Thursday, March 27, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Let's Mush All Our Patrons
This YouTube video, entitled The Haunted Librarian is compliments of The Loopy Librarian, one of the blogs I found while immersed in Library2Play.
Thanks to Library2Play I now know how to embed videos into my blog.
Today was the "Laptop Rollout" - the day when every teacher got their very own laptop. Being teachers some spent the day turning mountains into molehills.
By the end of the day I would have happily substituted some of them for hapless patron in this video.
Thanks to Library2Play I now know how to embed videos into my blog.
Today was the "Laptop Rollout" - the day when every teacher got their very own laptop. Being teachers some spent the day turning mountains into molehills.
By the end of the day I would have happily substituted some of them for hapless patron in this video.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Library2Play Thing #23 - THE END
Hey, this is my 500th Blog Post - somehow that seems fitting.
It's 10:55 and I'm on Thing #23. I don't have to pull an all-nighter after all. Which is good, I don't think I can recover from an all nighter quite as quickly as I could 30 years ago! I bet there are several sleepy librarians at the meeting tomorrow afternoon!
Let's see, I did the survey - hope the results made it up - the server appears to be on overload. I think I'm not the only last minute librarian out there.
Questions, gotta answer the questions.........
What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?
Loved GoogleReader, Library Thing would be number one with a bullet if I'd let it. I already knew about blogs so I can't say I discovered them here but I love em'. Web 2.0 award sites - so many tools and gizmos and gadgets. . Wikis are great and everyone I show them too agrees. Both my blog and my desktop have lots of new widgets.
How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?
Made it easy - gave me lots of new tools to explore and I'm looking forward to spending more time with them and getting to know them in dept.
Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
How little I knew about Web 2.0 had to offer (yes Dr. B you get to say "I told you so!) and how very much I learned, despite having debuted a blog in 2004. .
What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?
Very overwhelming - lots of information to absorb. Of course, part of this is my own fault for doing half of the 23 things on the weekend before it was due. It's hard to squeeze it in during the regular work week.
If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you choose to participate?
Yes, Yes, Yes!
How would you describe your learning experience in ONE WORD or in ONE SENTENCE, so we could use your words to promote 23 Things learning activities?
Learn to play with the Digital Natives.
Off to comment.........
It's 10:55 and I'm on Thing #23. I don't have to pull an all-nighter after all. Which is good, I don't think I can recover from an all nighter quite as quickly as I could 30 years ago! I bet there are several sleepy librarians at the meeting tomorrow afternoon!
Let's see, I did the survey - hope the results made it up - the server appears to be on overload. I think I'm not the only last minute librarian out there.
Questions, gotta answer the questions.........
What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?
Loved GoogleReader, Library Thing would be number one with a bullet if I'd let it. I already knew about blogs so I can't say I discovered them here but I love em'. Web 2.0 award sites - so many tools and gizmos and gadgets. . Wikis are great and everyone I show them too agrees. Both my blog and my desktop have lots of new widgets.
How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?
Made it easy - gave me lots of new tools to explore and I'm looking forward to spending more time with them and getting to know them in dept.
Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
How little I knew about Web 2.0 had to offer (yes Dr. B you get to say "I told you so!) and how very much I learned, despite having debuted a blog in 2004. .
What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?
Very overwhelming - lots of information to absorb. Of course, part of this is my own fault for doing half of the 23 things on the weekend before it was due. It's hard to squeeze it in during the regular work week.
If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you choose to participate?
Yes, Yes, Yes!
How would you describe your learning experience in ONE WORD or in ONE SENTENCE, so we could use your words to promote 23 Things learning activities?
Learn to play with the Digital Natives.
Off to comment.........
Library2Play Thing # 21 PodCasts
I've been jumping and skipping around in Library2Play and I've left this one for last. It's deliberate.
I don't like podcasts. I am very much the visual and kinetic learner and can't keep my mind focused on a podcast long enough to absorb the information.
I'm a very fast reader and I can glean what I need in half the time it takes for me to master the skill orally. I do the bulk of my web surfing and on line learning sitting along side My Beloved while she watches TV (Sports R Us). Podcasts result in noise overload.
I adore Audio Books, as in books on CD but all my audio books are of books I've already read in print form. There is nothing better than an audio book to pass the time during a long car trip.
PhotoStory, on the other hand is a totally different story! Simple, fun and best of all EASY. I'm all for Easy, especially if it's something I'm thinking of doing with the G/T kids. They are going to adore this. Kids are such visual creatures. I'm also going to show this to our Science SIS - the kids can document their science projects next year and then import the pictures into Photostory.
Blogger is not being my friend tonight and refuses to upload my Photostory!
Will try again tomorrow. Because, as Scarlett says "Tomorrow is another day".
And tomorrow had will once again be another day...seems Blogger is still not my friend.
Once again channeling Scarlett......
I don't like podcasts. I am very much the visual and kinetic learner and can't keep my mind focused on a podcast long enough to absorb the information.
I'm a very fast reader and I can glean what I need in half the time it takes for me to master the skill orally. I do the bulk of my web surfing and on line learning sitting along side My Beloved while she watches TV (Sports R Us). Podcasts result in noise overload.
I adore Audio Books, as in books on CD but all my audio books are of books I've already read in print form. There is nothing better than an audio book to pass the time during a long car trip.
PhotoStory, on the other hand is a totally different story! Simple, fun and best of all EASY. I'm all for Easy, especially if it's something I'm thinking of doing with the G/T kids. They are going to adore this. Kids are such visual creatures. I'm also going to show this to our Science SIS - the kids can document their science projects next year and then import the pictures into Photostory.
Blogger is not being my friend tonight and refuses to upload my Photostory!
Will try again tomorrow. Because, as Scarlett says "Tomorrow is another day".
And tomorrow had will once again be another day...seems Blogger is still not my friend.
Once again channeling Scarlett......
Library2Play Thing # 12 Rollyo
Rollyo this is one slick discovery! I promptly created a "book prices" search engine. Now when I'm looking for comps I only need to type the title in once.
I've been more focused on personal use than school use this weekend - guess it's because I'm on Spring Break (which ends tomorrow - weep, weep).
Rollyo is made for school librarians and teachers. It's Google with limits or Yahoo with boundaries. Preselect the sites, create a Rollyo search engine and let the kids have at it.
Considering how poorly our students type and spell this will be a tremendous time saver.
Just as so many of the other Web 2.0 tools I've explored, Rollyo is very strong in political, news and celebrity searches. I had the option of adding an Angelina Jolie search to my home page. I should run a search - I might find out just who Anglina Jolie is!
I am amazed at how many tools have sprung up to tame the beast that is the World Wide Web.
I've been more focused on personal use than school use this weekend - guess it's because I'm on Spring Break (which ends tomorrow - weep, weep).
Rollyo is made for school librarians and teachers. It's Google with limits or Yahoo with boundaries. Preselect the sites, create a Rollyo search engine and let the kids have at it.
Considering how poorly our students type and spell this will be a tremendous time saver.
Just as so many of the other Web 2.0 tools I've explored, Rollyo is very strong in political, news and celebrity searches. I had the option of adding an Angelina Jolie search to my home page. I should run a search - I might find out just who Anglina Jolie is!
I am amazed at how many tools have sprung up to tame the beast that is the World Wide Web.
Library2Play Thing #10 On Line Image Generators
I've always added graphics to my blog posts - I think they make a blog visually attractive and eye catching. However, I am by nature not an Image alterator. I hit google images, find an appropriate picture, D/L it, U/L and I'm done. When it goes to images I'm a " Wham, bamm, thank you ma'm" kind of girl.
I've been very good throughout this adventure but the end is almost here & I'm punchy so I couldn't resist!
I've been very good throughout this adventure but the end is almost here & I'm punchy so I couldn't resist!
My blogging kids are going to ADORE Cartoon Strip Generator. Best of all it doesn't require an e-mail address. I promise not to show them this cartoon! Whoo-Hoo it's only Sunday & I already have a lesson in place for my ASP group on Thursday!
I don' t think I'd better turn them loose with Custom Sign Generator - some of the sites look a bit risque. They will like Smiley Generator - much of the humor on that site appears to be aimed at 5th grader. .
Maybe these will take their mind off of "Scary videos" and "Funny videos". I can only hope.
Library2Play Thing #22 Nings
Oh My Goodness! I cruise on over to the Texas School Librarians Ning and who do I see staring back at me but my very favorite cataloger and award winning blogger!
I've read about Nings but they really must be seen to be understood. The Texas School Librarian Ning appears to be a mashup of youtube videos, a couple of wikis, assorted blogs, some forums, a few yahoo groups and LM_NET. It really is LM_NET with graphics and ads. I wonder if it's moderated as LM_NET is?
