Thursday, December 17, 2009

Week 15 - FINALS WEEK

Yea!  It feels so great to be finishing up this semester.  The readings for this course were very informative.  I especially liked the chapter, Online Social Networking - Chapter 7 from Library 2.0 and Beyond.  As someone who has just started using Facebook, I liked reading about all that can be done and proper etiquette to follow when using such sites.  Also, understanding how online social networking can be used within the library gave me some really great ideas to try. 
I also liked the chapter, Professional Development - Chapter 13 from Technology and the School Library.  Sitting through in-services that are just time fillers and give little help to teachers seem to waste both time and money.  This chapter talked about how to choose a topic for an in-service that would be beneficial to faculty and staff.  It gave many different examples of topics to choose, and provided tips on how to make the in-service a success!  I think the library is the core technology center of the school.  It is important for the librarian to be knowledgeable in the different technologies available in the school.  I would enjoy hosting and presenting an in-service to the faculty that would help them incorporate technology into their classroom.  I will use this chapter as a resource when planning an inservice.

Courtney, N. (2007). Library 2.0 and beyond. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.


Jurkowski, O. (2006). Technology and the school library. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Curriculum Connections - Module #5

I am really excited about making curriculum connections between what I do in the library and disabilities.  I feel that most people separate themselves from people with disabilities for the main reason that they don't know how to act around them.  I am so glad for the Discovering Assistive Technology program.  I learned so much more than just assistive technology.  I feel like I have a better understanding of the person (who has a disability).  This program just increased my compassion for others and my desire for everyone to have the resources needed to live and function the best way possible.  I want to be able to share those things with my students.

I am glad that the California School Library Association created a recommended reading list of books about people with disabilities.  I had read some of the books on the list before, but the one that stuck out in my mind was Accidents of Nature by Harriet McBryde Johnson.  It is about a girl who has Cerepral Palsy and attends camp for the first time as a teenager.  I have a weakness for teenage camp books, so I really enjoyed the book.  But most of all, I enjoyed reading about this girl and understanding her a part from her disability.  She had the same hopes and dreams that I had as a teenager, and the book helped me to look at the person and think about them as I want people to think about me.  I highly recommend the book for teenagers (and adults).

I would also highly recommend the Assistive Technology Tutorial.  My only suggestions would be to break up some of the week's workload into more manageable chunks - like the 23 things program, and to make sure all the links are working or replaced with links to other sites.  Ultimately, I am amazed with all I have learned through this course.  I am grateful to the California School Library Association for making these programs available to everyone.


Etiquette & Awareness - Module #4



What a great topic to read about.  I find that sometimes I don't always know the proper way to address a person with a disability.  This week's information was very informative.  I was disappointed that some of the links did not work, but I did take the quiz which tested my knowledge and attitudes about people with disabilities and only got one wrong.  After the answer key, there was a page that listed The Ten Commandments of Communicating with People with Disabilities.  Learning how to address people with disabilities is something everyone should learn.  What better way to do this than in a classroom setting.

Take a look at this commercial.  I remember watching these commercials growing up and just thinking they present a great message in a short amount of time.

Here are other informative websites regarding people with disabilities.

Abilities in Motion is the website for our county's center for independent living. It includes information for all ages, from children to those entering a nursing home.  They list their programs and also have a section listing volunteer oportunities in the area.  They provide links to national, state and local organizations and services that promote independent learning.

Disability.gov is the federal government's website dedicated to providing information and resources to people with disabilities.  They provide information about education, technology, health, employment, civil rights and many other areas.  It also provides links to local services and links for educator resources. 

Easter Seals has been helping those with disabilities and special needs live their best life possible.  Their website has articles about disability etiquette, myths and facts about people with disabilities, understanding disabilities, helpful hints when meeting friends with disabilities, and so much more.  This is a great site for educators and parents to explore and gather ideas.

