Virtually Learning

Virtual Knowmads Presentation

2010-02-24T19:27:00.001-05:00

Pat & I are presenting at the 2010 Superconference. Virtual Knowmads: Web 2.0 tools to make learning a little more delightful.

We hope we can share some interesting ideas to push thinking about how teacher librarians might use some of these tools in their teaching practice.

Hopefully participants will be interested in posting comments, suggestions, ideas.

2009-11-06T14:13:00.000-05:00

Grade 7's VC with Lawrence Lessig

2009-10-19T10:08:00.002-04:00

I think this is so great! A grade 7 teacher is teaching his class about media and copyright issues so what does he do? He invites Lawrence Lessig from Stanford University to have a conversation with his class! Talk about real time learning and student engagement! What an excellent model for using effective conferencing to have effective conversations with students about ownership of information and appropriate use! Take a look at the video clips, wonderful stuff... Thanks for the tweet,@willrich45

Cell Phones in the Classroom

2009-09-21T13:41:00.002-04:00

Here is a test avatar I created online and using my cell phone using voki.com

Get a Voki now!

Social Network or Networking?

2009-09-19T17:16:00.003-04:00

Just viewed an excellent video of a talk given by Dana Boyd at the Teaching & Learning with Technology conference at Penn State University where she talks about her recent research about the use of Social Network Tools by High School students.

Hey it turns out that kids are basically the same. The dislike authority, they like their friends and they just want to hang out with them. Additionally, they don't like everyone and they talk about those they dislike behind their backs. The difference is that they have cooler way to do it! When we grown ups think they are "networking" they are just using the network. We are imposing our values upon their behaviours. It makes sense and when you think about it...pretty much what I see whenever I enter a school.

Her research has found that the Digital Natives aren't wiser than we "Immigrants". They still need our wisdom to guide them. It's just a different landscape to negotiate. She states the disruption is that we have to re-think our power as adults. We need to dialogue with our students and ask them to teach us how they use tools like face book, youtube, MSN and wikipedia. Then we need to talk about things like ownership of information, bias, supporting resources and references. Hey we need to provide a scaffold to engage CRITICAL THINKING to make sense in a broader world!

Students need to have guidance in the use of internet resources, taught how wikipedia works, the importance of appropriate online presence (ie pics). Parents are worried, teachers are afraid...who should take the lead? I'm thinking that educators need to get with the program and administrators need to ensure they are on top of this and staff their schools accordingly. Perhaps a Teacher Librarian??

TL Shortage in California

2009-09-13T12:00:00.003-04:00

Picked up this article from my Twitter feed this am from Joyce Valenza. Apparently California is experiencing a shortage of trained, knowledgeable Teacher Librarians. The reasons cited in the article are pretty clear and frighteningly similar to what we see happening in Ontario. Apparently the average age of administrators and the downturn in placement of trained professionals has created a work environment where administrators do not have a clear idea of the important role of Teacher Librarians in critical literacy instruction because they have never experienced an effective school library program. Can this be described as a shortage or the beginning of obsolescence of the Teacher Librarian assignment in schools?

Technology and Literature

2009-09-12T09:40:00.007-04:00

Just finished reading an article in the Saturday September 12/09 Toronto Star about Margaret Atwood and her innovative approach towards her current book tour. Atwood has always challenged ideas with her writing, I admire how she is utilizing web 2.0 tools to promote her latest project.

Her latest title The Year of the Flood builds upon the ideas presented in Oryx & Crake. She has developed a website about the title and is blogging her experiences throughout her tour additionally she is using Twitter [@MargaretAtwood] to tweet out updates. Talk about engaging readers using tools of this century!

Three years ago Atwood was an innovator in the development of the LongPen which allows authors to autograph books in real time from a distance. This was showcased at the OLA Superconference.

I think Atwood's work in this area certainly sets the record straight in regards to Marc Prensky's ideas of Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants. Being of a certain age, as I am, she has embraced today's technologies to suit her purposes and meet the expectations of younger audiences. Yay Margaret!

Cory Doctorow Shares portions of book

2009-09-10T08:28:00.002-04:00

I think this is an interesting view of the future of books. Cory Doctorow first released this book free online. It then went on to be nominated for one of the forest of reading titles, now he is allowing portions of the book to be downloaded and remixed. Also developing wordle cover art....have a look.

Free mindmapping software and concept mapping software works in 3D

2009-08-23T18:57:00.002-04:00

This looks like it might be lots of fun and useful! Mind 42 http://mind42.com/

My Twitter Mosaic

2009-08-23T18:00:00.002-04:00

Get your twitter mosaic here.

