#14 (Week 6)

This is the thing where we are supposed to learn about Technorati, tagging, and seo. You can see from how long ago my last post was, that I am having some difficulty with this. I have attempted to begin several times but Technorati (I am signed up) doesn't seem to be a tool that would help me. Perhaps I just need to come back another time, but I am going to move on.

On another note, signing up for Google Reader and using that as a vehicle to get information has proved invaluable. I cannot now imagine living without it. I am also really seeing many applications for blogs in my teaching and in running the library media center as well as delivering professional development. At this time, all blogs and social networking sites are blocked in my district. At the very least, making exceptions to this rule will have to be my first goal for the school year.

#13 (Week 6)

Okay... I now have a Del.icio.us account and I am going to try to use it. I've added several sites and we shall see how it goes. I have always been able to pare down my bookmarks on my school and home computers because I am a natural declutterer (wonder if that is really a word :) so I haven't really felt the need for a bookmark tool such as Del.icio.us, but I am happy to be learning more about it!

I still have lots to learn about the site and looked at the help menu. I have to say that I am a fan of the help offerings on the Google sites but not so much of the Yahoo sites. I think I will check out some of the YouTube videos about using Delicious effectively.

#12 (Week 5)

What a find!! I knew about Wordle and would like to see how others are using it but I never knew about the ALA read posters! I have been creating my own version in my library for several years (I take the photos of the students during our monthly DEAR time). Here is one I created with the ALA tool with a photo I had of myself.

I have been using FreeRice as well. I have a link to it on our library homepage and when teachers are in the library media center with their classes, they sometimes offer it as an option for students who have completed the assigned task.

I created this wordle from the Ohio Guidelines for Effective School Library Media Programs.


I'm looking forward to learning more about tagging which is up next!

#11 (Week 5)

I chose to explore Google Docs which is one of the CNET Web 2.0 Award Winners in the productivity category.
I like what I can do in Google Docs, specifically the idea of creating a presentation in Google Docs and then imbedding it in either a blog or School Fusion which I use at my school. The help menu for Google Docs is well organized and extensive, as well as being easy to understand and right to the point.
I am going to continue with my School Library Learning 2.0 activities but will be coming back to Google Docs to update my sixth grade orientation.

#10 (Week 5)

I looked at the Generator blog and loved Supalogo... so easy to use. Just write in your sentence or phrase and you can either get the html code or the link to the image! I also looked at Flikr Toys which I had tried in an earlier discocvery exercise and really liked. I tried even more of the generators this time. I made the image above with Comic Strip Generator which was a real find. What a wonderful tool for fun, motivating images! I had actually used the ReadWriteThink comic strip generator with students and had suggested it to teachers.

#9 (Week 4)

I can't say enough about CSLA and School Library Learning 2.0!

The suggestions for this thing (#9) were amazing! Google Blog Search, Blog Pulse, and Edublogs award winning sites were my favorites.

#8 (Week 4)

Okay after about a day and a half I have come so far in my ability to use a reader. I must be honest and say that at first I was so disillusioned that I wanted only to learn enough to understand about this technology, and then to not use it for myself. Now, after much learning, I am willing to dedicate daily time to this endeavor.

#7 (Week 3)

I am finding Blogger so valuable to work with. Perhaps it is because I am using it every day as I try to complete the 23 things and have an opportunity to practice and problem solve. For instance, today I figured out that even if "Edit Posts" doesn't look like a link, it is and you can click on it. Saved me lots of time!

#6 (Week 3)

I am glad it is summer and I have the time to explore the mashups and 3rd party tools that work with Flickr. I have been looking at Big Huge Labs and have tried lots of the applications. I really like the billboard, inspiration, and pop art tools and can see many applications for the middle school library.

#5 (Week 3)

OK... I have begun to explore Flikr. I found this incredible group of photos of library displays. I love the idea of sharing ideas for library displays!



And then I found this collection of posters from the 60s... very retro.

#4 (Week 2)

I just registered with the CSLA. Since I am not a member, I'm not sure what registering means, but I am looking forward to finding out.

#3 (Week 2)

Well, I have set up my blog and called it In Every Book and Cranny. Book and Cranny, Every Book and Cranny, and so many other names were already taken!
I have also included an avatar which, although time consuming, was lots of fun.

#2 (Week 1)

The 7 and 1/2 Habits tutorial was great! What a wonderful tool.
I have put the 7 and 1/2 habits in order from easy to not so easy (for me):

1. Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner
2. Accept responsibility for your own learning
3. Begin with the end in mind
4. Teach/mentor others
5. Use technology to your advantage
6. Create your own learning toolbox
7. Play
8. View problems as challenges

The reason "play" is so low on the list is that sometimes I think I don't give myself permission to really take time to explore. And I love the idea of viewing problems as challenges... it might be a good phrase to post in my office!

The learning contract was a really good idea... a much more organized "to do" list. I am listing it here as it was presented in the tutorial:

1. Goal
2. Obstacles (and how you will overcome them)
3. Toolbox (make a checklist and then check items off as you obtain them)
4. Resources for help
5. Path to goal (task list of target dates for all the steps)
6. Check-in (how often contract is updated)
7. Sign it!

#1 (Week 1)

I love the way this course is set up! I can work at my own pace, spend more time on the topics that I feel are important, yet try everything. I think this will be a really effective way to learn this content. I wonder what other content could be presented in this manor for professional development in my school. We might even be able to work together as school librarians in my district to present professional development for classroom teachers using this format.