Final Post and Reflection

What a rewarding experience. This class was challenging, rewarding, and definitely mind-expanding. The availability of content, freely available on the Internet, is growing daily. Not only is this wealth of information valuable, and necessary, to stay abreast of 21st Century teaching and learning skills, but the information is extremely valuable on a personal level. Creating personal learning networks and communities, and participating in these conversations, is invaluable in meeting personal learning objectives.

This was the perfect learning community -- 13 library clerks with similar jobs and different levels of comfort with the material. We came together as a learning team to explore, practice, create, and apply the Web 2.0 tools. We learned to blog, documenting our journey, to reflect on our learning outcomes for each of the "23 Things". The blog was a perfect medium to learn, journal, question, and respond to each other and make this learning journey together. We regularly commented on each other's blogs to support, observe, and help each other along. This perhaps was the most valuable outcome of the course -- the opportunity to get to know all the other clerks, learn together, and create a final product that will be useful for all media clerks.

This is an amazing group of women; each job, although different at each school, has many similarities and we were able to capitalize on the expertise and routines of other clerks. We were able to discuss and discover new ways to apply our newly learned skills to use immediately in our personal jobs and with staff and students in the library. Everyone added their skills, ideas, and expertise to make the class a success.

Even though I prepared the class structure and delivered the content, it was an amazing experience for me. I learned much, not only about how to deliver a class such as this, but I also learned so much more about our topic areas. Learning to teach the content, observing teaching and learning styles, and applying the material in a real learning environment was extremely valuable.

I look forward to planning and participating in future Professional Study Team classes with this group of library media clerks again. This format is perfect for learning, sharing, and expanding our job skills. To all the participants...THANK YOU for this amazingly rich learning experience.

Thing #18, User-Generated Videos, Pt. 2

I always loved pop-up books when I was little; I always bought them for my kids when they were little; now, I may have to get this one for the library. So many fun videos...so little time.

How can you not love everything about YouTube -- in theory, anyway. It is a place to learn, associate, create, laugh, cry, and share with the world. As with anything, it is something that can be abused...some of our students will go where they shouldn't, watch videos on their phone under their desks or on the monitor while the teacher isn't looking, and misuse the medium. But the wealth of information that is accumulating on YouTube (TeacherTube and other video resources) is amazing. The opportunity to become a creator and contributor is amazing. As a learning tool, the user-generated video capabilities are exciting -- for lectures, study sessions, educational video, demonstrations, as well as commercial content from companies and media outlets. Freely available anytime and anywhere the learner chooses to access it... uh, well, almost.

YouTube is generally blocked, not only in our district, but in many school districts. Yes...there is objectionable, useless, silly content (just as in any media). I don't understand the overall rationale in blocking all content, without any consideration for use and learning. A few students view some silly videos and then the entire site, even the amazing, educational, useful content is lost for all. I can understand keeping the IP address blocked, but instructors should have the option to use a temporary override to view valuable content in their classroom.

Then...there is always the bandwidth issue -- a few hundred simultaneous users can bring the network to it's knees. We, as a district, have to find ways to utilize the vast amount of learning resources for our students and learning communities. Videos are just the tip of the iceberg -- user-generated content, collaborative projects and presentations, and other robust Internet applications will also be bandwidth hogs. We, as a district, have to find the solution to open up this new standard of educational delivery and instruction. What if the mill levy doesn't pass... will we continue to limit the opportunities available to our students? Ah, the perpetual questions...

Thing #18 Online, User-Generated Videos, Pt 1

This is a television commercial that was uploaded to YouTube -- very cool.

Thing #17 Explore Web 2.0 Award-Winning Apps

I really didn't know where to begin with this "thing" -- there are SO-O-O-O many Web 2.0 tools that are ...interesting, useful, dynamic, amazing, practical, entertaining,... oh, where to begin. The Seemoz.org list of award-winning tools could take hours to explore.

I was drawn to Zillow, however. I've used Zillow before, as I have been trying to sell a home by owner. I wanted to be every place an Internet seeker may look. Wow, has it changed -- from a Web 1.0 site to a great interactive Web 2.0 site. It has come such a long way, from being a spot to view the "market value" of the house, to a community of sellers, buyers, and real estate professionals to discuss real estate issues, vote on favorite rooms and houses, search for real estate (yours or where you're looking to buy) on great street/aerial/hybrid maps, update your basic home facts to reflect improvements and information useful to buyers, learn about your home's valuation, and get home-selling/buying tips. A real estate social network.