Visit twittermosaic at: http://sxoop.com/twitter/ to create your own!

Social Media from ASI

2009-08-23T11:59:00.001-04:00

Librarian Manifesto

2009-05-12T12:26:00.000-04:00

I need to remix this to suit multilayered learning.....

Digital Literacy YRDSB Word Cloud

2009-04-28T22:22:00.002-04:00

Playing with Twitter

2009-03-22T17:37:00.001-04:00

OK so I click on the link to Joyce Valenza below, then I find myself immersed in new twitter tools. Check this out:

Get your twitter mosaic here.

A mosaic of the tweets I follow. How cool is that?

What every educator needs to know about creative commons

2009-03-01T19:39:00.003-05:00

I am adding this slideshare to the blog so that I can use it regularly for Teacher PD. It never fails to amaze me how everyone seems to understand that they cannot use everything and anything in their presentations but they do in the name of "education". Honestly we truly must walk the walk in terms of copyright and make use of creative commons content in our work and with students. Thanks to Joyce Valenza's tweet

Still room for improvement?

2009-02-28T21:17:00.003-05:00

Looks like our focus on literacy still needs some work....

This photo was taken at the OTF Technology Conference this weekend and shared on twitpics
you just gotta love the irony!

Jane Clarey - Comments on Millenials

2009-02-28T09:31:00.003-05:00

Reading Jane Clarey's blog about the use of Web 2.0 Technologies by Millenials, ie students born in the 80's & 90's.

The big idea behind her thinking is that we have to lose the idea of digital native/digital immigrant. Prensky started the conversation but now it's time to move on. Really what we have to realize is that these students although conversant in the use of technologies such as IM, youtube and facebook they do not necessarily look to using these tools for learning or training in the workplace.

Clarey states: "the “younger” generation does not have a high level of use of collaborative knowledge creation tools (“2.0”) and don’t adopt radically different patterns of knowledge creation and sharing." As a librarian and learner....this speaks to me.

Educators really need to focus on appropriate instruction in the use of web 2.0 tools and focused critical thinking strategies to engage these learners. Helping our students to locate communities of learners focused on their interests and linking this like mindedness to specific learning skills, just might be the key to greater student engagement and student success.

Will Rich Twitter, Diigo, Delicious.....

2009-02-27T15:31:00.008-05:00

A full day sitting in a room full of folk with similar views on IT, learning and social networking tools. Lots of fun, lots of information and lots of learning.

I now have a Twitter ID: kitchenerd.

I have established a Pageflakes presence and I am working on my blogging skills. Interesting ideas about disruptive practices to effect change. Neat article about how a principal is texting students instead of banning the phone.

Hows this for Media Literacy??

2009-02-25T13:06:00.001-05:00

The Librarian Song Rocks!

The Internet as Humanity?

2009-02-07T16:50:00.002-05:00

I'm watching a lecture on TVO's Big Ideas, that is so interesting! The lecturer, David Weinburger is very excitedly discussing the nature of knowledge, technology and the internet. He is really making some great connections to how we accept the www because it is openly human. How knowledge must be linked to mutual understanding and the www is the tool that is enabling this. He draws connections to wikipedia, traditional journalism, blogging and society and invites us to think about how we as humans interact with web 2.0.

He argues that the metadata of the internet is what makes us understand, connect and link cultural and linguistic boundaries and is in fact what drives what we interpret as knowing.

This isn't technology, this is sociology!

Wikieducator

2009-02-01T19:33:00.003-05:00

I am going to begin exloring wikieducator to see how best I can use this tool as a teacher. Listened to a podcast on Brian Lamb's Abject Learning blog about this tool and the impact of open access education. I would love to hear what others have to say about this enticing resource.

Superconference 2009

2009-02-01T16:20:00.002-05:00

Well it was exhausting, invigorating and challenging. It is always wonderful to share the energy created by 4000 like minded individuals with a shared passion!

This year was interesting as we explored the impact of Disruptive economies, disruptive technologies and creativity. How will this affect us as learners and leaders but most importantly, how will this affect our students? Are we really preparing them for a future we cannot understand? What changes must we make to our teaching practice to ensure that we maximize the impact of read/write web 2.0 technologies in our work? How can we effect systemic change?

I have just spent the day re-reading and organizing notes and reflecting on where do I go from here? Any ideas, comments? I would love to hear some.

