Wouldn't you know it? Last post, tried to put in a cute animated picture from ImageChef and the html code won't work. Fussed with it a bit and still not working, so no pretty pictures for the end.
Wonderful staff development experience and I liked the "go at your own pace" speed. It was fun to be doing it with a group of colleauges from both EPS and MHS. Lots of different experiences, insights and thoughts. Lots of fun conversations about possible uses of various 2.0 programs in different settings.
But now, I'm done and am looking foward to having a little more time to read BOOKS!
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Thing 22: What Did I Learn Today?
Today I learned that vocabulary makes a difference. My librarian friend Ron asked me if the area high schools used the ELM databases. Recently he had a conversation with a friend from Minitex who thought schools weren't using them. Here's the thing . . . we are. We are using the state provided databases like you wouldn't believe. My neighboring high school media colleagues and I make have links to all of them on our school library web pages. Here's the deal. We don't use the ELM interface, rather we link directly to the databases themselves.
I explained to Ron that the ELM welcome is very user friendly and has a public library feel about it. In my school, as in most of the classic lake schools, over 85% of our students are college bound. We teach the students how to access the databases by their names and talk about when and why you would use each type. College libraries are set up the same way. In that regard we are intentionally training our students for college library use. I showed Ron a couple examples of school library web pages. He saw the common theme and remarked that they were set up much like his college library web page.
So, it all comes down to vocabulary. We are using the same things, but just calling them by different names.
(Mike, I think is the post where I am to pledge allegiance to things library and web 2.0-ish. I'm uncertain about a formal pledge, but I will continue to keep my eyes open, keep reading professional materials including the feeds at bloglines and even try new things once in a while. I can't promise though, that my Luddite skepticism, better known as practicality, will take a complete leave of absence.)
I explained to Ron that the ELM welcome is very user friendly and has a public library feel about it. In my school, as in most of the classic lake schools, over 85% of our students are college bound. We teach the students how to access the databases by their names and talk about when and why you would use each type. College libraries are set up the same way. In that regard we are intentionally training our students for college library use. I showed Ron a couple examples of school library web pages. He saw the common theme and remarked that they were set up much like his college library web page.
So, it all comes down to vocabulary. We are using the same things, but just calling them by different names.
(Mike, I think is the post where I am to pledge allegiance to things library and web 2.0-ish. I'm uncertain about a formal pledge, but I will continue to keep my eyes open, keep reading professional materials including the feeds at bloglines and even try new things once in a while. I can't promise though, that my Luddite skepticism, better known as practicality, will take a complete leave of absence.)
Thing 20: Libraries and Social Networks
So I joined Facebook. I signed up a couple of weeks ago and have not taken the time to upload a picture yet. Three invitations were issued to close friends and those dear hearts were kind enough to "friend" me. Since then, I've also been "friended" by folks I haven't seen in years.
Already, I feel like I'm back in junior high and wondering if this is the day you're supposed to wear the sweater with the "V" on the front or on the back. Are we pinning pants this week or not? In the end, I hated all those social pressures and would just wear what I wanted to wear. Facebook is little bit like that for me. Am I being witty enough? Did I choose the right picture? Who is this person? Do I know them? ARGH--what a time and energy drain! I have a Linkedin account for professional things and even with that, I hate making the decisions of whether or not I "link" with people. Last week I received a request to "link" with a woman who isn't a very nice person. Do I link with her because we have mutual friends? If I say no, will that lead to an uncomfortable conversation at an upcoming cocktail party? ARGH!
I'll continue to work with Facebook and even post a picture. My college class is having a reunion this year. I put together a wiki for us to use, but have since learned from the college, that they prefer for us to use Facebook for these things. It was the recent graduate who works in the alumni office who emailed me with the news. On a positive note, two his office mates who are further up in the leadership were introduced to wikis via our class page and were even willing to give them a try!