Not only are Web 2.0 tools improving personal productivity, but they are changing the way commerce functions. I like being empowered with information and knowledge -- to NOT be dependent on sales people, advertisements, and businesses who are not forthcoming with ALL the details. I don't like fine print or sales pitches.

The power of information is changing every part of our lives -- a welcome change indeed.

Can this tool be used in the high school library? Maybe. But, more importantly, it is useful, as one of many tools, for students to realize and embrace this information power -- whether in business, personal, education, or any life issue. Learning is not just within the walls of a school building any longer.

Thing #16 Learning a Language

I have always wanted to learn another language. I dabble in Italian -- mashing up some colloquial bits and pieces I learned from my father and grandparents, conversational classes I've taken, and some real practice in Italy. I WANT to learn the language. Well...as always, time is the biggest factor...and practice. It has been awhile since I've been to Italy and I have forgotten so much -- "use it or lose it".

I am enthralled with the LiveMocha site -- almost total immersion in your own living room. You can do the free lessons in several languages (unfortunately, Italian is not one of them), but the beauty of this site is the social-networking aspects. You can converse with other in your language of study, learn from them, and most importantly, USE the language skills. You can Skype with tutors and other language-learners, listen to podcasts, communicate via email or collaborative wikis/docs...you have all the tools of the Internet at your disposal. That is cool.

Get conversational! Develop reading, writing, listening and speaking skills by enrolling in a course for one of our six supported languages: English, French,
German, Spanish, Hindi, or Mandarin Chinese.
Practice with people from over 190 countries, speaking 27 languages, using text, audio, and video chat tools! (from the LiveMocha Site)

I may start the Spanish modules this summer, from a practicality standpoint; but I, romantically, wait for the time when Italian modules are available. Italian learners and tutors are available now, but I look forward to the Italian learning classes. I'll be there.

Thing #15 Audiobooks and eBooks

I love to read. I love books. I love audiobooks. Reading books is such a pleasant pastime -- I can learn, I can be entertained, I can be scared, cry, and laugh out loud. There are few things I enjoy more than curling up with a great book and getting lost in the pages. I never thought that I would like listening to the book -- and, honestly, it took awhile to get into the mindset of listening to the story. Once I found a great narrator, then the deal was done.

I remember how much I loved having my mom read to me when I was little and, in a way, I find the same comfort in someone reading the story to me. I find that my imagination takes off and the visual imagery is at a peak -- maybe even more than reading the book. It is perfect for multi-tasking (I don't know if that is a good thing, or bad) as I can enjoy a good book while I'm doing some of the most mundane of chores (I can find little about cleaning house and doing laundry exciting) or long distance driving. Add the element of a great story, and the time whizzes by.

There is a time and place for everything -- audiobooks are finding their way, more and more, into my life...and I love them!

Now...eBooks. That's another story. I think that I stare at a computer screen enough; I don't want my "downtime" to also include a computer monitor. I think that access to eBooks will be incredible for in-school (we all know the textbook story), great for personal research, and research for school (at home). I however, for reading enjoyment, prefer to stick to my great hardbound books and an occasional audiobook.

Thing #14 Podcasting

Okay...here it is -- my blog reflection via a podcast.

Honest...it's coming soon!

Thing #13 Google Apps

Can't...fight it...any...longer. Google is just making it impossible to ignore their innovation, wealth of tools, and their business model. I've been slow to jump on the Google-wagon. I remember when they were just that little, itty-bitty, privately held search engine company in 1998...yawn. Yeah, one among the many others... so what? Now, as I watch them consume smaller Internet companies and grow to the largest Internet presence ever... well, my first thought is: why didn't I jump all over that IPO?...daytrade it...then sell it at $747 per share (yes, this is a GoogleFinance link). Well...if I had, I wouldn't be writing this blog post for a professional development class!

I remember the days when the only Operating System that came on the home computer was DOS -- everything you did was from a command prompt and you had to build everything yourself. How proud I was to write my first program, a home budget, more than 30 years ago (on my 32k memory computer). It only took me 3 days and all it really did was balance my checkbook and keep track of balances. All on that ugly green screen with the little blinking cursor.

I was thrilled when Microsoft came along with Windows 1.0. THRILLED! Yes, the MS-machine has made me very happy over the years -- I was happy to fork over the cost of MS Office, FrontPage, Excel, Publisher, Powerpoint (before they were a part of Office) -- productivity and ease-of-use ruled all decisions. But wait...what do you mean I can do all of that, plus tons more, without any cost at all. You jest!

