I am certainly more aware of what's out there. I have had a general understanding in the past, but having to actually "do" the things in this program helped to make it more real. I also really liked the informational links provided and the short video segments. Those helped to give integration ideas which are so important.
As for a tool, the file type converter will be awesome! I've already used it. I was never a big blog guy before, but I think I will start that now. It can be a way to connect with my students and staff if I promote it well. Also, the RSS reader will be great to keep up on trends and topics.
Much of my connecting has happened in-district as several of use have undertaken this journey.
There's something about completing all the things that provides an overall understanding that you can't get from just one or two. It was also good to see how many of these tools intersect and interconnect. That is where much of the power comes from.
Yes, I would do this again, but I think I need a little time to better digest what I've now done. As I said, it did take a pretty big time commitment.
The 23 Things On A Stick program has been a great way to stimulate learning and growth among library staff in regards to web 2.0, and it has provided many tools to help us be more productive and to better connect with others. We need to keep up with the ever changing web, and the 23 things has allowed us to do that.
Thanks again for this opportunity!
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Thing 22. What Did I Learn Today?
I resolve to keep up with web 2.0 tools. In fact, we're planning some summer tech training, and one of the courses will be web 2.0 tools. That way I can share what I've learned with my colleagues. Also, by teaching it, I will better remember and keep these tools at the front of my consciousness.
I have a lot of irons in the fire right now with new technology--tech training, new video server, website work, project lead the way, a Moodle online classroom for my independent study students and TV staff, staff websites, etc. but I will find time for web 2.0. I'd like to try a couple new tools each year and really integrate them. I'd like to make my main website page (library research page) the place where I can link these tools. That way students/users would regularly see them. After all, if no one uses them, it's a waste of my time. Again, I think if I do one or two at a time and really concentrate on those, I can better commit to keeping up with them.
Also, I do intend to keep up with my RSS reader. I'd never used that before, but I've already learned several things that way that I'm glad I didn't miss!
I have a lot of irons in the fire right now with new technology--tech training, new video server, website work, project lead the way, a Moodle online classroom for my independent study students and TV staff, staff websites, etc. but I will find time for web 2.0. I'd like to try a couple new tools each year and really integrate them. I'd like to make my main website page (library research page) the place where I can link these tools. That way students/users would regularly see them. After all, if no one uses them, it's a waste of my time. Again, I think if I do one or two at a time and really concentrate on those, I can better commit to keeping up with them.
Also, I do intend to keep up with my RSS reader. I'd never used that before, but I've already learned several things that way that I'm glad I didn't miss!
Thing 21. Beyond MySpace: Other Social Networks
I like Ning. In fact, I like it much better than Facebook or MySpace. It's probably because the network more closely meets my needs. I also find it more user friendly. It is easy to navigate and easy to add elements or use the widgets.
I have used the webjunction site before and have an account there. I like the training pieces and have used some with my paraprofessional for training purposes. The interface is not real dazzling, but I'm OK with that as long as the content is good.
I liked the Teacher Librarian Ning. I might actually start using that one. It's sort of like a list serve, but more personal. There's also something nice about seeing a face with the words. It's much more personal.
I have used the webjunction site before and have an account there. I like the training pieces and have used some with my paraprofessional for training purposes. The interface is not real dazzling, but I'm OK with that as long as the content is good.
I liked the Teacher Librarian Ning. I might actually start using that one. It's sort of like a list serve, but more personal. There's also something nice about seeing a face with the words. It's much more personal.
Thing 20. Libraries and Social Networks
I prefer Facebook over MySpace. I like the increased privacy of it, and it seems a little more mature, even though Facebook is supposed to be open to younger people. My Space seems to have sillier and more raunchy material visibly posted. As I was searching library groups to join, however, I ran into a group about having sex in the library, so I guess neither are perfect.
I joined the Library 2.0 group. That would be interesting. I could possibly get some ideas.
I was able to find my brother and sister-in-law to add as friends. Because of the different networks, it takes a little while to find people you know. Also the email search didn't help too much because I didn't have one of the more commone free emails. I have a school email and a home one from a local network. Therefore, it couldn't search my contacts.
It was cool that Hennipin County Library has over 1200 friends on it's MySpace Page. That's an interesting idea. If you can get kids to join, that would be a good way to communicate. Because it's blocked at school, it wouldn't help there, but it might help at home. I like that it offered way to put the Hennipin Library book search tool into their own MySpace pages. I wonder how they did that. Cool.