About using Facebook at school . . . my superstar librarian friend put together the Myspace page for HCL. I talked with him about schools doing such a thing, but because of the parameters of school and other concerns, he advised against it. This spring, I revisited the idea with some of my library kids. I asked them if they used Facebook or Myspace. Most had Facebook accounts. I asked them if they would use a school library Facebook page as a a way to get at the online resources the school provides. Their faces held looks of confusion (apparently the school and personal worlds were about to collide) and they told me they wouldn't. "You already taught us how to find those things. Why would we use Facebook for that?" Why indeed, though I do think it's a brilliant use of social networking by the public library system to connect with kids--meeting them in "their space."
Already, I feel like I'm back in junior high and wondering if this is the day you're supposed to wear the sweater with the "V" on the front or on the back. Are we pinning pants this week or not? In the end, I hated all those social pressures and would just wear what I wanted to wear. Facebook is little bit like that for me. Am I being witty enough? Did I choose the right picture? Who is this person? Do I know them? ARGH--what a time and energy drain! I have a Linkedin account for professional things and even with that, I hate making the decisions of whether or not I "link" with people. Last week I received a request to "link" with a woman who isn't a very nice person. Do I link with her because we have mutual friends? If I say no, will that lead to an uncomfortable conversation at an upcoming cocktail party? ARGH!
I'll continue to work with Facebook and even post a picture. My college class is having a reunion this year. I put together a wiki for us to use, but have since learned from the college, that they prefer for us to use Facebook for these things. It was the recent graduate who works in the alumni office who emailed me with the news. On a positive note, two his office mates who are further up in the leadership were introduced to wikis via our class page and were even willing to give them a try!
About using Facebook at school . . . my superstar librarian friend put together the Myspace page for HCL. I talked with him about schools doing such a thing, but because of the parameters of school and other concerns, he advised against it. This spring, I revisited the idea with some of my library kids. I asked them if they used Facebook or Myspace. Most had Facebook accounts. I asked them if they would use a school library Facebook page as a a way to get at the online resources the school provides. Their faces held looks of confusion (apparently the school and personal worlds were about to collide) and they told me they wouldn't. "You already taught us how to find those things. Why would we use Facebook for that?" Why indeed, though I do think it's a brilliant use of social networking by the public library system to connect with kids--meeting them in "their space."
Thing 19: Podcasts
If I weren't marrying a charming man who insists, nay, demands a speedy Internet connection at home (As if it were a constitutional right, which I do not believe it is, well, that is until we have Constitution 2.0!), here's the thing that might just push me to upgrade from dial-up all on my own!Of course, once the downloadable book vendors figure out how to download books onto my Ipod, well then that speedy Internet connection will really be the bees-knees!
(Yet again, further proof that tattoos really out to be well thought out before being inked and in most cases, better not seen!)
About podcasts, I get them. We've had some small successes in our building with them, though just one or two teachers really interested in trying them. I am grateful, Mike, that you have helped with these projects and are familiar with Audacity. I have also read about them in educational magazines, the articles emphasizing the importance of pushing the learning beyond the classroom walls. Again, understandable, but the high school skeptic in me wonders who is listening to these regularly, other than family members? (You know, the fourth graders from Nebraska. Fun, weekly shows, but core audience?) Maybe my frustration comes from the technology a little bit, but more so wanting (some) teachers to raise the bar for the quality of the type of project students are doing?
Thing 18: YouTube & Other Online Video
Like most people, I'm familiar with finding things on YouTube. We have periodic discussions about whether or not to block access for students, but ultimately we leave it open. There are other resources out there, but they don't seem to have nearly the holdings as YouTube. TeacherTube, for example, is a great idea--a place for teachers to post scholastic and school appropriate materials. Problem is, there's never what you need there. This past February, an English teacher wanted to share some Shakespearean sonnets with her students. Couldn't find a thing on TeacherTube, but some fellow record all of them and put them on YouTube.
I played a little bit with Google video, but didn't care for their interface. Also, their search results weren't well compiled. Is there a different algorithm for video searches than for word/text searches? I also looked at the list of other recommended video sources and while the reviews were helpful, none of the sites seemed to be a great fit for school projects.
