Week 5 Thing 10, 11 and 12

Thing 10: This is something I can really get into - so many possibilities . . .
I used Image Chef to create the star filled with the words Enterprise Hornets complete in 'black and gold' (our school colors). The comic strip generator will be used to add some pizzazz to the library orientation presentations, student's library FAQ sheet, new teacher packet. I have been compiling ideas for a new website so I will be definitely be revisiting these sites for that project.
Thing 11: I am already acquainted with Library Thing so I was delighted to see that it was on the short list for Web 2.0 Awards. I signed up to use this web tool. I really like the feature 'suggestions of what to read next'. After 'do you have a 300 page book?' this is the most asked question I hear. Usually this isn't a big deal but I am not a big fan/reader of fantasy and I struggle with on the spot recommendations. I will keep this open on my desktop so that I can quickly refer to it. The other feature that I will put to use is the accessibility to my Library Thing account via cell phone. This will be convenient to use while perusing the bookstore shelves. Another web tool that I came across during my discovery activities is montage-a-google (grant.robinson.name/projects/montage-a-google/) I found this to be a creative and fun tool. Check it out!
Thing 12: I created a 'pathfinder' for a Vietnam/1960's project on Rollyo. So far I am not buying what they are selling. Perhaps I am missing the point. I prefer to compose pathfinders that include print and multimedia sources and not strictly websites. My intention is to make these pathfinders available via our website when we redo it. Also I was not successful in adding the link to my blog - unless some way somehow it miraculously appears! Unless someone can show me the finer points of Rollyo I will never use this tool. Thing 12 was a bummer after having so much fun with the other two activities. Oh well . . .

Week 4 Thing 8 and 9

I admit that RSS readers have tremendous potential; students could use them for research projects, teachers for a quote of the day or anyone to keep up on personal issues. I will definitely introduce this to my teachers. In fact, I am considering putting together a presentation that includes all the tools that I am discovering through School Library Learning 2.0.

Since I am a current user of other Google offerings I chose to use Google Reader for this activity. I added several fun but useful subscriptions to my new RSS account but I know that I won't keep up on it unless I have specific project that I am working on. Heck, I have email that I haven't read that is two months + old! We'll see. I am anxious to read the comments of other bloggers regarding their ideas for RSS's uses.

After exploring the search tools for RSS feeds and blogs (thing 9), I found Google the easiest to use (clean and simple). Topix was also a contender, simple to navigate and it offered the novice direction with their "Read the Blog", "Talk in the Forum", "Edit the News" sections. Most of the others were too 'busy' and unappealing for my tastes.

Week 3 Thing 7

Today's technology offers so many exciting options. My mind is buzzing with ways for incorporating some of these new, fun ideas. How cool for students to use Mappr, Flickr and any of the other tools available to jazz up their projects. Even better, how cool for my students if their teachers used these tools to jazz up their presentations! I might have to track down a few teachers over the summer and introduce to them these tools.