I joined the Library 2.0 group. That would be interesting. I could possibly get some ideas.
I was able to find my brother and sister-in-law to add as friends. Because of the different networks, it takes a little while to find people you know. Also the email search didn't help too much because I didn't have one of the more commone free emails. I have a school email and a home one from a local network. Therefore, it couldn't search my contacts.
It was cool that Hennipin County Library has over 1200 friends on it's MySpace Page. That's an interesting idea. If you can get kids to join, that would be a good way to communicate. Because it's blocked at school, it wouldn't help there, but it might help at home. I like that it offered way to put the Hennipin Library book search tool into their own MySpace pages. I wonder how they did that. Cool.
Thing 19. Podcasts
Here is a great podcast on grammar. It's a dull topic, but this podcast is great. As a former English teacher, I appreciate it when someone can make grammar interesting, and this does it. I subscribed to it in iTunes, but I'm not sure I like it when iTunes automatically downloads things. It bogs my Internet down at home.
I was interested in listening to the Saint Cloud State podcast too. They were actually just starting it when I saw a conference session with them at MEMO this fall. The key with these is promoting it enough so people actually listen to them. Otherwise, it's a little discouraging to put in all the work and not have anyone listen to them. I subscribed to this one too.
I've looked at some subscriptions in iTunes too. That's pretty easy to use. There is something for everyone there.
I dug around a little and found the spot to submit my own podcast, but it wanted a RSS feed. I now know more about those, but I don't know how to make one. How do I make a RSS feed, so I could syndicate my own podcasts? We've had students make podcasts at our school using Audacity, but we've only posted them on our local website. That works well for us, but how would we go about making them available for subscription? I'll need to investigate more to figure that out. I believe we can host them locally and still put them on iTunes. Maybe we'd need to enter a new url for each podcast. I also believe there is a way to password protect it. I'd like that too. People could subscribe but only get the podcast with our local password and login. That would make parents more comfortable. I believe Buffalo is doing something like that.
The other thing we post weekly on our website at school is our 10 minutes weekly newscast done by students. It would be neat to put that up on iTunes as well.
I was interested in listening to the Saint Cloud State podcast too. They were actually just starting it when I saw a conference session with them at MEMO this fall. The key with these is promoting it enough so people actually listen to them. Otherwise, it's a little discouraging to put in all the work and not have anyone listen to them. I subscribed to this one too.
I've looked at some subscriptions in iTunes too. That's pretty easy to use. There is something for everyone there.
I dug around a little and found the spot to submit my own podcast, but it wanted a RSS feed. I now know more about those, but I don't know how to make one. How do I make a RSS feed, so I could syndicate my own podcasts? We've had students make podcasts at our school using Audacity, but we've only posted them on our local website. That works well for us, but how would we go about making them available for subscription? I'll need to investigate more to figure that out. I believe we can host them locally and still put them on iTunes. Maybe we'd need to enter a new url for each podcast. I also believe there is a way to password protect it. I'd like that too. People could subscribe but only get the podcast with our local password and login. That would make parents more comfortable. I believe Buffalo is doing something like that.
The other thing we post weekly on our website at school is our 10 minutes weekly newscast done by students. It would be neat to put that up on iTunes as well.
Thing 18. YouTube & Other Online Video
Here is my real attempt at placing a YouTube video into my blog. This one is about promoting reading comprehension. It's an example of something a library could do themselves and post on their website. It would be good PR and it could help promote reading skills in the home, something that would help academic achievement at school.
When I used YouTube here, I was a little surprised at how much junk I got right away. With Library, I got several porno pieces. I had a much easier time searching for guitar playing tutorials, some of which were excellent. I know several teachers at school have been using YouTube videos in their instruction, some very effectively. It was partially because of this increased interest in using them that we purchased a new filtering system which allows us to unblock YouTube for teachers while keeping it blocked for students. At some point, I hope we can block searches within YouTube like we do within Google. We don't block the whole Google because there are bad sites, but we do that with YouTube because there is not a good way to screen and block the bad within it.
TeacherTube is another good site worth visiting.
When I used YouTube here, I was a little surprised at how much junk I got right away. With Library, I got several porno pieces. I had a much easier time searching for guitar playing tutorials, some of which were excellent. I know several teachers at school have been using YouTube videos in their instruction, some very effectively. It was partially because of this increased interest in using them that we purchased a new filtering system which allows us to unblock YouTube for teachers while keeping it blocked for students. At some point, I hope we can block searches within YouTube like we do within Google. We don't block the whole Google because there are bad sites, but we do that with YouTube because there is not a good way to screen and block the bad within it.