Education World is an Educator's website that gives teachers ideas and links to help them in the classroom.  They have a section specifically about teaching about and for students with disabilities.  There are a lot of ideas, lesson plans, and additional links.  A few of the links do not work any longer, but there is still a lot of content.

The Family Center on Technology and Disability is a great website that provides information about assistive and instructional technologies.  It provides reviews of resources, a list of disability organizations, the basics of Assistive Technology, a glossary, a monthly newsletter, and a 54 page family guide.  If you are new to the concept of AT, this website is for you!

I definitely believe that knowledge is power!  When people know the proper way to do something or address someone, it can give them confidence and hopefully help them be a better friend.  I like the idea of teaching students proper netiquette and about bullying.  I specifically thought the Boston Public Library's Netiquette for Kids would be helpful for students.  I also liked the Stop Bullying Now! website.  I think students would enjoy playing around on the site while learning what bullying is all about.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Software - Module #3

Learning about the different types of assistive technology has been very eye opening.  I enjoyed exploring the different software.  I had heard of Inspiration before, and have seen my kids use Kidspiration in their classrooms at school, but I really didn't know that much about it.  I downloaded the 30 day trial and am hoping to create some graphic organizers for the library.  I watched the videos about Inspiration and Kurzweil 3000 and am very impressed at all they could do.  I was most impressed with the accessibility features on Windows Vista, my current operating system.  I couldn't believe all the options and was surprised that I didn't even know they were there before this course. 

You can look at my Software Evaluation Rubric to see detailed information about the different software I read about this week.

There are so many different possibilities on implementing assistive technology into the classroom.  I liked looking at the California State Library website and looking at what is available.  I think publicizing accessibility information is a great idea.  Many times, as in the case of my operating system, people just don't know there is anything out there to help them.  As a librarian, the best way to begin implementing assistive technology is to understand the population that uses the library.  If there are students that need assistance in utilizing the library, I would look at what I could do to accomodate them.  The biggest obstacle is money.  While there are inexpensive things that can be effective, such as bigger signs, using different teaching styles, making aisles wide enough, and providing handouts for lessons and directions; special hardware and software can be rather pricing.  Creating a needs assessment would help to make sure that the resource requested fits into the library's and school's technology plan and would be appropriate for those using the library.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Assistive Technology - Module #2



Discovery Exercise #1
EnableMart is a great website for showing different assistive technology materials.  I can't believe all that is available out there.  Of course there are many resources that would be beneficial to the library.  One of the big areas within the library that students may need some assistance with is the computers.  I like the idea of having screen magnifiers for those who are visually impaired, a screen reader for those who have difficulty reading text, and large keyboards and touch screens for those who have mobility limitations.  The biggest concern I have for these wonderful innovations is finding the funds to make the most of the library for all users.

Discovery Exercise #2
Making sure your students can have the best environment in the library does not have to always involve expensive equipment.  There are simple accomodations that can be made with little effort and great effect.

For the visually impaired student:
  • Use larger fonts for signs, overheads, handouts.
For the hearing impaired student:
  • Provide handouts for directions and procedures.
For the mobility impaired student:
  • Make sure aisles are wide and free from obstacles.
For visually, hearing, and mobility impaired, and all students:
  • Use a variety of teaching styles
  • Have staff readily available to help students
  • Provide alternative forms of materials
Discovery Exercise #3
I am going to focus on a TouchScreen for my tech plan.  I think it is a great device, not only for students who are mobility impaired, but also for young students who have trouble understanding and manipulation a mouse.  It could really be a useful device for all those who would use a computer.

Discovery Exercise #4
EnableMart seems like a comprehensive list of all the assistive technology available.  It is helpful to be able to go to one site and look at all the products.  To enhance my knowledge of assistive technology, I really enjoyed browsing the National Center for Learning Disabilities website. It covers so much from the basics, to in the home, to at school, to choosing the right technology, to news, and other links.

