change.
I think the class text was a very good read and am going to check out more of the chapters on my own.
My only suggestion to improve the course is very minor: I would recommend editing the links in each section so that they always automatically open in a new window or tab. There were so many times that I would click a link, and before long I found that I had navigated very far away from the course page. Of course I always needed to get back there to review more links or see the requirements for the blog post. Like I said... this is pretty minor! As far as more important course elements (like the actual content) I feel like it was well worth the time and I really appreciate Ann and Katie's efforts to make this happen for us! Cheers!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Week 9/Thing 22: eBooks
I am feeling extremely frustrated right now!!! I went to the Anchorage Public Library web page in search of their eBooks. I used the advanced search function and limited my results to "Web & eBooks." It didn't take me long to find a book that I'm very interested in reading.
Easier said than done! The link in the record took me to "NetLibrary" and I am not impressed with the service. The online reader only shows the first page of each chapter, and for the life of me I cannot figure out how to get more. I can't figure out how to download the book for offline reading either. And the "help" menu (I use the term loosely) isn't of any assistance. No screenshots, no step-by-step instructions... just a big list of links and half of them direct me to other web sites (like Adobe) for assistance. Here you guys have me expecting YouTube video tutorials, so I find this completely unacceptable! ;) GRRRR. I gave up!! Next time I am at APL I will ask the librarians more about the service.
I had much better luck with the recommended links in Unit 9 (go figure!). From the World eBook Fair I found the Classic Literature Collection. The books immediately downloaded as PDF documents and were much easier to read. But honestly... I can't see myself reading like this. I am much more of a "curl up in bed with a book" kind of gal. Maybe if I had a little reading device instead of a big clunky laptop I would try it, but it's harder for me to concentrate for too long when I read things online. I'll be curious to see if tools like Amazon's Kindle create a revolution in the eBook industry.
Now the audio eBooks are a great idea... especially for traveling, commuting, etc. I found a few of these... listened to a few of Shakespeare's Sonnets that I hadn't read in ages (and couldn't believe I still remembered the numbers of my favorites!). I like that these are available in a variety of formats. LibriVox looks to be a good source for audio eBooks (I like how they aim to bring "acoustical liberation" to book in the public domain!!) but the archives were down when I visited. I'll try again tomorrow.
As for me... I'm going to grab a wonderfully old-fashioned paperback book (currently it's And She Was by Cindy Dyson) and head to bed!
Easier said than done! The link in the record took me to "NetLibrary" and I am not impressed with the service. The online reader only shows the first page of each chapter, and for the life of me I cannot figure out how to get more. I can't figure out how to download the book for offline reading either. And the "help" menu (I use the term loosely) isn't of any assistance. No screenshots, no step-by-step instructions... just a big list of links and half of them direct me to other web sites (like Adobe) for assistance. Here you guys have me expecting YouTube video tutorials, so I find this completely unacceptable! ;) GRRRR. I gave up!! Next time I am at APL I will ask the librarians more about the service.
I had much better luck with the recommended links in Unit 9 (go figure!). From the World eBook Fair I found the Classic Literature Collection. The books immediately downloaded as PDF documents and were much easier to read. But honestly... I can't see myself reading like this. I am much more of a "curl up in bed with a book" kind of gal. Maybe if I had a little reading device instead of a big clunky laptop I would try it, but it's harder for me to concentrate for too long when I read things online. I'll be curious to see if tools like Amazon's Kindle create a revolution in the eBook industry.
Now the audio eBooks are a great idea... especially for traveling, commuting, etc. I found a few of these... listened to a few of Shakespeare's Sonnets that I hadn't read in ages (and couldn't believe I still remembered the numbers of my favorites!). I like that these are available in a variety of formats. LibriVox looks to be a good source for audio eBooks (I like how they aim to bring "acoustical liberation" to book in the public domain!!) but the archives were down when I visited. I'll try again tomorrow.
As for me... I'm going to grab a wonderfully old-fashioned paperback book (currently it's And She Was by Cindy Dyson) and head to bed!
Week 9/Thing 21: Podcasts
Podcasts: yet another thing I hear about all the time, but never really use myself. Until now! It's all about making the time to go play with these tools, and once you realize how simple they are you wonder why you haven't been using them forever! (Or since they became mainstream about 4 years ago... you get the point!)
Some of the tutorial links in this unit didn't work (like the Yahoo one) but I did enjoy the Lee Lefever video posted in my previous blog entry. I like how he explained "POD" to mean "Personal On Demand" -- and to think I'd always associated it with Apple!
I already had iTunes on my computer, but it was version 4.0 (shows how much we use it!) so I upgraded to 7.7 and started playing. I used the directory and found it very simple to search, listen, and subscribe. Frighteningly easy! I was also pleased that there were no buffering issues like sometimes happens with large video files. I need to play around more in iTunes because the interface isn't familiar to me yet.
The feed I subscribed to is from Storynory. The feed is available here. The site has a collection of over 100 children's classics in audiobook format. The reader - Nastasha - has a lovely British accent and they are very well done! This could be really fun to use in the library - especially if it's coupled with an art project. The kids could all listen to the story, and then you could divide up various sections and have the students listen again and create illustrations. Lastly, bring out copies of the actual books and let the kids compare their version to the published copies.
I found this feed through the iTunes directory - and it's perfect timing, because we are going on vacation next week and I can make a CD of stories for the kids to listen to on the plane or in the car!
Some of the tutorial links in this unit didn't work (like the Yahoo one) but I did enjoy the Lee Lefever video posted in my previous blog entry. I like how he explained "POD" to mean "Personal On Demand" -- and to think I'd always associated it with Apple!
I already had iTunes on my computer, but it was version 4.0 (shows how much we use it!) so I upgraded to 7.7 and started playing. I used the directory and found it very simple to search, listen, and subscribe. Frighteningly easy! I was also pleased that there were no buffering issues like sometimes happens with large video files. I need to play around more in iTunes because the interface isn't familiar to me yet.
The feed I subscribed to is from Storynory. The feed is available here. The site has a collection of over 100 children's classics in audiobook format. The reader - Nastasha - has a lovely British accent and they are very well done! This could be really fun to use in the library - especially if it's coupled with an art project. The kids could all listen to the story, and then you could divide up various sections and have the students listen again and create illustrations. Lastly, bring out copies of the actual books and let the kids compare their version to the published copies.
I found this feed through the iTunes directory - and it's perfect timing, because we are going on vacation next week and I can make a CD of stories for the kids to listen to on the plane or in the car!
Week 9/Thing 20: Teacher Tube
I've heard the buzz about Teacher Tube for a while now, but this is the first time I've sat down with it at length. WOW. It is very easy to get sidetracked and spend an enormous amount of time! When you find a well-done video it's tempting to click on the creator's name and see their entire library. Over at YouTube they are constantly recommending related videos to the ones you just watched. DANGER! I think they should start selling computers with little egg timers so you know when time is up!
For work purposes, I like that Teacher Tube videos can be downloaded so they can be used in a school setting without worrying about bandwidth.
I know that Podcasting is the next "thing" in this class, so this may be a bit premature... but I searched Teacher Tube for Lee Lefever since I've enjoyed his other videos so much. I came across PODCASTING IN PLAIN ENGLISH, and of course it's wonderful! (This is actually the YouTube link, because the Teacher Tube link was to his entire video collection - I couldn't find the Podcasting one as a stand alone there...)
I am impressed with his simple, informative videos and tutorials!
I also explored YouTube a bit and had no idea that there were so many tutorials on that web site. I can't tell you how many times I've nearly ripped my hair out while trying to do some project with Paint Shop Pro. The learning curve for that program is steeper than most, and it often takes me hours to do something very simple. I've bought books, read online tutorials, etc. I did a search on YouTube and there are 935 video tutorials - and the ones I watched are really well done! This could be a life saver the next time I try to get crafty! :)
For work purposes, I like that Teacher Tube videos can be downloaded so they can be used in a school setting without worrying about bandwidth.
