Week 9: Thing #23

1. What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?
I particularly liked the Flickr exercises. Images can be so powerful and having additional tools to manipulate them is fantastic. I spent a tremendous amount of time exploring the options in the Flickr toys.
2. How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?
Most importantly, this program got me started on my blog and RSS feed. These were things I intended to do and it got me moving, and immediately using the additional features that I probably would not have gotten to on my own (avatars for example).
3. Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
I was surprised at the ease of use of many of the tools that were presented. Most were very intuitive, leaving me feeling fairly accomplished, giving me a certain degree of confidence.
4. What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?
I thought this program was VERY well done. I felt like there was a great balance of instruction and exploration. I never felt like I needed additional help - everything that I needed was provided for on the assignment page. It was very well thought-out.
5. If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you choose to participate?
Without a doubt, I would participate again in the future.
6. How would you describe your learning experience in ONE WORD or in ONE SENTENCE, so we could use your words to promote CSLA learning activities?
Empowering!

Week 9: Thing #22

I love listening to audio books. That has been my primary "reading" method. Having so many books in the public domain grants so much freedom to readers to "read" both in the traditional format and in the audio format. Having books accessible without special software is crucial. This format will not be preferable to all, but it is a great resource to have.

Week 9: Thing #21

I added LibVib: the library news podcast to my reader. I love that so many podcasts are available free to the interested public, without special downloads or programs. Subscribing to a podcast ensures that you get the most recent episode, without having to check every day. Once again, my accolades to the technology that brings ME the information.

Week 9: Thing #20

Ah, YouTube. There are some great videos out there if you can sift through the heaps of junk to find them. Since I am familiar with YouTube, I spent my time investigating the other tabs that I never take time to look at. I chose a humorous video about annoying patrons. I liked that it used still shots and only minimal shots of real people (which means there weren't usage issues). I can see instructional videos being used on library web pages. As a school librarian, I can see videos made by students, FOR students about policies and usage of the library catalog, for example.

Week 8: Thing #19

I added 5 books to my LibraryThing library. Three of them were pretty obscure, but one that I am reading right now had conversations and reviews that I read. I followed the link to the one other person that had one of the books on their list. There, I found other books that interested me. I use this theory on YouTube all the time. Rather than searching around for individual items, I find one that I like and see who else liked it. From there, I often find libraries of related items. Why recreate the wheel?

Zoho blog

Week 8: Thing #18 - Zoho Writer

This is a great way to word process across platforms.  These days pdfs do the same thing, but they require software that not all parties involved may have.  Both this program and Google docs are very intuitive and user-friendly.  

Week 7: Thing #17

Excused

Week 7: Thing #16

The wiki to document procedures is a great idea. This is a great place to share information that often is undocumented or not regularly updated. I like the idea of having a central location for this information that allows changes to be made by all. I also thought that the wikis for reviewing books were a great idea. That is a great place for kids to contribute their thoughts and ideas and share them with others. I like that no html skills are necessary. Wikis make publishing very easy.

Week 6: Thing #15

Library 2.0 is what libraries have always done - take the needs of the clientèle and match it with the available resources to become a place where one can satisfy one's information needs. The unfortunate piece is that keeping up with the increasing technological demands requires money that might not be present. Needs vary from community to community. What works well for one town may not work well for another. The most important thing to remember is that libraries are at their best when collaboration occurs. Library 2.0 means that a school library will face many changes in software and hardware as these things become available and teachers become familiar with them. Anyone that has spent even a handful of years in the same library can probably attest to the changes in needs of equipment and instruction. The closet becomes full of "old" software and equipment that is no longer in demand. It is an ever-changing place, the school library.

Week 6: Thing #14

In doing a Technorati's search, I located 900+ items when searching "School Library Learning 2.0" for blog posts. Many of the findings were not relevant. My findings were relevant when I searched the tags, but only located 9 items. I then searched the blog directory and found 18 related blogs, including the MSLA blog which then told me it didn't exist (technical error in there on someone's part...) I have mixed feelings about tagging. I like the idea that it aids one in finding other items like the one you are looking at, but on the other hand, if someone is using a different vocabulary, that item will not necessarily be identified.

Week 6: Thing #13

I can see how del.icio.us could be a very useful tool. I tried searching for other topics which lead me to aficionados of those topics, and from their links I found related items of interest. It works just like librarything, on the premise of tagging to guide you to what you want. However, there are many companies advertising and lots of other junk out there. It is rather overwhelming to sift through all the junk to get to the heart of what you want. The idea is interesting and if you can find someone out there that has already done the work for you, you could locate some fantastic sites about what you want. However, so many people seem to be out to get you to buy something. It's a little cluttered for my liking, but I think the idea is interesting.