Of course I joined. Not that I need yet another Web distraction but I couldn't resist. I also found yet another blog to add to my google reader. Information overload, here I come!
Library2Play Thing #13 Del.icio.us
Del.icio.us is fun - I imported all my own bookmarks. I now need to give some thought to setting up a school account and seeing if I can import the Ikeepbookmarks.com bookmarks. That site, while very useful can also be very, very, very slooooooooowwwww to load.
I discovered Del.icio.us has a blog and via it I found a widget for my iphone.
One bit of Lagniappe from Library2Play are the Common Craft Guy videos. They have a knack for explaining the web for us ordinary folks. Of course I got distracted on their site and now I understand Twitter. I'm not sure I want to do it, but at least I can grasp it.
Saving bookmarks is duck soup - way more intuitive than doing so on IkeepBookmarks.
Delightful new toy!
I discovered Del.icio.us has a blog and via it I found a widget for my iphone.
One bit of Lagniappe from Library2Play are the Common Craft Guy videos. They have a knack for explaining the web for us ordinary folks. Of course I got distracted on their site and now I understand Twitter. I'm not sure I want to do it, but at least I can grasp it.
Saving bookmarks is duck soup - way more intuitive than doing so on IkeepBookmarks.
Delightful new toy!
Library2Play Thing #20 - You Tube & Teacher Tube pt.2
You Tube is blocked at school. My enterprising lunch bunch figured a way around the filters. They weren't being malicious or searching for porn, they just wanted to watch "scary videos" and "funny videos".
One thing typed "Funny Videos" into Google Search and they were off and running. They proudly showed me their results, most of which I thought were unbelievably stupid. I let it go for a couple of weeks and then gave them some alternative suggestions. Kids tend to do something over and over and over and over again till every adult around them is heartily sick of it.
TeacherTube isn't blocked (at least not now!) but when it comes to using the Web and streaming video as a teaching tool, I much prefer Discovery Education. I can D/L the videos in advance and I'm not caught unawares by an Internet shutdown or slow down.
Last year I learned that during March Madness the district Internet crawls to a standstill. This year I'm prepared!
One thing typed "Funny Videos" into Google Search and they were off and running. They proudly showed me their results, most of which I thought were unbelievably stupid. I let it go for a couple of weeks and then gave them some alternative suggestions. Kids tend to do something over and over and over and over again till every adult around them is heartily sick of it.
TeacherTube isn't blocked (at least not now!) but when it comes to using the Web and streaming video as a teaching tool, I much prefer Discovery Education. I can D/L the videos in advance and I'm not caught unawares by an Internet shutdown or slow down.
Last year I learned that during March Madness the district Internet crawls to a standstill. This year I'm prepared!
Libary2Play Thing #20 You Tube & Teacher Tube
I'm in day 2 of my 48 Library2Play marathon (feel like I'm back in college again and wonder if an all nighter is in my future) I am very much over libraries and earnest statements about the future of libraries and education.
So, for Thing #20 - You Tube I explored American Apparel, the company my Web 2.0 daughter works work. An aside, the web is made for us hyperactive types with short attention spans! Bored with one topic? Just jump to another!
I don't think any of the You Tube American Apparel videos are ever going to make it past the school filters. I can certainly understand the appeal of the company to the Digital Immigrants. It's local, it's "Green", it's fashion and advertising bubbleing up from the bottom, as opposed to be imposed from the top. It's the clothing for the Web 2.0 pioneers. In fact I've seen the clothes in some of the videos I've watched for this project!
So, for Thing #20 - You Tube I explored American Apparel, the company my Web 2.0 daughter works work. An aside, the web is made for us hyperactive types with short attention spans! Bored with one topic? Just jump to another!
I don't think any of the You Tube American Apparel videos are ever going to make it past the school filters. I can certainly understand the appeal of the company to the Digital Immigrants. It's local, it's "Green", it's fashion and advertising bubbleing up from the bottom, as opposed to be imposed from the top. It's the clothing for the Web 2.0 pioneers. In fact I've seen the clothes in some of the videos I've watched for this project!
Library2Play Thing #18 -Beyond Microsoft Office
I took a look at Open Office - D/L it takes over an hour.
Do I want to tie up my computer for an hour to D/L a program I don't really need and don't have an incentive to learn?
No, not at the moment. Scuttlebutt says that the district may opt out of Microsoft in the future and go to Open Office as the platform of choice. When that happens I'll teach myself Open Office.
Google Docs is interesting - unlike my Dell PDA, my iphone does not come with a word processing program so I can see some future uses. That is, I can once I get used to typing with my thumbs. I'm still a "pointer"
The concept is downright radical - thumb your nose at the 500 lb Gorilla that is Microsoft and create something free that anyone can use. My 25 year old web designer daughter says Microsoft is the devil and has as little to do with Windows products as possible. She's also a Web2.0 poster child.
The folks at Technorati had the same idea -the people are the ones determining what is newsworthy, not the news media. Similar thought process with Wikipedia. No more expensive reference books, let the people create their own reference books.
Power to the People - the 1960s have returned!
Do I want to tie up my computer for an hour to D/L a program I don't really need and don't have an incentive to learn?
No, not at the moment. Scuttlebutt says that the district may opt out of Microsoft in the future and go to Open Office as the platform of choice. When that happens I'll teach myself Open Office.
Google Docs is interesting - unlike my Dell PDA, my iphone does not come with a word processing program so I can see some future uses. That is, I can once I get used to typing with my thumbs. I'm still a "pointer"
The concept is downright radical - thumb your nose at the 500 lb Gorilla that is Microsoft and create something free that anyone can use. My 25 year old web designer daughter says Microsoft is the devil and has as little to do with Windows products as possible. She's also a Web2.0 poster child.
The folks at Technorati had the same idea -the people are the ones determining what is newsworthy, not the news media. Similar thought process with Wikipedia. No more expensive reference books, let the people create their own reference books.
Power to the People - the 1960s have returned!
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Library2Play Thing #15 The Future of Libraries
I came of age in the pre-internet library. Back when I got my MLS it was in "Library Services" not, Information Technology. The changes have come fast and furious in the past 20 years and I can see them in the school library that I run.I don't buy paper encyclopedias any more - I think it's been over 10 years since I last bought The World Book Gone too are the states books - no more Texas :The Lone Star State or Georgia: Peach Capital to the World. Miguel of Mexico and Christian of Denmark wended their way to the district auction years ago. I buy very few biographies (only on the folks that are a "TEK"). No more "Molly wants to be a Librarian" or "Joey Wants to be a Policeman".
Oddly, when I look at some of the other district libraries and talk to the sales reps I seem to be one of the few that's changed the acquisition policy to reflect the influence of the Web. Many of our libraries still proudly display the 2007 World Book and last month a rep tried to talk me into buying a 50 volume states of America series by telling me a couple of my fellow librarians just purchased it. "Good" I told him, I'll borrow their copies should I ever need them".
The bulk of my non fiction buying falls within the Dewey 500s - the sciences. Kids still want books on dinosaurs, sharks and lions and tigers and bears. There isn't any reason to buy what I once did - all the information the kids need is out there on the net - either for free or in our databases. Long, long ago there great stress was placed on having a "well balanced" collection and having "information on everything'. My collection isn't well balanced at all - in fact it's lopsided. If a sudden need arises for information on a topic that I don't have in book form chances are I'll find more than anyone could ever need on the web.
Thanks to Harry Potter my fiction collection is larger than it's ever been - and it's strong on fantasy and on the series books. Kids still read for pleasure - mostly humorous school stories and fantasy. I know my choices are sound - our reading scores are high as is our ciruclation and I'm constantly lending fiction books to other libraries in my district.
The Houston Public Library is almost finished with a major remodel - within the next month they will unveil the library of the future. I worked in the old buidling back in the early 1980s, and it will be intersting to see the changes.
I'm getting a new library too. My 50+ year old school is one of the schools that is being totally replaced - the infrastructure in the old building is falling apart. As part of this we're getting brand new libraries - 21st century libraries. I want lots of laptops and I want it all wireless. I think I'll have less book shelves and more space for kids to gather and collaborate and cluster around a computer.
I won't be around to much longer once it's built,up and running - at least I hope won't but it's very exciting to be in on the design phase. We do indeed live in interesting times.
Library2Play Thing #14 Technorati
I'm glad one of the "things" is all about Technorati, being it's a "thing" I've meant to take a look at, yet never gotten around to doing so. Actually, I did look at it once - seems I have a sign on (created in August of 2007 that still works but I never followed through. So I'm back for a second look. I did discover that my blog automatically "pings" Tecnorati so I've active with them, even though I thought I wasn't.