I know that Podcasting is the next "thing" in this class, so this may be a bit premature... but I searched Teacher Tube for Lee Lefever since I've enjoyed his other videos so much. I came across PODCASTING IN PLAIN ENGLISH, and of course it's wonderful! (This is actually the YouTube link, because the Teacher Tube link was to his entire video collection - I couldn't find the Podcasting one as a stand alone there...)
I am impressed with his simple, informative videos and tutorials!
I also explored YouTube a bit and had no idea that there were so many tutorials on that web site. I can't tell you how many times I've nearly ripped my hair out while trying to do some project with Paint Shop Pro. The learning curve for that program is steeper than most, and it often takes me hours to do something very simple. I've bought books, read online tutorials, etc. I did a search on YouTube and there are 935 video tutorials - and the ones I watched are really well done! This could be a life saver the next time I try to get crafty! :)
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Week 8/Thing 19.1: Digital Pipeline
I took the database class at last year's summer academy, and am amazed at how much things have changed in a single year! Thanks to that class I already had an Ebsco account and some journal alerts set up, but I did edit them to come to my home e-mail address instead of the ASD account.
I watched the Flash video about Ebsco's new search (coming in July 2008 - soon!) and was generally impressed. (The video was a bit long and I wonder how many kids or teachers will sit through it all - it might have been wise for them to break it into a few smaller chapters.) But some of the highlights for me:
--The new search interface looks so Googly-simple. I think that's a good thing! So much time has been spent convincing folks to use these tools, and if the search strategy is familiar then it will be an easier sell. People don't like huge learning curves: if Google is easier, that's where they go. This new interface makes Ebsco just as simple, and the results will still be superior. Once people realize that, they'll most likely play with the advanced search features or be more open to some lessons about it. ONE STEP AT A TIME! (But I do still worry about all the "clicks" necessary to get to Ebsco in the first place...)
--The date slider is very nice! I realize the option to narrow results by date has always existed, but this is a visual tool that will appeal to many people.
--The images look great.
--I like that you can mouse over the various databases to get a description.
--At the end of the video, it said something about "EBSCO 2.0." Obviously 2.0 has become a catch phrase... I know that Ebsco's interface has gone through revisions before - certainly more than 2.0 would indicate! And I'm not exactly clear about how it's a 2.0 tool... where is the interactive element? Did I miss something?
I watched some of the tutorials on the Digital Pipeline. I think the manga characters will appeal to kids, but some of the language doesn't seem to match. They instantly throw around words like "database" and "academic search premiere" that I think warrant some definition for school audiences. Other than that I think they do a really good job. On a terribly nit-picky note - I noticed the wrong form of "its" was used on the very first screen. I'm kind of a grammar-phobe that way. (Although "grammar-phobe" is probably not even a word!)
As for the Consumer Health Index - how fabulous! I really like how the search results could be sorted into categories: alternative, evidence-based, video, etc. I honestly remember conducting lessons about databases and explaining to kids that one of the only differences between the online version and print was that the online version didn't have all the pictures... I would literally hold up an article from Sports Illustrated while simultaneously projecting the text-version of the article from the computer. My how times have changed... just that quickly!
I spent most of this assignment researching eczema (our 2 year old has it) and learned SO MUCH. Even as a librarian, I sometimes forget about these wonderful database tools. I am energized with many alternative, natural therapies to try for her - if it works, I will owe an even bigger debt to this course!
I watched the Flash video about Ebsco's new search (coming in July 2008 - soon!) and was generally impressed. (The video was a bit long and I wonder how many kids or teachers will sit through it all - it might have been wise for them to break it into a few smaller chapters.) But some of the highlights for me:
--The new search interface looks so Googly-simple. I think that's a good thing! So much time has been spent convincing folks to use these tools, and if the search strategy is familiar then it will be an easier sell. People don't like huge learning curves: if Google is easier, that's where they go. This new interface makes Ebsco just as simple, and the results will still be superior. Once people realize that, they'll most likely play with the advanced search features or be more open to some lessons about it. ONE STEP AT A TIME! (But I do still worry about all the "clicks" necessary to get to Ebsco in the first place...)
--The date slider is very nice! I realize the option to narrow results by date has always existed, but this is a visual tool that will appeal to many people.
--The images look great.
--I like that you can mouse over the various databases to get a description.
--At the end of the video, it said something about "EBSCO 2.0." Obviously 2.0 has become a catch phrase... I know that Ebsco's interface has gone through revisions before - certainly more than 2.0 would indicate! And I'm not exactly clear about how it's a 2.0 tool... where is the interactive element? Did I miss something?
I watched some of the tutorials on the Digital Pipeline. I think the manga characters will appeal to kids, but some of the language doesn't seem to match. They instantly throw around words like "database" and "academic search premiere" that I think warrant some definition for school audiences. Other than that I think they do a really good job. On a terribly nit-picky note - I noticed the wrong form of "its" was used on the very first screen. I'm kind of a grammar-phobe that way. (Although "grammar-phobe" is probably not even a word!)
As for the Consumer Health Index - how fabulous! I really like how the search results could be sorted into categories: alternative, evidence-based, video, etc. I honestly remember conducting lessons about databases and explaining to kids that one of the only differences between the online version and print was that the online version didn't have all the pictures... I would literally hold up an article from Sports Illustrated while simultaneously projecting the text-version of the article from the computer. My how times have changed... just that quickly!
I spent most of this assignment researching eczema (our 2 year old has it) and learned SO MUCH. Even as a librarian, I sometimes forget about these wonderful database tools. I am energized with many alternative, natural therapies to try for her - if it works, I will owe an even bigger debt to this course!
Week 8/Thing 19: Library Thing
I can't wait to show this to all the book lovers in my life! I see this as a HUGE rival to NoveList. I'd say NoveList vs. Library Thing is a perfect illustration of Web 1.0 vs. Web 2.0. Library Thing is so amazing because you can read (and post) reviews, check out other people's bookshelves, get recommendations, and more. And of course it has the cool little widgets that bloggers love. Amazingly... with all it does... it's even easier to use than NoveList too. I'm impressed!
This is a tool that school librarians can easily use with students too, because it doesn't require any personal information to create an account. I briefly thought about creating a single demo account for the entire school (a "sandbox" account, one might say!) but so many varied users would really distort the bookshelf, and make recommendations difficult. Hmmmm. Also, it would quickly max out the number of books allowed in a free account.
One of the links in this assignment mentioned that some libraries are using the Library Thing widget to easily display new books on their web sites - I really like that idea! (Maybe I will go post it on the wiki!)
I did wonder about copyright - it's so easy to add a cover image from any old URL and can that be legal? I was in a blog on Library Thing where they said it's okay to link to amazon as long as you provide a link back to the site, but I thought amazon's policy was a bit more restrictive than that? (Although the cover I uploaded isn't showing in the widget - weird!)
Week 8/Thing 18: Google Docs
I decided to try out Google Docs, because I've been adding so many other Google tools (like Google Reader) as part of this class, and I'd like to keep things somewhat centralized.
I can't believe how EASY it was! I even shared the document with someone else (as a collaborator) and it was so nice to check the revision history to see exactly who made changes and when they did it. This is going to eliminate the need to send multiple files back and forth and the worry that you might not have the most recent version. I can't tell you how many of my file names end with "_2" or "_3" and so on...
I uploaded an existing Word document from my hard drive to Google docs, and then saved it as a web page. It can be seen here. I also made a few new documents - my mom has been after me to get her a list of things we need for our trip next week, so I am sending her a link rather than an e-mail attachment. Love it!
I wonder if the Microsoft folks are nervous about these free tools? I know Microsoft has developed some kind of shared office space too, but I haven't used it. Obviously Word and Excel are much more powerful tools, so I don't see the them going away anytime soon. But for people who just need basic word processing software, this is a wonderful option. And draft copies could always be done on Google Docs or Zoho, and then the final versions could be imported to Word to do the desktop publishing end of things. (As a side note, it seems like the Microsoft corporation is in a similar boat as librarians... they need to pay very careful to the changing marketplace if they want to survive!)
It also makes me wonder just how big those Google servers can be... they can hold all of our videos, documents, photos... for free? How long can this last? And before I use this too much I would want to know how secure things are and how often they are backed up!