Week 5: Thing #12

I created my own search engine on Rollyo for the Presidential Election. I selected several sites that I regularly visit for information. As with the RSS feed, I like this tool because information comes to me, as opposed to me going to it. I like anything that saves me a few minutes. This really narrows the results down of what could potentially be a very large search.

Week 5: Thing #11

I explored www.librarything.com. I already belong to goodreads.com and was wondering how the two differed. www.librarything.com is more "librarian friendly" because as you add books to your shelf, it is cataloging them and acquiring this information from libraries and other trusted sources. By tagging your books, you can then connect with others and get suggestions from others with similar tastes in books.

Week 5: Thing #10

automotivator picture
Originally uploaded by wendy.garland

I am just blown away by the number of generators that exist. It is so easy to take a photo and add flourishes to create many different end products. I played with a Picasso generator and checked out several comic generators. There is something for everyone out there. The possibilities are endless for the classroom. Even someone with limited creativity like myself can create an impressive end product. In fact, perhaps this makes it easier for me - there are so many tools and ideas that already exist, so I just have to pick one that strikes my fancy.

Week 4: Thing 9

I added 5 subscriptions to my Google reader. I started by adding a feed that exists on a site that I visit regularly. Next, I decided to do a search for a feed using the various searching tools. My searching for "children's books" and "children's book reviews," I located many blogs, but none of which I felt were authoritative or unbiased enough for my uses. After trying each searching tool and perusing the results, I decided to investigate sites that I was already familiar with, to locate a useful feed. I went to School Library Journal's website, where I discovered that they have many different feeds, directed to different interests. I added several relevant ones to my reader.

Week 4: Thing 8

Setting up an RSS feed reader was very simple. I chose to use Google because I already have a gmail account and blog, using google. This will keep things centralized (and hopefully organized). I have been meaning to set up an RSS feed reader for quite some time. When I first learned about it, I was thrilled with the idea that using this tool, news would come to me instead of me going to it. This creates a digital newspaper, customized just for me and my interests.

Week 3: Thing 7

I am having such a great time with my digital camera. With all the tools that are available, it is so easy now to share, save, and print images in a variety of ways. With a newborn at home and my family and friends far away, it has been wonderful to upload my photos to an online site and share them. I have been using Kodak Photo Gallery thus far, but have been introduced to other sites recently. I had a great time exploring Flickr and all the toys that come with it. Photography is so much more accessible now. Digital cameras provide immediate gratification and there are so many tools to edit and play with these photos with little skill.

Speaking of little skill, I am impressed with the accessibility of blogs. With little skill, one is able to publish for the world to read. No longer does one need some skill in creating web pages to publish. The common thread here is the ease of use. Technology advances, and so does accessibility.

Week 3: Thing 6

My creation
Originally uploaded by wendy.garland

I just spent way too much time on creating a magazine cover. This is great fun! You are limited on layout and cropping options, but what a fun way to create a unique project. This could be used so many ways in the classroom. I felt just like my students though - I got so distracted and obsessed with my "look" and color choices that I forgot I was supposed to be including content. The teacher voice in my head said, "Stay focused," but I just couldn't resist seeing what the different options would do to my creation. There are so many "toys" to play with on Flickr. What a great find!

Week 3: Thing 5

I went to Flickr and created an account after viewing the introduction. I really like the organizational tools available to create sets and groups. This makes so much sense to my librarian-self. Setting up an account was so easy. I decided to upload a photo that I took myself. Sorry - it's not of my library, but I am home on maternity leave and I took a cute baby photo instead (can you blame me? Look at that cute face...) Anyway, I decided to try the Flickr to Blogger route to post a photo. It was so easy to connect the two. I love how easy it was to post my photo!

Hi everyone!

Hi everyone!
Originally uploaded by wendy.garland

This is happy Nora, my three month old daughter, waving hello with her "crazy mitt."

Week 2

So here I am, up and running. Getting my blog set up was very easy. I had too much fun creating an avatar that would represent me well. When I discovered that I could put her on a background, I tied my two loves/careers together and matched my blog's name, "Dancing Librarian." I do not anticipate using my blog the way some do, writing periodically about things going on in my daily life, but I can see me using it periodically to comment on things I've done or seen. It is so easy to create and maintain.

Week 1

I find habit #2 very easy, "Accept responsibility for your own learning." I usually jump into a project with the best of intentions, armed with the necessary tools (books, websites, etc). The best part of the project for me, is often the research and preparation. I love to prepare and get started. The follow-through is not my best asset.

Habit #1, "Begin with the end in mind" is difficult for me. I like to start something new with a short term project in mind, but don't always look at the big picture.

Welcome

Welcome to my new blog. I am a school librarian and dance teacher. Here I am exploring new technology (to me) to use and incorporate in my careers and in my life.