Thing # 6

I love playing with the Mashups and mosaics. It took me awhile to figure it out. I had to ask my computer expert hubby for help since he uploads our family photos to Smug Mug. I have to admit without him I would still be sitting here trying to get the mosaic and mashups on my blog site.
I see so many posibilities for these applications in our libraries.I think Bluebonnet trading cards might be a great way to encourage students to read the Bluebonnet books. The lower grade students would love Mockingbird trading cards too.
Creating mosaics of various library activities and putting them on our own library websites for everyone to see would be so innovative and different from the "usual" pictures we put on our sites.. I think I will create a new section on my library website for mosaics and just keep adding throughout the year. I am really looking forward to getting some great pictures during children's Book Week, Book Fair and when Santa comes to visit!

Christian the Bookworm

chris15 mo 064
Originally uploaded by Library Magic

My favorite bookworm Christian reading one of his favorite books

Thing #5

I had heard of Flickr but had never experimented with it before tonight. I think there are endless possibilities for the use of Flickr in libraries. I typed libraries in the Group section and found all kinds of interesting and fun pictures of activities in libraries around the country as well as personal photos of librarians. MISD librarians could establish a Group and share pictures of activities in their libraries. Children's Book Week would be a great week to share pictures from all of our libraries.

Thing # 4

Blogging in the library should be a natural. What a great way to get feedback from students and teachers about books and the library program in general.Since time seems to be a real factor in gettng my book club going again, I was thinking it might be accomplished with blogging. Instead of trying to find a time conveninet for members to meet, we could all share a book and our thoughts by posting online. Students and teachers could also post their wish list of books for the library which could aid in collection development.

Thing # 3

Playing with the Avatar is a blast. I created one avatar yesterday and then completely changed it today. I may have an avatar of the day!
Posting is fun but I did have trouble getting back into my account last night at home.I could gain access with my mac laptop but not my home PC.Go figure. For some reason my email account can't seem to be verified. I spent a lot of time on the phone with Mary today trying to figure out what was wrong. As of this time,my email is still unverified but at least I can get in and post!

Thing #2

The hardest habit for me to address in the lifelong learning process is viewing problems as challenges. As with many people, it is easy to quit or have someone else solve the problem for me when I have technology difficulties. Going a different path rather than addressing the problem is the easiest and causes the fewest headaches. It is also hard sometimes to get the
"teacher" to allow me to experiment and solve the problem on my own so that I may in fact accomplish my goal. Finding a patient teacher who is willing to let me make mistakes and correct them on my own with guidance is essential to achieving my technology goals.

The easiest habit for me and the one that enhances my own learning is to teach and mentor others. It is a fact that teaching a skill requires one to learn the skill. In teaching others, I find questions and answers that I had not even considered. I see myself in others as I witness their frustrations with new technology. In teaching I also learn from my students as they discover something new I had yet to find.

Thing #1 Never Be Bored!

Learning has never been so exciting! Anyone with access to the internet should never be bored. The internet allows us to connect with people and resources all over the world. Search engines and data bases allow us to explore any topic we can imagine. Instant messaging keeps us in immediate touch with our friends and loved ones.Message boards and chat rooms introduces us to new friends. Blogs keep us in tune with the ideas of many and allow us to contribute our own thoughts to whoever will read and listen. Anyone not in touch with the online world is not truly in touch with the 21st century. All individuals, whether old or young, owe it to themselves to be connected to all the world .

While exploring Learning 2.0 I want to learn more about blogging, wikis,podcasts,picture and video sharing.
I want to know what my own children and many of my students already know. I want to be able to use these tools effectively and help other students and teachers to learn about and use these tools effectively. I don't ever want to stop exploring and learning.