Thing # 21 Podcasts and Videocasts B

I created this video with animoto. You may create 30 second videos for free. To create longer videos with additional bells and whistles, you need to establish an account and pay for the service.

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Giving the ability to students to create their own videos that allows them to express their ideas and knowledge ina personal way is a powerful tool, whatever platform they chose.

Thing # 23 Summary

At the beginning of the summer, a fellow colleague suggested we do “23 Things” together again. I convinced VB to let me participate, and the other person flaked out on me. I was hoping to convince several colleagues to join me in the journey, and I managed to persuade three (thank you Michele, Nannette and Barbara)! I felt the program has changed somewhat since I first participated two years ago. To summarize

What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?

I think I am most excited about the wiki, the blog and delicious. I understand their use in the classroom to save time and to promote learning in the classroom environment.

How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?

I think it has increased my frustration because I realize more and more that I will NEVER be finished! There is so much knowledge, so many tools and applications and my little brain gets so overwhelmed. I think my frustration comes from just trying to stay ahead of it all and do a good job with my day-to-day tasks.

Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from the program that surprised you?

The concepts in “creating community through commenting” and “Technorati”: for me these tools and idea are very frustrating; being overwhelmed all the time by all this technology; the tools, the blogs, the e-mail account, the passwords and the ids just are too much to manage sometime. I was surprised, and more than a little happy, that I just said no! As I have already expresses, not everyone’s opinion is worth reading, and some opinions should be kept to yourself!

What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?

o Do not ask the participants to sign up for anything they; make it an optional part of the “thing” being discussed.
o Keep all the like tools together (i.e. blogs (nings). Introduce them all together and let the participant chose.
o Have a section on selection: which tools seem to be the best from an educational perspective and are best suited for use in the classroom.
o There needs to be a discussion about which tools are most appropriate to introduce at which grade level?
o There needs to be more commenting/communication between the participants.
Maybe small groups could be created or people assigned specific participants they need to react on for each Thing?

If we offered another discovery program in the future, would you chose to participate?

Yes. You have 11.5 Things I believe and I expect to do that next summer.

How would you describe you learning experience in on word or one sentence?

My words are frustration and overwhelmed; not words you can use to promote the learning experience. However, you can say challenging and thoughtful.

Thing # 22 Nings

Ning (www.ning.com) is yet another social networking BLOG site, that allows the user to "create custom branded soc ail networks." Ning puts a emphasis on blogs that are of an entertainment, political, small business, non-profits, and education nature. The link below is for Project LIBS, a social network for a group of HISD Masters students at UNT.

http://libsfellows.ning.com/profile/GlennDeering

Thing # 21 Podcasts and Videocasts A

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Thing # 20 Explore You Tube and Teacher Tube

I think most of us are familiar with the benefits of utilizing YouTube and/or TeacherTube video's within out classroom From current events, historical perspectives and science experiments, the amount of video instructional materials are limitless. Videos should be viewed to determine their appropriateness and applicability to the subject being taught. I tried numerous time to embed a YouTube video - it wouldn't work! Just as well, my district blocks YouTube anyway. Other great sources for videos are Discvery an PBS. I am not having any luck embedding a TeacherTuve video either. Must be opeartor error!

Watch the full episode. See more In Performance at The White House.

Thing # 19 Web 2.0 Award LIsts

Consider these questions when organizing your thoughts. What is special about the tool? What are its useful parts, especially with regards to Libraries and school? How might you use this tool in your own setting?


My Heritage (http://www.myheritage.com/) is a free gemological research site. This site will assist you with your gemological research. The BASIC plan is free. You get all the bells and whistles with the PREMIUM plan. If you are already using Ancestry.com, this is certainly redundant since it offers many of the same features! This tool is special because it gives the user the opportunity to develop a basic family tree for free. This could be used in the classroom for students learning about their family histories.

Pandora (www.pandora .com) is an online RADIO site. You select the music genre or singers you want to listen to and the site develops a personalized playlist. This site is FREE; I have been a member for sometime. The special thing about this site is it is free and provides access to an unlimited source of music. In the classroom. it could be used as a way to introduce different genres of music to students and to establish an ambiance conducive to reading in the classroom!