Playing with Voice Thread

2009-01-23T13:42:00.005-05:00

I have played with voicethread before but today am exploring it from a curricular context. At the Learning Connections champions conference today we are exploring audio file creation through podcasting and the use of the web based tool Voice Threads. The educational package looks interesting and if Bessie can be convinced to not block it, has excellent potential. How cool would this be if we borrowed the ideas from Wordia and created our own video dictionaries in VoiceThread? A safe educational environment using Web 2.0 technology? Go figure!!!

Here is my latest kick at the can.

Dangerously Irrelevant

2009-01-11T21:27:00.003-05:00

Scott McLeod has identified a TL in Bombay as being awesome....she blogs and here are some of her cool links.
For Photo manipulation

PhotoFunia

Picnik

LII Canadian Resources:

Canadian History

400th Anniversary of Champlain's Arrival

History of the Internet

2009-01-11T21:22:00.002-05:00

Here is a neat video about the History of the Internet...thanks to the Common Craft website

History of the Internet from PICOL on Vimeo.

Great Quote from Michael Wesch

2009-01-07T10:23:00.001-05:00

Just for the record, I love this quote by Michael Wesch:

We use social media in the classroom not because our students use it, but because we are afraid that social media might be using them - that they are using social media blindly, without recognition of the new challenges and opportunities they might create.

Scooped from Will Richardson's Blog....but loving this quotation!

Wordia Online Visual Dictionary

2009-01-07T08:57:00.002-05:00

Think of the fun your students can have creating definitions in this online enviroment! Wordia

Here is Quentin Blake's definition of Illustration

How great is this!!!

Bliphoto

2008-11-12T20:01:00.003-05:00

Bliphoto looks like a fun tool for digital storytelling and from what I can read in the small print is open to fair use of content. Based in Edinborough, Scotland...it encourages us to post one interesting photo per day and will only accept photos on the day they were taken. Looks like fun.

The Reason for F2F?

2008-11-12T19:48:00.003-05:00

I scooped this from my aggregator and quickly added Jeff Utecht to my De.lici.ous network. He asks some pretty powerful questions about why we need f2f learning and what changes we should maybe make to our teaching to engage students. Check it out...The Thinking Stick

Interesting Video about Fair Use

2008-11-12T19:41:00.002-05:00

This video is just out from the states about fair use that pertains to American Copyright law. I would like to see how different this is in Canada. To download the full report visit the website for Centre for Social Media

Copyright video

2008-11-05T20:06:00.001-05:00

Interesting little movie about copyright using copyrighted images????

Google Reader How To

2008-10-24T00:02:00.002-04:00

Common Craft is a great way to learn about stuff. Here is a video they produced for Google explaining how Google works.

Copyright and Media

2008-10-23T23:50:00.002-04:00

Will Richardson has an interesting comment about copyright and how Web 2.0 has changed how we must approach new media. Are our children criminals or are they only doing what they think is normal? Interesting ideas with references to Lawrence Lessig and Creative commons. Check it out. http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/our-kids-as-criminals/

Neat way to create Posters

2008-10-23T23:44:00.001-04:00

Want to create READ posters using your own image???

Try this url and tell me how it works.

http://theshiftedlibrarian.com/archives/2008/08/07/star-in-your-own-read-mini-poster.html

Assessment is for Learning

2008-10-01T20:45:00.005-04:00

Here is another treasure from Scotland....Assessment is for Learning. An online toolkit that is promoted in their school district. It looks pretty user friendly and chock a block with great ideas that promote learning through assessment and linking technology.

Graphic Novels & Literacy

2008-10-01T20:38:00.005-04:00

I have been asked about using GN's in the classrooms again, so I have been reviewing my bookmarks in delicious to see what I have been tagging.

Here is an interesting site that I must have grabbed fro Ewan McGregors feed. It is beautifully laid out with great content supporting the use of GN's to support student literacy. Go figure! Books that are fun to read encourage you to read!!!

Literacy & Graphic Novels

Copyright Law and the Ethics of Sampling

2008-09-20T17:35:00.003-04:00

Here is an interesting video clip about promoting an upcoming video release about Fair Use and Copyright law.

A New Role....

2008-09-05T19:23:00.003-04:00

I have just completed my first week on the job as Curriculum Consultant and am exhausted as most educators are at the end of week one. But this is a different kind of exhaustion...working in this environment will certainly be mentally stimulating! My brain simply needs to take a rest tonight, but I can't wait to get back at it!

It is really exciting to be in education during this time of change. We are all trying to figure out what being literate will mean in the next 20 years. What fun! I only hope that we can make it "a bit more delightful" to quote Stephen Heppell.

