Week 7: Microblogging

Well, I Twittered....and I can't really say I liked it.  I guess I went in with a bad attitude as I am always hearing on the radio that so-and-so "star" made another one mad with a tweet---or that such-and-such star just ate a piece of pizza.  I can see it brings people together on a much quicker timeline...but do people really need to know every second of my day?  And more importantly, is it that noteworthy?  

The list of recommendations and the search tools did make it easy to find people of interest to follow.  I joined:  sljournal (School Library Journal), shannonmiller (an elementary librarian), and kkliegman (an elementary librarian.)  While the "shorthand" did make it easy to skim postings, it also made some of them a little too coded for me to understand.  I found a few links helpful but would say it was only 10% helpful.  

Not sure I'm going to be able to find a use for this one in  my career--and pretty sure my mind's made up on this one :(  

Week 6: Tagging & Social Bookmarking

Beware--Delicious = time suck!  I was a little familiar with the idea of bookmarking from ikeepbookmarks.com.  I had created a site for my kindergarten students and families.  Ikeepbookmarks did require a password for them to access.  I like the Delicious site as you can access from anywhere and see what others have tagged that correlates to your own ideas.  It seems pretty user friendly.  I could see this being useful in my work setting as I could give staff and students my username and they could explore the sites on their own.  Classroom teachers could easily access sites I have used with the students in the library.  This would add to the collaboration abilities between myself and the computer teacher. 

My username is:  pathey if you decide to jump down the rabbit hole too!

(so far I added some audio book sites and game sites--remember I am K-4) 

Week 5: RSS & Feed Readers

I chose Google Reader as I had already set up some subscriptions through it for a co-hort assignment group and more importantly, I use that log in/password a lot so I won't forget it!  I also thought the Google Reader page didn't look too daunting (...my resident, tech-expert-husband already uses it so I can get his help too!) 

After doing some key word searches, I added "Union Hill Elementary School Library" and "Smithville Elementary Library" to my subscription list.  I thought these two sites could provide me relevant resources for my school library and had creative and neat sites that I could aspire to creating. 

Week 4: Photo Sharing

Author:  Mo Willems

This image came from Picasa--credited to Roxanne Feldman.  http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/view?q=%22mo%20willems%22%20pigeon&psc=G&filter=1#5623827625761223250

I chose this image because I think Mo Willems is brilliant!  I am excited to see that a new book is on its way?!  

I had some difficulty with inserting the photos.  When I tried "from a URL" it would not insert from either Flickr or Picasa.  I had to download the image to my computer and insert from there.  Helpful tips??? 

Week 3: Online Meetings

I participated in a 2009 SirsiDynix archive of "Revitalizing the Library Experience" by George Needham and Joan Frye.  Although this presentation was more aimed at public libraries, I was able to gain some useful themes for my elementary school setting.  Librarians need to get to know their customers so they can layer the library experience for them by time, use, and discovery process.  The library should provide a "predictable passage" through milestones people face through their ages.  Libraries should celebrate reading diversity and all the ways our customers are using technology to access information (again making me re-think my initial point of view from weeks 2's online communities)!   We should also strive to create alliances for the common good.  I can work with the other elementary libraries in my school district and the local public library. 

As far as this online webinar/meeting format:

• This  server made it very easy to open and run. 
• I had the option to rewatch any segment, fast forward if it wasn't applicable to me, and stop if I felt this wasn't a topic I was interested in. 
• The location and time of the original meeting would not have been possible--but now 2 years later I can benefit from the presentation all from my kitchen...and for FREE! 
• I had the comforts of home:  snacks, comfy clothes, RR breaks, etc.

I can see this format really growing over the next few years as more and more people have access to technology.  Teachers could post lessons for students to re-watch.  Trainings and inservices could be archived for new staff.  This technology really does help make the world a smaller place.

Week 2: Online Communities

I am an avid (and self-proclaimed) FB stalker.  I chose this site due to its popularity with my social circles and easy usage.  I have used this community to connect with old friends, share photos, and research wedding and travel opinions.  I can see myself using this site in the future to share personal updates, find social events, and continue to seek out "friends".  

Being a librarian in a K-4 elementary building I am not sure I see this being successful directly with students.  First, there is an age limit to sign up.  Second, there is not much security as to what others can post that you then view when you are their friend.  Third, I teach in a Title 1 building so many of our families may not have personal computers.  I would love feedback if anyone has tried this in an elementary setting--having parents sign up?  I could use it to post library policies, book recommendations, upcoming events, etc...   Well hmmmm, now I may be changing my own mind! :) 

I believe Educational Technology is...

much more complex than I thought!  I have been confusing the definition and equating it with "technology in education" and "instructional technology/media".  These articles helped me change my definition to include:

**  all resources that can be used to facilitate learning

**  problem solving and theory in regards to human learning

**  practicality and open-ended for change in technology

**  personnel and training

On a side note--while reading the Part I: A History of Instructional Media--the portion on instructional television immediately took me back to my childhood days with Sesame Street.  I use youtube clips today in my classroom and often think if more young children were watching this type of TV rather than some of the choices on today they would enter school with so much more background knowledge!