Disappointing all around, however, is that no one seems to have posted a video for this fine song:
Jimmy Buffett - Love In The Library
On the corner of Government and Bay Avenue
The old doomsday fanatic wore a crown of kudzu
Sirens where wailing in the gulf coastal heat
And it seemed like the whole world was in forced retreat
I paid no attention, revolved through the door
Passed the newspaper rack on the worn marble floor
Near civil war history my heart skipped a beat
She was standing in fiction stretched high on bare feet
Love in the library, quiet and cool
Love in the library, there are no rules
Surrounded by stories surreal and sublime
I fell in love in the library once upon a time
I was the pirate and she was the queen
Sir Francis and Elizabeth the best there's ever been
Then she strolled past my table and stopped at the stairs
Then sent me a smile as she reached for Flaubert
Love in the library, quiet and cool
Love in the library, there are no rules
Surrounded by stories surreal and sublime
I fell in love in the library once upon a time
She gathered her books, walked while she read
Words never spoken but so much was said
You can read all you want into this rendezvous
But it's safer than most things that lovers can do
Well stories have endings and fantasies fade
The guard by the door starts drawing the shade
So write your own ending and hope they come true
For the lovers and strangers on Bay Avenue
Love in the library, quiet and cool
Love in the library, there are no rules
Surrounded by stories surreal and sublime
I fell in love in the library once upon a time
So instead, we'll look to Cookie Monster to help contemplate that age old question of why there are no cookies in the library.
I played a little bit with Google video, but didn't care for their interface. Also, their search results weren't well compiled. Is there a different algorithm for video searches than for word/text searches? I also looked at the list of other recommended video sources and while the reviews were helpful, none of the sites seemed to be a great fit for school projects.
Disappointing all around, however, is that no one seems to have posted a video for this fine song:
Jimmy Buffett - Love In The Library
On the corner of Government and Bay Avenue
The old doomsday fanatic wore a crown of kudzu
Sirens where wailing in the gulf coastal heat
And it seemed like the whole world was in forced retreat
I paid no attention, revolved through the door
Passed the newspaper rack on the worn marble floor
Near civil war history my heart skipped a beat
She was standing in fiction stretched high on bare feet
Love in the library, quiet and cool
Love in the library, there are no rules
Surrounded by stories surreal and sublime
I fell in love in the library once upon a time
I was the pirate and she was the queen
Sir Francis and Elizabeth the best there's ever been
Then she strolled past my table and stopped at the stairs
Then sent me a smile as she reached for Flaubert
Love in the library, quiet and cool
Love in the library, there are no rules
Surrounded by stories surreal and sublime
I fell in love in the library once upon a time
She gathered her books, walked while she read
Words never spoken but so much was said
You can read all you want into this rendezvous
But it's safer than most things that lovers can do
Well stories have endings and fantasies fade
The guard by the door starts drawing the shade
So write your own ending and hope they come true
For the lovers and strangers on Bay Avenue
Love in the library, quiet and cool
Love in the library, there are no rules
Surrounded by stories surreal and sublime
I fell in love in the library once upon a time
So instead, we'll look to Cookie Monster to help contemplate that age old question of why there are no cookies in the library.
Thing 17: ELM Productivity Tools
Minnesota is a great state. It's the 32nd state admitted to the union and one that pride's itself on fantastic public libraries. Hence ELM4You. Each year, I write a note to my state representatives to let them know how useful it is for our students to have access to a wealth of information via these state tax dollar funded databases. There's no way our school could afford all of them. It's simply fantastic that the state provides access.
Back to the assignment . . .
I have user folders at all the databases listed and demonstrate for a wide variety of audiences how to make them, store info, set up alerts, etc. I do like that feature because for many, research is done at a variety of locations and it's very helpful to be able to put all of the findings in one easy to locate spot! To give a quick example, when the online physical education class was being created, I was charged with finding assignments for students to read. I was able to search for articles, find them, dump them in a folder and then easily share them with the teacher, all without wasting paper. Yea!
Back to the assignment . . .
