Thing # 16 - Wikis
Once again I spent much more time then I had planned on examining all of the wikis. I loved reading the reviews on the "Book Lovers" wiki & thought that was an interesting format for a book group. The school and classroom wikis that I visited were also inspiring - but once again I think I will run into the same problem I keep facing in this course: our school filters blocking just about anything that would be interactive! Also, even if you have a private wiki, I don't think there is anyway to monitor it (besides manually checking & removing anything inappropriate) - but perhaps I am wrong? I know blogger allows you to to moderate comments, so nothing students post goes on "live" - but I am not sure about wikis & especially at the middle school level, that could create problems.
This year especially I have noticed that many of my middle school students use Wikipedia as a main reference source. I try my best to encourage students (and staff members!) to use other sources - especially the library databases - and to be sure to evaluate any information they do find on Wikipedia. I also do a lesson on Wikipedia with my 8th grade students that I located on the New York Times Learning Pages - this helps to make them aware that Wikipedia may not always be accurate - and that no matter what sources they are using, they should alwasy use more then one. I think rather then "fight" against Wikipedia, we need to educate students about its pros and cons, teach them good evaluation skills, and lead them to additional sources to validate the information they find.
I have just begun using wikis professionally for several committees and projects I have been working on. While I love the ability to collaborate with people - I still find wikis somewhat confusing & disorganized. I really want to love wikis, but right now I still have more questions and concerns about being able to use them with students.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Week 6: Things 13-15
Thing 13: Del.icio.us & Tagging
A few years back I had been using a bookmarking site - I loved the convenience of being able to access my bookmarks from any computer - especially when I wanted to demonstrate or use a web-site with students and staff. I didn't have to worry about typing in a wrong URL in front of an audience, or taking the time to set up bookmarks on that computer ahead of time. To be honest, I can't even remember the name of the site I was using - or why I stopped using it. (I do know that I recommended it in one of my staff newsletters, so I will go back & check out which one it was)
Del.icio.us differs from the site I used because of the "social" aspect. The ability to see how many people are bookmarking sites as well as the other sites people have bookmarked adds a whole new dimension to simply bookmarking.
I think for research assistance (at least for my students) it may not be the best site. I think it is just too easy to get off-track & not as focused as some other searches they could do. I did enjoy using the site, and I am looking forward to going back & playing with it some more - however, I spent much more time then I had intended exploring all of the other sites.
Thing14: Technorati
Perhaps if I go back & take a better look at Technorati at a different time (when I am not away on vacation) - I will end up liking it more ... but right now I found it overwhelming. This must really be what information overload is all about!
I did have different results when I searched for School Library Learning 2.0 in various ways. There is also a lot to explore under the popular blogs, searches and tags. At first it seemed to be mostly entertainment & news related - but you can really dig into any topic you are interested in.
Tagging has flexibility since you can create your own tags (rather then be bound by subject headings such as Library of Congress or Sears) - but I wonder if that will also make things difficult to search for at times? Or is more user-friendly because people choose tags that make sense to them (whereas LOC or Sears are not really user-friendly.
I will really have to spend more time with this site to try to find ways I could use it with students - but I think it may be overwhelming for them.
Thing 15 - Perspectives on Web 2.0
I agreed with the articles about 2.0 - libraries need to embrace 2.0 technologies & build "collections"that patrons can access from anywhere. This is a great opportunity for many libraries to reach people. Although print circulations may be dropping, libraries can use other usage statistics (digital collections, online databases) to prove that their value to the public is actually increasing.
To me Library 2.0 means the ability to better meet the needs of the user- through online and digital collections, and the more interactivity with users to find out and respond to their needs.
I am fearful that for school libraries (or at least mine) this could produce a larger gap in services. I have tried to keep up with new technologies and to integrate them into my school library and curriculum, but much stronger Internet filters and rules this year have proved extremely frustrating to my efforts. I had a "book blog" which is no longer accessible from school (although the technology director just told me Word Press may work better for me then Blogger )... I wanted to try to have students create podcasts instead of a more traditional presentation, but after recording a trial one, I was unable to download it to listen to it. I understand the need to have rules and filters in school settings, but I think if we have too many we are missing out on a chance to connect to and engage students using technology that they are already using at home - and instead of attracting them to the world of libraries and hooking them in when we have a chance, we will seem dated and dull in comparison to the 2.0 world they are living in.
