7+reflections

weekly ( 50 words about what strikes you, what you now realize, something important that you have learned, your questions.... )

I have been given a list of web 2.0 tools most of which I have never seen before and asked to explore them. I need to know about the web 2.0 tools available and better understand them, so I can determine their practicle use in a library setting. These tools seem to be perfect tools for a librarian. Their functions of many of these tools is to create an online "environment" that can be used to collect rss feeds, articles, weblinks, pictures. This environment can later be accessed for the retrieval, editing and to continually edit and add to the collection. Another thing that the web 2.0 tools have to offer is the ability to share information and work collaboratively with others. I hope that web 2.0 tools allow for more creativity and original thought now that people have so much information, easy access and idea sharing capability. lastly I would like to say I was inpired by "animoto" a web slideshow tool to create a short video about a creative project I am doing at home.
 * __Week ending January 29, 2010__**

[] making pinnochio, the video!

Part of my assignment this week was to watch a few "you tube"clips about technology and learning. I found two videos of particluar interest to me, "a vision of students today" and a similar one I found called "a vision of k-12 students today". What I have realized is that teaching and learning has changed very much. What we are teaching students has its use and practicality, but maybe we should be teaching and giving acccess to technology more often in educational setting of all kinds. Certainly the librarian needs to incorporate technolgy into their teachings, but what about the art teacher and the music teacher? It seems that students are exposed to technlogy through their home pcs, mobile and cellular devices, gaming systems and more. It seems like they might be learning more about technology at home? As the defintion of what it means to become "information literate" changes so to will the path to get there.
 * __Week ending February 5, 2010__**

[] a vision of students today [] a vision of k-12 students today

I have been exploring my given web2.0 tool. I think Netvibes is very very interesting, I think this kind "personalized" page can have some serious impact on teaching technologies. I also think it is a good idea for organizing the incredible amount of information we have available to us. I feel like one thing wont change, human nature, either we like it/it interest us....... or it doesnt. Maybe this kind of web interface will help order things for our young people who have too much to choose from, in so many ways! I like the idea of personalizing for the sake of personalizing for "oneself", which seems so differerent than the social networks in which we create a space for "others" to interact with. Netvibes seems to come from within, highlighting our own personal interests for our own sake.
 * __Week ending February 12, 2010__**

I have had experience with using delicious, but I am learning a lot more about it. I was noticing the different ways in which you can locate a "link". You can search by tag, you can search by subject, you can search by "people" or by user. You have the option to choose by popularity, by seeing how many people have bookmarked a particular link. I looked at the bookmarks of "people" such as the gurus of the field and of my own Prof. Chapman. I found looking at the tabs very interesting for several reasons. First of all I need to get some ideas of tab categories. I also noticed that certain tab subjects were more prevalent, and I choose to go to these articles. I think it is very helpful that delicious has so many options when it comes to locating information. WOW.
 * __Week ending February 19, 2010__**

I have begun observing technology used in the library in a primary grade school. The school is fairly new and so the library design was beautiflully thought out. The librarian there uses a smartboard quite frequently. The students seem to enjoy the participation aspect of using the smartboard. I think it is a great tool for a school librarian. Lessons can be stored for use year after year and easily editted. They will be adding a new piece to the smart board technology, with a computer driven device that allows her to teach the lesson and not have to stand at the board. Interesting.
 * __Week ending February 26, 2010__**

I am using windows photo story for assignment3. I am hoping I have better luck with this web tool, than using Jing/ screencast. It appears to have plenty of features and is simple to use, I am excited. I have also learned something this week. I think that when considering using these web2.0 tools you should use what you feel comfortable using and can use well!! There seems to be so many options available, you can always look around for another tool that has a similar or the same function.
 * __Week ending March 5, 2010__**

In response to the online class. I like the topics for discussion of the online class, but was not experienced with the procedure, and so I wasnt sure I was participating correctly. I wasnt viewing a stream of discussion on front of me... rather the links to individual comments. I dont beleive I was doing this correctly. I do believe this would be a good resource to use for high school students. ( however not everyone has a computer ) If I were to use an online meeting forum with students I probabaly would use a smartboard to show them how it works, and what it will look like when they are online. I think I prefer teleconference rechnology to this tyoe of meeting "tool", but that is for gropus communicating with groups. I see a lot of potential in this ind of online meeting forum. I appreciated the subject matter posed by the professor and the well thought out commentary of my collegues.
 * __Week ending March 12, 2010__**

I have been watching the librarian at the site I am observing use the smartboard for some wonderfully simple literacy lessons. The smartboard adds a visual and interesting interactive element to a lesson. The students seem excited to step up to the smartboard, the group participates and watches as their peers step up to the board. It is very interesting to observe this technology at use. I am going to explore this tool, however it does scare me a bit. When I went to school we were still using chalk boards. LOL. I have downloaded smart notebook so that I can explore this tool. An interesting feature, there is a section called "smart exchange" which allows you to search for lessons by curriculum standards, subject and grade. I have saved a 3rd grade lesson on fact or fiction books in my "notebook" .I found it too be very simple looking. I will need to continue my exploration of smartboard technology.
 * __Week ending March 19, 2010__**