I have user folders at all the databases listed and demonstrate for a wide variety of audiences how to make them, store info, set up alerts, etc. I do like that feature because for many, research is done at a variety of locations and it's very helpful to be able to put all of the findings in one easy to locate spot! To give a quick example, when the online physical education class was being created, I was charged with finding assignments for students to read. I was able to search for articles, find them, dump them in a folder and then easily share them with the teacher, all without wasting paper. Yea!
Thing 16: Student 2.0 Tools
The Student Research Project Calculator is neat and I LOVE that it is aligned with the Big 6 Skills. At our last Big 6 training days with teachers I introduced it, but it didn't get much use. I've been thinking about how best to do some staff development for teachers in regards to student research and would like to cover/review this site with teachers. First step though, will be to put a link for it on our school library page. The teacher support materials are good as well. Laurie, Mary and I have been charged with updating the Info Lit Skills curriculum this summer. The student research guide looks very similar to what we currently have, but the narrowing topic sheet could be useful.
Thing 15: Online Games and Libraries
Ahoy ye mateys! I tried to play Puzzle Pirates this afternoon, but network problems prevented logging on. The round, fleshy pirates looked cute in a weeble sort of way. Certainly the creators and programmers seemed to have fun with their word choices and character creations. My pirate would be named "Bernadette."
Mike, I'm going to take liberty here (nice pirate term, eh?) and count our emails this past spring about the Frontline show as credit for the impact of gaming on teens.
Mike, I'm going to take liberty here (nice pirate term, eh?) and count our emails this past spring about the Frontline show as credit for the impact of gaming on teens.
Thing 14: LibraryThing
This fall will mark my fourth year as a panelist for Booked for the Evening. It's an annual children's and young adult literature review and alumnae/alumni event for St. Kate's. On a late fall evening, four librarians review the best of the best books published in the current year and the Red Balloon Bookshop has copies of said books on hand for purchase.
I've tried different ways to keep track of books for this project, my most favorite is to toss reviews into a folder (usually purple as that is the Katie color) and then review them in the summer as I start to gear up in ernst for the presentation. Last year, my fellow presentor Ashley used LibraryThing and upon her reccomendation, I started to use it for this project.
I like that I can see the book covers and can tag the books I add to help organize by year which titles I present. Also helpful is the comment section where I can start to put together my thoughts for what I will say about each book. Slow to embarce some library 2.0 technologies as I may be, this is one in particular that I enjoy and for which there is focused use and application.
I've tried different ways to keep track of books for this project, my most favorite is to toss reviews into a folder (usually purple as that is the Katie color) and then review them in the summer as I start to gear up in ernst for the presentation. Last year, my fellow presentor Ashley used LibraryThing and upon her reccomendation, I started to use it for this project.
I like that I can see the book covers and can tag the books I add to help organize by year which titles I present. Also helpful is the comment section where I can start to put together my thoughts for what I will say about each book. Slow to embarce some library 2.0 technologies as I may be, this is one in particular that I enjoy and for which there is focused use and application.
Thing 13: Online Productivity Tools
Here's the thing, I'm an organized person. So you'd think that I would love these online productivity tools, but it's taking me awhile to embrace them. My soon to be legally-wed-to-me love and I have a shared Google calendar. It's nice to be able to see things that are going on in our busy lives; I just hate feeling so tied to a computer. There's a certain beauty to pulling out my paper planner/calendar, quick and easy access whenever needed. But that was also when it was just me. Now, there are more calendars to consult. Maybe I need to pony up and buy an Iphone or similar device and service plan that allows me 24/7 access to all these online planning tools, but at the same time, I do enjoy being unplugged several hours of the day!
At Remember the Milk I created at to-do list for tomorrow. It was irritating to ahve to set a due date for each item and to have to manually enter a date. Clicking on the calendar icon did not bring up a calendar. I can see the usefulness of such a product, but in my luddite ways, really do like putting things on a post-it and then crossing them off as I go. And now Mike, before you go and suggest that I look at Stikkit, you should know that I did. It seems to have lots of similar features to Outlook (meeting planning, notes, etc.), but perhaps is intended for people in the broader community.
The ideas and sites listed here warrant some more investigation and perhaps an article in the parent newsletter this fall about student use of online planning/calendar tools.
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