Discovery Exercise #5
I loved watching the video on Beth Anne Luciani and her DynaVox machine.  It is so wonderful that there is technology to give people like Beth Anne a voice.  It is heartbreaking to think about the people who could not communicate before this technology was invented and how frustrating they must have felt that they had the words within them to speak, but could not verbalize them.  I know this is just one example of how assistive technology is helping people.  No matter what equipment is used, when you can enhance the learning and everyday living of someone - that's priceless.




Thursday, November 12, 2009

Assistive Technology - Module #1


I was very excited to begin the Discovering Assistive Technology Learning Program.  We are learning so much new technology, but we can't forget about the individuals who need adaptations to technology and programs in order to use them effectively.  I checked out the website on celebrities with disabilities.  It is amazing to read about them and learn how they handle and cope with their disability.  One of the most amazing to me was learning about the actor Jimmy Stewart's stuttering.  I never realized it before, but he did show signs of stuttering in his movies and it became part of his charm as an actor.  I just thought that was his acting style.  It is great that there are so many assistive devices and techniques to help those with limitations.  I have noticed in school settings, that accomodating others' needs can actually benefit everyone.  In my daughter's classroom at school, there is a child who is hearing impaired.  The school purchased a special microphone for the teacher, and so the teacher's voice becomes clearer and louder through the device.  The whole class has benefited because they can now hear the teacher more clearly. 

Discovery Exercise #1
After reading through the National Federation of the Blind's website and reviewing their videos, I have a better idea of the types of resources available for the visually impaired.  If I had a blind child in my mathematics classroom, I would begin by getting a Braille label maker and labeling the things in the room that the child would need to use or need to know to participate fully in the class.  I would also purchase manipulatives so the class (not just the student) could do hand learning.  I would provide other necessary equipment such as Braille rulers, talking calculators, talking software and books to give the student the same learning capacity as the other students.


Discover Exercise #2
I took a webtour of the Job Accomodation Network.  It is exciting to see that there is information for both employers and employees about disabilities and accomodating those disabilities in the workplace.  I then went to the National Center for Learning Disabilities website.  I was amazed at all the information on the website.  This is a resource that all teachers should be aware of.  Just looking at the accomodations page, there were 15 suggestions to help students in the classroom - and they were fairly easy to implement.  Then, there are a ton of ideas on the effective teaching practices page.  I don't think teachers should feel like they don't know how to accomodate children with disabilities after checking out this site.  Using any of the suggestions would certainly enhance how I teach and interact with children with learning disabilities.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Week #9 Thing #23




Yea!  I made it through The 23 Things!  I had so much fun doing all the projects!  I am so grateful for this program and the creators who made the process easy to follow and provided such wonderful activities.  I learned so many things.  I think my favorite discoveries were Image Generators, RSS, Rollyo, LibraryThing, and all the great links to available resources!

Going through this program has helped me realize that I don't have to be afraid of technology.  It is there to help me, and there are plenty of tutorials on how to learn and use the technology.  The biggest thing that I will take away from this experience is that I need to stay in the loop of technology.  When I hear about something new, I need to investigate it and find out if it is something I want to use!

I think the only thing that could have been better about the program is for the links to have all been current and working.  There were some links that sounded interesting, but they just weren't available.  Those links should be replaced.  I would definitely be interested in other discovery programs!  They are nonthreatening and a wonderful way to enhance your skills and knowledge.

Week #9 Thing #22

Wow!  I was so excited to see that there are sites where you can get ebooks and audiobooks for FREE!  I spent a lot of time navigating throught the different websites to see what was available - it's like having your own library right in your home!




In the library where I work, we just set up a listening station where students can listen to a story while looking at the book.  I think this is a great way to encourage beginning readers!  We don't have any ebooks though, and we don't have any audio books to check out.  I think a major reason why we do not is because of money.  I was surprised that I have never heard about these sites before that offer free books.  I only started listening to audiobooks last year.  My family and I took out a couple of books for our annual seven hour trip to Cape Cod.  I found it very hard to concentrate in listening to it with four other people, and I found it nearly impossible to drive and listen at the same time.  I did enjoy listening to a story I had already read - it made concentrating a lot easier.  We listened to Anne of Green Gables.  I also had to listen to some audiobooks for a previous class.  I did find those enjoyable while sitting by the pool on a hot summer's day.  I definitely see the benefits of ebooks and audiobooks and think they would be a great asset to any library.