Week7 assignments.....How specifically can digital storytelling 'fit" into my library program? how can I connect digital storytelling to my own curriculum goals? How can I promote reading through digital storytelling? how might i engage a teacher to join me in this work? I have read the article by Jason Ohler, "digital story telling", and I agree with the fact that students should be active creators rather than passive consumers of multimedia. Specifically digital story telling can be used in the library to "create" a story or report for a particular assignment. I can connect digital storytelling with my own curriculum goals by:I would like to give the students the opportunity to create a "digital story/ report" as an option for some of their assignments.
 * __Week ending March 26, 2010__**
 * I would like to promote reading throught the use of digital storytelling by modeling the ways this technology can be used to expresss ones knowlege of literature and info literacy. I believe it wont be difficult to engage the students in this interesting medium.
 * I might like to create "digital stories" that will help me with my information literacy goals... like, library rules, how to... use the library, how to....use the opac, how to...take care of your books.
 * I might like to create digital stories that use the idea of "paired readings" the use of a fiction story along with non fiction information too. For example a when collaborating on a unit on immigration, a digital story can be created of a non-fiction picture book for older kids, a second digital story can be created using pictures, timelines and primary documents pertaining to immigration, a third digital story can be made giving detailed instructions to students about the assignment. This seems to be a kind of smart way to conduct a lesson that you might have to do over and over again. It can be shown to future classes, edited and saved for next season.
 * how can I engage the teachers? i can show them examples of the ways in which i think digital storytelling can be used to accompany their curriculum goals.

I am creating a pathfinder on a wikispace as a leave behind project for my LIS690 class. However the district does not use wikispaces, they use eboards. I hear form the tech guy that the teachers dont use it. I am uncertain yet if the teachers can access it from their home. I have a funny feeling they can not. Now wouldnt that be silly if they can not? I would think some training and the ability to access from home might just make this a useful resource. I will be finding out more next week.
 * __Week ending April 2, 2010__**

I think the use of online resources can differentiate learning experiences for students. The endangerd animals weblink on the pathfinder, includes information, pictures, animal sounds, videos, games and all kinds of opportunities to find out more, and "get involved" with a real world issue. I beleive it will appeal to a variety of different learners, exciting them to want to explore and learn more. I think it is possible to find interesting websites that nicely accompany any lesson, the potential really seems amazing. In the library I am interning in they have a big tv hooked up with a computer. I could see having video, slideshows running to accompany the curriculum subjects.

Added 4/9/2010 Yes. I was able to add the "endangered animals wikispace" on the intermediate school's eboard. How cool is that? I have some great recycling websites, and am considering sharing them on the eboard too. Thank you Prof. Chapman for your excellent suggestions you made regarding this project!!

I am creating a blog called the "realia" librarian. I would first like to say I wish that microsoft would recognize "realia" as a word, and not a misspelled word. LOL. I believe that one way children learn is by hands on learning experiences. Children love to explore and learn from real life objects. When children become interested... is often when learning occurs. Since the dawn of teaching we have been learn, by doing and exploring. We become engaged and inspired when we are pleased by the aesthetics of an object or a intersting and/or challenging experience? I propose to bring "realia" and hands on expereinces into the library in order to engage the students interest in reading and literacy. I believe any literacy lesson can incorporate the use of objects, photos, primary documenst and "real life" experiences. I am intending to post ideas and on ways to incorporate the use of "realia" in literacy lesson. I have invited my collegues in LIS629 to subscribe and add my blog to their google reader!
 * __Week ending April 16, 2010__**

Added 4/21/2010 I have one member subscribed to my blog........boo-hooo.

My favorite assignment in LIS629 was the biographical presentation I created using photo story. I enjoyed looking for images in creative commons. I found jing to be an interesting tool and believe I will use it in the future. I did notice that some of the images caused the text in photostory to become blurry. I see that some knowlege in computer graphics and imaging would be helpful. I think it was the size of the picture and how it transfered into the photo story program. I will certainly fix the pictures that are blurry. I also like the fact that this assignment made me me think about all the jobs I have had. I appreciate all the useful tools and things have learned in LIS629. One of the more intersting websites I was introduced to is [|www.tinyurl.com].I think this is a pretty useful tool! How do they do it! LOL
 * __Week ending April 23, 2010__**

I would like to reflect a moment on the topic of internet safety. My LIS629 collegues had some great information and ideas regarding internet safety. I surmised by the discussion that just about every one felt librarians need to be involved in teaching internet safety. I also agree that we should play a part especially because we are having the students use the internet in the library. Students need to be aware of rules and acceptible ethical use of the internet. I do however also believe that most of our understanding about "ethics" starts in the home. I also think that personal character development or being a good citizen should be part of the curriculum. I would like to say that I was not too impressed by what I observed to be the curriculum in my school districts middle school. It seems like a real gray area. I think teaching character development, might just benefit our children more than "greek mythology" Can't the LMS teach that, rather than the classroom teacher anyway ? ( Apparently not ) And why wasnt colonial america in the curriculum this school session? Students can make discoveries about early american laws and government, and influential people who made a difference. They would be learning about a time when people worked hard as an apprentice to learn a trade. Lets make sure we dont remove the subjects that reflect the values of being a hard working, respectable citizen. In this global world, where communicating gets faster and faster, lets make sure we teach our children tolerance of others, and that it takes all kinds to make the world go around.
 * __Week ending April 30, 2010__**

When I started this masters program I felt barely up to speed enough to do word processing. I had little technology confidence and took little risk in trying new things. ( It was a big deal when I got itunes ) I also was not aware of what was available to me. LIS629 gave me the courage, skills and information I needed to feel more confident as a librarian. I am so happy learning the fact that students can express their learnings in such creative ways. LIS629 has made the prospects of being a librarian more interesting and exciting for me than I had first expected it to be. I cant wait to take all the resources I have collected and create a netvibes page! I really needed a place to organize my stuff. LOL. Thank you so very much.
 * __Week ending May 3, 2010__**