Experimenting with Embedded Clips

2008-09-01T09:36:00.001-04:00

According to my aggregator I can now embed clips into my blog. So here goes...some neat blogs that I have starred in my aggregator....

Numa Numa

2008-08-25T21:35:00.001-04:00

As mentioned in Wesch's talk the original Numa Numa video.

An Anthropological Perspective of Youtube

2008-08-25T20:36:00.001-04:00

Michael Wesch talks about Youtube. An anthropological perspective. Such an interesting prof...oh to be a student in his lectures!

Periodic Table of Videos

2008-08-25T20:33:00.003-04:00

Here is an amazing resource for High School Science. The periodic table of videos. Simply click on the element and view a video about this element. Great for grade 9 science projects!

Take a look, it's created by the University of Nottingham. The Periodic Table of Videos

Amazing Teacher Resources

2008-07-16T20:28:00.002-04:00

I am just posting the link to a great little web slide show of amazing teacher resources created by one of my classmates in ETEC540! Click here to view.

Photosynth

2008-07-11T19:25:00.001-04:00

Wow this is an amazing tool that will change the meaning of the social web into more of a semantic web.

A neat TED Talk.

Toondoo

2008-07-11T16:44:00.002-04:00

Here is another fun tool that would have so many applications in elementary school.

You can embed in a blog, share via de.lic.ious, or in the gallery.

Click and point and fun

One True Media

2008-07-11T15:41:00.003-04:00

I have been playing with this tool for my course ETEC540. So have used Alice's violin camp and lessons to give it a shot. Very user friendly, intuitive and fun to use. Fast uploads too. I wonder if it is blocked by YRDSB filters?????

Have a look:

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Voice Thread

2008-07-09T19:40:00.004-04:00

OK haven't been here for awhile but to view my voice thread...click here.

voicethread
http://voicethread.com/share/158765/

the snowy day

2008-07-09T19:39:00.001-04:00

Voice Threads

2008-06-18T21:07:00.003-04:00

Found this fun little tool and am expermenting with it. Voice Threads is a way to put media and voice together quickly and easily. Try it: www.voicethread.com

Invest in a Girl

2008-06-08T20:06:00.002-04:00

Not only does this video have meaning it is a wonderful example of digital storytelling!

Check this out. From Ewan McIntosh in the UK.

The Girl Effect:

Delight in Education

2008-05-18T22:54:00.004-04:00

Stephen Heppell wants to make education a little more "delightful" now I see this poster on Richard Millwood's blog. I think the British education system is onto something! I want to make education delightful, how about you??

The Adventures of Johnny Bunko

2008-05-17T20:56:00.005-04:00

Daniel Pink has released a guide for career decisions in Manga format with an online comic component. I don't know about you, but the manga in my library is the best used section. I will be buying it as soon as I have next year's budget!

Here is the link to the online component that you can link to RSS.

Johnny Bunko Online

Great Media Studies Resource!

2008-05-17T20:44:00.003-04:00

OK here is this band from Manchester UK. They needed to make a video but couldn't afford it so instead they perform in front of video surveillance cameras around the city and then petition the government to access the tapes which they then edit into a music video. Talk about creative rebellion! Work the system boys!! This was from David Warlick's Blog.

It's a good song...here is the video:

What is Text?

2008-05-11T21:59:00.002-04:00

Here is my first foray into publishing myself! An assignment for my masters course.

Boing Boing Cory Doctorow Releases his new Book

2008-05-11T18:41:00.001-04:00

Author Cory Doctorow has released his new book on the web. Yes you can download it legally right here. Click on the link to listen to his rationale...very interesting.

Fun Links for Digital Storytelling

2008-05-06T11:00:00.005-04:00

This site is chock full of great resources for digital storytelling. CogDogRoo by Alan Levine... Link this to UStream and Bob's your uncle.

Powerpoint at its best!

2008-05-06T10:54:00.002-04:00

An example of powerpoint with all the bells and whistles!

Virtual School Society Conference

2008-04-25T10:02:00.003-04:00

OK David Warlick is live blogging a conference in BC and it's where I would love to be right now. He posted an really interesting discussion yesterday about implementing social networks and the features of them. The presenter talks about the features of social networks using an interesting diagram.

Social Networks are all about:

Identity,
Presence,
Relationships,
Conversations,
Groups,
Reputation The diagram shows how 3 different networks play on these relationships.

Imagine how powerful these tools could be for learning if school districts could get past the fear and unblock them. We need to educate the educators so that we can use such tools wisely in learning environments.