The Blogsphere appears to be obsessed with politics and celebrities. Actually, these days they are often one and the same. I'm not especially interested in either. . When I flip through People in the grocery store checkout line I have no clue why the People in People are deemed worthy of being in People. I do know who is running for President, but I'm not and never have been a political animal. I think the insurance industry, the defense contractors and the litigation lawyers are the ones who are really running the country. Once again I am marching to a different drummer. The story of my life.
Tags - I'm supposed to muse on Tags. I'm always forgetting to tag my own posts and given how few hits I found when I searched "tags" for "School Library 2.0" it's safe to say I'm not the only one. I like the idea of tags but the librarian in me wants some sort of standardization. And that is why I suspect subject or phrase searches yield ever so many more hits than tag searches do.
Ways to use Tecnorati in a school setting? Not sure on that one, though it's a wonderful tool for tracking pop culture and the popular thought. Interesting addition to the required reading list for a high school politics and government class. Personally, I'll check it in hopes of figuring out who the People are that People Magazine is talking about!
The Blogsphere appears to be obsessed with politics and celebrities. Actually, these days they are often one and the same. I'm not especially interested in either. . When I flip through People in the grocery store checkout line I have no clue why the People in People are deemed worthy of being in People. I do know who is running for President, but I'm not and never have been a political animal. I think the insurance industry, the defense contractors and the litigation lawyers are the ones who are really running the country. Once again I am marching to a different drummer. The story of my life.
Tags - I'm supposed to muse on Tags. I'm always forgetting to tag my own posts and given how few hits I found when I searched "tags" for "School Library 2.0" it's safe to say I'm not the only one. I like the idea of tags but the librarian in me wants some sort of standardization. And that is why I suspect subject or phrase searches yield ever so many more hits than tag searches do.
Ways to use Tecnorati in a school setting? Not sure on that one, though it's a wonderful tool for tracking pop culture and the popular thought. Interesting addition to the required reading list for a high school politics and government class. Personally, I'll check it in hopes of figuring out who the People are that People Magazine is talking about!
Library2Play Thing #9 - More Blogs
More blogs to read ! Do I need to read any more blogs? Nope, but I can never resist a good blog.
I like Google Blog Search but then I like everything Google. A quick search of Library2Play produced showed my post of last night residing right at the top. No wonder I like Google!
A search of Spring Branch produced a very interesting and well photographed tour of the Village of Spring Valley. TexDot has done quite a number on the Village of Spring Valley which I guess will be yet another victim of the never ending project to widen the Katy Freeway.
My favorite way to find Blogs has always been to find a blog I enjoy and then explore their blogroll. It works the same way as book recommendations in Library Thing. If I like someones blog, chances are we have similar tastes. My own blog roll is rather eclectic, with a mixture of school & education blogs, bookselling blogs, book reading blogs and a sprinkling of Mommy Blogs. Back when I started blogging (May, 2004) all these fancy blog search engines didn't exist. And yes, I also walked 2 miles through the snow to school (uphill!). In Miami.
I've used Edublog award winners and other blog award sites to find blogs worthy of following. As a matter of fact, one of our Library2Play Captains has an Edublog Award Wining Blog. Often the award sites include annotations which helps the cream rise to the top. I wasn't to fond of School Librarian blogs on Superglu - to confusing. BlogLines was interesting, but I still like Google - their clean interface appears to my inner Virgo.
Finding blogs to read isn't a problem any longer, but finding the time to read them is an ongoing problem! So many blogs, so little time. So much Web2.0, so much more little time.
I like Google Blog Search but then I like everything Google. A quick search of Library2Play produced showed my post of last night residing right at the top. No wonder I like Google!
A search of Spring Branch produced a very interesting and well photographed tour of the Village of Spring Valley. TexDot has done quite a number on the Village of Spring Valley which I guess will be yet another victim of the never ending project to widen the Katy Freeway.
My favorite way to find Blogs has always been to find a blog I enjoy and then explore their blogroll. It works the same way as book recommendations in Library Thing. If I like someones blog, chances are we have similar tastes. My own blog roll is rather eclectic, with a mixture of school & education blogs, bookselling blogs, book reading blogs and a sprinkling of Mommy Blogs. Back when I started blogging (May, 2004) all these fancy blog search engines didn't exist. And yes, I also walked 2 miles through the snow to school (uphill!). In Miami.
I've used Edublog award winners and other blog award sites to find blogs worthy of following. As a matter of fact, one of our Library2Play Captains has an Edublog Award Wining Blog. Often the award sites include annotations which helps the cream rise to the top. I wasn't to fond of School Librarian blogs on Superglu - to confusing. BlogLines was interesting, but I still like Google - their clean interface appears to my inner Virgo.
Finding blogs to read isn't a problem any longer, but finding the time to read them is an ongoing problem! So many blogs, so little time. So much Web2.0, so much more little time.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Surly Pills
Did everyone take a Surly Pill today?
The empty fridge sent me forth to the grocery store. Unlike many people, I normally enjoy grocery shopping. I love to cook, love to eat, love to try out new foods and can easily spend way to much time (and money) at a well stocked Signature Kroger.
None of the employees of the Kroger on West Gray in Houston, Texas wanted to be at work today. The Deli employee looked so pained by my requests that I cut my list short. The checker and the bagger were way to busy discussing their off work plans to smile, make eye contact or say thank you. The sacker also put the bagged salad in the bottom of the bag and dumped a half gallon of milk on top. I hope allrecipes.com has some ideas for what do with wilted lettuce.
Onward to Sur La Table. Since I love to cook, it stands to reason that I love Sur La Table. They enticed me into the store with a $10 off coupon and a new catalog. Old coupon clipper that I am, of course I had to use it. I coveted a salad dressing mixer. Couldn't find it. Did find two clerks busy gossiping. They were not happy at being interrupted. Suddenly I was not happy at being in Sur La Table. Normally I can happily while away a couple of hours (and $100) at Sur La Table. Not this time. It was quite apparent I was annoying the clerks. I bought my Salad Mixer and left.
I'm a devoted Internet shopper but occasionally I feel the need to go into a real, live, bricks and mortar store. Then I have an experience like today. It's back to the 'net for me.
The empty fridge sent me forth to the grocery store. Unlike many people, I normally enjoy grocery shopping. I love to cook, love to eat, love to try out new foods and can easily spend way to much time (and money) at a well stocked Signature Kroger.
None of the employees of the Kroger on West Gray in Houston, Texas wanted to be at work today. The Deli employee looked so pained by my requests that I cut my list short. The checker and the bagger were way to busy discussing their off work plans to smile, make eye contact or say thank you. The sacker also put the bagged salad in the bottom of the bag and dumped a half gallon of milk on top. I hope allrecipes.com has some ideas for what do with wilted lettuce.
Onward to Sur La Table. Since I love to cook, it stands to reason that I love Sur La Table. They enticed me into the store with a $10 off coupon and a new catalog. Old coupon clipper that I am, of course I had to use it. I coveted a salad dressing mixer. Couldn't find it. Did find two clerks busy gossiping. They were not happy at being interrupted. Suddenly I was not happy at being in Sur La Table. Normally I can happily while away a couple of hours (and $100) at Sur La Table. Not this time. It was quite apparent I was annoying the clerks. I bought my Salad Mixer and left.
I'm a devoted Internet shopper but occasionally I feel the need to go into a real, live, bricks and mortar store. Then I have an experience like today. It's back to the 'net for me.
Library2Play - Thing # 19 Web 2.0 Awards
In my "The term paper is due, I'd better clean the house" mode I've managed to procrastinate my way all the way to the Library2Play deadline. I don't need the 18 hours so I 'm not even sure why I am driven to finish it. I guess it's a combination of my Type A personality and the fact that I'm enjoying learning about all the cool toys that are out there. I've given up being concrete sequential and I'm being random and working on the "Things" that are the most appealing to me personally.
The list of Web 2.0 award winners is utterly fascinating. What's even more fascinating is that I already knew about a fair number of them. Guess I'm not as old as I am feeling (I just found out I'm eligible for the Senior Citizen Meals at IHOP).
I adore Pandora - music has always been one of my passions and I've found some artists whose work I enjoy. For some reason I'm not an ipod junkie, though I have one. I still tend to stick the CD in the CD player and let it rip. I'm more likely to carry a book on the plane than my ipod. I'm also a people watch from way back and it's hard to observe humanity when your ears are plugged up.
I sell on Biblio.com so I think it's safe to say I'm familiar with them! Library Thing, another favorite has lots of library potential. It's way more fun than writing a book report. I haven't explored Technorati, mostly because I know it will unleash my inner monster and I'll spend hours of time there!
I use IkeepBookmarks as my web bookmark site but it's so slowwww so I'm interested in checking out some of the others. I 've taught my lunchbunch to check Ikeepbookmarks for interesting places to go.
