Thursday, June 27, 2013
Thing 11 Play In the Sandbox
After uploading my blog URL to Pasadena ISD's group wiki in Project Share, I looked around at Project Share. I really like the concept. I have used it through Alvin ISD but that was 3 or 4 years ago when it was first introduced in my district. Once it was introduced, it had never been spoken about it again. Project Share's mission is to aid teachers in collaboration with an engaging, interactive technology application. I plan on looking around at a later date to find academic resources for both elementary librarian and first grade groups.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Thing 10 School Wikis
The three resources provided Wiki’s: A Beginner’s Look, I Use Wikis. What Do You Use?, and A Wiki Walk-Through really helped explain the concept to me. I appreciate how the material was broken down and presented in clear, manageable chunks. Before this course, I knew that anyone could create a Wiki page but I was unsure why or how. Boy the difference a couple of weeks makes. I like how Wiki’s can be created and changed by anyone. This makes taking notes and sharing ideas a breeze. Even though it is not acceptable to cite Wiki in a research paper, you can use Wiki’s footnotes to verify the information and possibly cite that information.
I can definitely see Wiki’s being used in the classroom both as educational tools and professional resources. I can see using Wiki’s in all grade levels to help promote learning at home. If you have a student who will be absent for an extended about of time, you can upload scanned notes, slide shows and other resources for them to learn while they are out. I can also see starting a staff Wiki to push out Web 2.0 tools and the monthly library newsletter. A librarian can also start a list of books read in the library to show the students throughout the year.
I can definitely see Wiki’s being used in the classroom both as educational tools and professional resources. I can see using Wiki’s in all grade levels to help promote learning at home. If you have a student who will be absent for an extended about of time, you can upload scanned notes, slide shows and other resources for them to learn while they are out. I can also see starting a staff Wiki to push out Web 2.0 tools and the monthly library newsletter. A librarian can also start a list of books read in the library to show the students throughout the year.
Thing 9 Useful Library Blogs
I had previously added Elementary Library blogs to my RSS reader, so this time I added first grade blogs to my RSS reader. After learning how to use a RSS reader, I use it constantly to check on favorite blogs. Since Google Reader will stop on July 1, I have been looking for a back up reader. I chose Feedly. I have since added RSS feeds for:
- First Grade
- Library
- Children's Literature
- Young Adult Literature
- Elementary Library
- ALA and TLA
This list will be consistently growing as I include personal topics like recipes.
Thing 8 More RSS
Of course, using Google Blog Search was the easiest and quickest for me to use. I also liked the search results. The first search result that came up after searching “elementary library,” is a blog that I am currently following on my blog.
I did not like searching for blog RSS feeds on Technorati. I did not find a lot of relevant results for the material that I was searching for; however, this does not mean that it is not a good resource. I think that this is a resource that would be very useful in high schools.
I love the easy of creating RSS feeds. I have created RSS feeds for blogs that interest me both professionally and personally. Now I will not need to always be checking these blogs. I will be able to stay current with these blogs on a single RSS Reader.
I did not like searching for blog RSS feeds on Technorati. I did not find a lot of relevant results for the material that I was searching for; however, this does not mean that it is not a good resource. I think that this is a resource that would be very useful in high schools.
I love the easy of creating RSS feeds. I have created RSS feeds for blogs that interest me both professionally and personally. Now I will not need to always be checking these blogs. I will be able to stay current with these blogs on a single RSS Reader.
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Thing 7 Blog Searching
As expected, I found a lot of current event and technology based tags in the popular tag section. I also found there to be a lot of tags about history, social studies and government and economics. I believe that the high school social studies department could use this site to connect to opinions. Just a reminder: always preview the site that you are visiting in class before hand. Open the web browser before the students are in class and be prepared ahead of time. High school technology teachers could also use this web site when teaching about various technology applications.
There are many advantages of tagging. It sorts through data at quick speeds and brings your attention to new blogs and ideals. However, sometimes the information received conflicts with the tagging credentials. The teacher and librarian need to model how to weed through search results to find the most beneficial information. If you are using this in the library or in the classroom, monitor the students and their search results.
There are many advantages of tagging. It sorts through data at quick speeds and brings your attention to new blogs and ideals. However, sometimes the information received conflicts with the tagging credentials. The teacher and librarian need to model how to weed through search results to find the most beneficial information. If you are using this in the library or in the classroom, monitor the students and their search results.
