LibraryThing

Yes! I just figured out how to get LibraryThing on my page!

Now I just need to figure out Rollyo...I don't get it.

Twitter

I just signed up on Twitter and it was really easy. I searched for libraries and librarians. I didn't find what they were tweeting very interesting, but it could be that I didn't find the right librarians. I was looking for some innovative and interesting ideas...it seemed that these people are tweeting just to tweet. Yawn...
I also looked at the list of librarians posted on Learning 2.0 and found lots of links and tweets that had nothing to do with libraries. I found Mr Librarian who was worthy of my time as he "works to get boys to read as a school librarian." His link was "6 Reasons Why Boys Like Magazines"
http://www.gettingboystoread.com/content/6-reasons-why-boys-magazines
This site is one that I bookmarked and will visit again as I implement new ideas that target my reluctant-reading-boys.
So...I think using twitter to find links and resources about libraries will be valuable. But the tweets I was hoping for (like easy Kindergarten check out ideas, creative displays, meaningful library media skills activities, etc) wasn't there.
I'm not giving up, though. Perhaps if I tweet what I'm looking for, I'll get a good tweet back!

The end...

This entire Learning 2.0 experience has been terrific! There were things that I know I will use right away like LibraryThing, image generator, Wordle, and Technoroti. Other things I need to go back and spend more time on. What I really like about this blog, is that I can go back, because I DO forget stuff!

Now that I know, I can create fun and meaningful lessons (just as you have done, Anne) for my students. Neat idea! Had a great time! I think I'm a little smarter about things out there and very willing to try them out!

TAG CLOUDS

I like the idea of using descriptors for the Dewey Decimal System. I think I will have my students create posters for our non-fiction section using Wordle! Yet another great idea!

Podcasts

I have subscribed to podcasts before, so I knew how easy it is. Again, the problem is that I will find so much that I can't watch them all! I subscribed to The Library Channel because as I reviewed their list, there were helpful topics that I'm sure I will be able to use! As I was searching the site, there were many choices and I will have to take the time to go back and explore other podcasts.

Neat!

Online Video

Hmm...I think I embedded this 5 times before I realized I really did it. Easy Peasy!

What a beautiful library!

Search and Subscription Service

This was easier than I thought. I searched Bing for my topic which was library blogs, found what I wanted, copied the url and added it. No complaints here! What I am worried about is finding too much stuff that I think I will read, and I won't find the time...

Tom March and the Free Range Librarian are the feeds I chose to subscribe to. I think these two are ones I will actually follow because I like the style of their writing and the topics that I browsed. We will have to wait and see!

Thing 13 RSS & News Readers

First I have to say I love the video guy! And I can think of so many ways to use what I have learned from Learning 2.0 to share with my students next year! Yeah!

I really like this idea of having a home for all my information and it will save time. Fabulous idea!

I tried to add Learning 2.0 23 Things, but it said "no" because of a spam notice. Ok.

I added Wyoming Birds to my bloglines. My home is settle on a little hill overlooking a meadow then a large field and then onto the cliffs edging the Bear River. Naturally, I get to watch much of Wyoming's wildlife. It is worth the watching! There are a number of birds who sing throughout the day and one in particular is hard to see but sings the sweetest song. Neat! Now I have a place to go to to find that bird...

I'm always finding articles that I try to save in a folder, alas my filing goes from here to there and beyond. I love that I can save clippings all in one place and I can access it from anywhere!

I subscribed to a photo of the day at National Geographic. Great photos from around the world!

Library 2.0

"Say good-bye to your mother's school library" by Christopher Harris in Library School Journal discusses the need to stay current with Web 2.o and suggested powerful ideas to get teachers and students involved and connected.

Since learning about blogs, I really like the idea of a library blog. While serving almost 200 4th and 5th graders at my school, it is quite impossible to keep in touch with each student although I try! A blog, such as this, can help keep students responsible for their learning and it's a fun way to get your ideas shared!

As library media specialists, we are stewards of media and information technology. It is our responsibility to continue to adapt and grow as our field of advanced communication and technology evolves. We are lifelong learners and what a great opportunity awaits us everyday for learning something new! How exciting!

We are "rolling out" (just heard that new edu-buzz word) a new reading curriculum next year. I was excited to think about Library 2.0 and how it would help teachers track student use of reading levels as we are changing from Lexile to Fountas and Pinnel. And of course I L-O-V-E LOVE! students creating a virtual collection to keep track of their reading, ratings and comments. I have shared my LibraryThing with students at the circulation desk and they can't wait until I show them how to create their own shelves.

We already use podcasts and powerpoint for many project presentations. We're on the right track, but we have lacked (because I didn't know) a place for Anytime-Anywhere Share. (I just thought of that phrase...that's catchy!) We typically set aside presentation time as in Jadene's class, which I really enjoy and the kids like it too because it usually involves popcorn! But having the information available whenever (except in Lingle, Wyoming) is giving everyone an opportunity to reflect and connect with information. Example: during class an idea comes up and later I can't remember what it was, I review the class slides. Oh, now I remember! And I come up with some fab idea to develop, perhaps a Boy Corner. True story and how it works daily!

I want a "Library Powered" t-shirt!

And a banner "Engage! the JOY of READING and the POWER of INFORMATION"

Technorati

I'm impressed! What an easy way to find out what others are talking about!

The blog directory seemed to be lacking much in the area of education and I didn't see anything specifically for educators or librarians. Food was popular, which made me hungry. And that reminds me, I have leftover Chinese food! Be right back...

Yum! Why is it that Chinese food fills you up and then you're hungry 30 minutes later?

So, as I'm sitting here looking longingly at my guitar wanting to learn more than my 4 chord riff, I decide to search "play guitar". There are 148 blogs relating to playing guitar and 133 posts that mention "guitar". The first blog I found was very helpful with a link that was even more helpful!

This would be a great help with personal research like our assignment last semester about the cell phone issue. Neat idea!

Delicious

Delicious is yummy! I work from my laptop, the circulation desk and my office computer so keeping track of sites I use can sometimes be a problem. Problem solved! Delicious allows me to access my bookmarks at any computer! There have been a few time when I have been in a classroom working with a teacher and needed a website, but didn't have easy access. Delicious makes it easy!

This is going to be really handy for research projects. Wyoming history projects can be cumbersome for 4th graders when they search; Delicious will narrow down the cites and help the students locate meaningful and authoritative information.

Great idea!

Online Image generator

This image is from signgenerator.org

I tried generator blog at blogspot.com, but I didn't get it. The site wasn't as easy as sign generator. I did find the "Lazy Bloggers Post" and thought it was funny!

This is my dog Bailey.

Bailey's favorite story is

"Go, Dog, Go!" by P.D. Eastman

From ALA Read Image Creator

My LibraryThing

Neat! I will forever be able to keep track of books!

We the People

These are the posters I have had displayed for about 10 years. How perfectly they fit in the library!

Our purpose is to learn. Here is where we find answers to questions, explore information and expand our imaginations!

I like like to cry out, "Hey! This is a library!" Then we all giggle. By no means is our library a quiet place. It is loud with learning! But we do recognize that this is a place where "playground noises" are not appropriate.

"That is a great sound to make outside," is my motto!

We always keep our hands to ourselves. Our library is a pleasant place where no one will be hurt.

But you know what we can we do? Hug!

We are all different and unique. We all think and learn in varying ways. Our library is a place of acceptance and open-mindedness.

Let's celebrate that!

Doesn't library sound close to liberal and liberty?

Our library is a place where we can explore thoughts and ideas. We abide by the "Golden Rule-R". I have a ruler (painted yellow) within reach of us all. It is a reminder that we always treat others the way we want to be treated.

And happy? Oh yeah! It's so much more fun to be happy! Happiness gives you positive energy that benefits everyone around!