All I need, now, is a high-speed Internet connection (that's like oxygen now, isn't it...a basic staple of existence?), open sourceware, and I can access every productivity, creativity, entertainment, business, and leisure tool I can imagine. Thank you Google and all the Opensource developers. My only complaint was that everything in GoogleDocs was online -- you couldn't work on your documents offline. Oh wait -- you can now work on GoogleDocs offline!

I will begin learning to use, share, and create with these new tools -- the advantage being...well, ease of use, functionality, flexibility, collaborative features, and portability. Huh, I have come full circle. And, I have to admit -- they have some really cool applications (and more springing up every day). As far as using GoogleDocs in education? The uses are limitless, only depending on the knowledge and creativity of teachers and staff to use, model, and teach using these great tools.

Thing #12 -- Open Source Applications

We are probably just at the beginning of a major shift to open source applications. The costs, expertise, and availability of programs and applications has really limited the use by the masses. Open source will create a community of creators across the board. Developers, end-users, and those who deploy all working to make an application accessible and highly usable is exciting. This de-centralization of creation will open up to many contributors working collaboratively to create a great application. Bottom line? Open source is the epitome of community -- the creators and the end-users.

Are we ready, in public schools, to really embrace open source applications? Probably not. We are moving closer, however. We are using Moodle, a great open source application, but to really make the jump to other programs is probably a ways down the road. Many of the applications are still in beta and still have a lot of bugs and problems to work out. Schools currently have licenses that are still viable and installed -- why would you throw all those out? Perhaps the school, as an end-use partner, is not really ready to take on the time and effort of debugging. Our tech people are just trying to make everything work seamlessly as it is, much less take on the task of debugging software and setting up work-arounds just to save the cost of a piece of software. Most of the smaller open source applications do not have a help desk or a customer service department -- so the task of fixing the glitches falls on the tech people and end-users. But...I do see that open source is the direction we are moving towards. Everyday, applications are refined, improved, and become mainstream applications in the public. Public awareness is probably one of the first hurdles to overcome.

To knock down the walls of proprietary and expensive software applications can only benefit everyone. The community of new users, and the talents and information they have to offer, will serve to be priceless in a world of user-created content. However, this does bring up another set of questions: with open code, is there more chance of vandalism or hacking the code? ...and what about attribution to other's work where it is necessary. I can see how those lines could be blurred or misused.

Closer to home -- how valuable is it that a student can download OpenOffice at home, at no cost, to do homework, create documents, and create presentations that can be shared with MS Office machines at school, at work, and with others? How valuable is Google Apps for students to not have to worry about portability, compatibility, and collaboration issues? That is how open source is valuable to us now. Productivity is not limited to those who can afford expensive applications and systems.

Thing #11 Wikis

I have not used wikis a lot, but I can see so many applications for their use in the library: class collaboration projects (with a built-in participation history!), staff collaborations, district collaboration, and more. I think it would be an extremely valuable project for a research project in a class -- students, knowing their work would be "published" online, would really take ownership of their research, writing, and giving credit for materials used. Participation can be documented throught the history feature of the wiki space. Perhaps this could replace individual research papers -- at the same time increasing collaborative planning, editing, and publication.

They are available for all members (or anyone if unrestricted) 24/7 -- but, not necessary all of us at once as we discovered last week. The key is to save early and save often to ensure your work is not lost should anyone edit on top of you. Also, to be aware that others could be editing at the same moment is important.

A wiki can be a perpetual document so members can add, edit, and expand into the future. I think that our Media Clerks job manual wiki will be a very helpful document for us to collaboratively build upon for ideas, "how-to's", and an excellent documentation of our job.

Thing #10 Working with Photos

I have always been an avid picture-taker. When I met up with image editing software, it was a match made in heaven! I use photos and photo mashups in almost everything I do: personal documents and projects and in library projects.

Some of my favorite applications are on personal websites and the library website. The READ posters available for the ALA Store division have been a lot of fun. The kids like them, staff likes them, and they are fun to produce. ...a real marketing asset for the library.

I have so many photos to label, organize, and edit...this class has been a good rekindling of motivation to get started on on my photos projects at home.

This knowledge is indispensable in the library when working with staff and students. To be able to assist, or direct them to suitable software alternatives, is a time saver and they are very helpful tools to disseminate.

Thing #9 Technology

Oh...where to begin. I really have several "favorites" -- I will hold off on a couple until we cover them in our class.

I think the one thing that I am most thankful for, technology-wise, is wireless capabilities. To not be tethered to my desk, house, or even city -- to have connectivity in my back yard, hotels, in the park, in the airport, or at a conference is priceless...the benefits go on and on. All you need is an access point. The benefit is not only in Internet access with my laptop, but all kinds of Bluetooth capabilites -- my cellphone, headset phone, Zune, etc.