A few years back I had been using a bookmarking site - I loved the convenience of being able to access my bookmarks from any computer - especially when I wanted to demonstrate or use a web-site with students and staff. I didn't have to worry about typing in a wrong URL in front of an audience, or taking the time to set up bookmarks on that computer ahead of time. To be honest, I can't even remember the name of the site I was using - or why I stopped using it. (I do know that I recommended it in one of my staff newsletters, so I will go back & check out which one it was)
Del.icio.us differs from the site I used because of the "social" aspect. The ability to see how many people are bookmarking sites as well as the other sites people have bookmarked adds a whole new dimension to simply bookmarking.
I think for research assistance (at least for my students) it may not be the best site. I think it is just too easy to get off-track & not as focused as some other searches they could do. I did enjoy using the site, and I am looking forward to going back & playing with it some more - however, I spent much more time then I had intended exploring all of the other sites.
Thing14: Technorati
Perhaps if I go back & take a better look at Technorati at a different time (when I am not away on vacation) - I will end up liking it more ... but right now I found it overwhelming. This must really be what information overload is all about!
I did have different results when I searched for School Library Learning 2.0 in various ways. There is also a lot to explore under the popular blogs, searches and tags. At first it seemed to be mostly entertainment & news related - but you can really dig into any topic you are interested in.
Tagging has flexibility since you can create your own tags (rather then be bound by subject headings such as Library of Congress or Sears) - but I wonder if that will also make things difficult to search for at times? Or is more user-friendly because people choose tags that make sense to them (whereas LOC or Sears are not really user-friendly.
I will really have to spend more time with this site to try to find ways I could use it with students - but I think it may be overwhelming for them.
Thing 15 - Perspectives on Web 2.0
I agreed with the articles about 2.0 - libraries need to embrace 2.0 technologies & build "collections"that patrons can access from anywhere. This is a great opportunity for many libraries to reach people. Although print circulations may be dropping, libraries can use other usage statistics (digital collections, online databases) to prove that their value to the public is actually increasing.
To me Library 2.0 means the ability to better meet the needs of the user- through online and digital collections, and the more interactivity with users to find out and respond to their needs.
I am fearful that for school libraries (or at least mine) this could produce a larger gap in services. I have tried to keep up with new technologies and to integrate them into my school library and curriculum, but much stronger Internet filters and rules this year have proved extremely frustrating to my efforts. I had a "book blog" which is no longer accessible from school (although the technology director just told me Word Press may work better for me then Blogger )... I wanted to try to have students create podcasts instead of a more traditional presentation, but after recording a trial one, I was unable to download it to listen to it. I understand the need to have rules and filters in school settings, but I think if we have too many we are missing out on a chance to connect to and engage students using technology that they are already using at home - and instead of attracting them to the world of libraries and hooking them in when we have a chance, we will seem dated and dull in comparison to the 2.0 world they are living in.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Week 5 - Things 10 - 12
Thing # 10
I began playing with the online image generators on Saturday, & hopefully I didn't jinx the Patriots - I was making football guys that said "Brady" & signs that said "Go Pats" & if you follow football you know how that ended up, so rather then posting those I started fresh & made the "Read" bumper sticker below.
I began playing with the online image generators on Saturday, & hopefully I didn't jinx the Patriots - I was making football guys that said "Brady" & signs that said "Go Pats" & if you follow football you know how that ended up, so rather then posting those I started fresh & made the "Read" bumper sticker below.
I have been searching for one of these for my car, & finally a friend sent me a link to one & now that I have the link, I have yet to buy it. I'm not usually a bumper sticker person, but I do love reading!
Thing # 11
Web 2.0 Awards
I had a lot of fun looking at the sites that have won "Web 2.0 Awards". I am really looking forward to having more time to play some more - & also trying them out at school to see which ones I can actually utilize. (I think I have already mentioned our web filters are in high gear this year!) I can ask to have something unblocked if necessary, but with my book blog I have had a lot of trouble with it becoming blocked again.
I explored LibraryThing.com . I recently joined Good Reads & I have been having a lot of fun seeing what my friends are reading & entering my own books in, but I think this is even better.
I didn't register for an account yet, but I was able to explore a lot of features & many could be used without an account.
I LOVE the "Book Suggester" & you do not need to log in or have an account to use it. I think it would be a great tool to use with students and also for collection development.
Also, they have many groups that look interesting, including children's young adult literature groups. I have such a hard time keeping with new (& even old) titles & have wanted to be in a book group, but this may be an easy alternative.
Thing #12 - Rollyo
I wasn't quite sure I would like Rollyo, but I did find it interesting. I created a reference one which I would like to try out with my students. I think they would benefit more from a tool that I "roll" rather then creating their own. (even though they may have fun with it)
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