TeacherTube is another good site worth visiting.
YouTube Posting Practice
This is not a library video. It's a guitar video on playing the blues. YouTube was having trouble loading while I was doing this project, so this was the only video I had access to. I wonder if YouTube is down right now. Here's a try with this one at least.
Thing 17. ELM Productivity Tools
I did the infotrac search and did not find the rss feed as others noted. I did see the explanation further down on the blog responses as to where it should appear, but it wasn't there either. There was no option to add a search alert.
I did the EBSCO web page generator. It's fairly simple and straight forward although I prefer to use Microsoft FrontPage for my media center web. I could see making some webpages with search results from Proquest, saving them and then linking them off of my media center page. This would be a nice, quick way to add these search results.
I'm curious about using the personal accounts for students. If they each set up a username and password, they could archive their search results for the duration of the research project or longer.
This tool could assist in collaboration with teacher as they could each create an account and build a larger list of resources. These could direct students to the resources they desire them to view. In the same way, this could be useful in getting research out to teachers in the district.
Overall, these databases are invaluable! They are a major staple in my students' research diet. We are so fortunate to have these available to our students. It goes a long way toward shrinking the information divide that could occur between poor and rich library systems and school districts. Information is the great equalizer, and these products go a long way toward equalizing.
I still need to learn more about NetLibrary. I attended an ELM session on this at a conference, but it's still a bit hazy to me. I think the whole process is still being refined to make it more user friendly. It's a little complicated yet--at least to me. Maybe I just need more information. I will continue to look into this.
I did the EBSCO web page generator. It's fairly simple and straight forward although I prefer to use Microsoft FrontPage for my media center web. I could see making some webpages with search results from Proquest, saving them and then linking them off of my media center page. This would be a nice, quick way to add these search results.
I'm curious about using the personal accounts for students. If they each set up a username and password, they could archive their search results for the duration of the research project or longer.
This tool could assist in collaboration with teacher as they could each create an account and build a larger list of resources. These could direct students to the resources they desire them to view. In the same way, this could be useful in getting research out to teachers in the district.
Overall, these databases are invaluable! They are a major staple in my students' research diet. We are so fortunate to have these available to our students. It goes a long way toward shrinking the information divide that could occur between poor and rich library systems and school districts. Information is the great equalizer, and these products go a long way toward equalizing.
I still need to learn more about NetLibrary. I attended an ELM session on this at a conference, but it's still a bit hazy to me. I think the whole process is still being refined to make it more user friendly. It's a little complicated yet--at least to me. Maybe I just need more information. I will continue to look into this.
Thing 16. Student 2.0 Tools
I've looked at research calculators before. The one from ELM is good. I like the U of M one. They are very similar and offer solid suggestions for steps. I've introduced these tools to my English and Social Studies teachers on several occassions,and while they all liked them, I'm afraid none are currently using them regularly. A few have used the teacher materials available and some of the links within the calculators for students to get more examples and help.
I really like the examples for MLA citations on this calculator. I will need to pass that on to my English teachers. I may also link that off my media center page, so students have that guide available to them as well.
The other thing I've found is that the students who need these most do not use them. That's a bit frustrating. I think the remedy to this (at least in part) is go get a teacher to require it's use, so kids buy into it and see it through to the end. I might even try it for our inventory routine or something like that.
Yes, I can see using this in the media center. It would be good for organizing projects that I'm undertaking or my para. We don't do as much writing or researching in this way, but occassionally it could help.
I really like the examples for MLA citations on this calculator. I will need to pass that on to my English teachers. I may also link that off my media center page, so students have that guide available to them as well.
The other thing I've found is that the students who need these most do not use them. That's a bit frustrating. I think the remedy to this (at least in part) is go get a teacher to require it's use, so kids buy into it and see it through to the end. I might even try it for our inventory routine or something like that.
Yes, I can see using this in the media center. It would be good for organizing projects that I'm undertaking or my para. We don't do as much writing or researching in this way, but occassionally it could help.
Thing 15. Online Games and Libraries
We've struggled with the whole gaming phenomenon just as most libraries have. I totally understand that students love games and that game developers are genius in how they motivate players to continue in the game. However, our tax payers get really uncomfortable when they see kids playing games on taxpayer provided computers. As a compromise, I have developed a web page full of links to games with at least some academic nature to them. They could be logic games, history role playing games (BBC has a ton of good ones) or academic skill games (typing, vocab, etc.). Some, like Text Twist, are more popular than others, and I still need to ask kids to log off the "dirt bike over the hill" type games. PR-wise, I just can't allow them.