I checked out the the World Ebook Fair site.  It didn't seem very user friendly, but I think if you browse the site enough you would become more familiar with what is available.  I liked looking at the different collections to get a better idea of the types of books the site offers.  I also checked out The Ultimate Guide - the best places to get free books.  You could spend hours looking through all these sites!  They provide great classic books that can be downloaded in a variety of formats.  I chose to download Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen from ManyBooks.  I found that particular site very user friendly.  It had popular picks, pictures, categories and recommendations.

The one thing I am not sure about with these free books is if a library could download them, or are they for personal use only?  With monetary resources on the decline, that is something libraries should check into.

Week #9 Thing #21

Podcasts are something I've heard about, but I've never subscribed to one before.  I was excited to start using them.  After reading week 9's instructions, I went to the Yahoo tutorial link.  I was disappointed to see that Yahoo didn't provide podcasts anymore.  I then headed over to YouTube to look at one of my favorite learning devices: Podcasting in Plain English.  Then, I checked out the three links given to find podcasts:
1.  Podcast.com
2.  PodcastAlley.com
3.  Educational Podcast Directory

I spent a lot of time on these sites.  Because listening to podcasts was something I've never done before, I really didn't know where to start.  I just kept browsing around and checking out different categories to see if anything caught my eye.  I finally decided on setting up an account on Podcast.com.  I subscribed to Young Adult Literature Reviews.  I thought that would be a great way to keep up-to-date in young adult literature.  I think podcasts can be a great asset to the classroom.  We are so used to watching videos, I think listening can be great for sparking the imagination and enhancing listening skills.  Check out the link below to hear the podcast I chose! Also, I think it's great that podcasts have an RSS feed that can be put right into my Google Reader - now I will know when there's a new episode without going to the actual site!



I also would love to have students create their own podcasts!  There are so many tutorials on creating great podcasts with minimal equipment.  Learning becomes so alive and personal when students can create their own work and become part of the teaching process.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Week #9 Thing #20



Okay, going on YouTube to complete an assignment can actually end up taking hours!  It is so much fun to look around at what people post and videos that bring up good memories.  I looked at some of the videos listed for this week's assignment.  There are many cute videos to watch.  The listing for commercials gave me an idea of a commercial I wanted to find.  It was a video of Fonzie (from Happy Days) getting a library card.  I remember hearing that after the airing of that commerical, the number of library cards issued soared.  However, I couldn't find it on YouTube - I was a little disappointed.  I then stumbled across this video of Mo Willems.  I love his books!  I chose this video because I love seeing a connection between a favorite story and the person who wrote it.  I also think that giving students the opportunity to "meet" the author lets them see that authors are regular people just like them!

I like the idea of using videos and video clips in the classroom.  There are many different possibilities - like using someone else's video, creating your own to post on the site, or having the students do video projects for class.  My biggest concern with the site is allowing students access to it.  Even though there are some great videos on the site, there are even more that would not be appropriate for a school setting.  I would be anxious to hear how teachers have dealt with the issue in their classroom.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Week #8 Thing #19




I was excited to learn about LibraryThing.  I like the idea of keeping a catalog of the books I have and to share with others the books I think are noteworthy.  I also think it is a great way to explore what others are reading who have the same interests.  There seems to be a lot of facets to LibraryThing.  I took the tour and think the site would be a great way to connect with other book lovers!  LibraryThing Local seems like a great way to know what is going on in your area.  I am going to keep exploring the site - expecially the groups, talks and author chats.  I love the blog widget!  Here is my catalog for books that go along with my Coin Designer Webquest.  The books I chose were in other members' catalogs.  They ranged from 7 to 63 members.  Enjoy!

