Thursday, February 21, 2008

Thing #3 again
I intended to respond to some of the prompts...and then clicked Publish before I looked back at my open windows.

Though I keep up on current library and literature issues via friends, publications, and favorite websites, RSS will allow me to target my interests and needs, as well as opening up other options for learning. For librarians and teachers who don't read much or do not have literary connections, I think RSS would be ideal for getting fast, applicable reading.

I liked entering search terms in Google Reader's Add a Subscription box. I could revise my search and try things that better matched what I wanted. I also looked for specific author and illustrator blogs. Most of the people I would want to read don't have one!

I'll have to wait to answer whether others should add any of my choices to their feeders.
Thing #3 RSS
Really Simple Syndication. I agree that it was simple, and I liked the description of it being my own personal magazine rack. I would get addicted to reading too much if I subscribed to too many, so I limited by numbers in anticipation of that. What's amazing is how specialized I can make my searches...still, I'm always a bit concerned about the blogs out there where people probably should not be writing what they do for all to see. A high dose of caution is in order before trusting what one reads.

I look forward to seeing what comes my way based on the choices I've made. Already, I read about books and events that are intriguing.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Thing 2 - Library 2.0

Where will I find the time to do this? Certainly not at work. I debated trying it during my lunch time...but that would mean eating at my desk which means I'm visible to staff and students. Thus, there would be no time. Instead, I must do this at night after the kids are in bed or on weekends when they are otherwise occupied. I do find/make the time to exercise, and this is no different (except the reasonable cost) than my formal coursework. I will take time to learn about things new to me.

I'm really not certain what I hope to learn. There are many terms I've read, things I've heard discussed, ideas about which I've wondered. This will give me the opportunity to learn first-hand and discover what my own children might want to do/be doing, as well as what might work for my library. The 23 Things will open my mind to options and possibilities, some of which I have not explored.

The vast array of information and options available due to the Internet has changed my work life immensely. The information sources available for students, the resources for teachers, the links to authors and illustrators, and the questions about what is appropriate for elementary learners grow daily. I try to keep staff members informed about things they might want to see and use, so previewing and searching for them are daily activities. Students in my elementary school gravitate toward book content first, and our circulation and highly relevant collection (to the student interests and to the grade-level content) affirm that. In the lab, they are learning to wonder about what is authentic information and what might need scrutiny. That's a hard thing to teach young children, and I think we use ELM databases to help guide their choices. I can bring so much to students through the Internet that was unavailable prior to its prevalent role in society.

At home, I have taken many online courses, communicated with my peers about course topics, planned events, participated in discussions, done countless hours of research, and enjoyed photographs, video clips, and communication from friends and family. When I'm out in the wilderness on vacation, it feels odd to come back to the computer, but in daily life, it feels strange to be without a visit to my e-mail account each day.

My knowledge about many of the Web 2.0 tools is minimal. I have heard of most things but not done anything on my own (LibraryThing is an exception). In our library, we use virtually none of the tools. I don't see that changing much in the elementary school setting for a while.

I look forward to discovering possibilities and considering how I might integrate tools into library life. Mostly, I think it is essential that I understand what older students and public library colleagues are using and doing. I like the partnership I have with the public librarians, and they understand what I do for and with my students. I want to learn about the extensions of information options they use currently and will use in their setting with patrons of all ages.

Monday, January 28, 2008

Thing 1

Choosing an Avatar was addicting. I could play with combinations for longer than I should. What I had a difficult time doing was figuring out what content to use when adding it to my blog (now I know it's html/java). It felt like what my kids do when they create player profiles in PS games.

Getting Started

Like my students, I needed to read carefully. I did not follow the correct instructions and now know why my blog was not posted with the other Metronet blogs.

Looking through the Things, there are some I know and have experienced and some I need to learn. This will be a good night-time learning program.