Tubin' for Education

Teacher Tube and You Tube---what a great resource for teaching Digital Natives! Even though there is that ever present filter that makes us use our creative juices to find a means to make use of the useful in spite of the filter. My exploration lead me to see why there is a need for the filter. My first visit to Teacher Tube found a video front and center that had been loaded only 22 minutes before. It concerned, let's say, graphic anatomy and biology with a very intellectual title, but didn't appear to be totally scientifically grounded. I saw the message to please flag questionable entries---but couldn't find the means to flag it without activating it. And it wasn't a post that I felt I needed to visit to prove that I didn't need to be there. I felt like the students to whom we tell----if you find something objectionable--click away quickly. I would have expected to possibly find such on You Tube and I was hoping that Teacher Tube would be a bit safer, but no. But after a bit of mindless wandering on You Tube and a visit to 70s commercials, I found the video that was used at Ed Tech, Pay Attention. I was able to e-mail it to myself. I plan to use it to share with my teachers to raise awareness of the need--no, necessity--to integrate technology and tools into the educational processes. On Teacher Tube I found Allsop's use of Billy Joel's We Didn't Start the Fire and subsequent lesson plans and ideas. Each time I hear that song I think of how great that would be to incorporate into history and research. Well, it has been done and he is willing to share. Now I've just got to maneuver it to a useful place to promote it!
The immensity of You Tube and Teacher Tube is somewhat overwhelming for casual browsing unless you approach it with a specific need. I will definitely be referring to it over and over. I love the Common Craft lessons for explanations of everything 2.0, as well. Good stuff, good stuff!



http://www.mrallsophistory.com/fire.html

Success & Satisfaction

After being bummed out trying to master Thing#18---my confidence has been replenished with the exploration of Thing #19! The Library Thing serves an immediate purpose. WAY COOL! After playing with my own personal book list, I set up an account for my daughter, a sophomore early childhood major, who is currently taking Lit for the Young Child. She has started collecting titles so she was excited to discover this tool that will help her keep track of the titles she has and wants. And, the HTML loaded successfully! What an eclectic collection--with more to be added and lots of folks to share the list with AND to share this 2.0 tool with. Perseverance pays--eventually. Happy Thanksgiving all!

ZOHO

Thing 18 has caused me frustration to the point that I'm about ready to give up---but so far I haven't. I think I understand the premise that ZOHO is a free tool to use anywhere, as is Google tools. I am somewhat familiar with some of the Google tools, but I am just now understanding windows 2007 which was a surprise on my school laptop so I had to learn it --in addition to a new library system that was becoming familiar until a crash that set our entire district back to the point of its installation 6 months prior-- so relearn and reinstall recent and re-remove items that had been weeded and so consequently I think I am on learn & produce overload ( quite a run-on sentence, too). I understand if you leave (or have already left) this post at this point. This post is more of a vent for me to try to get my thoughts together. I really don't want to quit the 23 things--I think I'll skip #18 for a while---it just isn't sticking. Like a familiar quotation says, I can't do everything but I can do something---so I'm moving on to something else. I'm not happy to admit this frustration publicly, but I've got to put it in a box, tie it up and set it on the shelf. There, done. Now I'm moving on to Thing 19. I think I feel better now. I shall persevere.... And, that's why I call it Ramblin'.

Post on the SCASL Wiki

HAH! It worked. I think. I'm still not so sure. I am apprehensive that I will do something really boneheaded to mess up the SCASL wiki. What if I mess up somebody else's stuff? What if all disappears? Anxiety will eat me up one day! Although I couldn't use the [ ] to write the http---the "add a link " in the toolbar seemed to work. Like I said, I'm still hoping that I didn't mess it up. I think it is working. I was able to connect on click. Technological self-confidence is VERY slow in coming. Doubt lurks like a huge monster in the back of my head. I don't mind messing up my own stuff. I can delete and start over, or grin and try to bear it. But being involved in someone else's public display--- believe it or not, my hands are still slightly trembling after hitting that save button. Breathe deeply and keep going! Because I know that I feel like this after tackling and attempting a "technological feat," I do try to be very patient, encouraging, and compassionate while helping my fearful colleagues as they consent to explore and step out to try new things. Successful or not, we must persevere and find those who are "in the know" and are willing to help. So, if you see that I made a boo-boo or an out right goof---don't hesitate to bring it to my attention.....and that is why I call it ....Ramblin' :-&