Week #8 Thing #18


I kind of went about this week's assignment a little bit backwards, but that ended up being a great thing.  I was working late last week (while watching the baseball playoffs) and I was finishing up my Webquest assignment.  I had made a rubric for the Webquest, but I didn't know how to get the rubric onto my webquest page - you couldn't attach a file, you could only post a link.  I tried a couple of things:  I saved the document in html, I saved it in pdf, and I saved it in jpeg to somehow get this document onto my page.  Nothing worked.  I asked my husband, "How do you get a document to become a link?"  He said he didn't know.  I didn't give up - I knew there had to be a way.

I remembered Google Docs as a choice for the Web 2.0 project.  I thought - that has got to work!  So, I took a quick tour of the site and then uploaded my document to it.  I clicked on the button to get the link for that document.  Yeah!  It worked.  I then tried the link (after signing out of Google) and - Uh Oh - it didn't work unless you signed into Google.  So, I went back in and figured out that I had to change the settings to be able to share with everyone.  Once I did that, and made some changes to the document, I was happy with the result!

Then, after I submitted my Webquest, I was on a roll with my assignments, so I thought I would check out Week 8's assignments.  I was so excited to read that it was about Google Docs!  The main reason I was excited was because I saw a problem and I found a way to solve it - while learning technology!  I didn't feel intimidated by the technology, but saw it as a way to accomplish the things I wanted to do.

Here is my link to my rubric for my Webquest from Google Docs.  I also checked out some of the videos for Google Sites.  I think there is definitely potential for using that as a school library media specialist.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Week #7 Thing #17

I enjoyed playing in the sandbox on the Classroom Learning 2.0 Wiki!  At first I wasn't sure what to do.  I checked out the different pages, looked at the m+m avatars - Very Cute, looked at some pages that didn't have anything on them and then posted my Webquest.  As I'm sitting here at 11:30 p.m. watching the Phillies, or I should say listening to the Phillies while I am working, I thought, I'm supposed to be playing in the sandbox, and here I am not even watching the playoffs.  So, I had an idea to ask everybody who they are cheering for.  I am hoping people will edit the wiki and play along.  I also posted a poll on this blog to see who everyone is cheering for.

I definitely see the benefits of wikis.  They are great for any type of collaboration.  I like looking at examples of wikis to get ideas for the classroom.  I also like wikis for providing help for teachers!  I think it's great when an educator comes up with a good idea and is willing to share it!  I like the idea of doing a virtual book club and having different pages of the wiki set up for characters and plot discussions!  I think the possibilities are endless.

This week my class was to create a WebQuest.  You can check them all out in the Classroom Learning 2.0 Sandbox

Week #7 Thing #16

I love the idea of wikis!  I used one for the first time in one of my classes to create a library budget.  It was great to not keep sending emails to other members in my group to discuss things and approve changes.  We just got on the wiki, edited it, and kept working.  I think wikis are such an asset to group projects.  Students can work on their project at their convienence.  It is such a time saver when everyone is busy and have tight schedules.  I think this is a great place to start when introducing technology into the classroom.
For an introduction to wikis, I enjoyed the video Wikis in Plain English.  It really shows the basics for wikis.  Many people have heard/used Wikipedia, but don't know how the true concept of wikis works.  This video provides a good introduction to those who are going to be using wikis. 
I checked out some of the wikis listed on the Classroom Learning 2.0 Week #7 Thing #16 page.  Some of the links I looked out were no longer available, however I still found some interesting wikis that I explored.
I liked: 
Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki - What an awesome way for Librarians to find out things that work for them.
AND
Teacher Librarian Wiki - I checked out the Very Cool Ideas section, Links to other wikis and New Librarians just to name a few.
I will definitely keep these as resources to use when I become a school librarian!

Monday, October 12, 2009

Week #6 Thing #15


I checked out the some of the information about Creative Commons.  I really enjoyed watching the youtube video Wanna Work Together? and reading the Copyright Comic Book written by law students at Duke University.  Copyright is such an important issue - but it is very hard to understand.  I like anytime pictures or video can enhance the written word.  I am a visual learner so the content becomes so much clearer for me.