My iphone has a direct link to YouTube and oh boy, can I while (or waste) away the hours on it. It's blocked at school - though the kids managed to find their way around the filters. They weren't being malicious, just searching out "funny videos". Most of which I found to be dorky to the extreme but then I'm not a 10 year old boy. I think many of the videos on YouTube are only funny to 10 year old boys. It's Captain Underpants on speed.
Yelp and I going to be as one the next time I go out of town. I looked at the Houston reviews of thrift stores and they are spot on. Good reviews, recent information (Thrift Stores come and go so quickly here) and maps! Oh and a school use - fits in with that old chestnut "The State Report".
I am not a game player - be it board, card or on line but the Lunch Bunch will enjoy Arcaplay - assuming of course they aren't blocked. Bet they are! We'll find out come Monday.
WetPaint already has fans at Housman - we use it to order our lunch and I know some of the teachers plan to use it academically. Just a few though - it is so hard to wean teachers away from pencil and paper projects. I can understand why, since the 4th grade TAKS writing test is all pencil and paper. TAKS keeps us from doing so many interesting things but that's another rant for another post.
Craigslist is a Web 2.0 tool too! Who knew? Love me that Craigslist - couldn't find my inventory without it. I check it every week for garage sales. I'm surprised that Freecycle , the free version of Craigslist didn't make the cut. I use it to get rid fo my culls. Beats hauling them to the Goodwill.
Google Maps - it's on my iphone too. Great tool for the directionally challenged. Why isn't GoogleEarth on the list? My Gifted/Talented kids and I are playing with GoogleEarth - it is endlessly entertaining - and educational.
The one that escapes me is Twitter. I really don't want to know the whereabouts of everybody I know and I don't think they want to virtually follow me around as I do a round of errands. I can see how it could be used in schools for "Virtual Field Trips". That's worth exploring.
I've bookmarked the SEOmoz list and I think I'll be spending lots of time playing with it. Time I ought to be spending doing something else. Like cleaning house.
The list of Web 2.0 award winners is utterly fascinating. What's even more fascinating is that I already knew about a fair number of them. Guess I'm not as old as I am feeling (I just found out I'm eligible for the Senior Citizen Meals at IHOP).
I adore Pandora - music has always been one of my passions and I've found some artists whose work I enjoy. For some reason I'm not an ipod junkie, though I have one. I still tend to stick the CD in the CD player and let it rip. I'm more likely to carry a book on the plane than my ipod. I'm also a people watch from way back and it's hard to observe humanity when your ears are plugged up.
I sell on Biblio.com so I think it's safe to say I'm familiar with them! Library Thing, another favorite has lots of library potential. It's way more fun than writing a book report. I haven't explored Technorati, mostly because I know it will unleash my inner monster and I'll spend hours of time there!
I use IkeepBookmarks as my web bookmark site but it's so slowwww so I'm interested in checking out some of the others. I 've taught my lunchbunch to check Ikeepbookmarks for interesting places to go.
My iphone has a direct link to YouTube and oh boy, can I while (or waste) away the hours on it. It's blocked at school - though the kids managed to find their way around the filters. They weren't being malicious, just searching out "funny videos". Most of which I found to be dorky to the extreme but then I'm not a 10 year old boy. I think many of the videos on YouTube are only funny to 10 year old boys. It's Captain Underpants on speed.
Yelp and I going to be as one the next time I go out of town. I looked at the Houston reviews of thrift stores and they are spot on. Good reviews, recent information (Thrift Stores come and go so quickly here) and maps! Oh and a school use - fits in with that old chestnut "The State Report".
I am not a game player - be it board, card or on line but the Lunch Bunch will enjoy Arcaplay - assuming of course they aren't blocked. Bet they are! We'll find out come Monday.
WetPaint already has fans at Housman - we use it to order our lunch and I know some of the teachers plan to use it academically. Just a few though - it is so hard to wean teachers away from pencil and paper projects. I can understand why, since the 4th grade TAKS writing test is all pencil and paper. TAKS keeps us from doing so many interesting things but that's another rant for another post.
Craigslist is a Web 2.0 tool too! Who knew? Love me that Craigslist - couldn't find my inventory without it. I check it every week for garage sales. I'm surprised that Freecycle , the free version of Craigslist didn't make the cut. I use it to get rid fo my culls. Beats hauling them to the Goodwill.
Google Maps - it's on my iphone too. Great tool for the directionally challenged. Why isn't GoogleEarth on the list? My Gifted/Talented kids and I are playing with GoogleEarth - it is endlessly entertaining - and educational.
The one that escapes me is Twitter. I really don't want to know the whereabouts of everybody I know and I don't think they want to virtually follow me around as I do a round of errands. I can see how it could be used in schools for "Virtual Field Trips". That's worth exploring.
I've bookmarked the SEOmoz list and I think I'll be spending lots of time playing with it. Time I ought to be spending doing something else. Like cleaning house.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Library Thing in the Classroom or the Library
I can come up with all sorts of way to use Library Thing in the classroom or the library. It could become a wonderful source of student book reviews and recommendations. I've learned from teaching my blogging class that kids are much more eager to put fingers to keyboard than pencil to paper.
It's also a new twist on that old chestnut "The Book Report". It's a much more natural activity to follow up a class read with than making a diorama or a poster about the book. I've read thousands of books in my lifetime and never once have I ever had the desire to mark the end of a great book by creating a diorama.
Right now my district doesn't offer e-mail addresses to our students and that's the one obstacle I've been coming up against while teaching blogging. Everything Web 2.0 requires an e-mail address and that's yet another thing our kids don't have. I know they are standard in upper and middle class schools where children acquire their own web page at birth but not at Title I schools. We created the blogs by attaching them to an e-mail address I created on my own personal account. That worked till we started making Avatars. Avatars, we discovered required separate e-mail addresses. I now own about 20 different yahoo e-mail addresses! Where there is a will there is a way.
The district has come a long way toward opening up the web to the students, perhaps personal e-mail addresses are not far behind. One can only hope.
It's also a new twist on that old chestnut "The Book Report". It's a much more natural activity to follow up a class read with than making a diorama or a poster about the book. I've read thousands of books in my lifetime and never once have I ever had the desire to mark the end of a great book by creating a diorama.
Right now my district doesn't offer e-mail addresses to our students and that's the one obstacle I've been coming up against while teaching blogging. Everything Web 2.0 requires an e-mail address and that's yet another thing our kids don't have. I know they are standard in upper and middle class schools where children acquire their own web page at birth but not at Title I schools. We created the blogs by attaching them to an e-mail address I created on my own personal account. That worked till we started making Avatars. Avatars, we discovered required separate e-mail addresses. I now own about 20 different yahoo e-mail addresses! Where there is a will there is a way.
The district has come a long way toward opening up the web to the students, perhaps personal e-mail addresses are not far behind. One can only hope.
Library 2 Play - Thing #11 Library Thing
I've been a member of Library Thing since 2006. Haven't really followed through - so little time and so many things (hey, that could be a new T-shirt slogan!). I have an account & I've listed a few books. I just added their new widget to my blog - I love widgets - they would easily become another addiction. Another addiction is something I don't need. At least not now.
Many of the members of The Betsy-Tacy listserv are members of Library Thing or GoodReads which is similar or both. Right now I'm so busy selling books that I don't have nearly the time I once had to read books. There is a distinct similarity to being an unread bookseller and barefoot cobbler. I can easily see how both could become a happy obsession. MySpace for the literate and for those who can write a complete sentence. As an aside, have you noticed how many spelling & grammar erors there are on the typical Myspace page? Myspace is not a good advertisement for the success of American Education.
I'm also on Paperback Book Swap, which is a fun way to find homes for unwanted books and replace them with wanted ones. Learned about that one via OnLine Booksellers, one of the many Yahoo Groups I belong to (Groups and Listservs are a long standing addiction). It's similar to Library Thing, though it's more of a swap site than a personal library catalog site.
They both appeal to librarians - one allows us to catalog our own books (would that it was that easy to catalog at work) the other allows us to put books into the hands of readers.
Once again, so many groups, so little time!
Many of the members of The Betsy-Tacy listserv are members of Library Thing or GoodReads which is similar or both. Right now I'm so busy selling books that I don't have nearly the time I once had to read books. There is a distinct similarity to being an unread bookseller and barefoot cobbler. I can easily see how both could become a happy obsession. MySpace for the literate and for those who can write a complete sentence. As an aside, have you noticed how many spelling & grammar erors there are on the typical Myspace page? Myspace is not a good advertisement for the success of American Education.
I'm also on Paperback Book Swap, which is a fun way to find homes for unwanted books and replace them with wanted ones. Learned about that one via OnLine Booksellers, one of the many Yahoo Groups I belong to (Groups and Listservs are a long standing addiction). It's similar to Library Thing, though it's more of a swap site than a personal library catalog site.