I tried out the second life option because I was curious about it. I can see where kids get sucked in. It's interesting and much like the other video games they play. The library application are interesting. I'd be curious to see usage stats on this. While it has potential, I don't think I can invest the time it would take to create a virtual library world for my students in second life. Not only that, it would suck up even more of our band width. That may change over time, but for now, I'll let others take the lead on this one.
I tried out the second life option because I was curious about it. I can see where kids get sucked in. It's interesting and much like the other video games they play. The library application are interesting. I'd be curious to see usage stats on this. While it has potential, I don't think I can invest the time it would take to create a virtual library world for my students in second life. Not only that, it would suck up even more of our band width. That may change over time, but for now, I'll let others take the lead on this one.
Thing 14. LibraryThing
This is a pretty cool tool. I need to do some thinking about how to incorporate this into my library web page. Since I'm a high school teacher and don't have regular access to students through a fixed schedule, this may be a way for me to do virtual book talks. I could highlight different books on the main library page each week or month. We're also doing in-class projects with my English teachers. We had talked about a top 10 list from the class. This would be a neat way to post them. I think I'll try that. It would also be a way to post book reviews by me or students. I love that the covers are displayed.
Thing 13. Online Productivity Tools
I checked out each of the home page options. I have had an iGoogle page for about a year now. I like it for getting quick access to the news I want, but I don't like how it slows down my page loads at home. At school with a faster connection, it's no problem, but at home, it can drag. I thought the Yahoo option had some nice features. If I were a Yahoo mail person, I'd like the quick link on the page. There were a lot of quick, easy to follow links on the right as well. PageFlakes was the most interesting to me, however. I loved the NPR iPod feature to listen to their podcasts. It was fast and easy. There was no buffering delay, and by putting in my town and zip upon login, it gave me local news automatically! I got to read about our swim team winning a state relay and the hockey team qualifying for state. That was awesome.
I just got done looking at the calendards, specifically the Google calendar. That led me to lose about two hours. I kept letting myself be led into more parts, like the link to my Google Reader, which led me to a neat candidate survey I forwarded to my social studies teachers. It's a cool tool that is more user friendly than our current GroupWise calendar. My concern would be how to get all staff to use it. Also, if our internet connection went down, so would our calendar.
Remember the milk is a neat tool. We have a task list tool in our current Groupwise calendar. I like that the milk tool can be added to Google calendar. That was smart on their part. It's nice to have appointments and to do ideas on the same page.
The pdf converters were nice to have. We recently purchased the Adobe Production Suite which allows for this with Adobe Professional, but the suite seems to slow our computers down and requires 1GB ram, something not all of our machines have. This will be a nice alternative for converting documents that will be posted to the web.
I love ZamZar. We run into conversion problems a lot. Just last Thursday, a student made a video on her Mac at home for our TV broadcast, but when we brought it into Pinnacle, it wasn't compatible enough in the mp4 format she used. I would have loved to have been able to convert it to wmv. That would have saved a lot of stress. Now we can do it. Sweet.
Overall, there are a lot of products here. I think cutepdf is a must for my teacher workstations.
I just got done looking at the calendards, specifically the Google calendar. That led me to lose about two hours. I kept letting myself be led into more parts, like the link to my Google Reader, which led me to a neat candidate survey I forwarded to my social studies teachers. It's a cool tool that is more user friendly than our current GroupWise calendar. My concern would be how to get all staff to use it. Also, if our internet connection went down, so would our calendar.
Remember the milk is a neat tool. We have a task list tool in our current Groupwise calendar. I like that the milk tool can be added to Google calendar. That was smart on their part. It's nice to have appointments and to do ideas on the same page.
The pdf converters were nice to have. We recently purchased the Adobe Production Suite which allows for this with Adobe Professional, but the suite seems to slow our computers down and requires 1GB ram, something not all of our machines have. This will be a nice alternative for converting documents that will be posted to the web.
I love ZamZar. We run into conversion problems a lot. Just last Thursday, a student made a video on her Mac at home for our TV broadcast, but when we brought it into Pinnacle, it wasn't compatible enough in the mp4 format she used. I would have loved to have been able to convert it to wmv. That would have saved a lot of stress. Now we can do it. Sweet.
Overall, there are a lot of products here. I think cutepdf is a must for my teacher workstations.
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