One of the articles I read about Library 2.0 was Web 2.0 Where will it take libraries?  I agreed with the author, Rick Anderson's analysis on what libraries have been and what they will need to become.  He says that in the past, libraries were the only place to get information.  But now, information is everywhere.  Libraries need to adapt to the users' needs and meet them where they are.  I already see libraries changing so much and think about all the changes that are to come.

I had never really thought about how different library catalogs are from searching on the internet.  Through this course, I am beginning to realize why people would choose the internet over the current library system for their needs.  My eyes were especially opened about this topic after reading Chapter 8 - Folksonomies and User-Based Tagging of Courtney, N. (2007). Library 2.0 and beyond.. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.  I realize that the library catalog, a traditional taxonomy, can seem rigid and "unfriendly" to a user.  On the other hand, a folksonomy (a term I had never heard before) is changeable and certainly "friendly" because it comes from the users.  The library, wthich has always boasted that it is there for the patrons, must make the patrons believe that it is something that is actually theirs.  This will only come from using the tools that users are most comfortable with.  In essence, Library 2.0 is the direction that libraries need to go.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Week #6 Thing #14

Technorati is an amazing site.  I cannot believe that they track approximately 50 million blogs!  I think I could spend all day searching this site.  I tried looking up School Library Learning 2.0 and Classroom Learning 2.0 with quotes, without quotes, in Blog Posts, in tags, and in the Blog Directory.  The results were WAY different.  This tells me that if you want to find something you may have to try several different avenues before you actually get what you want.  I enjoyed looking at the tag clouds - something I did not really "get" before reading this weeks information. 
I also explored popular blogs, searches and tags.  It was surprising to me that the most popular blogs only had about 5,000 followers.  I thought it would be much higher.  I like the idea of tagging - I think it can help find information on topics you are interested in.  One of the down sides of tagging is not providing enough tags.  Ideally, I guess bloggers should actually provide several tags instead of just one, so more people can find your content.  I like that the site also lets you set up Watchlists for your favorite tags.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Week #6 Thing #13

I love the idea of social bookmarking.  I had heard of Deli.cio.us, but I had never checked into it before.  When I was reading up on it, I first clicked on a link for a beginners guide to the site.  Unfortunately, the link did not work.  I then clicked on the link for Several habits of wildly successful Deli.cio.us users.  I was really surprised that the article was dated 2005.  I had no idea it had been around for at least 4 years!  The article was a great place to start.  I then checked out SJLibraryLearning2 Deli.cio.us account.  I played around with a couple of the tags and found 100 free Library 2.0 Webinars and Tutorials.  This was very interesting and I bookmarked it for future reference.  I also looked at some of the library tags to see what was available.  I then did some general searching and looked at some tags of personal interest.
I think using social bookmarking can be very valuable.  Specifically, I like that you can find your favorite sites regardless of what computer you are on.  While I typically use one computer, I can see this being very valuable for students in a school setting.  Also, I like the idea of researching a topic and seeing what other people have tagged under the same topic.  It can really provide paths that I might not have thought about before.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Week #5 Thing #12

The idea for Rollyo is wonderful for the educational environment.  Too many times teachers give students an assignment which requires them to look for information on the Web.  The sites searched are not always sites that can be trusted with accurate information.  Creating a list of websites that students may search within is a great idea.  I definitely would use Rollyo to know that my students were going to sites I trust.  I did have a problem with the slowness of the site.  I spent hours on the website - at least half of the time was waiting - I was using Internet Explorer.
I chose to create a list of sites on learning about money for elementary aged children.  Learning about money is a requirement to living in the real world.  I know the importance of this from being a math teacher and working in a retail setting for many years.  Now, I see how kids struggle with learning about money, making change, and adding different coin values.
Here is a link to my Rollyo : Money4Kids