Wiki

Lots of info from EdTech 08 and the cool info from the 23 Things ---I get wikis!! AND, I want to get wikis started for our teachers to use for collaborative projects, and for the students to use for collaborative projects, and for the library to use to promote students' favorite books, and for web resources, and the copyright wiki, and, and, and, the list goes on and on!! We will have a wiki world. Who would have thunk it? After so many years of putting out CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION about the use of wikipedia----and now here it is the HOT topic. My, how things evolve. Then there are all of the gadgets and widgets that go with the wiki to really jazz it up and make it a place where students and teachers want to take part. I think this may be the portal for pulling some of my reluctant 20th century learners and teachers into the ways of Web 2.0!

Technorati

Technorati is too vast! I couldn't decide where to start. I've discovered that I don't browse well if the area offers so much. I prefer a specific search. I do enjoy my RSS feeds where I have selected the blogs that I wish to follow. Usually they have been recommended by others whose opinions I value. (That would be the SCASL 2.0 wonderwomen and supermen!) While searching Learning 2.0, I found familiar names like David Warlick and Ewan that I have become familiar with in the SCASL2.0 quest. The blogger directory was less helpful. It was interesting, however, to find so many blogs representative of so many languages. I continue to broaden my horizons--one step at a time--but still moving forward.

Library 2.0

EdTech was promotion for Library 2.0! I attended several sessions about Web 2.0 tools. Seems I need to hear everyone's opinion and perspective to help bolster my confidence for moving beyond using and exploring -- to promoting these tools to my colleagues and our students. I have the uncanny need to be sure I understand completely before I move on to "teach" others but I am finding that I am becoming more comfortable in the idea that we MUST learn together---teachers, admin, students and parents. They can't wait until I master the content. We can't be left behind. We have to find the means to allow and promote the Web 2.0 tools as part of our Library 2.0 or we are history as library media specialists -- the heart and hub of the school.

SIGN ME UP!?!??!

I just don't know about these 123 things! It feels like I have subscribed and created user names and passwords for about 123 things. If you couldn't google me before, I feel sure that I show up somewhere now. I feel confident that my sign ups are secure, but I'm still a bit wary---like I'm signing up for too many credit cards. Delicious was my latest addition. I understand the premise. I added my bookmarks and tagged them. I still don't completely understand all of the ramifications and capabilities and I think that is what is nagging my brain. I think of my supercautious Daddy looking over my shoulder and asking if I am sure about what I'm doing? Well, no. But I'm going on the trust I have in my colleagues in SCASL who are doing the same. Don't fail me now, friends!

Ramblin' all over 2.0

Two webinars in one week! Almost too cutting edge to be believed about me. Even though the second was a wikispace webinar that was broadcast (is that the right term for 2.0?) earlier, the info was most useful for me. The first this week was the SCASL Twilight webinar--so cool!

As I surfed through the award winning Web 2.0 tools, I was comforted to see several that I've used. My web confidence was boosted in that I saw several that I had at least heard of and I was able to learn more about. It is almost overwhelming, however, to see so many AWARD WINNERS that are unfamiliar and know that there are so many more that did not receive any mention. Whew! How will we ever keep up unless we participate in exercises that the 23 Things that raise our awareness . Thank you again and again for putting this together.

I'll be seeking one of our science teachers first thing tomorrow to scope out her knowledge of wikispaces. Based on what I know of her teaching style, wikispaces will be right up her alley. I feel collaboration coming on!

I joined Joyce Valenza's ning, TeacherLibrarianNetwork and added to my RSS reader.
I'm wondering if a ning would be a good place for our school or even district personnell to communicate with each other about Web 2.0 tools and their uses. Hmmmm.

Tried to create a SC history Search on Rollyo. Not sure it was successful. Still learning the nuts and bolts of all these apps. What a collection of nuts & bolts!

