Week 5: thing 12
I am learning that I need to keep learning. Rollyo took some time to figure out. I think the instructions they give on how to use it and link it are a little vague - maybe it's just me or I can blame it on the heat!
I do like the idea. It's a great way to organize sites I have marked as favorites, rather then scrolling up and down my long list.
I can see students using this to keep track of sites for, perhaps, homework help, animal, explorer, planet report sites, graphic sites and the list can go on and on.
I did take some of my favorites from my online account and put them into a Rollyo. I hope that it works!
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Yahoo! Answers
Week 5: thing 11
I spent quit a bit of time looking at the award winning sites - the one that I picked as a favorite is Yahoo! Answers. I typed school library in the search box and there were questions ranging from overdue book problems to "Why are there problems in not having a school library?" The answers are listed with the readers best answer at the top of the list. I like this site because lots of times I do have a question and am not sure where to find the answer - this site is worth a try. I have used Ask.com but I like this format much better. You can join or just type a question in the search box and read answers that are there. The site also has a time feature so you know how long ago the answer or question was posted. Plus there is a "report abuse" button.
I have a question of the week in the library and I can see students checking for the answer on Yahoo! Answers. It would be a good site to remind students to double check or search another source for the answers, because anyone can answer a question and might just be making it up.
I have joined the Library Technicians United Ning Network and look forward to spending more time on the site learning and sharing.
I spent quit a bit of time looking at the award winning sites - the one that I picked as a favorite is Yahoo! Answers. I typed school library in the search box and there were questions ranging from overdue book problems to "Why are there problems in not having a school library?" The answers are listed with the readers best answer at the top of the list. I like this site because lots of times I do have a question and am not sure where to find the answer - this site is worth a try. I have used Ask.com but I like this format much better. You can join or just type a question in the search box and read answers that are there. The site also has a time feature so you know how long ago the answer or question was posted. Plus there is a "report abuse" button.
I have a question of the week in the library and I can see students checking for the answer on Yahoo! Answers. It would be a good site to remind students to double check or search another source for the answers, because anyone can answer a question and might just be making it up.
I have joined the Library Technicians United Ning Network and look forward to spending more time on the site learning and sharing.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Love those generators....
Week 5: thing10
I have always loved to play around with images! There are so many great sites out there that allow you to do stuff for free. This is another one of those projects where I could use a few more hours in the day. Webmaster Paste has free online banner generators, banner blanks, headings, 3D Textmakers, logos and more. (some of the links on the page do not work). I also like Cooltext which even has free fonts you can download. Both of the "Love Our New Library" banners were created on Image Chef.
Not a WOW
Week 4: thing 8 and thing 9
I signed on to Google Reader and added five subscriptions. But, the RSS feeds were not something that wowed me! Maybe with more sites getting on the band wagon, I will learn to like and/or use it more. I like the listserv that I'm on along with checking my "favorite" sites. I don't really have a desire to be that up to the minute. To enjoy the newpaper in the morning with a cup of coffee works fine for me!
I can see RSS feeds working for an Economics teacher. But I tried and can't think of any way that I would use it on a personal or library level especially in the elementary library. I do know now to look for the little orange RSS box if I do find something that I want to be kept up on. And so I thank Learning 2.0 for exposing me to something new.
Up to this point I have enjoyed all the activities - but this one was my least favorite so far. Some of the feeds wouldn't work when I tried to add them to Google Reader. As a matter of fact, the San Jose Mercury News link on the Learning 2.0 site comes up with a list of blogs from the Learning 2.0 students! I did like the Edublog Awards search - it made it easy to see what is considered the best of the best - added Hey Jude. I do like a search page that tells you what the site is going to be about in detail and most of them did that.
For now, I'd have to give RSS feed a thumbs down!
I signed on to Google Reader and added five subscriptions. But, the RSS feeds were not something that wowed me! Maybe with more sites getting on the band wagon, I will learn to like and/or use it more. I like the listserv that I'm on along with checking my "favorite" sites. I don't really have a desire to be that up to the minute. To enjoy the newpaper in the morning with a cup of coffee works fine for me!
I can see RSS feeds working for an Economics teacher. But I tried and can't think of any way that I would use it on a personal or library level especially in the elementary library. I do know now to look for the little orange RSS box if I do find something that I want to be kept up on. And so I thank Learning 2.0 for exposing me to something new.
