Method 12---I finished

I can not believe I have finished. It seems like I just started. This was a fantastic learning experience. I can not wait to start using many of the things I learned . I also have my list of sites to revisit and spend more time learning.

What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?
There were so many things that I really enjoyed. I liked wikis. I think this will be a fun way to collaborate with others.
Flicker was also a favorite new thing. I will use this in the library and with presentations.
I think Podcast will be something that I really revist and try to use in my library.

How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals? I think this experience has inspired me to seek out ways to learn to keep up with new technology. I now have a new excitment and can't wait to use the new technology in the library. I also plan to reccommend this to several librarians and teachers as a wonderful way to discover the new technology.

Were there any take-aways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
I thought this would be hard and boring---boy was I surprised. The program was fun, interesting, challenging but not difficult. A take away was that I found many things I will be using and exploring in more detail. I also will be sharing things I learned.

What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?
I liked this format. I enjoyed having control over the pace of my learning. I would not change the format.

If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you again chose to participate?
Yes I would love to participate in discovery programs like this. If you offer one, please let me know I will be happy to participate.

I plan to go back and revisit many of the activities. I did this over the Thanksgiving break thinking I would start and try to finish before December 11....I was hooked. I enjoyed this program and hope to do more programs like this in the future.

Method 11--Podcasts

I found the podcasts very interesting. I can see how this would be a great way of getting info across. I think this could be used in my library. Since I work in a elementary library with no full time para ( I have one para for 45 minutes each morning and then another para that comes in for about 30 minutes and then comes back in the afternoon for an hour) this might be a way for me to accomplish some of the teaching skills. I have started having check out one week and teaching and activities the next week. I often see times where it would be great to yell stopppp and do a mini lesson but often there just is not time. Podcasting might be a great way to solve this. I listened to a podcast that was a tour of the library and how to find books. This would be the sort of things I should try. I am making a list of things to do--how to find a book, using the online card catalog, research tips, note taking, how to use district websites, etc. This may be my goal for the spring to at least make one podcast---and then maybe spend my summer making more.

I am so glad I did this. I am finding things that I can us to make my job easier and more productive.

Method 10 -- Wikis

I love wikis. Last year our library consultant set up a wiki page for the librarians. I kept thinking wow this would be a great way to send out information to my staff. One day I was locked in my office while they were using the library for a meeting and I decided to make my own wiki page.

I started with PBWORKS and it was fantastic.

I now use my library wiki page to get information to my staff. Instead of doing a monthly newsletter I update my wiki page and make a monthly folder. I send the link to the teachers when I have updated. At first I asked teachers to join so they would get automatic updates....I found that 3/4 of the staff did but I found by making my page public and sending the link when I do updates easier. This also allowed a place for teachers to comment. This can lead to collaboration.

This summer I was asked to do a workshop on students and research. I did not want to make handouts--so I made a wiki page. This was a big hit.

I also made a wiki page for the 4th graders when they were doing research. I put websites I wanted them to use on the page and I also included the requirements the teacher had and a rubric. I think wikis are wonderful.

My wiki page is public but I have only sent the link to teachers and fellow educators. I have not shared this with the parents yet.

I really think wikis are a wonderful and easy way to share information and to collaborate with teachers.

Method 9--Chat and Instant messaging

I have been chatting and iming for a while. Once I got hooked on AOL--well that was the starting point. Iming is fantastic. I can be working on this project and talking to my friends or family at the same time.

Once again our school district does have this type of technology blocked. But I know that students still im using phones, etc. Since I am in an elementary school I really don't see students doing this but I know that many do chat or im at home.

I do think I could see the advantage of using chat or ims in the library. I would love to be able to set up a chat room to discuss a topic with teachers as they had time during their conference periods during the day -- I have thought of setting up something on AOL and inviting teachers to join.

A parent chat room might also have its advantages.

I also could see using IMs to assist teachers. There are many times when a learning moment happens in the classroom and the teacher will have to stop and email me or write a note (we all know that usually an oral message brought by a students is usually---I forgot what she said when they arrive at the library). IMing would be a great way to discuss things.....I can see where this would be a problem with teachers and teaching time but I can see that it would be a great asset to have.

I would also love to have a way to IM fellow librarians...yes we have email and we do have a library wiki page but IMing would be as it says instant. I could also see that we could have discussions or training in chatrooms.

I do plan on discussing Meebo with the powers that be to see if perhaps we could have something set up at least for staff members.

I can see this as a future asset to libraries.

Method 8-- Social Networking

I think social networking is a wonderful way to communicate.

I do have a few privacy concerns and some concerns about keeping my personal life separate from my professional life online.

I do have a facebook page that I use to keep in touch with family and friends. I have begun to add different group pages. I also do have a twitter account...I don't seem to twitter as often as I use facebook.

I do not use social networking tools at work. For one thing they are blocked by my school district. I can see where a myspace, facebook or twitter page could be useful for al ibrary to keep in touch with their patrons--in a school library I think a high school could use these tools to reach their students and maybe bring buisness into the library. At this point I do not think I am ready to try this type of networking with my library.

As an educator I have many privacy concerns in using facebook and twitter. My facebook page is set that I must give access to people. In the news we have seen where educators have had problems with what seems to be innocent things on their private network pages.

I have branched out a little and have added several authors a "friends" on my facebook page. It is interesting to see the information they share.

I would love in the future to perhaps set up a facebook page for my book clubs and perhaps use the network to allow the children to communicate with the author of books we are reading.

I will be thinking in the future of how I could use social networking with my library. I do think some of this will come as my district evolves and accepts new technology.

Method 7 Delicious

I love Delicious. I had a brief intro to Delicious at an inservice last year. It was a great inservice but it was fast and not hands on.

I have been reading a lot about using Inquiry with students...they say that inquiry is active and hands on and leads to learning for understanding and longterm...these activities truly follow that philosphy. By doing the activities with Delicious I will remember more than just having it presented orally to me.

I can see lots of ways to use Delicious. I plan to introduce this to the teachers ( I think I will need to speak with my principal because I think I will have lots of things to share).

This is fantastic no matter what computer you are at you can still retrieve things from your favorite list.

This will be great for students to use in the library during research. All of the computers have had "Deep Freeze" installed so whatever you save erases when they are closed down. This would enable students to save their information sources and be able to retrieve them.I plan to start using Delicious at home and school.

Method 6--Youtube--teachertube

I really liked exploring Youtube and teachertube. I found several things I could use on teachertube. Aldine now has teachertube available for teacher use. I plan to explore and find things I can use....maybe some funny things to use to liven up those long faculty meetings.

I did have a problem trying to embed the videos...then duhhhhhh I realized I skipped a step.

From Youtube I got a little off topic ---yes I strayed from education and library .....