They both appeal to librarians - one allows us to catalog our own books (would that it was that easy to catalog at work) the other allows us to put books into the hands of readers.
Once again, so many groups, so little time!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Librarian Video Game
Finally we have our own on- line video game!
http://www.library.cmu.edu/Libraries/etc/
I need more practice - I'm better at Dewey than LC.
And if you know what the above sentence means than you are definitely a librarian too!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
The Effects of a Lunar Eclipse
Today was not normal.
Thunder and lighting accompanied the dismissal bell. Along with the pollen, the rain washed all the common sense away too. A couple of teachers unfurled their umbrellas and led their children around the busses to load them. The result: 1 dry teacher and 15 wet children. Others dumped their kids in the hall and ran. The result: 300 confused kids with inadequate supervision.
I went to Kroger to get gas. The clerk informed me that the system is down and they can’t accept cash. I knew a cashless society was coming, just didn’t expect it to arrive quite so soon. The result: a quick trip to another gas station. In the rain.
Fourth Grade went on a field trip, which meant in an early lunch for them and tweak in the schedule for everyone else. Teachers assumed that dropping their kids off 10 min. early didn’t mean they needed to pick them up 10 minutes early too. The result: 40 minute lunches and chaos in the cafeteria.
I’m teaching myself how to use the Activ Board. Sometimes it does what I want it to and sometimes it doesn’t. The result : Frustration on my part.
Got home and and saw all the chat about the Lunar Eclipse on one of my list servs.
Suddenly the reasons for today's muddles all became clear.
Thunder and lighting accompanied the dismissal bell. Along with the pollen, the rain washed all the common sense away too. A couple of teachers unfurled their umbrellas and led their children around the busses to load them. The result: 1 dry teacher and 15 wet children. Others dumped their kids in the hall and ran. The result: 300 confused kids with inadequate supervision.
I went to Kroger to get gas. The clerk informed me that the system is down and they can’t accept cash. I knew a cashless society was coming, just didn’t expect it to arrive quite so soon. The result: a quick trip to another gas station. In the rain.
Fourth Grade went on a field trip, which meant in an early lunch for them and tweak in the schedule for everyone else. Teachers assumed that dropping their kids off 10 min. early didn’t mean they needed to pick them up 10 minutes early too. The result: 40 minute lunches and chaos in the cafeteria.
I’m teaching myself how to use the Activ Board. Sometimes it does what I want it to and sometimes it doesn’t. The result : Frustration on my part.
Got home and and saw all the chat about the Lunar Eclipse on one of my list servs.
Suddenly the reasons for today's muddles all became clear.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
TMI
Third grade is learning about biographies. I'm reading BigMama's by Donald Crews, an autobiographical tale of visits to the author's grandparents in the 1940s. Big Mama lives on a small farm, in a house without electricity and running water and keeps chickens. I start a discussion drawing a parallel between the authors experience and the children's trips to Mexico to visit family. Many of the students spend the summer with grandparents in remote Mexican villages. They are quite familiar with outhouses, kerosene lamps and chickens.I often hear chickens when I pull up for work in the morning so I know many of the students are also very familiar with American chickens. E, who has long ash blond hair and pale skin with freckles , raises her hand.
“We have chickens in our back yard”
“Do you gather their eggs?” I ask, bucolic visions flitting through my brain.
“No” she says, “We have roosters. My grandfather takes them to Louisiana”.
I rearrange my thinking and contemplate roast chicken instead.
“Why does he take them to Louisiana?”
“So they can fight”
Hummm...........I think it’s time to check out books.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Not Me & I Didn't Do It
There is a new addition to the Library Lunch Bunch. It's our old friend "Not Me".
"Who dumped the tray in the trash? " (they are supposed to be stacked)
"Not me"
"Who spilled their milk on the table and didn't clean it up? "
"Not me."
"Who didn't drink their milk?"
"Not me."
"Not Me" has a cousin by the name of "I Didn't Do It"
How are the CDs getting switched?"
"I didn't do it"
"Isn't that your napkin on the floor?"
"I didn't do it."
"Were you running? "
"I didn't do it."
"Who left their lunch kit on the table?"
"I didn't do it?"
I'm getting very anonyed at "Not Me" and "I Didn't Do It". Friday I sent 10 "Not Mes" back to the cafeteria and told them they weren't welcome to come back till "Not Me" had a name and face.
Since it's rather doubtful that "Not Me" can pass the TAKS test nobody will mind if he withdraws from school. Had, he however been a candiate for Academic Recognition we'd be stuck with him till the end of time - or the TAKS test, whichever comes first.
"Who dumped the tray in the trash? " (they are supposed to be stacked)
"Not me"
"Who spilled their milk on the table and didn't clean it up? "
"Not me."
"Who didn't drink their milk?"
"Not me."
"Not Me" has a cousin by the name of "I Didn't Do It"
How are the CDs getting switched?"
"I didn't do it"
"Isn't that your napkin on the floor?"
"I didn't do it."
"Were you running? "
"I didn't do it."
"Who left their lunch kit on the table?"
"I didn't do it?"
I'm getting very anonyed at "Not Me" and "I Didn't Do It". Friday I sent 10 "Not Mes" back to the cafeteria and told them they weren't welcome to come back till "Not Me" had a name and face.
Since it's rather doubtful that "Not Me" can pass the TAKS test nobody will mind if he withdraws from school. Had, he however been a candiate for Academic Recognition we'd be stuck with him till the end of time - or the TAKS test, whichever comes first.
Library2Play - Thing #8 - RSS Feeds
RSS Feeds & Readers - How have I missed out on these? Sure I've seen the little orange buttons scattered here and there on assorted blogs but I never paid much attention to them. I should have. They are a Virgo's Dream.
Thing #8 explained it all. For most of the weekend I've been busy adding all the blogs on my sidebar to my Goggle Reader. It's teidous work. I open up Blogrolling , click on the link to make sure it's still good, copy n' paste it into Goggle Reader. Repeat. And repeat. I have a crick in my neck.
Along the way I'm cleaning up my blogroll. Deleting blogs are haven't been updated in a couple of months or blogs whose content or focus has changed. I've some blogs that used to be interesting but just aren't any more - at least to me. Not to say they aren't of interest to someone else.
I do cringe when I hit the "dump it" button. I know how hard it is to keep a blog updated and how hard folks work to keep them interesting. It doesn't seem right to "dump" someone's blood, sweat and tears. But, there are only so many hours in the day and there isn't any point in cluttering up my blogroll with blogs I don't read.
It's just like culling my bookshelves or weeding the library. It gets rid of the dead wood and makes way for new blogs (or books). .
Thing #8 explained it all. For most of the weekend I've been busy adding all the blogs on my sidebar to my Goggle Reader. It's teidous work. I open up Blogrolling , click on the link to make sure it's still good, copy n' paste it into Goggle Reader. Repeat. And repeat. I have a crick in my neck.
Along the way I'm cleaning up my blogroll. Deleting blogs are haven't been updated in a couple of months or blogs whose content or focus has changed. I've some blogs that used to be interesting but just aren't any more - at least to me. Not to say they aren't of interest to someone else.
I do cringe when I hit the "dump it" button. I know how hard it is to keep a blog updated and how hard folks work to keep them interesting. It doesn't seem right to "dump" someone's blood, sweat and tears. But, there are only so many hours in the day and there isn't any point in cluttering up my blogroll with blogs I don't read.
It's just like culling my bookshelves or weeding the library. It gets rid of the dead wood and makes way for new blogs (or books). .
Monday, January 28, 2008
Library2Play - Thing 17
I'm not sure why I'm doing Thing #17, in the Library2Play series except that it's under Thing #16. I really ought to go and do Thing #8 which is next on the list. I guess it's because Thing 17 is also about Wikis and they have been much on my mind lately. I've started the Salad Guy Wiki at school (sure wish he'd updated it today - I wanted to order lunch!) and My Beloved is now using a Wiki to plan her next group golf trip. My orderly Virgo mind wants to totally finish the section on Wikis before back tracking to another thing.
So, on to Thing 17, The Sandbox. Not sure how it differs from a Wiki, except you don't need to register to play - all you need is the secret handshake - make that the password.
I've already added many comments as to what I want in the new libraries the district is planning to build - along with all the new schools the district is also planning to construct. I hope they listen to The Librarian Philospher. The last time the district went on an expansion binge they used with the cookie cutter plan. They built 4 identical schools, all of which have the same identical design flaws, many of which can be found in the 4 identical libraries. Libraries need doors and walls. Glass walls are fine, in fact better than brick walls, but some kind of walls. And a door. That closes. However, I digress.
I really ought to start a Library Wiki since I'm supposed to have a library web page and don't. Heck, my school doesn't even have a current web page. There isn't anyone to do it. I suspect that most of the schools that have updated web pages have them because some staff member undertakes it as a labor of love. In education Labors of Love are done at home, on ones own time.