Spanishpod (www.spanishpod.com) is a site where you can learn to speak Spanish! "A convenient way to learn Spanish that combines audio lesson podcasts with web & mobile study tools." 850 sample lessons include everything from taking a taxi to ordering dinner to intriguing office dramas, focusing on the practical. It is NOT free, but the site does offer a free 7 day trial! This tool is interesting because it offers downloadable podcasts of Spanish language lessons. For students struggling with their acquisition of a second language, this might be a good reinforcement tool!

Thing # 18 Online Productivity Tools

Open Office is really a great tool. It gives the user the ability to create, edit and access their documents/spreadsheets from anywhere the have access to the internet. Occasionally a patron will come into the library with a file in a newer MS Word document version. Usually I can convert the file into an Open Office format that allows the patron to update their document.

One of the great features of google docs is the ability for multiple users to work on the same document at the same time. I just did this last night during a video chat on tokbox for an HISD professional development class called Digital Communication. Its a great way for collaboration. It also stores the documents on a central server, saving storage on your own computer and allowing access by the collaborators.

Thing # 17 ROLLYO

Rollyo allows the user to create customized search engines. Teachers can pre-select the sites students search, saving the students time and narrowing the scope and focus of the information retrieved.

On the other hand...this limits the student's exposure to much of the information, and can color the student's perspective.

I created a new search for RESOURCES, ideal for fourth grade; a starting point. The search is public under gdeering.

Thing # 16 Wikis

As a graduate student,I used wikis to complete group projects. Students uploaded their PowerPoint presentations. The group then critiqued them, made comments and edited their own and other members presentations. Then end products were truly collaborations.

As evidenced in Thing # 15 , there are many ways to use wikis with class assignments, eliminating paper and lots of e-mails. At an ICT conference I attended in Keystone, CO in late June, the participants used a week to communicate their ideas and resources. Now there is a record of our experience at the conference that we can continue to utilize as a learning tool.

Thing #15: Web 2.0, Library 2.0 and the Future of Libraries

The video, a vision of students today, highlights the fundamental challenge that faces educators today; how do we present the content to the 21st century student using the tools with which they are most comfortable and adept?

I read the following blogs/articles and selected the following points and/or quotes that I thought were significant:

Michael Stephens: Into a New world of librarianship: "User-centered libraries breakdown barriers and allow users access wherever they are: home, work, commuting, school, or at the library."

• Librarians plan for their users
• Librarian 2.0 embraces Web 2.0 tools
• Librarian 2.0 controls technolust
• Librarian 2.0 makes good, yet fast decisions
• Librarian 2.0 is a trendspotter
• Librarian 2.0 gets content

In Rick Anderson's blog entry, away from icebergs, he expresses his views on topics he views as obstacle for libraries and librarians, feeling that librarians need to take a look at these issues and "re-think" their approach for the success of their libraries in the 21st century.

• The “just in case” collection


• Reliance on user education


• The “come to us” model of library service

I like the way Dr. Wendy Schultz breaks down the "ages" of libraries...

• Library 1.0: Commodity The library from Alexandria to the industrial era:


• Library 2.0: Product How should the library package its commodity—books—as products


• Library 3.0—Web 3D to Library 3D: Service There are SecondLife3 subscribers who spend more than forty hours a week online, immersed in its virtual graphic world. Digital natives take 2.0 for granted; they are buzzing over Web 3D.


• Library 4.0, the neo-library: Experience

David Warlick's 2 worth

Students

• understand and use technology systems.
• select and use applications effectively and productively
• troubleshoot systems and applications.
• transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies.

http://teachingeverystudent.blogspot.com/

http://rpc.blogrolling.com/redirect.php?r=bdf2c67a5de2e69d0cdbb135965ca8c3&url=http%3A%2F%2Fteachingeverystudent.blogspot.com%2F

http://teachingeverystudent.blogspot.com/

http://rpc.blogrolling.com/redirect.php?r=bdf2c67a5de2e69d0cdbb135965ca8c3&url=http%3A%2F%2Fteachingeverystudent.blogspot.com%2F

Thing # 14 Technorati

STOP! I am overwhelmed! The last thing i need is to sign up for one more thing that is "free" (nothiong in life is free)! or "it only atkes a second"! I don't care! We are constantly bombarded by free sites, services, blogs and social networking tools! Find the handful that work for you, use them and be an individual - stop following the crowd!

Thing # 13 Tagging and Discover Delicious

I first used delicious in grad school, but abandoned its use when the class it was introduced in ended. My goal this summer is to update my bookmarks on delicious and to begin using the tool effectively. You can check out my bookmarks by accessing my delicious account, "gdeering".

