Learning in a 2.0 World

Great Free Things

2009-07-01T11:49:00.002-05:00

Tux paint - http://www.tuxpaint.org/?lang=en
Scratch - computer animation - http://scratch.mit.edu/

Do you of any others?

Strong Nests, Successful Students

2009-07-01T11:22:00.002-05:00

Skills and Strategies for 21st-Century Learning
Annette Lamb - http://eduscapes.com/

How do the new AASL and ISTE Standards support student success? We must build a framework that challenges and engage students in meaningful activities and assessments. The must be encourged to ask high level questions?

Create a final product which will allow students to create and present their information in a way other than a report.

Web 2.0 - cool but are they learning environments that are content rich that involves deep thinking and creativity?

Skill - to read from the web, not just click around.

Find ways to work around blocks - YouTube - download the video you want to use

Go to Google and search for blogs.

Go!Animate - http://goanimate.com/ - how neat is this

Think about - How do we use the new technology and the fun and exciting features in this Web 2.0 world to enhance education, not just have bells and whistles?

Library Tools Smackdown

2009-06-29T11:48:00.001-05:00

Library Tools Smackdown - Great Stuff!

Try some of these when you're thinking about projects for kids.

Copyright resources - http://copyrightfriendly.wikispaces.com/

Behold - Search for images with check boxes to choose levels of use within copyright guidelines - http://www.behold.cc/

https://necclibrarytoolssmackdown.wikispaces.com/Digital+Citizenship - PDF worksheet for students to complete to determine proper use of the images found.

Kentucky Virtual Library - http://www.kyvl.org/kids/homebase.html - How to do research for kids

Have you seen http://www.pipl.com/? It's a people search that organizes information.

http://www.tikatok.com/ - Kids can write, illustrate and even buy their own books.

More than I can add here, especially before the next session.

My head is spinning but what fun!

Getting Started at NECC

2009-06-29T08:22:00.002-05:00

NECC at Iste connects - http://www.isteconnects.org/ -
Good discussion articles, blogging, updates on the activities & speakers

Google Wave - The latest buzz – It’s a new online collaboration and communication tool – two of the big words in education right now – which is coming later this year. Here’s a link to a movie that describes it. Watch it when you can make the time. It’s about 80 minutes. http://wave.google.com/ There will be things created for education because it’s open source.

What is open source? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_source
Wikipedia article that defines it.

That's just the start!

Live - from NECC

2009-06-28T22:55:00.003-05:00

It's hard to believe I'm finally here. The first days have been filled with activity. Saturday was a meeting day, breakfast, meeting, lunch, meeting, and a reception in the evening. The NECC (National Educational Computing Conference) is sponsored by ISTE (International Society for Technology Education). There are about 60 countries represented at the conference.

Sunday afternoon I attended a Video Conference forum and met some interesting people - NASA, CILC, administrators, teachers, content providers. It started out a little slow but ended up a valuable experience.

Malcolm Gladwell was the keynote speaker and his comment that was a highlight for me was that "It doesn't matter where the learning takes place. It matters how the learning takes place." I heard that we need to be creative with ways to connect students to learning.

Monday starts early with a session entitled "The 10 Best Free Web 2.0 Tools for Teachers." I have volunteered to be in the Tech Playground for two hours. And that's just the start of the day. More then,.

How Time Flies

2009-05-03T21:06:00.002-05:00

Where have the last two and a half months gone? Oh, yeah. Transitions & getting ready for change. My school is closing. We've been through building tours, interviews, job offers, colleagues scattering, frustration, grieving, strengthening, and now maybe even anticipation. I now know I will be in a Spanish Immersion School next fall. My college French won't be much help but I'm looking forward to learning. The best part is that my new principal loves technology and thinks outside the box. It will be an adventure.

Interesting to note - Facebook has become the way for us to update others on the status. Job call night - nearly all of us were one. That was where we found out first from the others. Other changes in life are there - Engagements, babies, birthdays, etc. I'm looking forward to staying in touch next year.

Now, moving on to finish the next 23 things and find great things for the staff and students.

Continuing the Adventure

2009-02-19T22:02:00.003-06:00

Midterm grades were due yesterday. Today was our History Day Showcase. There's a saying that says 'The more things change, the more they stay the same.' Grades are still the currency on which schools run. They are earned by completing the work assigned on time. But there is a change. Now we use electronic gradebooks and parents can check their child's progress online. History Day's projects include documentaries, exhibit boards, performances, and new this year, web sites.