I suspect we'd do more to keep our page current if our students & their parents had computers. Actually, many of them have a computer, it's the internet they don't have. That requires a landline and our population lives in cell phone (the pre-paid, no deposit required) world.
However, should a teacher want to creat a class "Home Page" a Wiki would be an excellent place to begin.
So, on to Thing 17, The Sandbox. Not sure how it differs from a Wiki, except you don't need to register to play - all you need is the secret handshake - make that the password.
I've already added many comments as to what I want in the new libraries the district is planning to build - along with all the new schools the district is also planning to construct. I hope they listen to The Librarian Philospher. The last time the district went on an expansion binge they used with the cookie cutter plan. They built 4 identical schools, all of which have the same identical design flaws, many of which can be found in the 4 identical libraries. Libraries need doors and walls. Glass walls are fine, in fact better than brick walls, but some kind of walls. And a door. That closes. However, I digress.
I really ought to start a Library Wiki since I'm supposed to have a library web page and don't. Heck, my school doesn't even have a current web page. There isn't anyone to do it. I suspect that most of the schools that have updated web pages have them because some staff member undertakes it as a labor of love. In education Labors of Love are done at home, on ones own time.
I suspect we'd do more to keep our page current if our students & their parents had computers. Actually, many of them have a computer, it's the internet they don't have. That requires a landline and our population lives in cell phone (the pre-paid, no deposit required) world.
However, should a teacher want to creat a class "Home Page" a Wiki would be an excellent place to begin.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Houston We Have....
Finally!
Permission slips were turned in and the Internet cooperated. I had fun, the kids had fun and blogs were created. Some are better than others, some need some editing but we'll get the kinks worked out in the weeks to come.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Foiled Again!
The Blogging Club meet today for the second time. We managed to open up Blogger.com but then the Internet failed us. We ate brownies and opened up Word and brainstormed the names of some potential blogs.
The one problem with a blogging class is that when the internet goes down it is very difficult to blog!
The one problem with a blogging class is that when the internet goes down it is very difficult to blog!
Monday, January 21, 2008
Library2Play - Thing #16 Wikis
I'm being most Un-Virgo. Virgos always do things in order but I'm jumping from Thing 7 to Thing 16. It's all about Wikis and I created my first Wiki last week.
Lunch in an elementary school library is always a grim affair for the adults. Unlike the high schools there are few choices - you can have the tray lunch, a salad or a baked potato or packing your own. The contents of the tray lunch are often more influenced by farm subsidies and government surplus than Gourmet Magazine. Toss in the fact that most teachers have 25 minutes to eat on a good day and you have a sad situation indeed.
Our new Assistant Principal knew of a budding entrepreneur , The Salad Guy who delivered tasty and healthy salads to the local schools. She put together a few orders but really didn't have time to add this to her daily duties. E-mailing The Salad Guy wasn't satisfactory since the district firewalls has a very bad habit of eating e-mails. So I played around with Wetpaint and set up a Wiki so everyone could order their own lunch.
So far so good - it seems that teachers, just like children will work for food!
I'm now dropping hints that Wikis are a great way for the kids to write and research. They could even post their notes to the Wiki, thus ending the perenial problem of losing their note cards or leaving their project at home. They could also create a Wiki as their finished product. Anything would be an improvement over the tri-folds on which are slapped some pages printed of a web site. Be interesting to see if anyone expands from lunch to research!
Lunch in an elementary school library is always a grim affair for the adults. Unlike the high schools there are few choices - you can have the tray lunch, a salad or a baked potato or packing your own. The contents of the tray lunch are often more influenced by farm subsidies and government surplus than Gourmet Magazine. Toss in the fact that most teachers have 25 minutes to eat on a good day and you have a sad situation indeed.
Our new Assistant Principal knew of a budding entrepreneur , The Salad Guy who delivered tasty and healthy salads to the local schools. She put together a few orders but really didn't have time to add this to her daily duties. E-mailing The Salad Guy wasn't satisfactory since the district firewalls has a very bad habit of eating e-mails. So I played around with Wetpaint and set up a Wiki so everyone could order their own lunch.
So far so good - it seems that teachers, just like children will work for food!
I'm now dropping hints that Wikis are a great way for the kids to write and research. They could even post their notes to the Wiki, thus ending the perenial problem of losing their note cards or leaving their project at home. They could also create a Wiki as their finished product. Anything would be an improvement over the tri-folds on which are slapped some pages printed of a web site. Be interesting to see if anyone expands from lunch to research!
First Forays Into Blogging
I’ve wanted to teach a blogging class for our After School Program for quite some time. I’m convinced that blogging helps kids be better writers - I now it’s improved mine.
First hurdle: The district blocked all blogs. Thanks to the efforts of The Librarian Philosopher, Blogger (and some other Web 2.0 resources) are now open.
Second hurdle: Educating the ASP teachers about what a Blog is (and isn’t)
Third hurdle: Getting on the schedule (ASP isn’t always organized)
Two years later I finally got the go-head. The wheels of education turn very, very slowly sometimes.
The first classes meet last week. Of course we couldn’t blog. First there was paperwork to fill out and permission slips to hand out. The district treats anything having to do with the internet very, very seriously.
I explained what a blog was – most of the kids weren’t to sure & showed them some sample blogs. One of the 4th graders wasn’t to sure he wanted to blog – he wanted to go to “technology” which I gather is a computer free for all. I think, that by the end of the hour I’d convinced him to give it a try. Fourth graders take the Writing TAKS test & need all the writing practice they can get.
Next week I’m going to use the Blogging Tips posted on Library2Play and everyone will set up their first blog. That is if the internet is working and the creeks don’t rise.
A couple of the kids turned their permission slips in the very next morning which is a very good sign indeed!
First hurdle: The district blocked all blogs. Thanks to the efforts of The Librarian Philosopher, Blogger (and some other Web 2.0 resources) are now open.
Second hurdle: Educating the ASP teachers about what a Blog is (and isn’t)
Third hurdle: Getting on the schedule (ASP isn’t always organized)
Two years later I finally got the go-head. The wheels of education turn very, very slowly sometimes.
The first classes meet last week. Of course we couldn’t blog. First there was paperwork to fill out and permission slips to hand out. The district treats anything having to do with the internet very, very seriously.
I explained what a blog was – most of the kids weren’t to sure & showed them some sample blogs. One of the 4th graders wasn’t to sure he wanted to blog – he wanted to go to “technology” which I gather is a computer free for all. I think, that by the end of the hour I’d convinced him to give it a try. Fourth graders take the Writing TAKS test & need all the writing practice they can get.
Next week I’m going to use the Blogging Tips posted on Library2Play and everyone will set up their first blog. That is if the internet is working and the creeks don’t rise.
A couple of the kids turned their permission slips in the very next morning which is a very good sign indeed!
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Note to Self...
Remember to put the filter basket in the coffee pot before grinding the beans......
Oh well..... the kitchen floor needed mopping anyway and the counters were overdue for a whipe down....
Oh well..... the kitchen floor needed mopping anyway and the counters were overdue for a whipe down....
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Thing #7 Google
How did we manage pre- Google? It's my search engine of choice and if it's not on Google well then it doesn't exist! I use it at work, for my book business and to satisfy my personal curiosity. Sooner or later they will organize the world and by doing that rule said world. They can't possibly do a worst job than the current world rulers are doing.
The requirements for Thing #7 are to further explore Google. I drive a couple of my gifted and talented kids home twice a week and they are fascinated by my GPS so I think they would adore Google Earth. I googled ways to use it in the classroom and found some ideas but I need to adapt them for first and second graders. I'm still noodling on that one. Most of what's out there assumes the student knows how to read. Not so when working with a bi-lingual 1st graders.
Even if they are Gifted and Talented.
I discovered Google has a new toolbar - currently residing proudly atop the computer currently in my lap. Langniappe!
I've played around with the Yahoo Calendar in the past, which is similar to the Google Calendar. It doesn't fit my lifestyle. My Beloved & I communicate via Outlook meeting requests. I'm not sure what that says about our relationship. Either Caldendar site would be very useful for a classroom teacher who didn't have a class webpage or blog. Great way to communicate with parents and keep them abreast of homework assignments.
I have a an iGoogle page which I never use - well I did use it but found myself clicking directly to E-bay so made E-bay my home page instead. Actually, I live and die by the links on the top of my toolbar. That and the latest version of Internet Explorer; which allows me to keep multiple pages separated by tabs. Virgos love file folders with tab since they are tools we can use to ORGANIZE things. Virgos live to organize (must be why I'm a librarian).