Smith, Gene. “Social Software Building Blocks.” [Weblog nForm] 4 Apr 2007. nForm User

Experience. 23 Apr 2008 http://nform.ca/publications/social-software-building-block.

URL for Brittania Registration

2008-04-21T19:36:00.002-04:00

Brittania for Bloggers!

2008-04-21T19:31:00.002-04:00

I have been reading Joyce's Valenza's latest posting and find this article indicating that Encyclopedia Brittanica will provide access to their product free of charge to Bloggers. Of course, I am skeptical as is Joyce and will register to find out how this works....in the meantime, if you are interested, check it out! Brittania for Bloggers.

ANIMOTO

2008-04-19T11:46:00.003-04:00

OK here is such a cool little tool that students and teachers can access online with very little knowledge of IT Animoto is a web based video/slideshow creation tool that can be used for many purposes. Check it out, give it a shot and tell me what you think. This was posted on Ewan McGregor's Edublog and it is a wonderful thing. Thanks Mr. McGregor!

Google Mojo

2008-04-18T18:21:00.002-04:00

OK folks....here is something to share at the next staff meeting....librarianship blues if I ever heard it!

Time Mag Top 25 Blogs

2008-04-17T08:26:00.001-04:00

Here is Time Magazines link to top 25 blogs. Although I have heard of some of these blogs, I don't subscribe to them and at the moment I am resisting adding them to my rss. I am online far too much and need to limit my aggregator to specific focii, such as IT and libraries. lol Not too broad an area!

Blue Skunk & Copyright

2008-04-12T20:22:00.002-04:00

I have gotten hooked on Doug Johnson's Blue Skunk blog. This week he has been discussing copyright and fair use of material. This is always a hot topic in librarianship but this one hit home because we were discussing our New Vision Document for school libraries at a recent meeting. In this document the vision refers TL's to character education connections when teaching copyright. Johnson makes the same reference saying that we need to teach copyright from the perspective of the producer and call on student empathy to understand the rationale behind copyright law. Don't you love it when everything seems connected??

Digital Archive Mashups

2008-04-12T20:18:00.002-04:00

David Warlick posted this wonderful link to the national archive of the united states where they have digitized primary source documents for users to use for research and to create new views of this information. Items are tagged using blog like folksonomy and it has a Flikr like feel to it. Imagine how much fun this could be to have students select images from this resource, create movies, slide shows, posters....all built into this wonderful site! Canadian digital archives please take note!!! Check it out

Digital Storytelling

2008-03-21T23:35:00.001-04:00

I was buys avoiding writing a paper so decided to cruise you tube for a while. Here is a neat video about Digital StorytellingI think students would love it and I do too.

Web Mashups and Virtual Tours

2008-03-16T17:45:00.001-04:00

I just grabbed this from David Warlick's blog at a recent tech conference in the states. This teacher was presenting about web mashups, using second life as a portal, google maps and flickr. Her example was one of taking a civil rights tour. He posted instructions.... I think this sounds amazing and will be playing with this tonight!

Lizbeth went on a Civil Rights Tour through the south, and she created a Google Maps interface for recording the tour. Again, someone asks, “How can we do that?”
Here’s how you do it. 1. Start with Google and register an account if you don’t have one already.2. Click on [Maps].3. Click [My Maps] where you can save your own maps and also browse a directory of other maps.4. Click [Create a Map]5. Title it and make it public or unlisted (you can share it either way)6. Make a pen, and then zoom in to where you want it to stay, and title it.7. A text box opens where you can type in text, rich text, or even HTML. There’s a tool bar for formatting. This is cool!8. If you want a photo to be part of this spot on the map. The photo has to be on the web, and you create a link to the photo. Click the insert a a photo button, and enter the URL of the image.
Here is a bookmark page with resources: http://del.icio.us/ellejaycee/presentationAnd here is a Camtasia demo: http://scrap217.googlepages.com

Web 2.0 and 3.0 Semantics

2008-03-05T19:03:00.002-05:00

Amanda inspired me to go back and review my notes from Superconference with her postings about the interactive web and the semantic web.

Here is a presentation shared by David Warlick related to Thomas Friedan's book The World is Flat...which is now on my growing pile of reading for, whenever!

Check this out!

| View | Upload your own

Warlick in Torquay and still Blogging

2008-03-03T19:41:00.002-05:00

Here is David Warlick's blog from Torquay. He is reflecting on one state's poor decision making and the need for full time TL's in schools. I think he likes his job...I think I like his job!

Interesting Photo

2008-02-29T21:53:00.002-05:00

Here is a really neat photo on Will Richardson's blog....if this is how we are disposing of cell phones....imagine what everything else we throw away looks like????