Up to this point I have enjoyed all the activities - but this one was my least favorite so far. Some of the feeds wouldn't work when I tried to add them to Google Reader. As a matter of fact, the San Jose Mercury News link on the Learning 2.0 site comes up with a list of blogs from the Learning 2.0 students! I did like the Edublog Awards search - it made it easy to see what is considered the best of the best - added Hey Jude. I do like a search page that tells you what the site is going to be about in detail and most of them did that.
For now, I'd have to give RSS feed a thumbs down!
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
GOOD OLD EMAIL
Week 3: thing 7
There is so much new stuff out there in cyberspace but I really like the fact that I can email. It is such a simple way to keep in touch with family, friends, staff and even students. Most every email provider allows you to add pictures, color, sound, links. You click the send button and your message is delivered in an instant! I think emails are a wonderful way to get a message to several people at the same time. I can email the entire staff a list of new books or videos. I can email questions and get an answer rather quickly. I can choose to print or just delete emails that I receive. I can forward on emails that might be of interest to others.
I am also mystified at how it all works... From my computer to anywhere in the world - wow!
There is so much new stuff out there in cyberspace but I really like the fact that I can email. It is such a simple way to keep in touch with family, friends, staff and even students. Most every email provider allows you to add pictures, color, sound, links. You click the send button and your message is delivered in an instant! I think emails are a wonderful way to get a message to several people at the same time. I can email the entire staff a list of new books or videos. I can email questions and get an answer rather quickly. I can choose to print or just delete emails that I receive. I can forward on emails that might be of interest to others.
I am also mystified at how it all works... From my computer to anywhere in the world - wow!
Monday, August 27, 2007
Mashups
Week 3: thing 6
And now I know what a "mashup" is. I can see where people could spend hours and hours creating online. I think it gets to a point where we have to pick and choose what will work best for our needs - I know that I can't do it all. But once again, all the sites I have perused make it so easy. I'm sure by the end of Learning 2.0, I will have found sites that are my favorites.
I really like FD Toys' Trading Card Maker! Wow - all the educational, exciting, creative, fun trading cards that could be made. The possibilities are endless and it's free!
Now if someone could please just find me a few more hours in a day.......
And now I know what a "mashup" is. I can see where people could spend hours and hours creating online. I think it gets to a point where we have to pick and choose what will work best for our needs - I know that I can't do it all. But once again, all the sites I have perused make it so easy. I'm sure by the end of Learning 2.0, I will have found sites that are my favorites.
I really like FD Toys' Trading Card Maker! Wow - all the educational, exciting, creative, fun trading cards that could be made. The possibilities are endless and it's free!
Now if someone could please just find me a few more hours in a day.......
Discovery...
Week 3: thing 5
Woo hoo, learning can be so much fun!
I am exploring all these new websites that I never knew existed. There is so much that can be done with thoughts and ideas one might have. The great thing is - all those talented people have made it so easy (well, rather easy) for us to use their tools.
Flickr gives us creative ways to show our pictures along with ways to use pictures all ready out there. It can be confusing to download, upload, transfer, etc. but I believe the more you do it, the easier it becomes. I'll keep you informed if indeed that is true as I plan on exploring and adding to my Flickr account.
Woo hoo, learning can be so much fun!
I am exploring all these new websites that I never knew existed. There is so much that can be done with thoughts and ideas one might have. The great thing is - all those talented people have made it so easy (well, rather easy) for us to use their tools.
Flickr gives us creative ways to show our pictures along with ways to use pictures all ready out there. It can be confusing to download, upload, transfer, etc. but I believe the more you do it, the easier it becomes. I'll keep you informed if indeed that is true as I plan on exploring and adding to my Flickr account.
Blogging
Week 2: Thing 3 and Thing 4
Well, here it is - I've set up my own blog and added an avatar!
I think that the idea of setting up a blog is much more intimidating then actually doing it. Blogger makes it so easy to set up a blog and we'll see how easy it is to keep it up as I go along. To me, the hardest things about a blog would be the content and presentation. With so many people online and so many blogs out there - how do you get yours to be the one that people want to look at and read?
