Adventure #9-Locating a Few Useful Library Blogs

I don't want to sound like I'm not having fun with RSS feeds, but at the moment, I feel like there is too much information out there to explore. In my opinion, there are too many places to explore. Who really has time? (Even in the summer?) I previewed the sites that were recommended, such as Topix.net, Technorati and a multitude of others; confusing? No; time-consuming? Yes!

Topix.net is basically your local newspaper or the news in your area on the web. I read the newspaper everyday; so, for me, this was worthless; for others, this would probably be worth the feed. I liked the edublogs link that took me to the top websites. I was even able to link one through my google reader to my blog. So, that was cool; however, there is so much out there on the web that after awhile, you can have access to too much information. Some may disagree, which is okay with me. Again, it is that two-edged sword that keeps popping up.

What I think is interesting is the way, when viewing my blog, you can click on Next blog at the top of the blog site to see other blogs. Most are just family related blogs with family pictures, but once in awhile, you will come across an unusual one.

As a librarian, will any of this help me? Some will, some won't. It is a matter of just devoting time to RSS feeds. I am aware of the symbol, though, that alerts me to the feed capability. (see symbols above) So, if I find anything useful in my future adventures, I can add the feed to one of my accounts or to my blog feed. So, as of right now, I will not be adding any more RSS feeds to any of my readers. I am anxious to move on to a new adventure. So, until next time.....

Technology Adventures Off the Beaten Path

My husband found two new technology gadgets that I thought you would be interested in. Not really for education but for personal use (due to copyright laws). One is an internet radio. Some of the best radio stations are internet-based, very few commercials (if any) and a wide variety of music genres available. You can have these streamed to an internet radio through a wireless connection. Go to http://www.gracedigitalaudio.com/ to check out this amazing discovery. The other gadget is a wireless transmitter for movies. You can check out this gadget at http://www.roku.com/. If you like to stream movies (play-it-now movies) from your Netflix account or rent movies from amazon.com, this device, once connected to your television or DVD player, will allow you to stream through a wireless connection to your television. If you have any questions about these products, you can leave a comment or email me. Until next time, technology buffs. :)

Adventure #8-RSS Feeds and Readers

What would make a constant web-based reader happy? A reader of news; a reader of blogs; a reader of technology bytes; the answer, though not clear-cut, would be a place to consolidate all of your web-based reading materials into one site, therefore providing easy access. Web-based readers provide the means to which you can have easy access to all your important up-to-date reading material.

There are two readers that I researched. The first one was Google Reader; the second one was Bloglines found at bloglines.com. I really didn't care for Google Reader as much as I did for Bloglines. Bloglines, I felt, was easier to use. It even allowed me to add RSS feeds and blogs to my blog for others to read.

According to the 23 things website, an RSS ("Really Simple Syndication") feed is a "file format for delivering regularly updated information over the web." These feeds are fed (no pun intended) to your reader, whether you choose Google reader or Bloglines.

Whether you are in education or not, this is truly a time-saver. Sometimes the internet can really bog you down with information, but the readers and RSS feeds will help streamline your information and only give you what you want.

I don't know if my teachers in elementary school would be receptive to this because they are bogged down enough with paperwork. I think if I research the different news and blogs in more depth, I may be able to find something that they could use. Students in elementary school would not find much use for this; however, this is just my opinion. So, my followers, if you are reading this blog, you are a web-based reader and need to check out both Google Reader and Bloglines. I am puttng my money on Bloglines. (well if I had any money!) Until next time...Read on!

Adventure #7 Technology Applications

There was an article in the American Federation of Teachers magazine today. It talked about how there has been research conducted on multi-tasking and whether students can actually do a good job when multi-tasking. The research said "no." This leads to the subject of technology and whether it will really enhance learning in the classroom. Although every student is different, most students will like the new technology being used in the classroom; however, this technology will not necessarily enhance learning. Our minds can only process so much information at a time, and by overloading it with too much technology at one time, it can shut down and become confused.