I can't believe how EASY it was! I even shared the document with someone else (as a collaborator) and it was so nice to check the revision history to see exactly who made changes and when they did it. This is going to eliminate the need to send multiple files back and forth and the worry that you might not have the most recent version. I can't tell you how many of my file names end with "_2" or "_3" and so on...
I uploaded an existing Word document from my hard drive to Google docs, and then saved it as a web page. It can be seen here. I also made a few new documents - my mom has been after me to get her a list of things we need for our trip next week, so I am sending her a link rather than an e-mail attachment. Love it!
I wonder if the Microsoft folks are nervous about these free tools? I know Microsoft has developed some kind of shared office space too, but I haven't used it. Obviously Word and Excel are much more powerful tools, so I don't see the them going away anytime soon. But for people who just need basic word processing software, this is a wonderful option. And draft copies could always be done on Google Docs or Zoho, and then the final versions could be imported to Word to do the desktop publishing end of things. (As a side note, it seems like the Microsoft corporation is in a similar boat as librarians... they need to pay very careful to the changing marketplace if they want to survive!)
It also makes me wonder just how big those Google servers can be... they can hold all of our videos, documents, photos... for free? How long can this last? And before I use this too much I would want to know how secure things are and how often they are backed up!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Week 7/Thing 17: Posting on the RAW wiki
I just added a couple of entries to the Raven About Web wiki - very easy to use! I had been working within PB Wiki for my other project, so I enjoyed using Wikispaces to compare the differences. I'd have to play more before I decide which I prefer.
I think wikis are going to snowball in the coming years, as people start using them more and see the ease & potential. The next step for me will be to actually create and administer a wiki (I'm not sure what it will be about yet, as I won't be working in a school library again for another year) but maybe I can start something for the new Clark MS before its reopening. I'll have to brainstorm this one!
I think wikis are going to snowball in the coming years, as people start using them more and see the ease & potential. The next step for me will be to actually create and administer a wiki (I'm not sure what it will be about yet, as I won't be working in a school library again for another year) but maybe I can start something for the new Clark MS before its reopening. I'll have to brainstorm this one!
Week 7/Thing 16: Wikis
I am falling in love with wikis! I've been a reader of various wikis for a while, in the past month I've started adding & editing content as well (thanks to a freelance writing project). It's been a great experience... it is so much easier to edit within a wiki rather than e-mailing Word documents back and forth. I love how changes are tracked and you don't have to worry about several versions of the same file floating out there as well.
I love the potential to use wikis in schools and libraries. I think they are a wonderful format for collaborative writing projects, where students are given a broad topic (like the Internet Safety idea I posted about earlier) and then each student adds a page or "chapter" about a different aspect of the overall topic (such as cyber bullying, predator awareness, etc.).
I also like the idea to use wikis for book reviews. The wiki administrator could set up folders for various genres and the kids could add pages with reviews within the appropriate folders.
Some of the wikis I looked at weren't very collaborative - they read more like blogs to me. I think an administrator is essential to help keep things organized, but they also need to strongly encourage participation by others.
Vandalism is still a concern, especially when working with middle school students! I have never administered a wiki and wonder if the log in requirements would eliminate this problem?
My favorite wiki from the list was the Library Instruction Resources - it had a good organization scheme (categories) and a fair amount of useful ideas were posted. What a great way to share ideas and - as the front page of that wiki said - avoid reinventing the wheel! It would be nice if one of these library wikis would rise to the top and become a super source of ideas and resources!!
I love the potential to use wikis in schools and libraries. I think they are a wonderful format for collaborative writing projects, where students are given a broad topic (like the Internet Safety idea I posted about earlier) and then each student adds a page or "chapter" about a different aspect of the overall topic (such as cyber bullying, predator awareness, etc.).
I also like the idea to use wikis for book reviews. The wiki administrator could set up folders for various genres and the kids could add pages with reviews within the appropriate folders.
Some of the wikis I looked at weren't very collaborative - they read more like blogs to me. I think an administrator is essential to help keep things organized, but they also need to strongly encourage participation by others.
Vandalism is still a concern, especially when working with middle school students! I have never administered a wiki and wonder if the log in requirements would eliminate this problem?
My favorite wiki from the list was the Library Instruction Resources - it had a good organization scheme (categories) and a fair amount of useful ideas were posted. What a great way to share ideas and - as the front page of that wiki said - avoid reinventing the wheel! It would be nice if one of these library wikis would rise to the top and become a super source of ideas and resources!!
Week 6/Thing 15: Perspectives about Library 2.0
I think one quote from the Rick Anderson articles sums up the two sides of this argument very well: "No profession can survive if it throws its core principles and values overboard in response to every shift in the zeitgeist. However, it can be equally disastrous when a profession fails to acknowledge and adapt to radical, fundamental change in the marketplace it serves."
As with so many things in life, this boils down to finding balance. As librarians, we need to consider the difference between abandoning our core mission and altering it a bit. Between ignoring every new technology fad (or blindly jumping on the bandwagon - equally disastrous) and cautiously evaluating new Web 2.0 tools.
I think the Web 2.0 tools have enormous potential in school libraries, and need to be carefully considered. The most amazing part of all is that they are often FREE! If we can get the next generation of library users - today's children - to see librarians as tour guides through the Web 2.0 world, then it will have a positive impact on the future of our profession. And if we can let kids learn in formats that appeal to them (such as wikis) then I'm all for it.
I don't think we need to mourn the end of our nostalgic notion of libraries as sanctuaries full of storybook adventures just yet. But my philosophy has always been "Let's just get them in the door!" It's the first step, and from there the possibilities are endless.
As with so many things in life, this boils down to finding balance. As librarians, we need to consider the difference between abandoning our core mission and altering it a bit. Between ignoring every new technology fad (or blindly jumping on the bandwagon - equally disastrous) and cautiously evaluating new Web 2.0 tools.
I think the Web 2.0 tools have enormous potential in school libraries, and need to be carefully considered. The most amazing part of all is that they are often FREE! If we can get the next generation of library users - today's children - to see librarians as tour guides through the Web 2.0 world, then it will have a positive impact on the future of our profession. And if we can let kids learn in formats that appeal to them (such as wikis) then I'm all for it.
I don't think we need to mourn the end of our nostalgic notion of libraries as sanctuaries full of storybook adventures just yet. But my philosophy has always been "Let's just get them in the door!" It's the first step, and from there the possibilities are endless.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Reflections about the course text
I've completed the assigned chapters from the Web 2.0 textbook. Here are my thoughts:
Chapter 1:
This chapter seemed to focus on education and the need to make major reforms that accept (and embrace) Web 2.0. One quote that especially caught my attention: "Today's education system faces irrelevance unless we bridge the gap between how students live and how they learn," (from a 2004 report Learning for the 21st Century). I've often wondered if a complete overhaul of our educational system is in order... students are coming to us with such varied backgrounds and abilities, and Web 2.0 could help individualize the process. Embracing these tools could breathe new life into students' enthusiasm for learning... if we can hammer it into their heads that the web is a tool for learning in addition to playing!
I remember reading about Microsoft's School of the Future in Philadelphia (this was years ago), and have often wondered how it is working. Rather than traditional content areas (reading, writing, arithmetic) this school broke the curriculum into several competencies that need to be achieved before graduation. I seem to remember it encompassing broader assets like responsibility and problem solving. It's an idea that has a lot of merit, I think...
This chapter lists the ability to keep learning as one of the most important skills a student must acquire. If technology continues to explode at the current rate, I would definitely have to agree. (But I also wonder if we are living in the midst of some sort of Technological Revolution, and eventually things will level out? Maybe not in our lifetime!)
I can't help but wonder how long all of these wonderful Web 2.0 tools will remain free. Will wireless access be a public service? Will Internet access become such a fundamental part of our society that it becomes subsidized? Will massive servers continue to store mammoth-sized files of photo and video collections for anyone who creates a user name and password? It's hard to imagine...
Chapter 7:
Online safety is a big issue, and I was glad to see it addressed in this book. It's clear that Web 2.0 tools have amazing potential for education, but safety is an essential consideration before we venture too far.
