Week 9 #23

# 23 My goal was to finish the 23 things before I had to start back to school. Now here I am on thing #23, reflecting back on all I've learned and all I hope to continue learning.

1. What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?
I'd heard about so many of the Web 2.0 things, but didn't really have a working knowledge of them. Now I feel that I at least understand what some of them are and can glimpse the possibilities for using them in an educational setting.
RSS Newsreaders: I subscribed to both Bloglines and Google Reader and am able to skim through local, national, and international news, favorite library blogs, new recipes, sports updates, and Unshelved in minutes each day. And I have a place to keep and listen to podcasts.
Library Thing: Such a fun way to track my summer reading and to see what others are reading and talking about
Ning: There's a social network for school librarians and recently a new group was created for elementary school librarians to discuss issues, ask questions, etc. It seems more personal to me than a listserv.
Del.icio.us: No more wondering which computer I bookmarked a particular site on or getting home and discovering I didn't have the URL for a site I wanted to use
Wikis: I see lots of collaborative possibilities
Zoho docs: So many options for collaborative work, stored online, accessible wherever I have internet access
Podcasts: Finally, I have some understanding of how they're created, how to find and access them, and how to play them on my computer

2. How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?
I knew that there was so much about Web 2.0 that I wanted to learn, but I wasn't sure how to go about it. The structure and guidance offered in this program kept me focused; making my own discoveries and reading about others' discoveries kept me motivated.

3. Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
I didn't expect to find so many things that I could use in my personal life. I've used RSS feeds, wikis, del.icio.us, Zoho docs for myself as well as for my professional growth. I've even been able to share things I've learned with my tech savvy husband and children!

4. What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?
I liked the week-by-week learn at your own pace structure, especially during the summertime when vacations and visitors can disrupt schedules. I also liked the way one or two people were readers/cheerleaders for participants. Sometimes you wonder if what you write on a website or blog is actually being read or just floating with millions of other words in cyberspace.
I would have liked some more direct way of connecting with others in the program. (Maybe a group on Ning?) I tried to look at others' blogs, but so many of us are in the program that I couldn't go back regularly to see what others were continuing to discover.
I read through all the suggestions on the wiki when I did that lesson, but haven't gone back to explore it again. Maybe a reminder link at the end or on the things page to remind us of it.
I also forgot about the tips page; I'd glanced over it when I started the program. Perhaps the appropriate tips could be on the specific pages for the different things, so that you could use them as/if you needed them.

5. If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you choose to participate?
Yes!

6. How would you describe your learning experience in ONE WORD or in ONE SENTENCE, so we could use your words to promote CSLA learning activities?
It was a worthwhile challenge to explore new ways to communicate and collaborate using Web 2.0 technologies. STIMULATING!

I'm not entirely sure how much of what I've learned this summer I can use in our school as our district has concerns about and/or bans on certain things like student email, social websites, blogs, and wikis. But, at the very least, I plan to talk with my colleagues and staff about these things and do what we can. A recent blog by Joyce Valenza with data from a National School Board Association report on how students are using social networks primarily for learning may help.

Finally, thank you to all of you on the team who made this program possible. I've enjoyed learning as I played with each of the things. This is truly a beginning and I plan to keep on growing in knowledge of these things-and others that come along.

Week 9 #22

#22 While exploring eBooks and audio eBooks on the WorldeBook Fair site I was intrigued by how many thousands of books are available.

I had heard of Project Gutenberg, but it was interesting to read about its startup by Michael Hart in 1971. As I scanned through the titles that have been digitized, I found some old favorites that I remembered reading during summer vacations at my grandparents' house in the country. I even dipped into a few of them for old times' sake.

Continuing to explore the site, I found an incredible range of materials-from classics to women writers of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries; from White House and government docs to UN docs. And even sheet music from the 17th and 18th centuries!

Librivox was interesting to me personally, though I'm still wondering about how it might be used in an elementary school setting. I found that the quality of the readers varied, with some easier/more interesting to listen to than others.

Zeroing in on kids' books, I found the International Children's Digital Library with its kid-friendly interface, books in many languages, and kids' reviews of what they'd read. The Worldwide School Library was also interesting.

I then went to the Contra Costa County Library website and checked out their eBook collection. In addition to many Gale reference books, they have Tumblebooks available and CA mission books that you can check out for 48 hours. You can also use the Califa Digital Library Consortium's collection and/or subscribe to NetLibrary and access even more eBooks. Downloading any of the eBooks requires a PC, though you can look at the books online. This could be a great classroom resource for discovery and research. (World literature, CA missions)

I had never really explored the world of eBooks and audio eBooks thoroughly before and want to keep an eye on them as another possible resource, especially for those students who learn better aurally or kinesthetically or who need reinforcement that isn't just visual. In July I got an email notice from Follett about their audio eBook options, which I should go back and read. I know that our middle school is just beginning a pilot program this year to check out audio eBooks on MP3 players for those students who need them to complete coursework. The staff there feels that using these players will help these students to feel less conspicuous.

Week 9 #21

#21 In the March/April issue of Instructor I saw an article titled "10 Podcasts for Teachers and Kids." I was interested enough to save the article and share it with my colleagues but I never found time to figure out how to get the podcasts downloaded so that I could listen to them. Now, thanks to this lesson I've been able to do so. I've added several to my RSS feed and have listened to them on my computer. Among my favorites:
Book Voyages Art Spencer, a library media specialist in Auburn WA, talks about children's books, authors
Sixty Second Science Great tidbits from Scientific American to spark discussion, research
Science@NASA Longer (5-10 min) science bytes
Kankakee Public Library Range of library-related topics including a panel discussion on public school/public library cooperation from a public library in Illinois
Storytelling by Mr. Howerton Rudyard Kipling stories told by a Texan
International Folk Tales
I also found some interesting podcasts on Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown (5th grade history) and many language learning/practice podcasts.

