A Haiku for You...
I like the wiki
It helps me collaborate
Won't you try it, too?
My students are currently studying different forms/elements of poetry. One way the wiki could be used with my students is for them to upload their poems to the wiki and share them with their classmates. These exchanges are likely to encourage conversations on the various forms of poetry, as well as, the different subjects the students have chosen to write about. They are able to ask their peers questions and develop a deeper knowledge of the subject.
The downside to Wikis is that once a user has permission to edit the content on the page, they are able to change any and all the information available. It's important that students understand this. If they understand this concept, then they will understand why teachers do not let them use Wikipedia as a resource for their research projects!
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Thing #15
Wikipedia describes Library 2.0 as library services that are frequently evaluated and updated to meet the changing needs of library users. It goes on to state that the library user is a significant component of Library 2.0. The user is a participant, co-creator, builder and consultant – whether the product is virtual or physical. I think this idea is extremely important in the 2.0 world. Students must be in charge of their learning. As librarians, we must teach students how to effectively search through information and thinking critically about the information that they find.
I have never heard the term Library 2.0, but it makes sense when you think about the changes that are occuring within the library system. Rick Anderson, author of the article "Away from the Icebergs" states that it can be disastrous when a profession fails to acknowledge and adapt to radical, fundamental change in the marketplace it serves. I completely agree with his viewpoint. If libraries are to continue to be central to student learning, then they must adapt to these changes. Students are engrossed with technology and spend a majority of their day using technology (in some way or another). If we are to reach them, then we must make the information relevant to their life.
I have never heard the term Library 2.0, but it makes sense when you think about the changes that are occuring within the library system. Rick Anderson, author of the article "Away from the Icebergs" states that it can be disastrous when a profession fails to acknowledge and adapt to radical, fundamental change in the marketplace it serves. I completely agree with his viewpoint. If libraries are to continue to be central to student learning, then they must adapt to these changes. Students are engrossed with technology and spend a majority of their day using technology (in some way or another). If we are to reach them, then we must make the information relevant to their life.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Thing #14
I'm vaguely familiar with Technorati because we used it in another "Thing" activity. When I searched "School Library Learning 2.0" using tags/posts and blogs, there were no results. I'm assuming this is not what is expected for this assignment.
Hmmm...I've tried many times to search for the popular blogs on Technorati, but unfortunately I keep getting this message "Technorati's Popular section is currently unavailable." I guess Technorati is in a mood today. The end of Spring Break does that to me, too. :-)
Being able to search for content withing tags and blogs cuts down the amount of search time for users. I think Technorati is valuable in that it connects regular people who are interested in the same information easily. I can see this tool being used by teachers and librarians as a way of getting other educators' perspectives on various teaching techniques and lessons.
Hmmm...I've tried many times to search for the popular blogs on Technorati, but unfortunately I keep getting this message "Technorati's Popular section is currently unavailable." I guess Technorati is in a mood today. The end of Spring Break does that to me, too. :-)
Being able to search for content withing tags and blogs cuts down the amount of search time for users. I think Technorati is valuable in that it connects regular people who are interested in the same information easily. I can see this tool being used by teachers and librarians as a way of getting other educators' perspectives on various teaching techniques and lessons.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Thing #13
Hear ye! Hear ye! I am currently looking for delicious network members! :-)
Tagging is fairly new to me. Although I have heard the term, I have never really used tagging and have certainly never visited a social tagging network. In fact, I didn't even know they existed!
I am now hooked! I looked up the keyword "Big 6" because I am just about to start this process with my 4th grade students. I found some great sites that contained different information. I did not find it hard to come up with different tags, either. I wanted to make sure I understood just exactly what the bookmark was about by trying to be clear with my tags.
The video on social tagging was extremely helpful! I know that this is a tool that my fellow teachers and I can use in the classroom to share valuable websites. Also, this tool would be a great resource for librarians to use and share websites/tools they are using in the library.
The main point I learned from this assignment is that tags make it so easy to find and organize information.
Tagging is fairly new to me. Although I have heard the term, I have never really used tagging and have certainly never visited a social tagging network. In fact, I didn't even know they existed!
I am now hooked! I looked up the keyword "Big 6" because I am just about to start this process with my 4th grade students. I found some great sites that contained different information. I did not find it hard to come up with different tags, either. I wanted to make sure I understood just exactly what the bookmark was about by trying to be clear with my tags.
The video on social tagging was extremely helpful! I know that this is a tool that my fellow teachers and I can use in the classroom to share valuable websites. Also, this tool would be a great resource for librarians to use and share websites/tools they are using in the library.
The main point I learned from this assignment is that tags make it so easy to find and organize information.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Thing #12
I have always been intrigued with the blogging world. Many years ago, I decided to create my own blog where I posted my random thoughts. Every once in awhile someone would comment, but more often than not it was just me posting. It soon became obvious that I was just posting to see my words on the computer and decided to delete it. If I had known some of the tips on how to get those lurkers to comment, maybe...just maybe...I would have one of those Top 100 blogs!
There have been many blogs that I have visited, but never participated in the discussion. One of the reasons I never participated was because I didn't think I had much to contribute. After reading the Passion Quilt post by Meredith Farkas, I realize that if no one ever shared their thoughts, experiences, and ideas, new information would not be availiable to everyone! It is important to share your ideas...even if you think it's not important, someone might find it extremely helpful!