Digg is a place to discover and share content from around the web, from the smallest blog to major news outlets. Everything is submitted and voted on by Digg members. You only need to join if you want to vote on the topics.

Furl has the cool feature if e-mailing selected text to people. Magnolia seems mysterious and makes you feel as though you are joining a secret club; you have to request the information about joining (and all the links on the tutorial do no work).

I found it interesting that I only recognized three or four of the most popular social bookmarking sites. Then I checked out the 20 most popular blogs and only recognized The Huffington Post and TMZ! What's up with that? Question: I know that Linkedin http://www.linkedin.com/ is popular with business people; are there a lot of educators or librarians who use Linked in?

Thing # 12 Creating Community Through Commenting

I am about as excited about this "thing" as I was about blogs and news feeds! However, I will do better - maybe. I thought 10 Techniques to Get More Comments on your Blog (http://www.problogger.net/archives/2006/10/12/10-techniques-to-get-more-comments-on-your-blog/) made some good points. Inviting comments, asking questions, be open-ended, interact with comments left, set boundaries, be humble, be gracious, be controversial, reward comments and make it easy to comment all seem to be valid points for a serious blogger to keep in mind. I especially like the setting of boundaries; outlining what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior in a blog, or anywhere, (like it is not acceptable to call the President a liar during the State of the Union address). And the whole things with blogs - everyone is entitled to their opinion...but some opinions should be kept to yourself! (Which may be indicative of why I an not a big fan of blogs in general!). Blue Skunk's "some comments about commenting" also has some great suggestions to for maintaining a good response time.

"Blogging Basis 101" was off topic: get tickets to WBNA for Family fun? Well alright. But probably worth reading again later on.

I read and commented on the following blogs....

onderwijeres, http://onderwijzeres.blogspot.com/

Michele Investigates, http://michelerawson.blogspot.com/

Library 2.0 - 23 Things, http://ortizlibrary.blogspot.com/

Carrie's 23 Things, http://mysummeroflearning2010.blogspot.com/

Martin's World, http://msmartinstechnologytool.blogspot.com/

Two other blogs...

http://groups.diigo.com/group/edtech - this blog was created by a technology instructor with HISD professional development and is related to a course I am taking online t his summer called digital Communication.

http://parkerpages.wordpress.com/2010/06/20/old-spaghetti-factory/ - YEARS ago I worked as a waiter and then manager at three different Old Spaghetti Factory restaurants (Salt Lake City, Portland and Hollywood). The Hollywood restaurant has been closed for several years. I was hoping to find a blog where former employees gathered to exchange stories and memories.

Here is a blog I created about the 21st Century Learner and the use of web (library) 2.0 skills and tools: https://mail.houstonisd.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=75d1372b82d8441da652994f89afbfc9&URL=http%3a%2f%2fdigicomsummer2010.wikispaces.com%2f

It might be helpful to read the accompanying article...

a day in the life of web 2.0 by David Warlick, http://www.techlearning.com/article/13980

3 Steps - I had to put this somewhere for now...

Thing # 11 Library Thing

You could take hours inputting all the books you have read or want to read with this tool. You can share your ideas about books and join groups where you can discuss your favorite books and abhors - like an online book club! I could add the title for the HISD Name That Book contests, giiving students and parents an online tool they can use and not have to keep up with a list! I added a few titles...have a look!

Thing # 10 Having Fun

I looked at several of the tools. Many of them could be used in the classroom environment. I especially like the comic strip applications, which middle school and high school could use extensively. An important thing to remember is the size of the photographs - nothing too large; you have to think ahead about which pictures you want to use and re size them so that they can be uploaded. My favorite tool is wordle. The unfortunate thing is that you can only save them to a online public server. I had to print mine and them scan it so that I could upload it.