I love the idea of using wikis as collaborative class projects, with each student given the assignment to research, write, and publish a particular section or chapter. Just like the example in the chapter, a class could divide up a broad topic such as Internet Safety and each student could write a section (on cyber bullying, predators, social networks, filters, etc.). In addition to learning about the topic, students would be learning about technology (wikis), research skills, and writing skills. And perhaps one of the biggest bonuses to a project like this: parents would read it too! If I send home a preachy note about online safety, I don't know how many people will actually read it or take it seriously. But if it comes from the kids, it would be so much more meaningful!
I was intrigued by the copyright discussion in the chapter. I believe it's true that many people believe availability = permission and would like to explore Creative Commons more.
I don't have first hand experience with NetTrekker yet, but have seen some e-mails about it in the past year. How is it?
As for blocking software... I'm a bit of a hypocrite there. Philosophically, I am opposed to filters because I believe they create a false sense of security. No software can take the place of education, supervision, and conversation. But...realistically, it was such a relief when social networking sites like MySpace were blocked by the district, because it eliminated a lot of the trolling & discipline I had to do.
I wish it would be possible to stagger the amount of filtering/restriction by age level. We could entirely block elementary students as they are in full-on "Internet safety education" mode, but by high school we could open up the filters and let them learn through supervised experience with the real-world tools we know they're all using in the after hours anyway.
Chapter 9
I found it interesting that this chapter talked about School 2.0 - it's a nice dovetail with Web 2.0, but in reality I think schools have gone through a few more "updates" than that... I am a product of a rural, one-room schoolhouse with a total of 8 students in K-8. My class - of TWO - tied for largest in the building. It's amazing how much education has changed in my lifetime alone!
But not to be picky... I get the point! :)
I do think the vision for School 2.0 is grand. I think texbook compaies will fight it, and unfortunately some teachers will too. There are many teachers who won't even set up their Site Builder pages in ASD, let alone convert the class text to a wiki!
It does seem that teachers everywhere are in a constant state of reinventing the wheel. If some teacher/educational mega site (much like amazon) could exist - with choice, of course - it would be so helpful. Imagine if teachers could also post reviews about various lessons they tried... with modifications for different age groups. If it included Web 2.0 tools for teachers and students alike - how powerful! But of course education requires public funds and the scrutiny that goes along with that. Do I see a grant application in the works here?
Another thought I had while reading this chapter - how great is School 2.0 for all those helicopter parents out there! They could constantly keep tabs on student progress, read the wikis, watch the videos, listen to the podcasts... brilliant!
Grouping students by achievement rather than age is something I've often wondered about... I know there are social issues, but I could see how it would benefit many children and creating "levels" instead of "grades" would be motivational for this generation of gamers. I need to read some opposing viewpoints about this to think more...
Before any of it can be a possibility, Internet access for all must become a reality. I was glad to see the issue addressed in the chapter, but don't see any immediate solutions.
Chapter 1:
This chapter seemed to focus on education and the need to make major reforms that accept (and embrace) Web 2.0. One quote that especially caught my attention: "Today's education system faces irrelevance unless we bridge the gap between how students live and how they learn," (from a 2004 report Learning for the 21st Century). I've often wondered if a complete overhaul of our educational system is in order... students are coming to us with such varied backgrounds and abilities, and Web 2.0 could help individualize the process. Embracing these tools could breathe new life into students' enthusiasm for learning... if we can hammer it into their heads that the web is a tool for learning in addition to playing!
I remember reading about Microsoft's School of the Future in Philadelphia (this was years ago), and have often wondered how it is working. Rather than traditional content areas (reading, writing, arithmetic) this school broke the curriculum into several competencies that need to be achieved before graduation. I seem to remember it encompassing broader assets like responsibility and problem solving. It's an idea that has a lot of merit, I think...
This chapter lists the ability to keep learning as one of the most important skills a student must acquire. If technology continues to explode at the current rate, I would definitely have to agree. (But I also wonder if we are living in the midst of some sort of Technological Revolution, and eventually things will level out? Maybe not in our lifetime!)
I can't help but wonder how long all of these wonderful Web 2.0 tools will remain free. Will wireless access be a public service? Will Internet access become such a fundamental part of our society that it becomes subsidized? Will massive servers continue to store mammoth-sized files of photo and video collections for anyone who creates a user name and password? It's hard to imagine...
Chapter 7:
Online safety is a big issue, and I was glad to see it addressed in this book. It's clear that Web 2.0 tools have amazing potential for education, but safety is an essential consideration before we venture too far.
I love the idea of using wikis as collaborative class projects, with each student given the assignment to research, write, and publish a particular section or chapter. Just like the example in the chapter, a class could divide up a broad topic such as Internet Safety and each student could write a section (on cyber bullying, predators, social networks, filters, etc.). In addition to learning about the topic, students would be learning about technology (wikis), research skills, and writing skills. And perhaps one of the biggest bonuses to a project like this: parents would read it too! If I send home a preachy note about online safety, I don't know how many people will actually read it or take it seriously. But if it comes from the kids, it would be so much more meaningful!
I was intrigued by the copyright discussion in the chapter. I believe it's true that many people believe availability = permission and would like to explore Creative Commons more.
I don't have first hand experience with NetTrekker yet, but have seen some e-mails about it in the past year. How is it?
As for blocking software... I'm a bit of a hypocrite there. Philosophically, I am opposed to filters because I believe they create a false sense of security. No software can take the place of education, supervision, and conversation. But...realistically, it was such a relief when social networking sites like MySpace were blocked by the district, because it eliminated a lot of the trolling & discipline I had to do.
I wish it would be possible to stagger the amount of filtering/restriction by age level. We could entirely block elementary students as they are in full-on "Internet safety education" mode, but by high school we could open up the filters and let them learn through supervised experience with the real-world tools we know they're all using in the after hours anyway.
Chapter 9
I found it interesting that this chapter talked about School 2.0 - it's a nice dovetail with Web 2.0, but in reality I think schools have gone through a few more "updates" than that... I am a product of a rural, one-room schoolhouse with a total of 8 students in K-8. My class - of TWO - tied for largest in the building. It's amazing how much education has changed in my lifetime alone!
But not to be picky... I get the point! :)
I do think the vision for School 2.0 is grand. I think texbook compaies will fight it, and unfortunately some teachers will too. There are many teachers who won't even set up their Site Builder pages in ASD, let alone convert the class text to a wiki!
It does seem that teachers everywhere are in a constant state of reinventing the wheel. If some teacher/educational mega site (much like amazon) could exist - with choice, of course - it would be so helpful. Imagine if teachers could also post reviews about various lessons they tried... with modifications for different age groups. If it included Web 2.0 tools for teachers and students alike - how powerful! But of course education requires public funds and the scrutiny that goes along with that. Do I see a grant application in the works here?
Another thought I had while reading this chapter - how great is School 2.0 for all those helicopter parents out there! They could constantly keep tabs on student progress, read the wikis, watch the videos, listen to the podcasts... brilliant!
Grouping students by achievement rather than age is something I've often wondered about... I know there are social issues, but I could see how it would benefit many children and creating "levels" instead of "grades" would be motivational for this generation of gamers. I need to read some opposing viewpoints about this to think more...
Before any of it can be a possibility, Internet access for all must become a reality. I was glad to see the issue addressed in the chapter, but don't see any immediate solutions.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Week 6/Thing 14: Technorati
I'd never heard of Technorati, and it seems like a nice alternative to traditional sources of information, news, and entertainment. I searched "school library learning 2.0" (in quotes - exact phrase) and there were only about 20 hits in blog posts, 7 in tags (I entered the phrase without spaces for that search) and 10 items in the blog directory. Nice, manageable numbers... but kind of small and I wonder if I did something wrong?
I was surprised to see that the Huffington Post was the most popular blog based on authority (which in Technorati world means it has the most other sites linking to it). I enjoy reading clips from that post and it makes me wonder if the blog world is a pretty liberal one? I have always had the impression that Arianna Huffington is pretty far left...
I also peeked at Boing Boing, which touts itself as the world's most popular blog. I didn't get what was so special or spectacular about it, even after poking through some of the archives. Hmmmm. 3759 fans can't be wrong, so it must be me!