I have posted on many of the Library2Play blogs, but here are the latest five:
1. Books are People Too - Thing #11
2. Blogger Babe - Thing #20
3. Muggle Studies - Thing #6
4. Library Dog Blog - Thing #7
5. Adventures of Luka Blogwalker - Thing #13
One blog that I visit regularly is Jones to the Grindstone. This blog is written by a very good friend of mine. She is currently working on her Master's in Journalism at Harvard University. As a military wife, she began writing for a local military paper and gradually worked her way up to the blog. We met when we were both military wives, so I enjoy reading her perspective on all things military.
Another blog that I visit is Reality Steve. This is where I catch up on all the reality TV gossip. Reality Steve is sacrastic and provides me with a lot of laughts. This blog is one of my guilty pleasures!
There have been many blogs that I have visited, but never participated in the discussion. One of the reasons I never participated was because I didn't think I had much to contribute. After reading the Passion Quilt post by Meredith Farkas, I realize that if no one ever shared their thoughts, experiences, and ideas, new information would not be availiable to everyone! It is important to share your ideas...even if you think it's not important, someone might find it extremely helpful!
I have posted on many of the Library2Play blogs, but here are the latest five:
1. Books are People Too - Thing #11
2. Blogger Babe - Thing #20
3. Muggle Studies - Thing #6
4. Library Dog Blog - Thing #7
5. Adventures of Luka Blogwalker - Thing #13
One blog that I visit regularly is Jones to the Grindstone. This blog is written by a very good friend of mine. She is currently working on her Master's in Journalism at Harvard University. As a military wife, she began writing for a local military paper and gradually worked her way up to the blog. We met when we were both military wives, so I enjoy reading her perspective on all things military.
Another blog that I visit is Reality Steve. This is where I catch up on all the reality TV gossip. Reality Steve is sacrastic and provides me with a lot of laughts. This blog is one of my guilty pleasures!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Thing #11
I found LibraryThing very easy to use. The search engine was clear, simple, and user friendly. I recently joined Shelfari, which is another online book website that allows readers to catalog and organize books that they have read. Both LibraryThing and Shelfari allow users to create goups and join groups to discuss their favorite books.
Searching for different book groups on LibraryThing was very simple, as well. I looked through several groups, but ended up joining only one group. I chose to join the group "Biographies, Memoirs and Autobiographies" because I am a HUGE fan of memoirs. This group encourages readers to share their favorite memiors, autobiographies, and biographies so that others can discover new and interesting books.
I think LibraryThing, as well as Shelfari, are great tools for students to use to review and recommend books to their peers. Adolescents are very interested in social networking sites. Well, with these websites, students can enjoy the social networking with their friends, while learning and understanding more about their reading.
Searching for different book groups on LibraryThing was very simple, as well. I looked through several groups, but ended up joining only one group. I chose to join the group "Biographies, Memoirs and Autobiographies" because I am a HUGE fan of memoirs. This group encourages readers to share their favorite memiors, autobiographies, and biographies so that others can discover new and interesting books.
I think LibraryThing, as well as Shelfari, are great tools for students to use to review and recommend books to their peers. Adolescents are very interested in social networking sites. Well, with these websites, students can enjoy the social networking with their friends, while learning and understanding more about their reading.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Thing #10
One of my favorite sayings has always been "Bite Me!" Well, I felt this heart graphic was very appropriate with tomorrow being Valentine's Day. At ImageChef, I found this candy heart graphic and entered the text I wanted to appear in the hearts. I'm not sure that this site has any educational value, but it was fun to play around with!
I also created an image using one of my favorite image generators...Wordle! With Wordle, the user simply types in the words he wants to be displayed and the computer chooses a random display of the words. The user can change the display, font, and colors to match his discretion. Many of my students use Wordle to study for their spelling words. They think it is fun to play around with the words, but they are learning at the same time!
Finally, I have created a glog using Glogster. I created this glog as a sample to show my students for their Big 6 project that they will be researching in a few weeks. The students will be researching a famous Texan, so I created a blog using a famous American...George Washington. Glogs are extremely easy to put together. There is a basic menu that pops up with different choices (text, images, etc.). Click on the item you want to enter, choose your image or font, and there you go. I think making a glog will excite the students into learning about their famous Texan and sharing it in a fun way with their peers.
I also created an image using one of my favorite image generators...Wordle! With Wordle, the user simply types in the words he wants to be displayed and the computer chooses a random display of the words. The user can change the display, font, and colors to match his discretion. Many of my students use Wordle to study for their spelling words. They think it is fun to play around with the words, but they are learning at the same time!
Finally, I have created a glog using Glogster. I created this glog as a sample to show my students for their Big 6 project that they will be researching in a few weeks. The students will be researching a famous Texan, so I created a blog using a famous American...George Washington. Glogs are extremely easy to put together. There is a basic menu that pops up with different choices (text, images, etc.). Click on the item you want to enter, choose your image or font, and there you go. I think making a glog will excite the students into learning about their famous Texan and sharing it in a fun way with their peers.
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