Thing # 9 Blogs and News Feeds

Ugh! Maybe it is just where I am in space ant time, but this is my least favorite thing. I have my doubts about trusting the opinions of every crackpot that has an opinion to express, and I don't have time to surf lists of blogs that are lists of blogs! I want news and information, not uninformed opinions. Some of the comments on topix.net were incendiary and stupid - there is too much of that going around. I understand that the task is to identify which tool will best assist me weeding through the mindless to get to the blogs and sites of information I might need, but I find it all so frustrating! To play nice, I subscribed yo edublogs with the hope that there might be something there I could use (http://blog.paulwalk.net), but it appears to be a place to vote for your favorite blog (guess what? I don't care!). The link to School Library Blogs on Suprglu is broken. Technorati looked promising but lists only the top blogs with no explanation of what they are about that I could see.The Technorati Tutorial - you have got to be kidding me!? On Atomic Learning, I found a link to the 21st Century Skills Teacher Assessment; this looked interesting but the demo required a life history that I didn't want to provide. Maybe I need to go back to bed! I seem to be a little grumpy this morning! The "How to crete your circle of the wise" link quotes C.S. Lewis: "The next best thing to be wise oneself is to live in a circle of those who are." I'm not sure I trust internet bloggers as a whole to provide the wisdon I seek. I did find this blog through twitter that looks good: http://booksquare.com/the-future-of-print/

Thing # 8 RSS Feeds

The thing I like about RSS feeds and readers is that I have control over the information, and it should save me time. In the school environment, possibly you could use the feeds for current events, blogs of interest to students that relate to projects and assignments, to promote discussion. Personally, it should be a big time saver, because I can peruse content I have already selected without wasting time surfing the net. Libraries, teachers and administrators can take advantage of this new technology first, by being aware of it and sharing that knowledge with their staffs and students. Libraries, teachers and administrators can be open to the use of RSS feeds in libraries and classrooms. Teachers who are innovative and tech savvy will find lots of ways use the RSS feeds to support the curriculum content in their classrooms. Administrators can use the RSS feeds to communicate to their staffs about topics that are of interest to the staff! I have shared several items in google reader to a public page, but I am not sure how you veiw it?

Thing # 7 - Cool google things

Lots of things to look at this morning. I did refresh my "igoogle page". In the classroom setting you might set your page up to include links to a quote of the day or a math problem of the day and display it as the first activity of the day on your smart board. Having headline feeds should generate discussion about current events. Even movie listings would generate discussions about the pros and cons of certain films. I visited the google calendar. When I opened the calendar I found that I had made entries before - in 2006! What a flashback! I updated the calendar and may continue to use it. My principal may have the faculty use the Outlook calendar this year. Two calendars seems redundant, unless I keep business calendar and a professional calendar. Since I can barely maintain one....
Google Earth is a great tool that students like to use. One of my GT teachers used the tool with her students while discussing The Odyssey to identify the historical places from the epic poem. I have Picasa on my laptop at school. However, since I set up a photo album on flickr, setting up a Picassa album seems rather redundant, since they have the same function. I have made a couple of preemptive attempts using google docs. It is a great tool! HISD Library Services staff is very good with this tool. That's all for now!

Thing # 6 - Mashups

Been away for awhile and I need to get on this. Mashups are a bit confusing for me so i need to take some time to wrap my head around them! Flickr Color Pickr is a great resourse for students; it can be used in the library as an alternative to google images for photos. Students can search and find more personal and recent examples. Bookr is another interesting tool. In the library it can be used to support online research projects. In my library it can be used to support our reading motivation contests (Bluebonnet and Name That Book). Mosaic could be uses like a VENN diagram or to bring together images that support a specific theme or idea. I used Mosaic for this...

Thing # 4 - Reddux

I added the avatar - now don't you all faint!

Thing # 5 - Flickr

I have had limited experience with Flickr in the past. I know there are tens of thousands of pictures that can be viewed, and copied. If you need an example of a Roman arch or Greek villa, there will be one available. I uploaded some pictures of the recent landscaping of my back yard; some azaleas, water lillies too and pictures of bluebonnets and a rattler I got off the web!! It is under "smacksflicks" in flickr! The picture on the left was downloaded from The FLICKR Commons. It is the path down to "Bogey Hole", a beach and swimming area in Northern California near San Francisco!

23 Things #'s 1, 2 and 3 and 4

I have read the THINGS up to # 4. I have created my blog, as you can see. The avatar has me stymied? Where do I put it...but that will come. I glanced at The Seven Habits of Successful People! I have read it before, but will check back. The last thing to do is to register the blog. Here we go!

Thing # 4 is completed: I have sent the e-mail to register the blog.

23 Things - the second time around

Is it summer yet? Friends who should remain nameless, but no doubt will eventually reveal themselves, have convinced me to "play" again this summer! Any why not, except for jury duty (yikes!), a trip to Keystone for a PYP conference and rearranging my libirary, I have plenty of time on my hands! At least I don't have to be concnerned with classes! This will give me an opportuntiy to hone my skills!