Also high on my list is Open Source software...but, that is a new "Thing" altogether!

Thing #8 Library Thing

This has been a fun and useful site. I do use it a lot, in the library, for researching books for reviews, suggestions, and tags. And, as we are looking at Library Thing as a "social networking" tool, I probably use Amazon.com more than anything. It has developed into a wonderful networking site. I actively participate in the review and comments sections for all the books. One of my favorite reads, A Thousand Splendid Suns, had an incredible comments thread going, last summer, on the book and political/social issues in Afghanistan. One gentleman, from Afghanistan, was quite articulate, knowledgeable, and sharing in describing certain sections of the book and what it was like to LIVE through those events. People from several countries, and opinions, were discussing the book and related issues. Wow, how can you beat that kind of review?

We didn't really have time, in class, to explore the world of reading-related, read/write web sites such as Amazon. User-generated content is a key element of Amazon -- user discussion threads, comments, guest reviewers, and the ability for users to upload video reviews.

I may use Library Thing more, personally, when I have more time to devote to reading and actively cataloging my personal library. It is not something I will use exclusively though. Nothing beats spending some contemplative, exploratory time perusing the shelves in a great bookstore. Huh, time is an issue for that one, too. ...and money. It seems, that no matter what my budgetary constraints are going into a bookstore (physical or virtual), they are always obliterated when I leave with shiny, new literary treasures.

Thing #7 Del.icio.us

Del.icio.us has been one of my favorite "cool tools" for a long time. I save so many websites, blog posts, and information sources for use in...well, everywhere. My procedure for transporting my "Favorites", from my browser, was to upload/download the file to my flashdrive and carry it back and forth to work, when I travel, and to use on multiple computers at home. Not a bad method, but time consuming.

Thank goodness we are moving to the age of less hard drive capacity dependence, and towards storage on the web. Of course, I've been around long enough to NEVER depend on a hard drive, disk, network server, or web-based server to store my precious and/or important data. I always back everything up, regardless of the promises of data storage integrity.

Del.icio.us has been a godsend. Learning to tag and catergorize has been the key to management of my links. But, links do "die" and/or change, as well. I do want to have active, useful links. I have found a great post, Absolutely del.icio.us Tools Collection, with lists of official and 3rd party del.icio.us tools for everything: archiving, backing up, cleaning and verifying links, and tools for using del.icio.us on blogs, websites, and other collaborative platforms.

As far as uses in the library...well, there are so many. The first, and most obvious, use is to build a resource of curriculum subject links for students to use in research. Time is probably the only issue -- time to search for useful links to populate a useful database (to make it valuable enough to discourage "googling") and time to update/maintain. Another use -- teach kids to use it to store their resources for projects, papers, and research. What a great "file cabinet" for all their links -- and, it is something that is portable (school, home, public library, etc.) for them as well.

Thing #6 Image Generators

Oh, come on...you have to like these. There are just too many fun things to create and do with all the image generators. They are fun for play, but there's a lot of productive uses for many of them too. So, let's "socially network" -- sign my guestbook!

Thing #5 Flickr

The more I investigate Flickr, the more I like it. I have hundreds of photos stored on another online photo site, but Flickr has many more features. It will be a monumental job to transfer and upload all my photos (days and days), and probably years to tag everything, but it is now on my "to do" list. A few at a time...a few at a time.

I think that the organizational features of Flickr will be great. I use photos for many, many projects -- personal and at work. I can keep great blogging photos in a "file", personal photos to share, to scrapbook, to archive, to "keep all for myself".

The possibilities are limitless. I also love the feature to be able to send my camera-phone photos directly to Flickr. That's a handy tool. All kinds of possibilities come to mind for the library.

Use in the library? I do see this as a good alternative to kids Googling everything. I can filter the results as for safety (Advanced Search settings) and owner permissions (Creative Commons). I will probably set up a link on a search page on the website to see what kind of use it will get. Always an uphill battle with the easy Google search...

Now, I need to get all my 8mm film and videos digitized for safe keeping and make them easily viewable.

So much to do...so little time.

Thing #4 Technorati

Technorati always seems to be an enigma when you first start with it. I don't use it very often. I prefer to use Google Blogsearch if I am looking for something in particular. And, as I populate my Bloglines account, I seem to find blogs of interest and value by linking to the blogrolls of my favorite bloggers. That is where you will find the gems and trusted blogs.