Thing 6 Tagging
After creating an account at Delicious and looking around the website, I can see the benefits of it. I can see this site used mainly as personal and professional growth rather than to be used in the classroom. I do not see how this site can be used in the school setting. I am however thinking about an elementary school library. This website maybe used in secondary schools to further research.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Thing 5 Social Networking
I liked both the Texas Library Association and American Library Association pages, because I want to stay current with news from both organizations. Although I have been a member of Facebook since 2004, I had not looked at its current benefits. I can see Facebook being used with strict privacy settings to protect students’ privacy in the high school library or also as a resource for the staff. The librarian can add updates with award-winning books, new books in print or in the library, and technology resources that can be used in the classroom. Because these three topics change rapidly; Facebook is a great platform to get information to the students, parents and staff.
Some challenges with Facebook are the privacy settings and monitoring what others post. I noticed that through Facebook you can create “Secret Groups.” This would be a good place to have students join because their profiles and identifies would only be known to the members. I have heard that there is a way to setup groups where the administer needs to preview material before it can be posted on the wall. Just like thing 4 RSS, I wanted to add a link to Facebook. What I found was a gadget that will allow the viewer to 1 click like my blog in Facebook.
I started following PISD in Pinterest! Looking through what has already been pinned, I am looking forward to seeing what you “pin” next. Pinterest is a great resource for educators because it allows you to search hundreds of pictures based on topic. Usually the images will send you to a blog or website where you can find even more that has been posted.
Some challenges with Facebook are the privacy settings and monitoring what others post. I noticed that through Facebook you can create “Secret Groups.” This would be a good place to have students join because their profiles and identifies would only be known to the members. I have heard that there is a way to setup groups where the administer needs to preview material before it can be posted on the wall. Just like thing 4 RSS, I wanted to add a link to Facebook. What I found was a gadget that will allow the viewer to 1 click like my blog in Facebook.
I started following PISD in Pinterest! Looking through what has already been pinned, I am looking forward to seeing what you “pin” next. Pinterest is a great resource for educators because it allows you to search hundreds of pictures based on topic. Usually the images will send you to a blog or website where you can find even more that has been posted.
Thing 4 RSS
Using RSS is a simple Web 2.0 tool that makes your life simpler by automatically searching your feeds for updates and bringing them to you. I know that Google Reader will be discontinued after July 1, but I am hoping that they will replace their software with another reader. It makes it so simple to have everything connected through Google. My personal email is through Google and it has really helped link everything together seamlessly.
After looking through elementary librarian blogs, I picked my top three and created a RSS feed through my Google Reader account. I wanted to then add a link from my blog to them. I played around with the design until I found out how to add gadgets in the layout function. I added “Follow by Email” which allows your followers to be emailed when you add new content; “+1 Google” which allows followers to recommend your blog; and “Blog List” which allows you to either add recently viewed blogs or you can import blogs from your Google Reader account. There were a lot of gadgets that I will be looking into as this project continues.
This technology would be great in the library or classroom. Students and teachers could connect to their favorite authors, schools/universities, educational blogs, or even classmate/teacher blogs.
I checked out Edu Blog’s award-winning blogs and really liked Free Technology for Teachers. I created an RSS feed for this website in Google Reader.
I liked the syncing ease of Google Reader and I liked the locator function of Topix. I can see high school and middle school teachers using Topix to find local news to show in the classroom. And Technorati had good news from around the country and world.
Image taken from: www.meritworld.com
Thing 3 More Photo Sharing
Here is a list of my summer reading books. What are you reading? Upload to my Yogile.
This is a great website. It is always so hard determining what books that the staff would like to see purchased. Starting a Yogile and giving teachers access to upload books will help when placing an order. The librarian can start a Yogile for grade levels. Students can access the Yogile in the library on IPads or Kindles. Teachers could also use this website to upload class pictures so parents can retrieve them.
All images taken from Barnes and Noble.
Thing 2 Flickr
As I was playing around with Flickr, I found this amazing group Elementary Art. I am always looking for new art projects that I can either do with my class or that I can share with the art teacher. The images that I saw were amazing. The colors were so vibrant that it caught your eye. The group uploads images of students making art and the finished products. I’ve uploaded some images to the blog.
I highly encourage you to check out this group.
I highly encourage you to check out this group.
Thing 1 - About Me and Blogging
About me:
I teach first grade in Alvin ISD at Mark Twain Elementary. I just finished my 4th year in the classroom. I have 1 more year until I graduate and I can’t wait. Throughout the Library School Program, I have learned about many new technology resources that I have applied in my classroom. I look forward to learning more throughout this summer in LLLS 6336 and the 23 things project. I have made book review blogs in previous classes, but this is the first time that I will be blogging about my thoughts on technology.
Blogging it in the classroom:
Blogging is a great way to get the kids involved in their writing. In the upper elementary and secondary schools, it engages and draws the students in. In the digital age, we need to introduce and educate our students about technology and its uses. Students are not afraid of new technology and jump right in making mistakes and learning as they create. Students are developing a creative mind as they are building upon their learning.
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