I really liked the Technorati directory - I clicked into the parenting section and was shocked to find Scribbit - a parenting blog by a lady in Alaska - to be fourth on the list. (I stumbled upon this one a few weeks back when I was looking for Alaska-related feeds for the RSS assignment.) For me the directory seems to be a good way to stumble across some informative and interesting stuff.
I decided not to "claim" my blog - they wanted a lot of information and the line about my user name being set in stone was a little intimidating. I am trying to copy the tagging code at the end of this post - with the tag set to "library2.0" so we'll see what happens.
As for tagging, I think I'm going to have to get used to it! I am pretty tied to the folder hierarchy so it will take time - I'm very linear so folders work well for me. I think it's why I prefer Outlook to gmail and Ofoto to Flickr. But tagging is clearly the way of the future, so I'd better get with the program! Even the Technorati help menu used tags instead of categories! I think the biggest benefit of tags is being able to search through mountains of information, emails, bookmarks, photos, etc. I just need to be careful and consistent when creating tags - writing "house" one week and "home" the next could result in only half the results when I'm searching for something down the road (path, street... you get the idea). Seems like synonyms could be an issue in the tagging world!
I was surprised to see that the Huffington Post was the most popular blog based on authority (which in Technorati world means it has the most other sites linking to it). I enjoy reading clips from that post and it makes me wonder if the blog world is a pretty liberal one? I have always had the impression that Arianna Huffington is pretty far left...
I also peeked at Boing Boing, which touts itself as the world's most popular blog. I didn't get what was so special or spectacular about it, even after poking through some of the archives. Hmmmm. 3759 fans can't be wrong, so it must be me!
I really liked the Technorati directory - I clicked into the parenting section and was shocked to find Scribbit - a parenting blog by a lady in Alaska - to be fourth on the list. (I stumbled upon this one a few weeks back when I was looking for Alaska-related feeds for the RSS assignment.) For me the directory seems to be a good way to stumble across some informative and interesting stuff.
I decided not to "claim" my blog - they wanted a lot of information and the line about my user name being set in stone was a little intimidating. I am trying to copy the tagging code at the end of this post - with the tag set to "library2.0" so we'll see what happens.
As for tagging, I think I'm going to have to get used to it! I am pretty tied to the folder hierarchy so it will take time - I'm very linear so folders work well for me. I think it's why I prefer Outlook to gmail and Ofoto to Flickr. But tagging is clearly the way of the future, so I'd better get with the program! Even the Technorati help menu used tags instead of categories! I think the biggest benefit of tags is being able to search through mountains of information, emails, bookmarks, photos, etc. I just need to be careful and consistent when creating tags - writing "house" one week and "home" the next could result in only half the results when I'm searching for something down the road (path, street... you get the idea). Seems like synonyms could be an issue in the tagging world!
" rel="tag>library2.0
Week 6/Thing 13: Del.icio.us
I first read about Del.icio.us in School Library Journal a year or two ago (along with Furl and a few other social bookmarking sites). My library assistant and I both registered for a few of the services to check them out before spreading the word to teachers. I remember being very frustrated because I couldn't organize my bookmarks into traditional folders... I didn't have a real grasp of "tags" yet and the long list of sites was overwhelming. Now that I understand the power of tags I am going to give this another try. I opened another del.icio.us account (my first was promptly deleted!) and have started adding and tagging.
A few questions that came up along the way: is there a way to import all my Firefox bookmarks automatically? The answer turned out to be yes, and it's very easy. But my other question remains unanswered: my husband and I both use the same computer, so does this mean we share the same del.icio.us account? I'm sure we could open two separate accounts, but since we don't have separate logins to the computer how will the del.icio.us browser buttons work? When we click the "tag" button, whose del.icio.us account will it go to? Looks like we might need to open an account for him and just see what happens...
FYI: The link for the Otter Group tutorial (in the discovery exercises) is not working, nor is the "Seven Habits of Wildly Successful Del.icio.us Users." I did find a great social bookmarking tutorial by Lee Lefever that focuses on de.licio.us. His videos are great!
Del.icio.us (man that is a pain to type with the dots in weird places!) has so many uses in a school and library. I created webliographies on my library web page for various teachers, so when students came to the library for a particular project they were directed to those resources. The only problem was that whenever students or teachers came up with new sites to add I was the only one with access to update the list of URL's. If the webliography was stored in del.icio.us instead (with tags and bundles to organize different units) then everyone in the class would have the ability to upload and manage the resource list.
A few questions that came up along the way: is there a way to import all my Firefox bookmarks automatically? The answer turned out to be yes, and it's very easy. But my other question remains unanswered: my husband and I both use the same computer, so does this mean we share the same del.icio.us account? I'm sure we could open two separate accounts, but since we don't have separate logins to the computer how will the del.icio.us browser buttons work? When we click the "tag" button, whose del.icio.us account will it go to? Looks like we might need to open an account for him and just see what happens...
FYI: The link for the Otter Group tutorial (in the discovery exercises) is not working, nor is the "Seven Habits of Wildly Successful Del.icio.us Users." I did find a great social bookmarking tutorial by Lee Lefever that focuses on de.licio.us. His videos are great!
Del.icio.us (man that is a pain to type with the dots in weird places!) has so many uses in a school and library. I created webliographies on my library web page for various teachers, so when students came to the library for a particular project they were directed to those resources. The only problem was that whenever students or teachers came up with new sites to add I was the only one with access to update the list of URL's. If the webliography was stored in del.icio.us instead (with tags and bundles to organize different units) then everyone in the class would have the ability to upload and manage the resource list.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Week 5/Thing 12: Voice Thread
My parents are going to LOVE you for showing this to us! Now they will get to actually hear the kids talk, and it was so easy to set up! Our first attempt can be found at http://voicethread.com/share/162592/. I really like that you can share the voice thread without requiring people to create their own accounts too. (Many inevitably will, but I don't like sites that mandate it... I always think of my poor mother-in-law who fumbles through the simplest of technology tasks!) I also like that the public settings can be blocked from searches & the Voice Thread browse - basically, they are only "public" to people who get the link from me.
There are so many times that I have to write out a description of a picture I'm sending, and just talking through it is so much easier. It also gives it a human touch. I am having trouble embedding the actual Voice Thread (rather than just the link) into this blog, though. (Edited: weird... the voice thread didn't show up in this blog until I hit publish. Hmmmm. And a disclaimer that the kids were just sitting on their bikes and pedaling in place... which is why they don't have their helmets on!!)
I could use this tool in my library in several creative ways. I could add the threads (via links?) to the library web page to give virtual "tours" or show clips of library activities. It would be a great promotional tool and showcase the modern-day library. You could take pictures of students with books, and let them record a mini-review or booktalk. I think the students would absolutely love it!
Have I said lately how much I am loving this class?!?!
There are so many times that I have to write out a description of a picture I'm sending, and just talking through it is so much easier. It also gives it a human touch. I am having trouble embedding the actual Voice Thread (rather than just the link) into this blog, though. (Edited: weird... the voice thread didn't show up in this blog until I hit publish. Hmmmm. And a disclaimer that the kids were just sitting on their bikes and pedaling in place... which is why they don't have their helmets on!!)
I could use this tool in my library in several creative ways. I could add the threads (via links?) to the library web page to give virtual "tours" or show clips of library activities. It would be a great promotional tool and showcase the modern-day library. You could take pictures of students with books, and let them record a mini-review or booktalk. I think the students would absolutely love it!
Have I said lately how much I am loving this class?!?!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Week 5/Thing 11: Web 2.0 Awards List
What an impressive list... I am forwarding the entire thing on to several friends! (Me... who never forwards anything!) There were some familiar sites but most of them were new to me.
I was most interested and excited about the organizational sites, so I checked out Backpack, Zoho, and Wufoo. Many of these sites are geared for businesses, but I thought it could also work perfectly for our family. A shared calendar and centralized place for a "to do" list is exactly what we need! Wufoo wasn't what I was looking for at all - it's more of a forms generator. Zoho looked okay... lots to offer in the way of online collaboration but I didn't find a calendar function. (But it does look like they could give MS Office and also Google Docs a run for their money.)