I began with podcast.net which was easy to use, but limited in quantity. I used itunes, which had great pictures with their podcast titles, a rating system and reviews that were helpful. I also used PodcastAlley.com, which seemed to have the greatest selection, but also had distracting ads and required a couple of clicks to get to specifics about individual podcasts. I ended by checking out podcasts.yahoo.com, which didn't allow me to preview on a MAC without some installations.
I could see teachers and students using podcasts to record a walking tour of historic sites in our town, reading an original story or poem, role-playing a famous African-American or woman during February and March, or doing a book review as a book report option.
I could see myself using podcasts to highlight new books or genres, to tell a story, and to publicize some of the options available through our library. Now I'm curious about how to create a podcast and then add it to my website. I may even have to get myself an MP3 player. Learning never stops!

Week 9 #20

The Rainforest Grew All Around-Trailer

I can use this as a hook when I share materials to tie in with a second grade unit on rain forests.

This was another lesson that took longer than it needed too because I got caught up in watching videos and then in searching for themed videos. Not only did I find the Rainforest video, but I also found a great short video on penguins which my first grade teachers could use during their January penguin unit. Every year they ask me for something and I could never find anything at that level on United Streaming, etc. Lately, they've resorted to using March of the Penguins, but this would be even better as a hook, since it gives a quick overview of habitat, predators, and different species.

I found YouTube easy to use, though I don't like all the hype. The star rating system and ability to comment on the videos, as well as the options to save, load, post, etc. made it very interactive. I found that I looked at the picture on the left first, then at the running time, stars if any, and tags.

Ideas that I could or already do use on my web site: pictures of covers of books I'm reviewing, what's new column (LibraryThing widget), just a few, clearly labeled tabs. The featured video with an option to vote is intriguing. Maybe a featured book each month and as students read it they could comment...

Week 8 #19

#19 I had already discovered LibraryThing in week 5 when we were playing. I decided then to make a library of everything that I was reading this summer, both fiction from my school library and my personal reading.

I chose to use the widget which puts only the most recent books I'd been reading on my blog. Except for Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows and The Lightning Thief I found no discussions about the books I'd added, although there were a few people who also had each book on their list.

It's amazing how much is on this site. I have found myself skimming the discussion threads and getting caught up in a discussion that I wasn't planning to join. It's also fun to check out the tag clouds, authors, etc. (In David Warlick's latest 2 cents Worth blog and comments I read about some interesting ways to use tag clouds with students, e.g. in President's speeches to note the relative importance of themes.)

I'd like to use a LibraryThing widget on my school library page as a way of highlighting new books. I think it would be an enticement to students, especially if I use the format with the large book covers. It might even get them to look at the site for something other than research (always assuming that they actually do that now)!

Week 8 #18

#18 I've played with Google docs online but had never tried Zoho Writer. I had fun checking out the different templates and even added some to my account. I was interested and occasionally amused to see the great variety available. I noticed that there aren't so many fonts available as there are in Word, though there's a respectable variety, mostly web-compatible. There are also fewer special characters, but I like the way a character is shown to the right, enlarged and named when you hover over it. And I noticed that there is only one bullet option. The icons are easy to understand and mostly familiar. Cute emoticons, too, though they didn't publish when I transferred this doc to my blog. I like the fact that you can add Technorati tags and transfer them to your doc.

So while it doesn't offer the number of choices that Word does, it's online, it's free, and it's easy to use. Also, you can store your docs online, so you don't have to use hard drive space and you can access them from any computer with internet capability. I also like the fact that you can export docs in so many formats and and add pix and links so easily. In going through the FAQs I noticed that if you're planning to share docs with someone whom you want to have add to or edit them they must also have a Zoho Writer account. (This is true with all the Zoho apps.)

I did notice that Google docs offers similar choices but has a different look with tabs for editing, inserting, and revising options. They seem to have more special characters and an option for adding comments within the text (in color), but fewer font and size choices.

When I looked at spreadsheets I noticed that, aside from layout, Zoho and Google were very similar. Google offers folders to organize while Zoho uses tags. Google also has a selection of charts, while Zoho has only a column chart option.

Zoho has many other choices-wikis, show (a PowerPoint type of app), a planner, a database creator, a meeting planner/notifier. It's definitely more versatile than Google.

Week 7 #16, #17

#16 I really enjoyed playing around with wikis. In fact, I created a wiki for ideas and plans for a family reunion which our family talked about in April when we were all together.

Pros are that it allows one place for many people to work together and share ideas rather than laboriously sending emails back and forth among a group. It's non-threatening for those who aren't real confident using the internet (if you can use Word you can use a wiki); information can be easily added and changed by anyone (if private, by anyone with the password).

Cons are that anyone (if private, by anyone with the password) can add or change something. In an educational context this can be problematic if you're using it as a reference, because you don't know how authoritative writers/editors are. Also, wikis may have a definite agenda which students may or may not realize. Finally, they can be somewhat disorganized.

I can see librarians and teachers in my district using wikis for developing/emending policies, planning special events involving many people with different tasks (I really like the idea of a wiki for our upcoming CSLA conference), as a planning space for meetings, and to generate subject guides for library users.

I can see students in my school using wikis for group projects.

#17 I had fun adding idea #14 to the images and pictures section of the California Curriculum Connections wiki. It did take a couple of tries to get my link right. Yesterday I read through the ideas that people have submitted and I'm truly impressed with what a wonderful resource this is. I've tagged it and I'm sure I'll return to it for inspiration many times.