This is the end of this journey. It was everthing Myra promised and more. A rare class that because of the comfort level we had with the instructor, and the camaraderie we had with each other it made a safe, failproof environment for learning. Myra promised us this at the beginning. I knew I would learn new tech things, I had no idea I would go this far. It so exceeded any of my expectations. The material was well presented, the layout so easy to follow. By making a blog then learning all the 2.0 that could be added to it as we went was brillant! The blog is like the class in a nutshell, but we know the hours of complaining, crying, frustrating, and finally success in the applications we went through to get there.
My favoite discoveries: I have several, I love igoogle to open in the morning first thing to see my calendar, weather, beautiful art, notebook, world and U.S. news. I find it all inclusive for getting the day going. I love all the picture and image things I learned. From Flickr to posting with html's I have such a good grasp on them, and I love using them for anything! I love widgets, and their multi uses, they are just like the frosting on the cake. Library thing is now something we will have to always have in our IMC. I would say fifty percent of the lessons we learned would end up as my favorite thing.
The instructor, the content, the credit.... Myra excelled so that could not have gotten better, the content was more than we need, or wanted. This is why the class excelled. It taught us what we did not know was out there, and how to get it going in our libraries. I have no suggestions because I think it was top notch and ready for the masses as it is.
How am i using it in my job.... much has already been integrated. The task will be to keep up with it. I open to igoogle first thing, I read our days activities on web based calendar, I make the daily signs using pictures and graphics, I have a library thing on our library website, we also have a twitter spot where I twit on the magazines, I have a flickr account where I keep all the school photo's , I can and will continue to make slide shows of our library for our IMC. I have already shown several teachers different posts and blogs that will be used in the classroom/labs. I can work with thumbdrives, we just ordered a flipcamera for the library.
How do I feel about blogging?..comfortable. Never thought I would say that. I like it for what I use it for. I can see it in a class, and for employees all working together on a project. I won't be using it just to bop around and see what's happening. They can still be a giant time waster.
The most importaint thing I learned.... is I can do it. With the right teacher in the right environment it can happen. I know now I need to continue this path. Not for my district, our skills are not recognized there. But for my teachers and my students. It is clear throuth this class, if we are really serious about student achievement then the kids need this information and they need it now. They will not be able to compete outside of our schools without it. Colleges are far more advanced in the tech world and they are going to have high expectations for incoming students.
What's next? More of this. This was a taste, I am not proficient. I would take more classes in any of the 2.0 applications we learned about here. Except technoradi. I would like them to concentrate on an application or two for several classes. Then move on to another. I would love to still use a blog to work through. It just seems a natural.
Thank you ,thank you... to Myra for being the best, and all my clerk classmates who made this such a wonderful, and successful experience. I hope to see you all in our next 2.0 class. May we all go forth and concquer with confidence.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Monday, April 7, 2008
Thing # 23 Expand Your Mind
It's almost sad that this is the last entry. It has a fitting title, Expand Your Mind. This we all did. It has been a fun, frustrating and a very rewarding journey. The idea that this was just a taste, a beginning, is still daunting. I have learned so much, forgotten too much and still excited to learn more. I am much faster working now in some of our lessons, and my mind still spins with all that's in it. I think it will take a long time to slowly digest all this. I am already using a great deal of what we learned here in our library. While I use many of the applications as a tool for me, the next phase will be moving it to the students. This can be done, it's just about timing. I am delighted to be in a library that is very technology progressive. I think as long as our specialist and I are able to work our hours and stay in the library our student's will continue to get the best we can give them. Kudos to our principal. Where am I going next with web 2.0? I feel I am on the train now, and I don't intend to get off. While it seems like just when you understand a new "thing" another comes to take it's place. I am finally understanding this is ok, it will always be like this with technology. It' just a journey.
Thing # 22 Cell Phones
Geeze who would think there is really some good things about these things. Until this class I saw them differently. I saw a wonderful video I think it was in cc, that was done the same way as the Who would think, but all about technology. They talked about the cell phone and gave amazing uses for student's! I was even in awe. This is just not what we clerks were raised with. To the student's this is all they have known. There is a huge gab, but this is why it is so easy for the kids to make the jump from fun, to using it as a tool. I read the "How to use your cell phone in learning". I played with Jott.com and made an account. I don't think I will use it, but one article was talking about the unorganized student using it as a tool. Uses in the library, I just am not ready for it, but I would listen.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Thing #21 Copyright and Freedom of Information
I like Creative Common. I have had a little experience with it, but spending more time with it, the more I like it. I especially like the website where I can go to find music, pictures, yahoo and google all filter through it. I now use it with teachers. Often when we are talking about where to get something for a class, I mention Creative Commons.
It takes the liability off ourshoulders.
We have covered huge amounts of web 2.0, but as far as usability in the IMC
I think this site, and collective sharing is about the best thing I learned in this class.
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