Some things don't change, and shouldn't change. History Day sources should include both primary and secondary sources. Students should find their information by going to the library. They take notes, maintain a bibliography. But now they can find their information with the use of online databases. They maintain their bibliography with an electronic citation creator. But regardless of how the students create their projects, what hasn't changed is the pride students freel in completed work. They have become the experts on their subject.

Our library media center has been full of students all day and after school, students scrambling to finish their projects. There were students whose websites didn't work. Audio files brought on a flash drive from home didn't work. But in the end, with support of their teachers and others, their projects were completed and the process is over, for most of them. And hopefully one thing that won't change is the pride students feel in a job well done. They can rest tonight knowing they reached their goal. Regardless of the world in which we live and learn, that's a good thing.

Thing 22-What Did I Learn Today?

2008-09-16T01:07:00.003-05:00

There is always something changing and growing in the tech world. This has provided an incentive. What surprised me the most was how many of the 'Things' with which I was already familiar. It will be exciting to see where it really goes. I've been teaching a Media and Technology class for elementary ed majors and one of the students asked me what I expected in 10 years and I had to say I don't really know. But there are so many things out there right now to learn and teach students (and teachers) that by the time I'm through these, something else new and wonderful will be around the corner.

Thing 21-Beyond MySpace: Other Social Networks

2008-09-16T01:04:00.002-05:00

The MEMO Ning is becoming a great way to communicate with others in the same field. It offers a place to ask questions and post answers and just note what's going on with others in the same field.

Thing 20-Libraries and Social Networks

2008-09-16T01:00:00.002-05:00

I love the Hennepin County MySpace site. what a great way to connect with students. Personally, Facebook is providing a very nice way to keep in touch with a group of cousins I had not been able to really contact al that much. Since we all got on Facebook, we can get insights into each of our busy lives.

Thing 19-Podcasts

2008-09-16T00:58:00.002-05:00

Gcast - what a marvelous idea! It is so easy to use and it works. I want to have students record short clips about books or something and share them with one another. The possibilities are limitless.

Thing 18.-YouTube & Other Online Video

2008-09-16T00:48:00.002-05:00

The school has opened the block for the streaming video, and only the teachers can access it. Our teachers use it for several things in their curriculum and it's interesting to see how they integrate it.

Thing 17-ELM Productivity Tools

2008-09-16T00:41:00.002-05:00

The ELM databases provide many resources for staff and students alike. The convenience of such great sites is a real bonus for our students. My personal experience has been with creating of a folder to store information and be able to keep it for further information is needed.

Thing 16-Student 2.0 Tools

2008-09-16T00:39:00.002-05:00

This is the one I'm the most familiar with. I've used it with classes and they have responded very well. I print out the initial page and we discuss the steps of the process. The students really don't access the site that much but our teachers are finding it invaluable.

Thing 15-Online Games and Libraries

2008-09-16T00:35:00.003-05:00

There are some links on our school web page entitled "Take A Break" and when a student's homework is done, they can take a break with a game. It has gone over very well and allows the student a few moments to relax and think of something besides school work. They have to think in a different way and respond to the steps of the game.

Thing 14-Library Thing

2008-09-16T00:27:00.002-05:00

What an easy way to try to keep track of the books that may be set aside and forgotten. One challenge with lots of books is remembering who they were loaned to. Another valuable part of LibraryThing is the online book club that opens up a whole world of discussion and communication.

Thing 13-Online Productivity Tools

2008-09-16T00:23:00.002-05:00

I'm not sure what I did before iGoogle. To have everything I want right at my fingertips, with one click, is one of the most valuable tools I have.

Thing 12-Do You Digg?

2008-09-16T00:20:00.002-05:00

As most of my internet searching is done for very specific purposes, this one hasn't made much sense for my. I'm really not that interested in just what others are recommending as it's not always something that is meaningful. But the results are kind of interesting to explore, nonetheless.

Thing 11-Del.icio.us

2008-09-16T00:14:00.003-05:00

I can find a site, include it with the others in my del.icio.us account and be able to access it from any computer. If I'm looking for practical, this is certainly it.