Google owns Blogger and I've had a blog since 2004 so I've played around with Picasa. Pictures make any blog more interesting. Same goes for books. There's Flickr, there is Picasa, there is Snapfish - just pick one and make it yours. 'nuff said.
However, I didn't know about Google Notebook. That is one very handy little tool. I write an occasional article for Bookthink. Normally I open up Word & cut n' paste my findings but Google Notebook is much handier. I'll give it a whirl as I explore for ways to use Google Earth with my curious 6 year olds.
The requirements for Thing #7 are to further explore Google. I drive a couple of my gifted and talented kids home twice a week and they are fascinated by my GPS so I think they would adore Google Earth. I googled ways to use it in the classroom and found some ideas but I need to adapt them for first and second graders. I'm still noodling on that one. Most of what's out there assumes the student knows how to read. Not so when working with a bi-lingual 1st graders.
Even if they are Gifted and Talented.
I discovered Google has a new toolbar - currently residing proudly atop the computer currently in my lap. Langniappe!
I've played around with the Yahoo Calendar in the past, which is similar to the Google Calendar. It doesn't fit my lifestyle. My Beloved & I communicate via Outlook meeting requests. I'm not sure what that says about our relationship. Either Caldendar site would be very useful for a classroom teacher who didn't have a class webpage or blog. Great way to communicate with parents and keep them abreast of homework assignments.
I have a an iGoogle page which I never use - well I did use it but found myself clicking directly to E-bay so made E-bay my home page instead. Actually, I live and die by the links on the top of my toolbar. That and the latest version of Internet Explorer; which allows me to keep multiple pages separated by tabs. Virgos love file folders with tab since they are tools we can use to ORGANIZE things. Virgos live to organize (must be why I'm a librarian).
Google owns Blogger and I've had a blog since 2004 so I've played around with Picasa. Pictures make any blog more interesting. Same goes for books. There's Flickr, there is Picasa, there is Snapfish - just pick one and make it yours. 'nuff said.However, I didn't know about Google Notebook. That is one very handy little tool. I write an occasional article for Bookthink. Normally I open up Word & cut n' paste my findings but Google Notebook is much handier. I'll give it a whirl as I explore for ways to use Google Earth with my curious 6 year olds.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Library2Play Thing 6
Tomorrow it's back to work so I tackled Thing #6 - it might be some time before I get around to Things #7 - #23. The first week with kids after the break is always a shock.
I digress so back to the topic at hand. I'm a wordsmith and not a graphics artist. I'm not one to spend hours in Photoshop getting the picture to be "just right". I'm much more likely to compose a piece of prose and then find a picture on Google Images and leave it at that. My iPhone still has the original wallpaper and it's doubtful I'll ever change it nor do I change the wallpaper on my personal computer. I don't decorate my house and I don't decorate my computers!
Thing #6 didn't ring my chimes though I can see where kids, who primarily visual will adore making Trading cards and posting pictures on Mappr. An innovative Language Arts teacher could have her students make a Trading Card for the characters in a novel. An equally innovative Social Studies teacher could use Mappr for an interesting twist on the standard "trace the route of Lewis & Clark" assignment or even on that old chestnut - the state report.
I digress so back to the topic at hand. I'm a wordsmith and not a graphics artist. I'm not one to spend hours in Photoshop getting the picture to be "just right". I'm much more likely to compose a piece of prose and then find a picture on Google Images and leave it at that. My iPhone still has the original wallpaper and it's doubtful I'll ever change it nor do I change the wallpaper on my personal computer. I don't decorate my house and I don't decorate my computers!
Thing #6 didn't ring my chimes though I can see where kids, who primarily visual will adore making Trading cards and posting pictures on Mappr. An innovative Language Arts teacher could have her students make a Trading Card for the characters in a novel. An equally innovative Social Studies teacher could use Mappr for an interesting twist on the standard "trace the route of Lewis & Clark" assignment or even on that old chestnut - the state report.
Creating a Trading card was easy and I know I'm going to use it with PGP kids. Nice twist on the "about me" assignments.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Library2Play - Thing 5
Flickr is the topic of Thing #5. I'd heard about it, but hadn't used it - mostly due to inertia on my own part. I've always used Snapfish my own picture host. Sometimes I am indeed an old dog. Tonight, with the cold weather making my knees ache I'm feeling like very old dog indeed.
I'm the defacto photographer at school - not because I'm talented but because I always have a digital camera on my belt. A working digital camera with fresh batteries. I'd been posting pictures on Snapfish but Flickr appears to be a better tool. It would have greatly simplified last December's Science Fair Project.
I created a group - of course I'm the administrator - I do so love being in charge- and I'll start posting school pictures to it. Since many of them are of the students it's an "by invitation" only group. Seems a prudent thing to do.
One of my Christmas presents is a Digital Picture Frame and I'm going to load it up and take it to school. The kids adore looking at pictures of themselves. It will be a fun addition to the 5 Lava Lamps that now adorn the library.
I'm the defacto photographer at school - not because I'm talented but because I always have a digital camera on my belt. A working digital camera with fresh batteries. I'd been posting pictures on Snapfish but Flickr appears to be a better tool. It would have greatly simplified last December's Science Fair Project.
I created a group - of course I'm the administrator - I do so love being in charge- and I'll start posting school pictures to it. Since many of them are of the students it's an "by invitation" only group. Seems a prudent thing to do.
One of my Christmas presents is a Digital Picture Frame and I'm going to load it up and take it to school. The kids adore looking at pictures of themselves. It will be a fun addition to the 5 Lava Lamps that now adorn the library.
Library2Play - Thing 3 & Thing 4
The assignment for Things 3 & 4 is to set up one's own Blog and register it. I just decided to use the one I already had. I've been very lax about posting to it so the last thing I need is two neglected blogs. One is plenty.
I created an Avatar - she's over on the left. That was rather fun! Now I"m going to have to keep her updated. Setting her into my sidebar was rather interesting since I don't use one of the standard blogger templates. I had mine "skinned" a couple of years ago- I never do like being like everybody else. Julie, whom I meet in the blogsphere did as one of her first commissions.
I think I'm going to teach blogging to some of our 4th and 5th graders and I'm going to use the blogging PowerPoint as my introduction. No reason to remake a new wheel! I think they will love creating their own Avatars. Chances are they will teach me a thing or two along the way.
I created an Avatar - she's over on the left. That was rather fun! Now I"m going to have to keep her updated. Setting her into my sidebar was rather interesting since I don't use one of the standard blogger templates. I had mine "skinned" a couple of years ago- I never do like being like everybody else. Julie, whom I meet in the blogsphere did as one of her first commissions.
I think I'm going to teach blogging to some of our 4th and 5th graders and I'm going to use the blogging PowerPoint as my introduction. No reason to remake a new wheel! I think they will love creating their own Avatars. Chances are they will teach me a thing or two along the way.
Library2Play - Thing 1 & Thing 2
Our Director of Library Services and his 2 cohorts in crime are always coming up with ways to keep their minions on their toes and constantly learning and growing. They have designed a Cyber Class in Web 2.0 and are "encouraging " all of us to join them on the journey of discovery (or frustration, depending on one's opinion of technology). It's entitled Libray2Play and consists of some 23 tasks - or things. Calling them "Things" brings to mind Thing 1 & Thing 2.
Come to think of it, Thing 1 and Thing 2 are rather apt metaphors for computers and technology. Both can get into the most interesting sorts of mischief.
Seems rather apt for the subject of my first post of 2008 to be on learning something new and different.
Come to think of it, Thing 1 and Thing 2 are rather apt metaphors for computers and technology. Both can get into the most interesting sorts of mischief.
Seems rather apt for the subject of my first post of 2008 to be on learning something new and different.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
The Home of the JazzMan
I'm not sure why anyone would hold an estate sale on Sunday, Dec. 23 - but MargieBeelge sales had one on the calendar. Perhaps they had no choice but it made for low attendance which suited us just fine. . It was an odd sale to begin with since the family held several garage sales before calling them in. From what they said the most amazing treasures went out of the house for pennies on the dollar (great weeping and wailing on everyone’s part).
The house was your standard 3 bedroom ranch, built in the early 1960s, in what was once a nice part of town but is now a lock your car doors part of town. . It was pretty apparent that it was a one owner house, that the wife had died years before the husband and that neither had ever redecorated or thrown anything out. Both of them had some serious pack rat issues and ADORED mail order. As in every book every put out by Oxmoor (Southern Living) press, every video put out by National Geographic, Columbia Music club and the Software of the Month club (bet you didn’t know there was such a thing – I didn’t either).
We I arrived at 10 and found one room was nothing but wall to wall CDs. The man was a major jazz aficionado. So much that he lost track of what he had – lots of duplicates and many were still sealed. We each took a corner and started scanning. Lots of not founds, Columbia music club and junk but some amazing finds too. At 1:30 we finally finished with the room – and neither of us had scanned behind the other one. My scanner showed I’d scanned 700+ cds and my friend did more (she’s more agile than I).