So, there are pros and cons to technology in the classroom. You can't say, "What am I going to do with my smart board in my classroom?" but rather "How can I enhance my lesson on verbs with my smart board?" I thought this was an interesting article because we just assume that all students need new technology in the classroom or they won't learn. Yes, technology is our present and future, but we need to be more selective when using it and not just use it because it is there and we feel we "have to."

I know a teacher on my campus who isn't into all the new technology gadgets, and she is just as effective in getting her students to learn; so, again, technology is a two-edged sword. So, watch out! You might just cut yourself. Until next time....in about two minutes. :)

Adventure #7 Google Applications

Who would have thought that Google had so many applications!! No, Google is not just for searching, although that is what it is known for. Google, of course, has an email application; however, it also has something that I feel will be beneficial to the teachers. It is called Google Docs; this application allows you to create documents and save them for personal use or for public display. It also allows you to upload documents that you have already created. Teachers have turned to pin drives, but this will allow them a little more freedom. They can open up their documents anywhere, anytime. How convenient is that? Rhetorical question, of course! :)

I am still exploring a program for uploading photos called Picasa, as well as Google Reader which allows you to receive articles on topics of interest. Right now, I have articles on North Carolina Lighthouses and How Stuff Works being fed to my account. I will follow up on this later and let you know if it is worth the hassle of setting it up. (Okay, I am sure it will be!)

One other Google application sounded interesting. It is called Google Alerts. This will send email alerts to you on topics of your choice as well. I am having librarian articles and celebrity deaths sent to my email. This may bog down my email with too many articles; so, I will see if this would be something that the teachers on my campus could use. Like they don't have anything else to do!

Since I am in an elementary school, the only thing I think the students could use would be the google docs. Still an interesting find: Google Applications. I am just beginning my quest with google; so, until next time my sweet followers.

Adventure #6-Mashups Continued

Okay, I am hooked on bighugelabs.com! Here, I framed my 2nd grade group picture from Oxnard Street School in North Hollywood, California.

Adventure #6-Mashups Continued

Still having fun with bighugelabs.com!! Motivational posters and cartoon captions. What fun! Oh the possibilities!

Adventure #6-Mashups

Bighugelabs.com offers ways for you to use pictures found in flickr or your own photographs to create magazine covers, trading cards, slideshows as well as a multitude of other mashups (two programs combined for added fun and variety!) I am having fun with this website; I can see myself using this program in the library to enhance research projects, thus making them more appealing to the younger students. I have noticed that creativity has been stifled in school due to the onslaught of testing; so, this program would help bring creativity back, at least in the library. I am just beginning my adventure with this program; so, I will be posting more later. I did create a magazine cover that students could create for any animal that they were researching. So, until next time.......

Flickr Adventure Continued-Adventure #5

I uploaded a picture to Flickr, one that I didn't mind being public. I am not in my library this summer; so, I just uploaded one from my personal collection. I tagged it; however, I could not find it in the creative commons. I am not enjoying the Flickr adventure very much. I enjoy looking at some of the other posted photos, but again, I do not think I would use this very much.

The next adventure, however, which includes a website called bighugelabs.com, will be more exciting because you get to "mash-up pictures-change them in some way, create motivational posters, etc. So, I am tired of Flickr for now. That is not to say that I won't revisit it. I just want to move on to changing up photos and making my own creations. So until next time..Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars (Oh wait, that is not my saying..it belongs to Casey Kasem) :)

Flickr Adventure Continued-Adventure #5

I am continuing my Flickr adventure. I learned about the different groups that are found on Flickr. I searched for library and librarian groups but didn't find any that I felt were beneficial to me. I learned how to link my blog to Flickr which was very easy. (I think I was just fighting it yesterday) I was able to post a picture that someone else uploaded; so, I am on my way with Flickr. I still don't know if I would use it within a school setting; however, on a personal level, it could prove to be useful. I will post more about it later. On another note, I was able to modify the comments section. Anyone may post a comment; however, it has to be moderated by me first. How cool is that.... Until next time.

