Blog Week 10

I think the podcast webquest assignment was a good one to tackle. If for no other reason than understanding the process and appreciating the time involved in creating a podcast. The negative was the learning curve involved. The littlest technology snafu created frustration and wasted a lot of time.

Reading blog posts of other class members was helpful.  Their discussion of the uses for podcasts or the things they learned helped me put a few more pieces of the puzzle together.  The blog was not as helpful as the group meetings.  They were essential.

My group was great.  I really enjoyed them.  We each played a different role.  Mary kept us on track. Bonnie was the techie. I contributed graphics and content.  Bonnie recently got a new MAC.  It has great podcast capabilities but the platform was unfamiliar.  Sometimes we knew that we could do something but we didn't know how to do it.  It slowed us down to have to figure things out as we went along.  All in all, it was a great group experience.

I would highly recommend the Bettendorf Library as a meeting place.  The study room we used worked really well and we had no interruptions.

Reminds me of education today :-) Week 9

It was easy to convert the file and post it.  I loved the free file converter.  It was great to learn how to do this. 

Wiki

I'm working on a Guidance department Wiki.  Take a look. http://west-hs-guidance.wikispaces.com/

How does Web 2.0 affect the future of libraries? (wk. 8)

I would say the the majority of the articles accurately forecasted the recent changes in libraries over the last  few years.   I have noticed the following changes:

• downloadable e-books
• library cafes
• community spaces for patrons
• library book discussions (libraries as a place to discuss ideas)
• more on-line data bases
• renewal of library materials on-line
• more computer availability for patrons and more help to learn to use them (Bettendorf uses volunteer teen techies)
• on-line, live homework help
• librarians as leaders in incorporating web 2.0 skills (thanks, Marcia)
• wikis incorporated in classes as collaborative tools
• librarian blogs (infowiz)

I'm not very good at predicting the future, but here are some things I think might happen. 

• Twitter could be used to inform or remind patrons of upcoming library activities
  
• Social networking could be used instead of a face-to-face book club
• More blogging by librarians to teach and inform (this is already happening for some)

Zoho vs. Goggle docs

Now this is a great idea.  I think this is great for students who must use multiple computers.  When my daughters created a document on someone else's computer, they emailed it to themselves.  That allowed them to open the document from any  computer.  It also saved their document in cyberspace--a backup that saved them a few time when they had computer issues. Online programs like Zoho and Google Docs are a more sophisticated way to accomplish the same goal.

Zoho has great toolbar tabs. I greatly prefer them to drop-downs.  Unfortunately, Safari is not supported by Zoho.  But that issue can be circumvented by using another browser.

We have been using a google doc spreadsheet to keep track of my husband's blood pressure.  It works well because anyone can record the numbers.  This is a great way to share a document.  

Technorati--Blogging Activity Week 6

Technorati is a great way to explore blogs you might want to follow.  Before, if I found a blog I liked, I checked out the links on that site to find more blogs I might enjoy.  Technorati accomplishes this more reliably and faster.  I appreciate the short review about each site.

http://wigflip.com/automotivator

This has some real possibilities.  You could make some awesome, custom posters.        http://wigflip.com/automotivator

http://www.wordle.net/

This is one of my favorites. Type in text and create a masterpiece.

Street Sign Generator

Fun!  http://www.addletters.com/road-street-sign-generator.htm

www.chalkboard.com

This image generator would be useful to make eye-catching posters.

Library Thing? Shelfari?

My daughter introduced me to Shelfari about a year ago.  I like the simplicity of the site. She has an account for her daughter,too. Here is a picture of Cadie's shelf.  When I want to buy her a new book, I can check to see if she already has it in her library.  For Christmas, I gave my daughter a bar code reader so that she could easily upload her library.  Since we are a family of readers, it is an easy way to make sense out of what you have read, your reviews, what you want to read and reader recommendations.  Library thing is similar to Shelfari.  I've played around with both.  I think I like Shelfari best.  It is nice that our family members are on the same site.  It is easier to borrow, get recommendations, and discuss books we read.

I think one of these programs could be used to maintain a classroom library.  You would be able to organize your library, keep track of your collection, and make reading recommendations. Students could use Shefari to keep a reading log and journal.  Students could comment on what others are reading.  I think this would be an excellent way to promote reading and create an interactive environment to share/comment on what students are reading.

Know of a opening? Kristi is looking for a teaching job.

Kristina is a recent elementary education graduate from Augustana.  She is true digital native and a dedicated, enthusiastic teacher. Double click on her trading card to see her qualifications.  

If you know of job opening, please let me know and I will pass the information on to Kristina. Thanks!

Discussion Starter for Week 5 (late!) Would it help you to have a check off for each assignment for this course?

I finally made a spreadsheet to see what assignments I hadn't completed. I have been doing a lot of the reading and activities each week, but I'm not getting all of the written work done. I think part of the problem is the random way the assignments are listed in the grade book. I think they need to be listed by week or by type of assignment. For example:   Each week's assignments (blogging activity, forum discussions, worksheets, group meetings) could be listed by the week number of the course, or all of one type of assignment (blog activity) could be listed together. I'm not sure that I am explaining this clearly. Bottom line: I am having a hard time figuring out where I am with assignment completion.

How will you use Flickr?

How do you think you will use your Flickr account? Sharing photos with family and friends? Or organizing your photos for scrapbooking? Any other ideas?

Can learn but can't remember

The problem with technology and the aging mind is that I can't retain what I have learned. I once asked my daughter how to do something on the computer. She said,"Mom, you taught me how to do it!" I told her, "Yes, I showed you so that when I needed to do it again, I would have somebody to tell me how."

That was never more apparent than the other night after I got home from class. I was fooling around on the computer and discovered that one of the reasons I was so frustrated in class was that I was trying to create a blog using info I used to create a previous blog. A blog I don't remember making! After trying to reconstruct what happened, I vaguely remembered playing with the google features at the time my daughter introduced me to g,mail. That was 2007! And there sits my abandoned blog with one measly entry.

Discussion Starter Week 2: Connected or Disconnected?

The division between what can be produced by students who have ready access to technology and those who do not continues to grow. Some students have up-to-date computers, cutting edge software, internet access, flash drives, DVD burners, cell-phones, multifunction printers and digital cameras. Others have few, if any, of these tools. Yet, when an assignment is due, it is assessed with a single rubric. How can students without technology compete? What can be done about this disparity?

First Post!

I now know how my mother felt trying to learn mailstation. I am not a digital native--FOR SURE!