The use of good keywords, just as in any search for information, is the ticket to finding good results. Tagging your blog posts, your saved pictures, your saved links, and your main blog all are important if you want to be found and/or organize your information assets for efficient and easy use. We'll learn more about tagging as we get into using some of the information gathering and saving tools. Technorati is a good tool to practice your tag search abilities and to explore the blogosphere.

With, literally, millions of blogs out there, evaluation is one of the most important skills we can develop and teach (for any type of information). Technorati serves this purpose in that you can determine what kind of "respect level" the blogger has earned from other bloggers and peers. For serious bloggers, Technorati has been able to provide key data regarding the popularity of your blog, the authority of your blog, and useful statistics. Many blogging providers now provide these features as part of their blogging service.

All in all, I still use Technorati from time to time to investigate statistics and find some of the biggest and most viewed blogs. The "What's percolating in blogs now" feature is always a good way to find out the big news items being posted.

Thing #3 RSS

If I didn't shout loud enough, in class, on how much I love my Bloglines...I'll do it here. I've used Bloglines for quite some time. I've opened a Google Reader account and will need to explore that one to see if it may serve my needs better. ...when I have time.

I find aggregators, such as Bloglines or GoogleReader, indispensable in delivering the blogs I like to read. I like to know if there is a new post, or comments, on my favorite blogs...without having to visit each one individually (only to find out that there are no new posts) -- THAT is a time saver. There is nothing like keeping a finger to the pulse of what is happening in the areas I find interesting and important. I don't HAVE to read every blog, everyday. I can skim the posts and read it should I desire. Or, I can skip right over it to find something that is more important to me at any given time.

I use a web-based page to aggregate all the newsfeeds I like to read. I can subscribe to the sections of favorite news services I like: sports teams, election news, world headlines, Colorado news and events, investment news, technology news, weather, travel, commentary and editorials, etc.

If I wanted to search all those articles in the different newspapers and magazines... I'd be spending MUCH more time sifting, skimming, and ferreting out the news I want. I see using aggregators as an incredible time saver. I don't have time to go through all the articles, ads, and filler in newspapers and magazines.

Yea, RSS! My next favorite tool is del.icio.us...but we'll cover that next week...

Thing #2, Blogging

Speaking of moving outside of my comfort zone -- blogging is the place I need to start. First of all, I think that blogging, for anyone, is one of the most powerful tools we will cover. Here is our direct route to conversations, interaction with the world, and learning through doing. Here is the path to document our learning journey and share it with others.

I have never been a particularly good writer -- I have forgotten most of the grammar rules I learned (a few decades back), my spelling leaves much to be desired, and my focus has tended to blur recently. So what do I do? Put it all out there for all to see -- and even expect comments in return. Yikes! I guess that if you don't jump in with both feet, you'll never learn to swim.

Is blogging a powerful tool for students? Absolutely! Students, frequently lost in the crowd, given little or no voice in their own education, and dealing with educators who think that social networking is valueless, can finally find their own voice. Kids are creative. They are inquisitive. They want to learn. And, they have a lot to say. They want to learn, play, experience, and grow with their friends. Let them have a voice, a direction, and a responsible part of their own education process. I really think that we will be amazed.

Students are "in their element" in the world of social networking. That is how they get through their days, how they interface with the world, and how they, consequently, want (need) to learn. They create and interact on MySpace, Facebook, Deviant Art; they create and mix up music and video, they share, learn, and create. Until they get to the classroom.

Although we, as media clerks, aren't teachers, we can be educators. We can influence, guide, and show our students new and exciting ways to communicate with the world (and they can teach us much, as well). What a nice symbiosis. What if we can also have an influence on the education process in our building? Now, that’s exciting.

Thing #1 Web 2.0

We are lucky to be media clerks in the library. It is exciting that we are in a position to really use and see the tools of the Read/Write web in application -- to understand, manipulate, and utilize these tools is an exciting journey. There is so much out there -- the very coolest parts are the relationships to be built, the creativity and impact we can wield, and the conversations to experience. And the learning and creativity! So much to learn...so much to create.

My goals for the class are to share some of the tools I use, learn to use more Web 2.0 tools, and be able to use them in the library setting and in my own personal productivity and projects. There are areas where my timidity keeps getting in the way of my own learning journey -- but, together with this PLN and a little disregard for my self-imposed limits, perhaps I can expand my comfort level and try some new things.

Love My New PLC

Today was our first meeting of the Library Learning 2.0 for Media Clerks Professional Study Team. What fun this will be to learn with all the secondary clerks in the district. Such a fun group! I look forward to our conversations, learning, creativity, and exploration of cool tools of Web 2.0.