It is time to wrap up this course. It has been a great learning experience. The availability of so many good resources was possibly the biggest discovery I have made. Now I feel much more comfortable in suggesting that the state library web site be used because I have taken time to look at all the resources available.
I am already looking forward to our teacher in-services next fall where electronic resources will be a featured topic and we are looking forward to Jane explaining things to us. After the inservice, I hope to discuss with each individual teacher how we can utilize these resources during the school year.
I have a ring binder that contains many of the things I have printed off from these sessions and plan to organize it this summer.
I have urged parents to get their own family state library card in our weekly announcements and will be sending a letter home in the report cards with some final instructions and encouragement for our students to use the state library web site this summer.
Thanks for offering this course. I really appreciated it!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Henry's Freedom Box
Last Wednesday was an exciting day for some of our students. New desks arrived for several of the classrooms! I love to read Henry's Freedom Box to the students and try to find a box that is big enough to fit a student so they can climb inside after we have read and discussed the story.
The desk boxes were available so I decided to read the book ahead of my usual schedule. As you can see five students fit quite well. Even though the activity is fun the book has a powerful message that makes even young students think about our history.
Lesson 10 The Learning Process I would like to maintain my blog and keep up with the others on the list but my dream would be to have a blog for our school library. We already have a school web site so I would have to talk to our technology person and ask if we could somehow put something together.
These past two lessons were hard because school started and meetings and day-to-day responsibilities are starting up again.
I devoted a couple hours one evening to study all the resources that were given. The one thing I did notice is that I am doing some of the suggested things but not using the Internet. For example, I have my list of favorites in an order that it is very easy for me to keep track of what is going on instead of using the RSS. My biggest challenge will be to change how I am doing things and evaluate my time management. My immediate goal is to pay more attention to the emails I receive from the state library with the continuing education opportunities. I do appreciate what I have learned from this course and hope to make advantage of the courses that continue to be offered.
These past two lessons were hard because school started and meetings and day-to-day responsibilities are starting up again.
I devoted a couple hours one evening to study all the resources that were given. The one thing I did notice is that I am doing some of the suggested things but not using the Internet. For example, I have my list of favorites in an order that it is very easy for me to keep track of what is going on instead of using the RSS. My biggest challenge will be to change how I am doing things and evaluate my time management. My immediate goal is to pay more attention to the emails I receive from the state library with the continuing education opportunities. I do appreciate what I have learned from this course and hope to make advantage of the courses that continue to be offered.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Lesson 9 Wikis Two years ago a teacher in our school had a short in service on technology and signed all of the teachers up with wiki. I don't think any of us understood how to use it and we didn't. I was frustrated because this teacher doesn't answer his telephone or use email anymore but he encouraged using the wiki system which I didn't understand.
I envisioned wikis as a replacement of email instead of a web-site where you could edit things. I have an completely different idea of wikis after studying this lesson.
I did get a bit sidetracked on this lesson. I found information about visual thinking strategies and also leaned about one library which is starting a "text a librarian service." From looking at the wikis it appears some large libraries are very community minded and one library even offers Star Bucks coffee.
The video we watched did not give me the large scope of how a wiki system can be used. I think I will have to change my mind about wikis. I did not have a very positive impression of wikis.
The one thing that still challenges me is what system do we use? Our school has a web site that most parents use. Do we also start a blog, a wiki or join face book? Will the people in our school community want to check something besides the school web site? Does it make a difference if your library is a small school library? I appears to me that large metropolitan libraries are using the newer technology. Perhaps larger staffs make a difference.
I envisioned wikis as a replacement of email instead of a web-site where you could edit things. I have an completely different idea of wikis after studying this lesson.
I did get a bit sidetracked on this lesson. I found information about visual thinking strategies and also leaned about one library which is starting a "text a librarian service." From looking at the wikis it appears some large libraries are very community minded and one library even offers Star Bucks coffee.
The video we watched did not give me the large scope of how a wiki system can be used. I think I will have to change my mind about wikis. I did not have a very positive impression of wikis.
The one thing that still challenges me is what system do we use? Our school has a web site that most parents use. Do we also start a blog, a wiki or join face book? Will the people in our school community want to check something besides the school web site? Does it make a difference if your library is a small school library? I appears to me that large metropolitan libraries are using the newer technology. Perhaps larger staffs make a difference.
Lesson 8 Tagging,.....social bookmarking
I have such mixed feelings with this lesson! For several years I have used the favorite button on my Internet Explorer setting and just lately I sorted all of my favorite web sites into different files. I have an author file, library file, quilt file and others that pertain to my personal and professional life.
I set up a delicious account but it does not look simple to me. I like the concept because with this I could work from different computers. I will have to do some more studying if I am going to get proficient in using delicious.
I have such mixed feelings with this lesson! For several years I have used the favorite button on my Internet Explorer setting and just lately I sorted all of my favorite web sites into different files. I have an author file, library file, quilt file and others that pertain to my personal and professional life.
I set up a delicious account but it does not look simple to me. I like the concept because with this I could work from different computers. I will have to do some more studying if I am going to get proficient in using delicious.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Lesson 7 Social networking
My college friends were the first ones to ask me to join them on Facebook. Gradually I added cousins, nephews and nieces. It is fun to look at pictures and videos. I often send pictures along with emails but will probably do more of that on Facebook.
I am thinking about a Facebook account with our school library. First of all, are schools agreeing to a library blog, Facebook account, my space account if they already have a web site? Facebook might be a great communication tool if students would like it. I guess if they made the choice to join the information would be in their face. Again I have to think beyond my usual way of communicating.
I would love to know what other librarians are doing with their libraries with this new technology.
My college friends were the first ones to ask me to join them on Facebook. Gradually I added cousins, nephews and nieces. It is fun to look at pictures and videos. I often send pictures along with emails but will probably do more of that on Facebook.
I am thinking about a Facebook account with our school library. First of all, are schools agreeing to a library blog, Facebook account, my space account if they already have a web site? Facebook might be a great communication tool if students would like it. I guess if they made the choice to join the information would be in their face. Again I have to think beyond my usual way of communicating.
I would love to know what other librarians are doing with their libraries with this new technology.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Lesson Six This lesson is stretching me. I wanted to do something practical so I decided to set up a calendar where I could schedule some of my tasks that are in my job description. Last week I contacted the local newspapers to send the newspapers subscriptions on our first day of school. I wrote that on the calendar. I will be scheduling other tasks for the weeks to come.
I don't know if I like going to the Internet to do this but maybe I can use this to work with other staff members and my library committee. It would be easy to make changes that might occur and use the input from others as we could all be viewing the calendar at the same time.
I could probably spend quite a bit of time studying the different applications that are available.
Right now with school starting I am busy but will try to remember that some of these documents could be useful in different settings.
I don't know if I like going to the Internet to do this but maybe I can use this to work with other staff members and my library committee. It would be easy to make changes that might occur and use the input from others as we could all be viewing the calendar at the same time.
I could probably spend quite a bit of time studying the different applications that are available.
Right now with school starting I am busy but will try to remember that some of these documents could be useful in different settings.
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