Bernie Dodge & Twitter

2008-02-29T21:35:00.003-05:00

David Warlick is discussing a keynote address by Bernie Dodge. Just as I thought that I was done with webquesting and creation of such, here is David Warlick writing about the guru of webquests. It appears I need to revisit webquests and get me a Twitter account! Check it out... at http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/archives/1373

50 Inches of Entertainment!

2008-02-25T21:50:00.002-05:00

OK I am now the proud owner of a 50" Plasma TV...WOW! Fortunately March break is approaching and I can occupy the couch for a day or two to look at this thing.

My husband may be up all night tonight...I think he loves this thing more than the dog!

Media Literacy & Technology

2007-12-08T23:23:00.000-05:00

I just finished viewing Cat Ballou with my kids, who didn't stay for the entire film! I loved this movie but viewing it this evening I realized that what was once state of the art technology (albeit 40 years ago) is now something that anyone can produce in their own home. I feel old!

There are films of better quality these days on youtube! No wonder my sons left the room! It was interesting because the film studies critics at the end (it was TVO) were discussing morality and character in the film...they even got it wrong!!!

The more I learn about technology, media, the net and myself, I think I need to teach media studies! We have certainly evolved but our students only know what is.

You know you are a 21st C TL if.....

2007-11-26T19:52:00.000-05:00

This is scooped entirely from Joyce Valenza's blog...where she compiled the following ideas:

Make sure your learners and teachers can (physically & intellectually) access developmentally and curricularly(?) appropriate databases, portals, and websites, blogs, videos, and other media.
Organize the Web for learners. You have the skills to create a blog or website or wiki to pull together resources to meet the information needs of your learning community. That presence reflects your personal voice. It includes your advice as well as your links. You make learning an engaging and colorful hybrid experience. You intervene in the research process online while respecting young people’s need for independence.
Are helping learners put together their own information spaces using blog widgets, and iGoogle gadgets, and browsers like PageFlakes. You seek ways to help students learn to use push information technologies.
Think outside the box about the concept of “collection.” That collection might include: ebooks, audiobooks, open source software, streaming media, flash sticks, digital video cameras, and much more! You lend this stuff.
Think of your web presence as a knowledge management for your school. This is collection too, and it includes student-produced learning objects, handouts, policies, and collaborative wiki pathfinders to support learning and research in all learning arenas.
Think Web 2.0. You know the potential new technologies offer for interaction–learners as both information consumers and producers.
Consider new interactive and engaging communication tools for student projects--digital storytelling, wikis, podcasts, streaming video as possibilities beyond the mortal powers of PowerPoint
(And you are rethinking what PowerPoint should/could be!)
Are thinking interactive service: materials suggestion forms, book review blogs, surveys, online calendars, etc.
Know your physical space is about way more than books. Your space is a libratory. You welcome media production—podcasting, video editing. You welcome telecommunications events and group gathering for planning and research and social networking.
Include and collaborate with the learner. You let them in. You fill your physical and virtual space with student work, student contributions—their video productions, their original music, their art.
Expanded your notion of searching. You work with learners to set up RSS feeds and tag clouds for research. Your own feeds are rich with learning content, evidence of your networking.
Are concerned that, when it matters, your students move beyond information satisficing. They make solid information decisions.
Are concerned about a new digital divide: those who can effectively find quality information in all media formats, and those who cannot.
Consider just-in-time, just-for-me learning as your responsibility and are proud that you own the real estate of one desktop window on your students’ home computers 24/7. (My website is used as much after school as it is during)
Know that one-to-one classrooms will change your teaching logistics. You realize you will often have to partner and teach in classroom teachers’ classrooms. You will teach virtually. You will be available across the school via email and chat.
Use new tools for collaboration. Your students create together, They synthesize information, enhance their writing through peer review and negotiate content in blogs and wikis and using tools like GoogleDocs, Flickr, Jumpcut, Voicethread
Are concerned about what you can do that Google or Wikipedia cannot. What customized services and instruction will you offer that will not be outsourced to Bangalore?
Are concerned about how information fluency changes as the information landscape shifts. What skills will you teach that will not be outsourced to Bangalore? How will you share new understandings of searching, and evaluation, and analysis and synthesis, and digital citizenship, and communication?
Read both edtech journals and edtech blogs, not just the print literature of our own profession. You learn by visiting the webcast archives of conferences you cannot attend. You visit David's Hitchhikr to discover new events. You visit sites like edtechtalk.
Consider your role as info-technology scout. You look to make “learning sense” of the authentic new information and communication tools used in business and academics. You figure out how to use them thoughtfully and you help classroom teachers use them with their classes.
Consider ways to bring experts, scholars, authors into your classroom using telecommunication tools like Skype and Internet2.
Grapple with issues of equity. You provide open source alternatives to students and teachers who need them. You lend flash sticks and laptops and cameras and . . . You ensure your students can easily get to the stuff they most need by using kid-friendly terms and creating pathfinders. You ensure that all students have access to audio and ebooks and databases.
Consider new ways to promote reading. You are exploring downloadable audio books, or Playaways. You (and your students) are creating digital booktalks or book trailers.
Model respect for intellectual property in a world of shift and change. You encourage and guide documentation for media in all formats and recognize and lead students and teachers to the growing number of copyright-friendly or copy left portals. You understand Creative Commons licensing and you are spreading this gospel.
Know this is only the beginning of social networking. Students will get to their MySpace accounts through proxy servers despite any efforts to block them. You plan educationally meaningful ways to incorporate student excitement (and your own) for social networking.
Are beginning to consider iPods as learning tools. You know that when you interrupt a student she might be in the middle of a chapter, recording a podcast, transferring data, taking audio notes.
Seek professional development that will help you grow even if you cannot get professional development for that growth. You can't "clock" these hours.
Understand that learning can be playful.
Don’t stop at “no.” You fight for the rights of students to have and use the tools they need. This is an equity issue. This is an intellectual freedom issue.
Unpack the good stuff you carried from your 20th century trunk. Rigor, and inquiry, and high expectations, and information and media fluency matter no matter what the medium. So do excitement, engagement, and enthusiasm.
Library is not just between the 4 walls of the building.
Library services are becoming more customizeable for your teachers and students. Greater empowerment of teachers and students to use the tools of the library.

Quarterlife

2007-11-25T18:53:00.000-05:00

OK, now I am beginning to wonder where technology ends, life begins, TV is television and the internet becomes broadcasting???

Visit http://quarterlife.com/ this is amazing! All boundaries have blurred here. Did you ever like watching thirtysomething, or My So Called Life on TV? Well the same producer has decided to broadcast his latest examination of life as a twentysomething today. This means these people are digitally literate. The main character is a serious blogger/writer. She observes life and posts her observations visually and textually.

The show is broadcast in segments online twice weekly. There is a social network associated with the show where viewers can interact, question and suggest plot ideas.

HOW COOL IS THIS?! Web 2.0 moving forward into interactive entertainment

Another video from Digital Ethnography

2007-11-24T22:27:00.000-05:00

This is another video that really forces us to look at information, how we use it, how we teach students how to use it and to think about where we need to head.

Really, the web has not top, no shelf....it just is.

Infomancy

2007-11-24T21:35:00.000-05:00

Was reading more blogs today and discovered one by a librarian who likens himself to a wizard I would think. His blog is called Infomancy and it is defined as follows:

Infomancy n. 1.The field of magic related to the conjuring of information from the chaos of the universe. 2.The collection of terms, queries, and actions related to the retrieval of information from arcane sources.

I like this combination of wizardry and information. Where is the technology in infomancy though? Is it all just smoke & mirrors??

50 Tools for Stories

2007-11-12T20:38:00.001-05:00

OK so I am mucking about with RSS feeds and I link Will Richardson's blog to my feed. So of course I have to read for an hour and I he links me to this link which looks like loads of fun and a useful tool!

http://cogdogroo.wikispaces.com/StoryTools

Thanks Will, I have succesfully avoided writing this paper I am supposed to be working on again!

Some interesting videos

2007-11-12T20:03:00.000-05:00

I was reading David Warlick's blog and he posted the video I shared in the course with you but then I went looking for more and this is what I saw.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gmP4nk0EOE

An interesting comment on technology and humanity.

He was also commenting on how the topic of "transliteracy" has been introduced to him. Here it is:

Transliteracy is the ability to read, write and interact across a range of platforms, tools and media from signing and orality through handwriting, print, TV, radio and film, to digital social networks.

Sounds like literacy to me....should I email our director of education?

Some additional bloggers

2007-11-12T20:01:00.000-05:00

http://bespeckledhen.blogspot.com Deanna

http://juliesaqpart3.blogspot.com/ Julie

http://superibrarianspecialist.blogspot.com/ Cathy

http://readiskey223.blogspot.com Lorna

OK so here you all are....post and comment away

Library Specialist Bloggers

2007-10-17T20:37:00.000-04:00

Here are some links to TL's on a virtual journey.