Thing 10-Wikis

2008-09-16T00:09:00.002-05:00

A class wiki can provide an opportunity for students to access and share information. A writing project for students who are not in the same class became an adventure that encouraged good writing and interesting stories. The work that was done was really quite impressive. And they had fun.

Thing 9-Online Collaboration Tools

2008-09-16T00:06:00.002-05:00

Google Docs - While participating in a class over the summer, we shared information with Google Docs. We will continue to add information as we work on the project over the school year.

Thing 8-Share Your Creations

2008-09-16T00:00:00.002-05:00

eFolio Minnesota - This is a perfect option for an 8th grade computer class. They can keep their information in an electronic format and discuss the needs for a site like that. It also encourages a thought as to the future and preparing for further education.

Thing 7-Web 2.0 Communication Tools

2008-09-15T23:55:00.002-05:00

Email is essential for a media specialist. I can stay in touch with teachers, parents, other media specialists with a few clicks of a key. Text messaging allows me to stay in touch easily, with quick messages to friends and family. I haven't used IM alot but enjoy watching my children as they work on homework and communicate with friends at the same time.

Thing 6 - Online Image Generators

2008-09-15T23:50:00.002-05:00

The Trading Card lab is fun but by far the most popular with our middle schoolers has to be ToonDoo. The Environmental Ed class used it to create cartoons for their magazines. ELL students love it as they're learning English. And using the cartoons to communicate opens a world for an autistic student. How great is that.

Thing 5 - More Flickr Fun

2008-09-15T23:41:00.002-05:00

So many options, and alot of fun, but finding ways to make them work in my library seems challenging. I'd like to come up with some ways to include them on my web page to make it more engaging for students.

Thing 4 - Flickr

2008-03-28T16:14:00.003-05:00

Pictures, pictures, pictures - Two things quickly come to mind. The creativity and artistry of people is amazing! I am so in awe of wonderful photographers and the way their lens can capture people, places, and events is so incredible. And that they are willing to share them here allows all of us to share the enjoyment of their artistry.

There are, however, a few shots that make me think some people have too much time on their hands. But it's a good way to share a life with others which can be fun as well.

When working with middle school students, it's one more place for them to search for images that compliment their work. Citing the images could provide a challenge. A little more exploring to determine the best way to keep their searches appropriate might be in order.

It could be a fun and convenient way to share pictures with family and friends, a good alternative to filling up inboxes with attachments.

In October I attended a workshop for IB/MYP librarians in Seattle. One of my favorite spots in the city was, of course, the new Seattle Public Library. It's amazing. This photo is just one view of that.

The image can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/25188210@N08/2368931259/in/photostream/

Thing 3 - RSS Feeds

2008-03-16T23:02:00.002-05:00

Why is it that we often have to be pushed to try something by external things, and then find out that it is just what we needed to meet a need.

The RSS feed is certainly one of those things. I have found some great blogs and other sites that are updated regularly. But keeping track of them, particularly when using different computers in different locations, was always the issue. All I needed was a nudge to realize that this is just what I was looking for. My list has a good start already. And I can get to it from any location.

Thing 2 - Web 2.0 - Considerations and Questions

2008-03-16T22:45:00.002-05:00

We hear the terms - blog, YouTube, Flickr, RSS, wiki. It's a new vocabulary, one I can't find in most traditional dictionaries yet. In the day to day life of a school library, finding time to not only learn how they work but integrate them into not only the library but encourage teachers to find ways to use them both professionally and with their students often takes a back seat to the day to day activities.

23 Things should be a fun way to keep on trying day by day to gain new skills and then share them with others in our building. And through that, if the educational climate can be enhanced for our students, good things will happen.

It feels like the beginning of an anticipated road trip. I have the map, I have the goal, now just to find the time to get started.

Thing 1 - PBWiki

2008-01-28T09:13:00.000-06:00

I created a wiki on PBWiki for a Media and Technology class for Elem. Ed. majors with all of the web links and class resources. Additionally, one of the assignments is to write reflections on articles. Extra credit was offered for students who posted a short review of their articles there. Five of the thirteen have already posted and the rest are thinking about it. My thought was that if they could learn at the beginning of their education to use some of these web tools, they would have a head start for their classrooms.

See it at ccapmandt.pbwiki.com .