How would you describe this course to a colleague?
An introduction to Web 2.0 tools that provides you the opportunity to actually explore the tools and find ways they can help you in your job.
What was the best part of the course and why?
Having assignments using the tools was the best part of the course for me. I had heard about many of the tools and knew that they could help me in the library, but until the course, I never made the time to actually try them.
What will you take away from this course to use in your classroom?
I plan to use blogs and wikis in the library during the coming year to communicate with students and teachers. I'm sure I will incorporate other tools along the way.
What is one thing you would change about this course for the next group?
I think the course could be broken into a couple segments. A six week class has been a little bit long during the summer even though I enjoyed the learning. I can see there being more interest in a shorter course.
Would you recommend this course to anyone else? Why or why not?
Absolutely! I already have! Librarians in the district have discussed Web 2.0 tools. There is quite a bit of interest, but I think this course is a good way to jump in and try some of those things that we already know are great tools.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Scrapblog
I decided to try Scrapblog. It basically is a free digital scrapbooking program that allows the user to upload photos from your computer or photo sharing account. Lots of scrapbook templates are offered or you can create your own page from scratch. I decided to explore Scrapblog because I thought it might be a fun assignment option for a student project.
Follow the link below to learn more about Scrapblog. Click on the "Take a Quick Tour" link to learn more about this tool.
http://www.scraplog.com/
Below is my sample Scraplog. My fifth graders usually do a project where each student researches one of the fifty states. I thought they could create a scrapblog telling about their state and some of the attractions.
Follow the link below to learn more about Scrapblog. Click on the "Take a Quick Tour" link to learn more about this tool.
http://www.scraplog.com/
Below is my sample Scraplog. My fifth graders usually do a project where each student researches one of the fifty states. I thought they could create a scrapblog telling about their state and some of the attractions.
Week 5 Reflections
What did you learn?
I've explored photo sharing accounts and Teacher Tube before, but Playlist was new to me. It's a great way to incorporate music.
How will you use what you have learned?
I think it will be fun to share photos from library events with teachers and parents by using a photo sharing account. And it will save server space! :)
How did you feel about this tool?
More great resources!
How can this be used in the classroom or in your educational role?
Instructional videos are great tools to use with students and for me to learn new things.
Would you use a shared media like playlist.com?
I'm not sure how I would use it at this point. I'll have to do some thinking about how it could be used in the library.
Should you use this in the classroom or your educational role?
Both
What questions do you still have about these tools?
I tried to post my playlist in a blog post, but it wouldn't work. I could use the same code and post it in the frame of my blog. It's something I'll have to keep exploring.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Teacher Tube Video
This is a fun video about the importance of using sources other than Google and Uncle George when doing research. I think I may use it with my fifth graders who think that Google and Wikipedia are all they need for research projects.
More Library Photos
I uploaded more library pictures to my Flickr account today. I think a photosharing account will be a great way to share pictures from library events with students and teachers. Here is a link to more pictures.
Shared Media
Media sharing is the publishing of photos, video, or other media through social networks such as email, text messaging, blogs, etc. You hold the copyright to any media you create. In order for anyone to use or alter your work, they must have your permission. According to fair use guidelines, a small portion of your work may be used without requesting your permission if certain criteria are met. Creative Commons is a non-profit organization that allows users to choose what level of copyright restrictions they would like to place on their creation. A Creative Commons license is generally less restrictive than a traditional copyright license.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Week 4 Wiki Reflections
What did you learn?
I now have some new ideas for how wikis could be used in schools. I like all the widget options for adding polls, spreadsheets, audio, video, etc. to a wiki.
How will you use what you have learned?
I plan to create a wiki to use in library planning with teachers this year.
How did you feel about this tool?
Wikis are a great resource for collaboration!
What do you not want to forget about this tool?
I want to be sure to remember to use the widgets on my wikis and to subscribe to them using an RSS reader to easily monitor changes.
How can this be used in the classroom or in your educational role?
Wikis are a great tool for planning because multiple people can contribute easily. I know they can be used with students as well, but I need to do some more thinking about how to use them with students in the library.
Should you use this in the classroom or your educational role?
Both
I now have some new ideas for how wikis could be used in schools. I like all the widget options for adding polls, spreadsheets, audio, video, etc. to a wiki.
How will you use what you have learned?
I plan to create a wiki to use in library planning with teachers this year.
How did you feel about this tool?
Wikis are a great resource for collaboration!
What do you not want to forget about this tool?
I want to be sure to remember to use the widgets on my wikis and to subscribe to them using an RSS reader to easily monitor changes.
How can this be used in the classroom or in your educational role?
Wikis are a great tool for planning because multiple people can contribute easily. I know they can be used with students as well, but I need to do some more thinking about how to use them with students in the library.
Should you use this in the classroom or your educational role?
Both
Wikis
I've actually used a couple different wikis during the school year for planning and have found them very useful! A wiki is basically an easily edited webpage that can be open to the public or members only. Below are some wikis that I explored.
RRISD ITS Wiki
The purpose of this wiki is to share job related information and resources. It is very well organized with a different page for each topic. I particularly like the page about TCEA where members shared about sessions they attended at the conference. I think this would be a great idea for librarians to add a page about the Texas Library Association Annual Conference to our wiki. Everyone comes back eager to share what we learned at the conference, but finding time to share is often difficult.
All About Math Wiki
This wiki is a guide for teachers showing how their textbook connects with the Massachusetts curriculum. It also includes additional resources related to the units. I'm sure teachers would appreciate information like this in other subject areas as well.
RRISD Armadillo Readers' Choice Wiki
This is a private wiki that I created for the librarians who are part of the Armadillo committee. As a committee, we selected books that we plan to use with kindergarten through second grade students. We used the wiki to brainstorm lessons to use with the books.
RRISD ITS Wiki
The purpose of this wiki is to share job related information and resources. It is very well organized with a different page for each topic. I particularly like the page about TCEA where members shared about sessions they attended at the conference. I think this would be a great idea for librarians to add a page about the Texas Library Association Annual Conference to our wiki. Everyone comes back eager to share what we learned at the conference, but finding time to share is often difficult.
All About Math Wiki
This wiki is a guide for teachers showing how their textbook connects with the Massachusetts curriculum. It also includes additional resources related to the units. I'm sure teachers would appreciate information like this in other subject areas as well.
RRISD Armadillo Readers' Choice Wiki
This is a private wiki that I created for the librarians who are part of the Armadillo committee. As a committee, we selected books that we plan to use with kindergarten through second grade students. We used the wiki to brainstorm lessons to use with the books.
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