week 9, thing #23, TA-DAH

ESC Learning 2.0: 23 Things, this learning journey filled my technological vas with favorites, with tools that can be incorporated in lessons and at home. One activity led to Pageflakes which I hope to set up with many widgets that will benefit my students, including a Wiki for writing assignments/class projects. I was really taken away by the countless tools and hope to continue to add to my toolbelt. Yet, word needs to get out that the cyber world is not only for searching but for creating. This may lead to rethinking about information, learning, and education. One thing I definitely want my students to do with what they find on the Web, that knowledge/information, is to go further: critique and create something new about it. It will be FANTABULOUS! Yes, FANTABULOUS sums up what I did 23 times. 23 Things!

week 9, thing #22, ebooks and audio ebooks

This has saved many of my students from feeling overwhelmed. With class sets, there is no room for allowing a student to leave with a book. A class set is just that, classroom use only. With ebooks, there is a plan B. Students can catch up on any missed chapters, and there are those, yes about a few, who like to get ahead and do so.

week 9, thing #21, podcasts

This is even better. I like the idea of subscribing to get updated podcasts. I was interested in YouTube piano lessons. Yet, I might be better off with adding the RSS feed for updates for the podcast lessons. I also stumbled upon Grammar Grater and have added to blog list. Grammar Grater is a weekly podcast about English words, grammar and usage for the information age. How appropriate is that on my blog?

week 9, thing #20, discover YouTube and a few sites

If in need of a video that won't take up too much of a class period, I turn to YouTube. It can be used as the focus of a lesson, reinforce what has been covered or as enrichment. It can even be a class project. I find students very willing and creative.
I was curious to see if there were any videos for a book that was covered in class this summer. Sure enough there were about a half dozen or more. Here is the clip for Farhenheit 451:
YouTube - Fahrenheit 451
On a personal note, I may very well look into taking up piano. There are oodles of lessons on YouTube. I wonder what more I can learn from the Tube.

week 8, thing #19, Library Thing

This is a virtual library. I'll keep it in mind. I've posted on my blog's sidebar an author cloud. I hope to add more or perhaps add the widget to my classroom page, Pageflake.

week 8, thing #18, online applications & tools

This is so much what I was looking into, a virtual desktop. I can see my students working on their writing assignments using Zoho Writer. I was wishing for something like this earlier in the summer when students were not able to save their documents. All I had was one USB floating around. What a time saver! Offline, too! All good!

week 7, thing #17, the sandbox

Region One Sandbox -- go ahead and play! The magic password is "library." So, I did. It was easy enough. If I did it, my kiddos can do it. I was even taken by surprise when I received an email telling of an update/edit. Neato mesquito! This is a great tool for English. I can keep tabs on who is contributing.

week 7, thing #16, about wikis

Just as I was about to finish viewing from the list of library wikis, I was taken to another site, another list. It began with The Blogging Libraries Wiki. The purpose of this wiki is to collect links to library blogs. It led me to a list of school library blogs. I went through them all, A-Z. I took notes the old fashion way, and my list of favorites grew. I also must have dreamt of widgets. They are endless as well. Wikis can easily be sold to students. They text now. I can't see why not?! Oh, perhaps the idea of it being for a grade...The seller must be that they'll have fun at the same time, or they can always take out the old paper and pen.

week 6, thing #15, Web 2.0, library 2.0 and the future of libraries

Librarian 2.0 gets content This librarian understands that the future of libraries will be guided by how users access, consume and create content. Content is a conversation as well and librarians should participate. Users will create their own mash ups, remixes and original expressions and should be able to do so at the library or via the library’s resources. This librarian will help users become their own programming director for all of the content available to them.
Michael Stephens, Librarian/Blogger

This reminds me of the reciprocal lesson approach. The teacher is the faciliator; the employed task of the teacher would be to make learning less difficult, to assist the progress of his or her students, and what better way with Web 2.O?! Also, it boggles my mind to read about how some have agrued that the tools and attitudes are not new. Web 2.0 not new! I just think the word is not entirely out or the funds are not there to equip libraries and classrooms with the technology or train/inservice those who assist the masses.

I skimmed through The Horizons Report and wondered what is our district's plan or campus plan? What does our report read? I know we fill out surveys about our technology on campus, review and revise our campus SAIP annually, and are prompted to get enough computers to test our student population when the state test is to be administered online. I am so very thankful for our computer tech and our library staff to aid us in closing the gap to reach our kids the way they listen. I'm reminded of a phrase "shift happens" that was used in a short video entitled "Did You Know?" (see sidebar). This video sheds light on how we must shift the way we teach to make gains in the shift that is occurring towards technology.
We have every good reason to; it is for our children's sake, for our future.

week 6, thing #14, technorati and tags

Technorati is a source of information by bloggers for bloggers. After doing a keyword search for “School Library Learning 2.0,” I came across something that I felt was worth looking into some more, Pageflakes. It allows one to take feeds from a variety of sources and place them onto one page or more. This will make a great teacher page. Pageflakes, a tool of tools.

week 6, thing #13, tagging and discovering Del.icio.us

Through Del.icio.us, I will come to rely on having all of my bookmarks accessible from any online computer--searchable, tagged, shareable and the "Links For You" feature bringing in more. It will help me keep current and will let me easily find my past. Just the ability alone to have all my bookmarks online and easily accessible from both home and from work is indispensable. In summary - a fantastic knowledge hosting/sharing site all for free.