Flickr Blogging Tool-Still Adventure #5

6:31pm
Originally uploaded by Atwater Village Newbie

This is a picture of The Griffith Park fire that I found on Flickr. It was uploaded by Atwater Village Newbie back in May of 2007.

Flickr-thing #5 (renaming adventure #5)

I hate calling these posts "things." So, I am renaming them adventures! Flickr has been an adventure. Flickr is a site that allows you to post photos while also allowing you to view other poster's photos; although I am sure uploading photos is easy, the problem comes in with Creative Commons. There are many different Creative Commons categories. Some photos that others have posted can be used as is or remixed; some have to be used as is; some can not be used without written consent. Etc. Etc. Blah Blah Blah. Just kidding about the Blah Blah Blah part. I am just a little frustrated. I would not use this site with elementary school students. Now, I know why it is blocked in our district. (Some pictures are not age-appropriate)

I was excited to do a keyword search (tag search) on Griffith Park (my favorite childhood park in North Hollywood). Many photos were posted; even one showing the creeks that run through the park. Could I use these in an educational setting? No, but I enjoyed them none the less.

So, my adventure continues with flickr today. I will not be defeated! I will post more later today, after my pool school class is over. Until next time.

I Sent My Registration E-Mail-Thing #4

I sent my registration email; so, I am hoping I will get followers. I may need to tell my facebook family to view my blog so that I can get constructive feedback. So far, this has been fun. There is so much you can do with technology; I also love to write. So, this will be my outlet this summer: to post what I am learning, as well as add a few extra snipets of information. For those who are not taking this class, you can create an easy to manage blog with blogspot and you can create your avatar using avatars.yahoo.com Until next time (which may be later today)

Avatars-Thing #3

Avatars are fun to create; however, there were so many options to choose from. I know this doesn't look exactly like me, but I can dream, can't I? I do have green eyes, I did live in North Hollywood and I love books. The rest, I am working on. :) It wasn't hard to add the avatar to the blog. The instructions were clear-cut. HTML code is not scary, I repeat not scary; so, don't be afraid to cut and paste. Now, I need to register my blog so that I can gain followers. Until next time...Aloha. (My library clerk is in Hawaii right now and I am jealous!)

Avatars and Flickr

Well, I thought I would be able to add my avatar from school; however, the website is blocked as well as Flickr; so, I will have to wait until I get home. This may be a problem if I want students to make avatars during the next school year. So, I will have to look into having these sites unblocked if they are age-appropriate. Be on the look-out for my avatar. Until next time.

Lifelong Learning (thing#2)

There are 7 1/2 habits to follow that will help create a lifelong learner. These habits are ideas that should be instilled in us from childhood experiences; however, some children may not have had the nurturing needed to create "good habits" over "bad habits." As I learned in the tutorial, you are never too old or too young :) to learn new things. You just have to open yourself up to the challenge and not view it as an obstacle.

I believe sometimes our goals are too lofty. We don't have a clear end in mind, and we get bogged down on what we never finished; so, I believe that goals are very important as long as you have the end in mind. What is it exactly that you want to do? You must be exact in your thinking.

I personally am not afraid of technology. I love technology; so, that opens me up to new challenges. My problem, however, is not wanting to ask for help from others. So, that is a habit that I must change. (People must be added to my toolbox of resources!)

So, until next time. Now, I have to figure out how to place an avatar on this blog!!

What I Anticipate From this Workshop-(thing#1)

I have been introduced to some of the 23 "things" that I will learn in this summer workshop; however, sometimes it is hard to find time to apply them to real life learning in the library setting. This workshop will ensure that I become comfortable with each technology application so that they will be effectively used when school resumes in August.

Learning 2.0: 23 Things-(Thing#1)

You are viewing my first entry of many. This blog was created to inspire me as well as my readers so that we can embark on a journey together into the world of technology! Do I know everything? No, but that is what makes it fun, for it is never to late to learn new ideas.

Technology is here to stay; with each new class of students comes new challenges and adventures; so, LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN!