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!