Thinking ahead, I can see where (if I get good at this) a blog about current books would be great. Since our students only have a half hour library time I don't always get to book talk. A book blog hooked up to the library website would reach more students and give them ideas about which book they might want to check out before coming to the library.
As for the avatar... once again, it was an easy process to follow. I just love those step by step instructions! Something I did learn was to write down the page number of an item I thought I might want to use. With so many choices, I'd find something I liked and then keep looking and then have to go back and find what I liked again. Yup, writing down the page number makes it much easier. One problem I did have was that I kept getting a Yahoo error message while using avatar. The program would not open. Frustrating - nay. I had a good book to read while I sat waiting for it to come back up!
I received an email of welcome - so Thing 4 is complete. Now on to the next lessons....
Well, here it is - I've set up my own blog and added an avatar!
I think that the idea of setting up a blog is much more intimidating then actually doing it. Blogger makes it so easy to set up a blog and we'll see how easy it is to keep it up as I go along. To me, the hardest things about a blog would be the content and presentation. With so many people online and so many blogs out there - how do you get yours to be the one that people want to look at and read?
Thinking ahead, I can see where (if I get good at this) a blog about current books would be great. Since our students only have a half hour library time I don't always get to book talk. A book blog hooked up to the library website would reach more students and give them ideas about which book they might want to check out before coming to the library.
As for the avatar... once again, it was an easy process to follow. I just love those step by step instructions! Something I did learn was to write down the page number of an item I thought I might want to use. With so many choices, I'd find something I liked and then keep looking and then have to go back and find what I liked again. Yup, writing down the page number makes it much easier. One problem I did have was that I kept getting a Yahoo error message while using avatar. The program would not open. Frustrating - nay. I had a good book to read while I sat waiting for it to come back up!
I received an email of welcome - so Thing 4 is complete. Now on to the next lessons....
Sunday, August 26, 2007
What's a blog?!?!
Week 1: Thing 1 and Thing 2
Who would have thought that I'd be setting up my very own blog? I guess this is a part of the "life long learning" that I so often remind others of!
Sometimes we don't want to be left behind or out of the loop when it comes to the relatively new computer jargon that the younger generation is so aware of. For that reason, I want to learn! When students or younger teachers come to me and start talking about blogs, wikis, You Tub, podcasts and what-not - I would like to have something other than a blank "duh" look on my face. Being a hands on learner, Learning 2.0 seems like the perfect way to expand my horizons. Through new learning, I am able to reach and impart knowledge to others.
I'm sure that I will make mistakes along the way and have to do and redo many things. Learning by trial and error is good, right? But I'm ready to start on this new journey. "I know I can, I know I can...."
So, out of the 7 and 1/2 lifelong learning habits which is easiest and which is hardest for me......
Let's start with the hardest. For me, being confident in myself as a competent, effective learner is the most difficult. I think that I am too critical of myself - my skills, abilities, talents.
The easiest - viewing problems as challenges. I believe that every obstacle is indeed a learning or growing opportunity. Because of things that have happened in my life, this has been put to the test for me. We all need those little detours to keep our life in perspective. I also seem to have no trouble playing!
Who would have thought that I'd be setting up my very own blog? I guess this is a part of the "life long learning" that I so often remind others of!
Sometimes we don't want to be left behind or out of the loop when it comes to the relatively new computer jargon that the younger generation is so aware of. For that reason, I want to learn! When students or younger teachers come to me and start talking about blogs, wikis, You Tub, podcasts and what-not - I would like to have something other than a blank "duh" look on my face. Being a hands on learner, Learning 2.0 seems like the perfect way to expand my horizons. Through new learning, I am able to reach and impart knowledge to others.
I'm sure that I will make mistakes along the way and have to do and redo many things. Learning by trial and error is good, right? But I'm ready to start on this new journey. "I know I can, I know I can...."
So, out of the 7 and 1/2 lifelong learning habits which is easiest and which is hardest for me......
Let's start with the hardest. For me, being confident in myself as a competent, effective learner is the most difficult. I think that I am too critical of myself - my skills, abilities, talents.
The easiest - viewing problems as challenges. I believe that every obstacle is indeed a learning or growing opportunity. Because of things that have happened in my life, this has been put to the test for me. We all need those little detours to keep our life in perspective. I also seem to have no trouble playing!
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