Backpack, on the other hands, was AMAZING. There is a clear reason that it won first place in this category. After watching 4 or 5 of the tutorials, browsing through screenshots, and getting downright giddy about this gold mine I decided to sign up for an account. I was crushed! It's not all free!!!!! There is a free option that allows you to create shared pages (to-do lists, upload files, etc.) but you don't get the calendar with the free account. The cheapest paid plan is $7 a month.
There are several uses for this tool in a library. The calendar is good enough that I would use it to schedule classes. Teachers would have the ability to write detailed notes about what they need, upload relevant handouts, and I could automatically send reminders. I'm not sure how we could/would limit the amount of classes since I can't play around with the calendar for free. Within a library staff, we could create working to-do lists and store shared documents that we all need access to.
In my despair, I registered at Zoho. It does look impressive, but without the calendar option I don't think I'd use it as an organizer.
I am part of the ASD Librarians Ning that Ann created, but I hadn't visited it in ages. I A) found it again, and then B) signed in and poked around for a while. Someone left a comment for me in October 2007 that I just saw (oops!) but in my defense I have been on a leave of absence, right? I was a little surprised to see the top ad that said "Pimp Your Profile" and didn't like that it displayed to everyone that I was online. I'm not surprised that the district would put this site in the blocked category, but it's such a useful tool when used properly. (I could see classroom discussions with this format - if the entire 8th grade is reading a certain book, kids from all teams could discuss it instead of just within a single classroom.)
The Traveler IQ game was really fun, but I am terrible at geography. I stuck to the US game and only made it to level 4 with an IQ of 97. It's hard to get too precise when you are trying to click so fast, and those eastern states are all so close together! (Excuses, excuses!)
Another great trivia toy I've found is FunTrivia.com. You can set up daily tournaments for a group of people here.
I was most interested and excited about the organizational sites, so I checked out Backpack, Zoho, and Wufoo. Many of these sites are geared for businesses, but I thought it could also work perfectly for our family. A shared calendar and centralized place for a "to do" list is exactly what we need! Wufoo wasn't what I was looking for at all - it's more of a forms generator. Zoho looked okay... lots to offer in the way of online collaboration but I didn't find a calendar function. (But it does look like they could give MS Office and also Google Docs a run for their money.)
Backpack, on the other hands, was AMAZING. There is a clear reason that it won first place in this category. After watching 4 or 5 of the tutorials, browsing through screenshots, and getting downright giddy about this gold mine I decided to sign up for an account. I was crushed! It's not all free!!!!! There is a free option that allows you to create shared pages (to-do lists, upload files, etc.) but you don't get the calendar with the free account. The cheapest paid plan is $7 a month.
There are several uses for this tool in a library. The calendar is good enough that I would use it to schedule classes. Teachers would have the ability to write detailed notes about what they need, upload relevant handouts, and I could automatically send reminders. I'm not sure how we could/would limit the amount of classes since I can't play around with the calendar for free. Within a library staff, we could create working to-do lists and store shared documents that we all need access to.
In my despair, I registered at Zoho. It does look impressive, but without the calendar option I don't think I'd use it as an organizer.
I am part of the ASD Librarians Ning that Ann created, but I hadn't visited it in ages. I A) found it again, and then B) signed in and poked around for a while. Someone left a comment for me in October 2007 that I just saw (oops!) but in my defense I have been on a leave of absence, right? I was a little surprised to see the top ad that said "Pimp Your Profile" and didn't like that it displayed to everyone that I was online. I'm not surprised that the district would put this site in the blocked category, but it's such a useful tool when used properly. (I could see classroom discussions with this format - if the entire 8th grade is reading a certain book, kids from all teams could discuss it instead of just within a single classroom.)
The Traveler IQ game was really fun, but I am terrible at geography. I stuck to the US game and only made it to level 4 with an IQ of 97. It's hard to get too precise when you are trying to click so fast, and those eastern states are all so close together! (Excuses, excuses!)
Another great trivia toy I've found is FunTrivia.com. You can set up daily tournaments for a group of people here.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Week 5/Thing 10: Image Generators
Why didn't someone warn me that this assignment would give me nightmares?!
This is from the computer science department at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. According to the site: "You can use the Perception Laboratory's Face Transformer to change the age, race or sex of a facial image, to transform it to the style of a famous artist, to make an exagerated caricature or even make an ape of yourself!"
(I was a little put off by the spelling errors, but it does seem to be a legitimate link on the university's main site. At any rate, here is the link: http://morph.cs.st-andrews.ac.uk/Transformer/ )
Here is my original picture and normal self:
Here is my transformation into a male:
(Yes, I am scared!!!!!!)
Here is my transformation into the subject of an Amedeo Modigliani painting:
I actually think this option (to morph yourself into the subject of a famous painter) is a really cool avatar option.
The site does allow you to become a real Manga cartoon if you wish to create a more traditional avatar, but I wasn't as impressed (or maybe I just wasn't flattered... ha!)
This is from the computer science department at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. According to the site: "You can use the Perception Laboratory's Face Transformer to change the age, race or sex of a facial image, to transform it to the style of a famous artist, to make an exagerated caricature or even make an ape of yourself!"
(I was a little put off by the spelling errors, but it does seem to be a legitimate link on the university's main site. At any rate, here is the link: http://morph.cs.st-andrews.ac.uk/Transformer/ )
Here is my original picture and normal self:
Here is my transformation into a male:
(Yes, I am scared!!!!!!)
Here is my transformation into the subject of an Amedeo Modigliani painting:
I actually think this option (to morph yourself into the subject of a famous painter) is a really cool avatar option.
The site does allow you to become a real Manga cartoon if you wish to create a more traditional avatar, but I wasn't as impressed (or maybe I just wasn't flattered... ha!)
That's all I saved for now, as the other images were quite frankly too disturbing to share!
I also played around with the License Plate Creator on the Generator Blog (there are soooo many fun things on that blog!)
Overall, I would have to say that this was a 
(That was made at http://wigflip.com/screedbot/)
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Week 4/Thing 9: Part 2
I just found a bunch of RSS Feeds produced by the Alaska State Library - good stuff! They are available here.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Week 4/Thing 9: Blog Searches
I have spent (dare I say "wasted" with no offense to this course - it's my own fault!) the past few hours clicking in circles on my laptop. I really should have stuck to the recommended feed locaters, because I ended up finding some pretty awful stuff! It all started innocently enough at Blogdigger (which looks a lot like Google) and I was intrigued by their "local" search. "How many people in Anchorage are blogging?" I wondered. Well, according to Blogdigger, the only Anchorage bloggers are actually in Kentucky. So I went to the real Google and typed a few key words and suddenly there were over a million hits. (Obviously I didn't type enough key words!) I ended up at http://www.ringsurf.com/ring/alaskablogs/ and - voila! - I can read the rants of countless Alaskan scribes. They ranged from folks posting amazing photography to the chronicles of Baby Kira's every new accomplishment. My favorite title was "Bicycles and Icicles: a blog about riding bikes in Alaska."
I must say, the whole blog thing is a little odd to me. I'm surprised at how many people have their online journals exposed to the entire world. I can see wanting to share with friends or family, but the public at large is another thing. If someone is trying to make a living doing it, or is an aspiring writer, or is putting together some sort of public service... that all makes sense. I remember the story about the lady who is now a rich and famous blogger/author because of her post selling a used baseball on eBay. (And yes, I found her blog too and it can be read here: Because I Said So!) But folks in those categories seem to be a very, very small percentage of the bloggers out there.
I think it must all be somehow related to the swift shift we are making to online communities, in addition to (please don't let it be in place of) real life communities. I guess blogs are an important part of the online world and a way for people to meet and get to know one another. In reality, I'm a little overwhelmed at keeping up with my fleshy friends that I don't think I'll spend too much time reading personal blogs just yet. (Tonight being the exception!) I think I'll limit my Google Reader to the professional development sites and news feeds for now.
Okay... that's it... no more blogs for me tonight!