Week #5 Thing #11

I enjoyed looking through the list of Web 2.0 Award Winners.  There were many sites that I have been on before, several more that I have heard about but never tried, and many more that were completely new to me.  The one that really caught my attention was LuLu.  This is a site that lets you actually publish your work.  So for all of us who want to write a book, or just put together a photo album, or put together a book of poems written to you, this is the site you want.  You can use different templates on the site to enhance your work, and you can choose the layout of the book and the binding that you want.  Not only can you publish your work, but you can sell it, and you can buy works published by other people.  The site also lets you purchase an ISBN number and walks you through the steps to get your published work in bookstores.  I think this would be fun for personal use and in the classroom.

Week #5 Thing #10



I had way too much fun with Image Generators.  I used ImageChef and the poster generator to create a poster of my girls on the first day of school.  I may have to get a hard copy of that.  I then created the graffitti on the sidewalk.  I love to walk, so I thought it would be fun to think about writing on every sidewalk I've ever walked on!
I also used ComicStripGenerator to create the Foghorn Leghorn Comic.  I think comic strips are great to use in classroom settings!  I can definitely see how image generators can really enhance your teaching and the personalization of your library.  I also think they can be create for students to use for different projects.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Week #4 Thing #9

I went on a couple of the suggested sites for finding different feeds to subscribe to.  I liked Edublog and subscribed to the best library blog from the award-winning blogs.  I spent some time reading the posts on that blog and think I will learn a lot from that one.  When I clicked on the link for library blogs, I got an error message that said that page was no longer available.  Some of the sites, like Topix.net, seemed a little confusing to use.  I also checked out Technorati for news feeds and wasn't getting the results I wanted.  I probably need to take the tutorial to find out better ways to search.
I had already done some searching on the google reader for Thing #8  for different sites to subscribe to - I found the searching on google reader to be very user friendly.  After subscribing to a few feeds and then checking them out, I decided against them and unsubscribed to them for various reason.  Also, when I did get some results, I decided against some that said they average 8+ posts a week.  I am so busy to begin with, I didn't want to have a crazy amount of information being thrown at me. 

Week #4 Thing #8

I love the idea of RSS feeds.  I had heard about them before, and even subscribed to a site, but didn't realize that you needed a reader for the feeds to go to.  I set up the google reader for the simple fact that I already have a google account.  I was excited to see that all the blogs that I am following for class automatically went to the reader.  I love this way of looking at things.  It is so much easier to check everyone's blogs.  Before, I would keep checking back on the blogs to see if there was any new information.  Now the information comes to me.  It is such a time saver!  I also subscribed to my local paper.  Can you believe that the first new article from my paper was about the public library's funding being cut?  I was glad I got to read the article.  I then subscribed to a couple of sites with library ideas and lesson plans.  Another site I subscribed to was a listing of Pennsylvania library jobs - hope I get one soon!  The only down side I see is that if you subscribe to too many feeds, you get bogged down looking through all the material.  I guess you have to set up folders for the different types of info you receive to handle all the information.  Well, I gotta go check my reader!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Week #3 Thing #7

Let's just say I'm a blossoming flower when it comes to technology. I have known about many of the different technologies available via the Web but have never spent time using them or learning about them. However, starting my Master's degree in Library Science has forced me to learn the ins and outs of these new technologies. I am having so much fun experimenting with the different sites. Blogging is fun, Facebook is addicting and Flickr involves a whole new world of possibilities.
I just discovered the DVR. I had to replace my VCR this summer - it was having technical difficulties. Anyway, I always dreaded setting up recordings for my favorite shows or trying to hustle the kids to bed before Survivor started. Now, with the press of a button it does it all for you (well, it doesn't put the kids to bed for you). I can put the kids to bed by 8:15 and still be able to watch an 8:00 show all the way through. Ah, technology - I love it. Well, I gotta go set my recordings for Survivor - Season Premier!