We were sitting on the floor, standing, on our knees and bending into assorted pretzel positions - physically it was a very uncomfortable sale.. We both have Scoutpal but the volume was so great that we didn’t have the time to hand key in any of not founds. Neither of us know anything about Jazz so we were scan monsters to the extreme. Oddly we were the only dealers present – the other folks were just people who like estate sales or like jazz. We had lots of comments on our scanners to which we gave our standard answer “It helps us keep track of what we don’t need”.
We were starving so we checked out – I have never dropped $500 on inventory and had only 2 boxes to show for it! Got some lunch and headed back for round two.
Round two consisted of the garage which was knee high in magazines and trash bags. Trash bags full of ripe garbage. My nose couldn’t take it but Lou got 2 boxes of Downbeat Magazine. That left us the computer room which had a waist high pile of software – much of it unopened. I think the man might be have been a beta tester for Borland. The software stopped arriving around 2003 – just prior to Windows XP. We couldn’t get any hits on it so we left it behind and tackled the videos instead. Great collection –lots of MGM musicals but they’ve been re-released on DVD so they were worthless. We both found enough $20 dollar or so videos with good ranks so it wasn’t time spent in vain
At 3:30 we checked out and painfully crawled into the car and headed home. I'd spent $550 and my friend dropped $900. The CDs were $3 each so we had one loaded car. I'm to tried to do the math but that's a lot of CDs - and we barely made a dent in the collection.
It's been a rather amazing 13 months. Friends of the Library Sales doors are closing but windows are opening elsewhere. November, 2006 was the month of the BookMan, September, 2007 Spiritual Man and December, 2007 ushered in JazzMan.
The house was your standard 3 bedroom ranch, built in the early 1960s, in what was once a nice part of town but is now a lock your car doors part of town. . It was pretty apparent that it was a one owner house, that the wife had died years before the husband and that neither had ever redecorated or thrown anything out. Both of them had some serious pack rat issues and ADORED mail order. As in every book every put out by Oxmoor (Southern Living) press, every video put out by National Geographic, Columbia Music club and the Software of the Month club (bet you didn’t know there was such a thing – I didn’t either).
We I arrived at 10 and found one room was nothing but wall to wall CDs. The man was a major jazz aficionado. So much that he lost track of what he had – lots of duplicates and many were still sealed. We each took a corner and started scanning. Lots of not founds, Columbia music club and junk but some amazing finds too. At 1:30 we finally finished with the room – and neither of us had scanned behind the other one. My scanner showed I’d scanned 700+ cds and my friend did more (she’s more agile than I).
We were sitting on the floor, standing, on our knees and bending into assorted pretzel positions - physically it was a very uncomfortable sale.. We both have Scoutpal but the volume was so great that we didn’t have the time to hand key in any of not founds. Neither of us know anything about Jazz so we were scan monsters to the extreme. Oddly we were the only dealers present – the other folks were just people who like estate sales or like jazz. We had lots of comments on our scanners to which we gave our standard answer “It helps us keep track of what we don’t need”.
We were starving so we checked out – I have never dropped $500 on inventory and had only 2 boxes to show for it! Got some lunch and headed back for round two.
Round two consisted of the garage which was knee high in magazines and trash bags. Trash bags full of ripe garbage. My nose couldn’t take it but Lou got 2 boxes of Downbeat Magazine. That left us the computer room which had a waist high pile of software – much of it unopened. I think the man might be have been a beta tester for Borland. The software stopped arriving around 2003 – just prior to Windows XP. We couldn’t get any hits on it so we left it behind and tackled the videos instead. Great collection –lots of MGM musicals but they’ve been re-released on DVD so they were worthless. We both found enough $20 dollar or so videos with good ranks so it wasn’t time spent in vain
At 3:30 we checked out and painfully crawled into the car and headed home. I'd spent $550 and my friend dropped $900. The CDs were $3 each so we had one loaded car. I'm to tried to do the math but that's a lot of CDs - and we barely made a dent in the collection.
It's been a rather amazing 13 months. Friends of the Library Sales doors are closing but windows are opening elsewhere. November, 2006 was the month of the BookMan, September, 2007 Spiritual Man and December, 2007 ushered in JazzMan.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Friday, December 21, 2007
Diversity R Us
Celebrated the beginning of Winter Break and early dismissal by going out to lunch (it doesn't take much to make a teacher happy).
We went to our favorite Chinese Buffet and as always the bill came with fortune cookies.
Only they weren't your Grandma's fortune cookies. These were bi-lingual fortune cookies.
English / Chinese you ask?
Nope, English / Spanish.
Only in Houston would you encounter fortune cookies English / Spanish in a Chinese restaurant.
Diversity, gotta love it!
We went to our favorite Chinese Buffet and as always the bill came with fortune cookies.
Only they weren't your Grandma's fortune cookies. These were bi-lingual fortune cookies.
English / Chinese you ask?
Nope, English / Spanish.
Only in Houston would you encounter fortune cookies English / Spanish in a Chinese restaurant.
Diversity, gotta love it!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
And Our Priorities Are ..............
A librarian at a nearby school questioned some of the teachers as to why their students were reading so few books and so rarely darkening the door of the library.
.
The response of one 5th grade teacher: " I don't have time to come to the library, I'm to busy getting my kids ready for the TAKS reading test. The kids don't have time to read any books - we have so many TAKS practice reading passages we need to finish."
Humm.....schools are supposed to be educating tomorrows workers and citizens. I don't think most employers consider bubbling in TAKS answers a career prerequisite.
.
The response of one 5th grade teacher: " I don't have time to come to the library, I'm to busy getting my kids ready for the TAKS reading test. The kids don't have time to read any books - we have so many TAKS practice reading passages we need to finish."
Humm.....schools are supposed to be educating tomorrows workers and citizens. I don't think most employers consider bubbling in TAKS answers a career prerequisite.
Monday, December 10, 2007
The Times..They Are A'Changing...
Rather interesting library meeting today.
In my district, as in many other school district the technology folks pretty much set the policies regarding computer equipment. As far as they are concerned their first task is to "protect the equipment". They remind me of the librarians of yore who didn't want any children in the library. They might disrupt the order of the books on the shelves or God Forbid, lose a book. Better for the books to stay safe on the shelves than to be checked out and used.
Our Tech folks are just as possessive of "their" computers. They forget that our primary business is educating children and that the computers are supposed to be a means to that end. They aren't as bad as some other tech departments I've read about. LM_NET abounds with horror stories of techies disabling the usb slots so that nobody can use a jump drive, forbidding the opening of any attachments and closing off the floppy disk drives.
Given their druthers I am quite certain our techie types would have loved to institute similar polices. I attended one of their trainings last spring which consisted of them telling nothing but "Us" vs "Them" stories (I was in the "them" camp).
Directors of our computer department have come and gone with in a dizzying speed and the revolving door just a landed another one in the head honcho chair. This one has a new attitude.
All teachers are getting a laptop. A laptop they can take home. A laptop they can actually install printer drivers and hook up to their home Internet provider. A laptop they can carry from workshop to workshop and meeting to meeting. A laptop that won't lock them out of the desktop and the control panel.
This is a complete 360. Granted corporate America has been operating this way for years but the wheels of educational change move with a global slowness. I do hope this current director stays around long enough to celebrate his one year anniversary.
In my district, as in many other school district the technology folks pretty much set the policies regarding computer equipment. As far as they are concerned their first task is to "protect the equipment". They remind me of the librarians of yore who didn't want any children in the library. They might disrupt the order of the books on the shelves or God Forbid, lose a book. Better for the books to stay safe on the shelves than to be checked out and used.
Our Tech folks are just as possessive of "their" computers. They forget that our primary business is educating children and that the computers are supposed to be a means to that end. They aren't as bad as some other tech departments I've read about. LM_NET abounds with horror stories of techies disabling the usb slots so that nobody can use a jump drive, forbidding the opening of any attachments and closing off the floppy disk drives.
Given their druthers I am quite certain our techie types would have loved to institute similar polices. I attended one of their trainings last spring which consisted of them telling nothing but "Us" vs "Them" stories (I was in the "them" camp).
Directors of our computer department have come and gone with in a dizzying speed and the revolving door just a landed another one in the head honcho chair. This one has a new attitude.
All teachers are getting a laptop. A laptop they can take home. A laptop they can actually install printer drivers and hook up to their home Internet provider. A laptop they can carry from workshop to workshop and meeting to meeting. A laptop that won't lock them out of the desktop and the control panel.
This is a complete 360. Granted corporate America has been operating this way for years but the wheels of educational change move with a global slowness. I do hope this current director stays around long enough to celebrate his one year anniversary.
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