I must say, the whole blog thing is a little odd to me. I'm surprised at how many people have their online journals exposed to the entire world. I can see wanting to share with friends or family, but the public at large is another thing. If someone is trying to make a living doing it, or is an aspiring writer, or is putting together some sort of public service... that all makes sense. I remember the story about the lady who is now a rich and famous blogger/author because of her post selling a used baseball on eBay. (And yes, I found her blog too and it can be read here: Because I Said So!) But folks in those categories seem to be a very, very small percentage of the bloggers out there.
I think it must all be somehow related to the swift shift we are making to online communities, in addition to (please don't let it be in place of) real life communities. I guess blogs are an important part of the online world and a way for people to meet and get to know one another. In reality, I'm a little overwhelmed at keeping up with my fleshy friends that I don't think I'll spend too much time reading personal blogs just yet. (Tonight being the exception!) I think I'll limit my Google Reader to the professional development sites and news feeds for now.
Okay... that's it... no more blogs for me tonight!
Friday, June 13, 2008
Week 4/Thing 8: RSS
Wow - they don't call RSS "really simple" for nothin'! I've seen the icon and heard of the acronym, but never once gave it an ounce of brain power... not even to wonder what it was. Now I'm so glad that I know! I loved the Blip TV video (I watched his clip about wikis too - very well done!) and found it so easy to get my own reader set up. I looked at Bloglines, but ultimately decided to go with the Google Reader since I already have a Google account. Maybe it isn't wise to put all my eggs in one electronic basket... but if the point of all this is to save time, then I'd prefer to keep things as consolidated as possible.
I can't even tell you how many times I've stumbled across a blog and thought "hmmm... I should check this out more regularly" only to forget about it, lose the address, or run out of time. It's so easy to add and delete subscriptions to the Google Reader that I can use this tool to preview and explore various sources, and hopefully within time I will have a manageable list (ha!) of favorites. It's crazy to see all the things you can subscribe to... from blogs to news services to Flickr tags! Amazing!
To view my public Google Reader page, click here.
I'm sure it will be in a constant state of change, but at least I have one now. I'm very grateful to have learned about this tool... thanks!
I can't even tell you how many times I've stumbled across a blog and thought "hmmm... I should check this out more regularly" only to forget about it, lose the address, or run out of time. It's so easy to add and delete subscriptions to the Google Reader that I can use this tool to preview and explore various sources, and hopefully within time I will have a manageable list (ha!) of favorites. It's crazy to see all the things you can subscribe to... from blogs to news services to Flickr tags! Amazing!
To view my public Google Reader page, click here.
I'm sure it will be in a constant state of change, but at least I have one now. I'm very grateful to have learned about this tool... thanks!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Week 3/Thing 7: Thoughts About Technology
As with everything in life, I think the important thing about technology is to find a sense of balance. To recognize the good and bad, and use it accordingly. Three examples...
Information vs. misinformation: I love how the Internet gives us many alternatives to the traditional network news, and especially hope it will be a catalyst for change in parts of the world with oppressive governments. Knowledge is power (eventually), right? But I detest all the mistakes and outright lies that float around out there too. So many people think printed words (even on a screen) = truth. If only snopes.com was a prerequisite to sending (or should I saw forwarding) an e-mail... there would be a lot less hatred in the world. (Not to go all political, but if I get one more e-mail about Barack Obama being a terrorist I am going to go through the roof!!!!)
Time saved vs. time wasted: It would take me weeks to create a comprehensive list of all the things we do online that save us time: banking, renewing library books, looking up phone numbers, creating maps, printing postage... you get the idea. But it's also true that a person can waste inordinate amounts of time online as well. I participate in a forum with thousands of mothers from all around the world; I learn a lot from this resource, but it's easy to get caught up reading debate threads that really serve no purpose. I may as well be reading the Enquirer! The time it takes to keep current with technology is also an issue for me. Case in point: yesterday I literally spent hours trying to convert text into readable graphic headers to upload to a web page. Hours. And NO... I didn't figure it out yet!!!!!!!
Reconnecting vs. Disconnecting. I cannot image living this far from my family if it wasn't for a digital camera and e-mail. Just think... I'd call my parents and say, "Great news! We just had the baby! I'll take the film to a one-hour photo lab and hopefully you'll get the prints by next Monday!" As if it isn't hard enough... geesh! Even sharing video clips has become a breeze thanks to YouTube, Photobucket, Google, and countless other hosting services. WebCams give you live contact, even from thousands of miles away. It's baffling! On the other hand, you hear nightmare stories of marriages falling apart because of online affairs. Or people disappearing into Second Life and forgetting they have a first one. Technology can be a bit intrusive... laptops in the living room, cell phones on the hip, pagers in the pocket... no wonder it's so hard for people to find uninterrupted time with the live people who mean the most!
So there's my ramble. I came here thinking I'd post about web development stuff (finding a host, software, etc.) but I am feeling so disgusted with myself for wasting an entire day trying to make an appealing heading for a web page I'm building (why can't I just be happy with the "web safe" fonts???) that this is what came out instead. I guess I needed to reassure myself that technology is a good thing, too!
Information vs. misinformation: I love how the Internet gives us many alternatives to the traditional network news, and especially hope it will be a catalyst for change in parts of the world with oppressive governments. Knowledge is power (eventually), right? But I detest all the mistakes and outright lies that float around out there too. So many people think printed words (even on a screen) = truth. If only snopes.com was a prerequisite to sending (or should I saw forwarding) an e-mail... there would be a lot less hatred in the world. (Not to go all political, but if I get one more e-mail about Barack Obama being a terrorist I am going to go through the roof!!!!)
Time saved vs. time wasted: It would take me weeks to create a comprehensive list of all the things we do online that save us time: banking, renewing library books, looking up phone numbers, creating maps, printing postage... you get the idea. But it's also true that a person can waste inordinate amounts of time online as well. I participate in a forum with thousands of mothers from all around the world; I learn a lot from this resource, but it's easy to get caught up reading debate threads that really serve no purpose. I may as well be reading the Enquirer! The time it takes to keep current with technology is also an issue for me. Case in point: yesterday I literally spent hours trying to convert text into readable graphic headers to upload to a web page. Hours. And NO... I didn't figure it out yet!!!!!!!
Reconnecting vs. Disconnecting. I cannot image living this far from my family if it wasn't for a digital camera and e-mail. Just think... I'd call my parents and say, "Great news! We just had the baby! I'll take the film to a one-hour photo lab and hopefully you'll get the prints by next Monday!" As if it isn't hard enough... geesh! Even sharing video clips has become a breeze thanks to YouTube, Photobucket, Google, and countless other hosting services. WebCams give you live contact, even from thousands of miles away. It's baffling! On the other hand, you hear nightmare stories of marriages falling apart because of online affairs. Or people disappearing into Second Life and forgetting they have a first one. Technology can be a bit intrusive... laptops in the living room, cell phones on the hip, pagers in the pocket... no wonder it's so hard for people to find uninterrupted time with the live people who mean the most!
So there's my ramble. I came here thinking I'd post about web development stuff (finding a host, software, etc.) but I am feeling so disgusted with myself for wasting an entire day trying to make an appealing heading for a web page I'm building (why can't I just be happy with the "web safe" fonts???) that this is what came out instead. I guess I needed to reassure myself that technology is a good thing, too!
Monday, June 9, 2008
Week 3/Thing 6: Fun With Flickr
The tools were fun! It doesn't seem like you need a Flickr account to use most of them... I just uploaded existing images from my hard drive straight to the Big Huge Labs web site and went from there. I really wanted to make a montage, but I didn't have the patience to upload that many pictures right now. I successfully made a jigsaw puzzle and even considered ordering one as a gift for my puzzle-loving mother-in-law... until I saw that they charge $40 for a 252 piece puzzle. Yowser!
What I did complete instead is a new header for this blog (see above) with the tool at Big Huge Labs. I used the picture I took for the Thing 5 assignment. The only problem was the header text was not legible in front of the photo (no matter what color I changed it to) so I had to tweak the picture a bit in my favorite photo editing application, Paint Shop Pro. I cropped out the funky edges and added a text box with white background that had my blog title. Voila! I like it much better!
There were lots of new terms for me in this assignment: API's, mashups... I am so glad I am taking this course!