Week #3 Thing #6

As I was playing around on Flickr and looking at all the different tools that can be used, I first decided to try out the poster maker on http://www.bighugelabs.com/.   The site had so many different options.  I liked the idea of creating my own magazine cover.  The picture on the magazine cover was taken this summer at my house.  I love decorating with the American flag, so I thought a magazine celebrating patriotism would be fun.  I think this would be a fun tool for the classroom.  I also stumbled across a few other mashups that would be fun to try.  One was called Bubbler which can take your pictures from Flickr and make a comic strip out of them.  The other was called Captioner which will add captions to your pictures.  I like the thought of using these tools to help with my creativity (or lack there of).  I can see myself using them as a way to promote different activities and materials in the library.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Week #3 Thing #5

I had a great time exploring Flickr! I didn't have an account before, but it was easy to set up! I love that you can tag a picture and then search tags on the site to find what you want. I also like that there are groups of things that can be searched. I love daisies, so I searched for groups on daisies - there were quite a few! I had fun looking at the beautiful flowers. I took my own pictures at the library today - check out the previous two posts to look at the pictures. It was easy to upload them to Flickr and very easy to post them directly into my blog!

Book Overload! Week #3 Thing #5


Library 002
Originally uploaded by jeeblla
This is a picture of a day without technology. Take a look at the computer - see how there is nothing on the screen? Yeah, the system is down. Now look at all the books on the counter. Those are all the books that need to be checked in - but, we need the computer for that. It is hard to live without technology in the library. Hopefully it will be up and running tomorrow!

I'm A Star! Week #3 Thing #5


Library 003
Originally uploaded by jeeblla
Our library's theme this year is "You're a Star"! Everytime the students bring their books back on time they get a star punched into their library card. After five punches, they get their picture taken as a star!

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Week #2 Thing #4

Registering my blog took about 30 seconds to do. I love when tasks are easy! I feel like I need to press the Staples Easy Button! "That was easy!"

Week #2 Thing #3

Creating my blog was fairly easy. I had set up one before for another class. The most difficult part was remembering my username for the site. My blog is fairly basic. I would like to play around with some new templates in the future to make the blog more attractive - but for now I'm going to concentrate on the tasks at hand.
I then went to create my avatar - a term I had never heard before. It was exciting to create ME. I just wish there were more choices for accessorizing - HA! Creating the avatar was also pretty easy. The problems came about when I wanted to export it to my blog. Several times the computer closed down - before I saved the changes to my avatar. Oh well, I just had to go shopping for some new clothes again. I thought the directions to export into the blog were a little sketchy, but eventually I got it. Yea! - I learned something new!

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Week #1: Thing #1 and Thing #2

I am studying for my Master's degree in Library Science through Clarion University.  My current class is called New Technology for Educators.  Part of our assignment is to go through the Classroom Learning 2.0 - 23 Things project.  This blog will record my experience with the 23 Things.

I love to learn! I love getting a syllabus, organizing all my materials, setting up a schedule for my assignments, etc. It never fails, I get excited about each new course I am taking. Given all those facts, I would say I am a lifelong learner. Of course, I got very excited about the 23 Things. I love how it is all laid out and it is done in bite-size pieces so the learner does not get too overwhelmed. I am also excited because even though I know how to do some of the projects listed, there are some that I have never tried before. So, I know that I am going to enhance my technology abilities and I am thrilled to know that I will not be in the dark about some of these things much longer.



I had never read the 7 & 1/2 Habits of Lifelong Learners before.

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

While I think I incorporate all these habits in my life to varying degrees, I think the easiest one for me is to view problems as challenges. I know that when I do not know how to do something, I do not want someone to just do it for me. I want someone to teach me how to do it so that I will know how to do it the next time. Can you believe that my hardest one is number 7 1/2? I feel like I have so much on my plate, and I am very goal oriented, that I just keep going and going and don’t take time to play. This whole last year I hardly had time to do one of my favorite activities – reading. Then, for the young adult literature class, I had to read – and I had so much fun reading great stories. Even though the readings were for a class, I found the joy in doing something I love to do! I have to remember to keep playing!