Wiki

Wow! What a neat idea! How come so much of this stuff is so neat and easy? I'm really excited to have my students learn wiki along with me. The "Wiki in Plain English" video was great! Can't wait to show it to my students. Oh, what fun we will have!

http://uintameadows.pbworks.com/Hello%21

A picture of "pat"

This is my grandbaby "pat" a few weeks ago. Since we don't know the flavor yet, we are using a non-gender name. LOL

Uploading a picture seemed really easy and I'm digging this blog idea on SO many levels! It's just that I am overloaded with family and school and classes and and and...

I'm off to blackboard to catch up! Whew!

I'm a 6 1/2 on the Lifelong Learner Scale

Right off the bat, I thought I was going to fail the 7 1/2 Habits because the first one is "Begin with the end in mind." I gave myself 1/2, not a full deduction. I tend to have a more carefree attitude, like, "Hmm ... let's go and see where we end up." Not that I don't have an "idea" in mind, but it's usually a little vague, or maybe flexible is a better term.

With that in mind, I continued on to the next one, "Accept responsibility for your own learning." I gave myself full credit for this one. I am a responsible person and I can learn anything I want to (WANT is the key, here). If I'm struggling with learning something, I know how to seek out people or resources to help. My crowning achievement for being responsible for my own learning was when I (the single mom) built my house 2 years ago. I became a General Contractor, and there was a LOT I needed to learn. I learned from my mistakes, bask in my new-found knowledge and I now sit here blogging in my beautiful home.

Number 3, "View problems as challenges" should be "View problems as learning experiences". I gave myself full credit for this one, too. In the big scheme of things, I think every challenge is designed to give me an opportunity to learn something new. Whether it be a task or the ability to see things differently, I have the desire to keep learning. No problem!

Number 4, "Have confidence in yourself as a competent learner." When I was younger, I wasn't as good at this one. I became frustrated and thought I wasn't smart enough to learn some things. Whew! I got over that obstacle! I have confidence in myself to learn and to learn effectively. At times I have moments when I don't feel I will be successful, that's when I know I need to re-evaluate what I'm doing and how to correct my misunderstandings. During these times I think I'm confused and then I realize I'm not. (Yes, I thought that was funny.) Full credit for confidence!

"Create your own learning toolbox." I gave myself 1/2 for this one; partially because I don't think I understand what that means. I'm sure I have strategies for learning, but I can't articulate these strategies and now I'm a little confused ... again.

"Use technology to your advantage." I have come a long way! I made it trough college and the first two years of teaching without a computer OR cell phone! The technology that I have at my disposal, I use all the time. Yes, it's much easier to keep track of everything from grades to photos to journals to bank accounts using technology. And this is my first BLOG! I'm feeling really good about this however, I could use much more I'm sure. (See Number 7 for extra-credit)

Number 7 "Teach / mentor others." Well, that's what I do. I am a teacher. Living in an elementary school for 17 years makes this habit a habit. Recently I gave my mom and dad a digital photo frame for Christmas. (Mom calls it the "changing picture thingy".) While talking to her on the phone, she wanted to know "how to make a picuture last longer" i.e. pause. I explained to her what the pause, play, stop, review and forward buttons symbols looked like and where to find them on her screen. (By the way, she was very offended that the words weren't on the buttons because she CAN read, for hell sake!) All in all, I though this was a great experience because I didn't have the photo frame or the manual! And mom figured out how to make her picture last longer; and skip the one of her that she doesn't like. (P.S. I told her there was absolutley NO WAY to delete pictures! He! He! See Number 7 1/2 for more extra credit?)

Number 7 1/2 "Play!" I think I should get extra credit for this one for sure! Playing isn't necessarily "play" as we think of it as children do. It's a feeling; the feeling of playing and the joy that fills you up!

So, on 7 1/2 Habits of Lifelong Learners Progress Report Card, "Begin with the End" and "Learning Toolbox" would Need Improvement. Overall, I think I am a Proficient Lifelong Learner!