Deanna http://bespeckledhen.blogspot.com

Julie http://juliesaqpart3.blogspot.com/

Take time to explore this blog....I was very excited when one day I attracted a comment from Will Richardson, digital guru and hard core blogger!

Here is an example of a blog journal that I kept for my last graduate course:

http://weblogs.elearning.ubc.ca/etec521/2007/66c/kitchenerd/

The focus of this blog was to locate virtual resources that were illustrative of the use of the interent by Indigineous cultures. It was lots of fun.

Deb's return to the blog

2007-10-08T19:47:00.001-04:00

I am posting this welcome to my York AQ Specialist candidates. I too will join you on this virtual journey. Enjoy blogging and post comments, resources as you learn.

Online Virtual Tours

2007-04-02T09:55:00.001-04:00

Another resource for virtual tours online...

http://www.vickiblackwell.com/vft.html

Videoconferencing resources for All

2007-04-02T09:53:00.000-04:00

Vanderbilt University offers vc for educators for a very reasonable price.

Details:
VANDERBILT VIRTUAL SCHOOL:
Please check the confirmed VC online calendar for available spaces andtimes at http://www.vanderbilt.edu/virtualschool/calendar.htm
Most events follow the following format-
Target Audience: Students in grades 7 -12Time: 9:00 and 10:00 AM (CENTRAL time zone)Format: 45-minute videoconference: formatted into a 30-minutepresentation followed by 15-20 minute interactive Question and Answersession with studentsCost: $50 per siteRegistration Online at:http://www.vanderbilt.edu/virtualschool/registration.htmQuestions: Call administrative assistant, Chandra Allison, at (615)322-6511 or email Chandra at chandra.allison@vanderbilt.edu.

Wikipedia and Research

2007-03-01T20:14:00.000-05:00

I have not been encouraging students to use wikipedia for pure research assignments. As a rule, I like to direct them to database resources, texts and ebooks to support any research they do in school. Still the wikipedia reference occurs.

I also read about how Richardson is reporting that repeated editing in a wiki does lead to accuracy and at our recent librarianship conference a presenter was pointing out how we know editors are blocked, how to identify recently edited entries and I am in a quandry. I understand the value of what is happening in wikipedia and I think it is marvelous BUT my job is to teach and assist students in appropriate research practice. Is it a good idea to cloud the issue with a "pop culture" type of resource????

Blogs and Librarianship

2007-02-25T21:28:00.000-05:00

I have been exploring the use of a blog as a means of discussing book club books with students. These kids are busy, they are on the move and they are reading. I want to engage them in discussion without pinning them down to a lunch hour meeting. They have not, however bought into the idea of the blog....what to do? I am going to post nags/reminders on the web page and some brief announcements as reminders. Hopefully it will take off soon.

Be Really Afraid

2007-02-08T23:20:00.000-05:00

Stephen Heppell was a keynote speaker at the recent OLA Superconference. He was innovative, entertaining and charming to listen to. He also shared some wonderful examples of teaching and learning with technology without using fancy equipment. The video clips he shared of student projects for BAFTA called Be Very Afraid are fabulous examples of how technology can enrich learning for teachers and students. They are also a testament to teachers who are passionate about their practice.

Here is the link: http://www.heppell.net/bva2/

I wonder how I can encourage more teachers to get connected to learning with IT to use something from these strategies???

Will Richardson and Passion Based Learning

2007-02-05T19:47:00.000-05:00

I've just been listening to blogger and technorati Will Richardson in an online conference about re-envisioning education and he makes some good points about how we have to begin changing education. First, we have to embrace change rather than fear it. Second, we have to reach beyond school walls to our students and understand that they are familiar with accessing information 24/7. Third, we have to understand that people will pursue their learning if they are impassioned.

My question is....how do librarians tap into that passion, provide guidance and direction to students who are ready to go down that road????

Blogging for Gold.....

2007-02-04T20:54:00.000-05:00

I am a Teacher Librarian in a High School north of Toronto. I am very interested in learning about how other TL's around Ontario, Canada, N. America and beyond are integrating educational technologies and social software of web 2.0 into their teaching in the library environment.

I am very interested in podcasting and the possibilities for creating interesting and authentic learning for students. Here is a web site that was built by myself and some colleagues:

http://www3.telus.net/public/burtb/podcastunit/index.html

It was an assignment for a course towards my Masters Degree in Educational Technology. I plan to use it with a grade 12 class this semester. Feel free to use the site, feedback is welcome.