week 5, thing #12, rollyo

A time saver! I added Rollyo to my blog and will definitely add it to my bookmark bar. I just need to be cautious in not overloading my searchrolls with too many sites. It would defeat the purpose.

week 5, thing #11, web 2.0

Again, I am astounded by the infinite number of web tools. My cyber "tool belt" is boundless. After viewing the Web 2.0 Awards winners, I added a few sites at my reach to further look into. These are definitely worthy of my time if it means saving time in the long run. Zimdesk is one that has piqued my curiosity. I sometimes find myself at my home computer wishing I had my classroom computer's desktop or just the opposite. With a virtual desktop, I will have access anywhere. Is it possible? Yes! How about allowable, BISD allowable? Allowable at home would be from the food category. What a neat tool!
1st
Place
An entire site dedicated to food, Im Cooked lets members share recipes, make friends, watch cooking videos and learn more about culinary arts without the frills that often come with gourmet food television shows and websites.

week 5, thing #10, play week

I present to you Thing 10, created on this day, the fourth of July. He is a product of Comic Strip Generator. I recently viewed, scratch, played with software listed on the Blog Generator and found this one to be a snap.

week 4, thing #9, locate...feeds

I didn't know it, but while I was on thing #8, I ended up doing thing #9. What a laugh I had. I am hoping to get more acquainted with terminology, add more to my RSS feeds list, and perhaps have my list posted soon on my blog. I just don't know whether to keep my list personal, professional, or both. Should I add RSS feeds such as the ones about cooking along with education RSS feeds? Crisis? By far!

week 4, thing #8, rss & newsreaders

It's just me trying something new. I get easily distracted (if there is an item to click on, I end up doing just that, clicking), but here's hoping I'm doing this one thing right. RSS feeds led me to this. I blame RSS feeds. Technorati Profile

week #3, thing #7, technology

Unbelievable! If I stop at thing #7, I would be content. I just can't imagine what things #8-#23 are going to make me. All giddy! Browsing Infodoodads, I came across digg lab, dipity, and whatbird.com. I just get lost in this black hole of information: it's just endless. I picked three. One for myself, for school and just for fun. I listed them in that order. I sandwiched school. You just have to even if it's forced. "Put the red pen down," often says the right to the left. Just think it's like the day. Home, school, home. Perhaps, I'll find a digg story before leaving the house. At school, I can incorportate dipity timelines when studying a particular era in lit, for an author bio, or have students chart/plot out the events from a selection. Back home, start up birding using whatbird.com...Technology rocks. Let's all give fist pounds.

week #3, thing #6, flickr, mashups...

Flickr was fun. Mashups I found to be challenging. Sooo, I took the path of the least resistance. I thought to myself it was a lame thing to do, but when you start thinking the challenge a crisis, then it's time to take that path. Then, I read how that particular path is not viewed to be all that negative. Here we go, my first trading card. I wonder what it will be worth in twenty years.

















Senlin once wrote:
"Water takes the path of least resistance as it is pulled downhill by gravity. No one would suggest that this is the 'wrong' path, it is just the path that is determined by the laws of nature. Because water always takes the same least resistant course, it carves out its path. You could say that the grand canyon is a result of eons of water traveling along the path of least resistance. Yet, when the concept is applied to human behaviour, it somehow connotes laziness or lack of ambition. The least resistant path does not have to be an easy one. Is there merit in struggling, just for the sake of the struggle? If two paths lead us to the same place, is it not wiser to take the least resistant way? I'm not sure, but I do think that we could all benefit from being more like water. We're mostly made of it, after all - maybe we shouldn't be fighting our basic essence."

week #3, thing #5, discover flickr

Surfing with Jude and Paul #2
Originally uploaded by Dunstan Orchard

Surfing with Jude and Paul #2. Originally uploaded by Dunstan Orchard. Flickr, the photos are amazing. However, there was one video clip that I thought was worth sharing. After viewing this particular video, you must see the behind the scenes stuff courtesy of Elsa. Once Dunstan gets it all figured out, nature and camera, I hope to see more. No, I rather go out myself. This might be my Thing #24--surfing. The music Clare de Lune will more than likely be in my head, courtesy of my memory. Calming, for waves will be pounding.

week #2, think #4, register blog

I registered my blog. Email has confirmed that my blog is registered. Happy viewing.

week 2, thing #3, create

She's adorable. I wonder what I'll have her wear tomorrow. Just kidding. I'm enjoying this. This is great...my own Avatar. It just keeps getting better and better. I haven't experienced a crisis, yet...okay, just being a wee challenged.

week 1, thing #2, lifelong learners

Easiest Habit: #1--Determine what the goal will be. This isn't too difficult to do. It's overcoming the obstacles. This leads to the hardest habit. Hardest Habit: #3--View problems as challenges. I often look at them as a crisis. It makes sense to feel challenged and to think the reward is far greater than a hiccup or two. It reminds me of what doesn't kill you....

week 1, thing #1, 23 things blog

I'm in. I can't believe it. Thing #1: It sounds pretty easy. I'm onto Thing #2. Wait, I'm on Thing #3. I need to catch up on my posts. I guess this goes for everyone.