Further thoughts on Flickr: I like it as a tool for research, enjoy its fun extras, and can see how some enjoy the community. I really like the map feature - what a fabulous resource when you're planning a vacation! But when it comes to storing, organizing, and sharing my images I still prefer Ofoto. I'm not comfortable with the public share feature of Flickr (although I know it can be set to private). There are so many tools that make it easy to enhance digital photos and turn them into amazing projects - and it seems like you can use them with or without a Flickr account. I noticed that Big Huge Labs has tabs for Photobucket users as well, which I've used for years. I'd say I will use Flickr more as a result of this class, but probably won't be transferring my own pix to their site.
What I did complete instead is a new header for this blog (see above) with the tool at Big Huge Labs. I used the picture I took for the Thing 5 assignment. The only problem was the header text was not legible in front of the photo (no matter what color I changed it to) so I had to tweak the picture a bit in my favorite photo editing application, Paint Shop Pro. I cropped out the funky edges and added a text box with white background that had my blog title. Voila! I like it much better!
There were lots of new terms for me in this assignment: API's, mashups... I am so glad I am taking this course!
Further thoughts on Flickr: I like it as a tool for research, enjoy its fun extras, and can see how some enjoy the community. I really like the map feature - what a fabulous resource when you're planning a vacation! But when it comes to storing, organizing, and sharing my images I still prefer Ofoto. I'm not comfortable with the public share feature of Flickr (although I know it can be set to private). There are so many tools that make it easy to enhance digital photos and turn them into amazing projects - and it seems like you can use them with or without a Flickr account. I noticed that Big Huge Labs has tabs for Photobucket users as well, which I've used for years. I'd say I will use Flickr more as a result of this class, but probably won't be transferring my own pix to their site.
Week 3/Thing 5: Exploring Flickr
Since the entire Clark Middle School library is living in boxes for a few years, I took a snapshot of our personal library instead. (Well, a portion of it anyway!) This is the current rotation that's housed in our living room and contains most of the current favorite bedtime stories. Life is good!
I uploaded this image via Flickr using the "blog this" button and it was easy enough. I didn't have an updated Yahoo Flickr account until now, but was vaguely familiar with the site because I have friends who post and share photos there.
I have to be honest: I am not a Flickr fan! I think my brain is too linear for it or something... I am really more of an Ofoto gal. (Okay, Kodak Gallery... but I still think of the site by its original name!) I don't think Ofoto qualifies as a Web 2.0 tool so I must be old-school at the ripe old age of 36!
I will say that I like the "search" function at Flickr. It's pretty slick to be able to search for photos with the tags. I often use the site when I'm looking for ideas... for example, if I'm baking my darling boy a train birthday cake, then I like to use Flickr for ideas of what other people created. It's also very "smart" software, automatically importing the camera you used, date you took the photo, date you uploaded it, etc. Almost scary.
I'm just not crazy about the organization and share tools. Maybe it's just that I'm not as familiar with it, but I really prefer the "albums" I can create on Ofoto as opposed to the photostreams, sets, batches, etc. on Flickr. When friends and family share slideshows from Snapfish or Ofoto I prefer those to viewing on Flickr as well... go figure!
If someone can point out what I'm missing, just let me know. Maybe I'll become a convert when I move on to Thing #6!
I uploaded this image via Flickr using the "blog this" button and it was easy enough. I didn't have an updated Yahoo Flickr account until now, but was vaguely familiar with the site because I have friends who post and share photos there.
I have to be honest: I am not a Flickr fan! I think my brain is too linear for it or something... I am really more of an Ofoto gal. (Okay, Kodak Gallery... but I still think of the site by its original name!) I don't think Ofoto qualifies as a Web 2.0 tool so I must be old-school at the ripe old age of 36!
I will say that I like the "search" function at Flickr. It's pretty slick to be able to search for photos with the tags. I often use the site when I'm looking for ideas... for example, if I'm baking my darling boy a train birthday cake, then I like to use Flickr for ideas of what other people created. It's also very "smart" software, automatically importing the camera you used, date you took the photo, date you uploaded it, etc. Almost scary.
I'm just not crazy about the organization and share tools. Maybe it's just that I'm not as familiar with it, but I really prefer the "albums" I can create on Ofoto as opposed to the photostreams, sets, batches, etc. on Flickr. When friends and family share slideshows from Snapfish or Ofoto I prefer those to viewing on Flickr as well... go figure!
If someone can point out what I'm missing, just let me know. Maybe I'll become a convert when I move on to Thing #6!
Friday, May 30, 2008
Week 2/Thing 3
Okay... blog is up and functioning, and the avatar worked! Hooray and thanks for the great instructions.
I actually started a blog once before, but did not keep up with the posts. (Which is proof of my previous post about wanting things to be too perfect... I kept revising my entries rather than publishing them, and as a result nothing got uploaded! This time I'm just hitting the "publish post" button and won't look back!)
This was my first time creating an avatar. I never quite "got" that trend and have always preferred to use a real photo rather than a graphical representation of myself. I must admit it was kind of fun to create this oh-so-thin-and-attractive rendition of myself! I was disappointed that the "extras" didn't have more options - I would have liked to put both of our kiddos outside of the library with me, but ah well. I'll just pretend Sam is at preschool! :)
I actually started a blog once before, but did not keep up with the posts. (Which is proof of my previous post about wanting things to be too perfect... I kept revising my entries rather than publishing them, and as a result nothing got uploaded! This time I'm just hitting the "publish post" button and won't look back!)
This was my first time creating an avatar. I never quite "got" that trend and have always preferred to use a real photo rather than a graphical representation of myself. I must admit it was kind of fun to create this oh-so-thin-and-attractive rendition of myself! I was disappointed that the "extras" didn't have more options - I would have liked to put both of our kiddos outside of the library with me, but ah well. I'll just pretend Sam is at preschool! :)
Week 1/Thing 2
I'm just getting started and anxious to get this first post up so I can see what the blog layout/template will look like with some content! I skimmed through some of the course content and am excited to get moving, as I've been wanting to explore many of these Web 2.0 tools for personal use anyway. This class will help me justify "playing around" on the computer for the next few weeks! :)
I viewed the 7 1/2 Habits tutorial this afternoon. I would say that I am best at Habit #5, "Creating a Learning Toolbox." This is not necessarily a good thing! I am a definite planner and sometimes get so caught up in my preparations that I don't focus enough on the end goal. I enjoy the research phase of any problem, and this phase often seems to drag out too long and as a result the actual learning/accomplishment phase is often delayed. I am probably worst at Habit #1, "Begin with the End in Mind." I would say that I *do* think of the end goal, but my standards are high and I can be too much of a perfectionist. I think it would be better if I would think of mini-steps that are necessary to achieve my goals, rather than feeling like everything must be immediately flawless. Learning is a process, and I need to remember that!
It was interesting to see the final habit, play, brought up in an adult learning context. I am a strong believer in play-based learning for children, but had never thought of it as a method in which I still learn myself. Upon reflection, however, it is true! Take technology: when I'm playing around building web pages or editing digital photographs, it feels like unproductive "me time." In reality, I learn a lot while doing these activities!
I viewed the 7 1/2 Habits tutorial this afternoon. I would say that I am best at Habit #5, "Creating a Learning Toolbox." This is not necessarily a good thing! I am a definite planner and sometimes get so caught up in my preparations that I don't focus enough on the end goal. I enjoy the research phase of any problem, and this phase often seems to drag out too long and as a result the actual learning/accomplishment phase is often delayed. I am probably worst at Habit #1, "Begin with the End in Mind." I would say that I *do* think of the end goal, but my standards are high and I can be too much of a perfectionist. I think it would be better if I would think of mini-steps that are necessary to achieve my goals, rather than feeling like everything must be immediately flawless. Learning is a process, and I need to remember that!
It was interesting to see the final habit, play, brought up in an adult learning context. I am a strong believer in play-based learning for children, but had never thought of it as a method in which I still learn myself. Upon reflection, however, it is true! Take technology: when I'm playing around building web pages or editing digital photographs, it feels like unproductive "me time." In reality, I learn a lot while doing these activities!
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