Rollyo has great possibilities for research projects that are used on a regular basis. The resources can be added and deleted as necessary and they will be easily accessible from any computer. (I hate it when I need something that is on a different computer.)

And so ends Week 5 --- Thanks for the opportunity to catch up!!
Can't wait to see what week 6 holds in store. Rest well, all!

ramblin'

ImageChef.com Poetry Blender

Ramblin'

Now I have it! ---Maybe....

Thank you, Cathy, for pointing out that the Google Sharing set up wasn't as easy as I thought it was! That is why you are one of my techno-mentor GURUs! I thought you shared the whole blog. Now, after more exploring, I know that you share a specific post and add the blog to the RSS after exploring other posts and deciding that it is too cool to miss.

Thanks for the heads up and the always useful advice.

http://www.google.com/reader/shared/14583537151105983258

Shared list

Thing 9

The hunt for RSS feeds is overwhelming! I think I prefer to "happen" upon them through the recommendation of someone. The deliberate search gave too much food for thought! Although I did find several SLJ RSS feeds that I added. So far I still prefer those that I discover through my techno-mentors-- Heather Loy, Cathy Nelson, and others. I learn so much from their experiences. I appreciate the guidance of the 23 THINGS so that I have a definite path to follow and I am not floundering helter skelter through cyber space!

Thing #8

You were right about this being the hardest! I'm still not so sure I did it right. I do have the RSS working for me on Google Reader. It is really cool to click in and see what's new with favorite bloggers. Is it ok to set it up for the 23 Things on BlogLines and then not use it?

http://www.bloglines.com/public/VCub This shows the Blogs from this exercise.

http://www.google.com/reader/shared/14583537151105983258

These are the blogs I subscribe to and read regularly. It used to be ....So many books, so little time. Now it is So much STUFF (to read), so little time!!!

Flickr was fun!

Flickr was fun! But as with any new application, the initial learning is the hard part. I love taking pictures and sharing pictures at home and at school. Many of the children in my school seldom have the opportunity to see themselves in a snapshot. We try to take advantage of every opportunity to capture smiling faces to promote happiness and joy in our school. In addition to our website, we have two digital frames, one in the main office and one in the library. We load all sorts of snaps. Our students love to see themselves and each other. This has proven to be an excellent PR tool for visitors to our school as well. I see apps for Flickr in many ways. Just today the art teacher shared with me his need for photos as part of a grant. The trading cards may be just the ticket for this assignment. He is a go-getter, so if he doesn't ALREADY know about this app, I'm sure he will embrace it and have it rolling in his classroom soon! Students will love making trading cards of their favorite nominees to post and share.

So many ideas! So little time! Gotta keep that "get to do" attitude as opposed to the "have to do" attitude. If we only had another unencumbered 12 hours or so....or do I really want to wish for that? :-)

To Bravely go....

Second step....RSS feeds. To Bravely go where others have gone before...but on my own. I ventured into RSS feeds without the direction of the 2.0 training but indirectly through the help of several 2.0 gurus. Shannon Dean Wham's blog, Books, Bytes, & Grocery Store Feet is too good to miss by depending on my memory to check his blog regularly. The answer was the RSS. I realized the need and possibility because of Cathy Nelson through her reference to Doug Johnson's Blue Skunk Blog. He made it easy for me by having the directions at the bottom of his kudos to Shannon's humor. So, I took the plunge and spent all afternoon tinkering around. So much for the dust bunnies and dirty clothes that were supposed to receive my Saturday attention!

One thing I can't quite figure out. Do all the blog entries remain? Do they evaporate like old e-mail? Can you delete what you don't need and keep other stuff? I saw the folder option but couldn't quite make heads or tails of managing old posts.

Venturing out into the world of 2.0

I am taking that bold step into the world of web 2.0. If my mission statement says that I aim to create life long readers and learners, then it only goes that I must be a life long learner, too. ( Life long reader--no question!) I must be able to access information to share with them in the form that they prefer best--online. So here we go, venturing into blogging. I cannot wait to have students that will blog with me about the books they are reading. That is my goal for this year. To establish a place where students and teachers can share and discuss the wonderful discoveries made as they become life-long readers. Together we will become life-long learners!