Final Reflections

I’d love to have an LIS 629—2.0 version of this course. I’d benefit from another technology-related course in this program. I found the value of this course in preparing me to become a 21st century librarian immensely invaluable. Certainly the vast majority of web 2.0 tools and resources Karen exposed us to are priceless also as in “free” which surprised me. The innumerable websites we visited had an abundance of appropriate information, resources, and tools we can use that students, parents, and faculty would take pleasure in learning and utilizing. We’d make reading FUNdamental again.

In comparing how I felt before the course and now, I found the technology even more exciting than I originally anticipated. I also realized it’s not a requirement to be tech savvy as web 2.0 tools are quick to learn and user-friendly. I learned that I can function in an interactive web environment, feel better prepared to face the challenge as an SMS, and enjoy doing it.

The social networking tool I’ll continue to use is Blogger. I can visualize different projects and ways blogging can be utilized in instruction, and on a personal level. The interactive portion that occurs between blogger and commenter keeps a nice communication flowing amidst originator and users to discuss a topic. Perhaps another format of book reporting, a book discussion, or a newsletter would be an effective use.

System Overload

Yup, system overload would describe my feelings today. So much information to absorb. Amazement is the next feeling. The volume of free information, tools, resources are astounding. I plan to review all the class materials at my own pace, because there's so much more I want to learn that we zoomed over. The textbook is also a good resource to refer to. Knowledge really is power.

Web 2.0 Tools Continued

Reading promotion posters no longer have to be simple posters taped to the wall. We can create digital frames, ALA image generators, etc. that are personalized and extraordinarily entertaining. Many of the web 2.0 tools Karen introduced us to are wonderful tools both students and librarians will enjoy.

Digital storytelling tools are AWESOME! No more boring paper & pencil book reports, dull presentations and drawings. Web 2.0 tools can take report writing to a whole new audio visual creative level. Photostory, Glogster, Wix, and more, more, more. So much and not enough time to review it all. I find it all fascinating and plan to continue using beyond the course.

Fun Friday

Fun Friday it is! Your creativity knows no bounds with all the resources introduced to us today. Music, words, pics, and colors of all shapes, sizes and designs can be used to make the SMC an extraordinary and fun place to learn using technology tools. We can teach our students how to WOW their classmates with a presentation that's sure to engage their audience. We can also use these tools to decorate the SMC by personalizing posters with student images and using student work.

Kristi and I worked together to create a presentation in ZOHO Show, an awesome online presentation tool similar to Microsoft Power Point. The program proved easy to navigate with many features to make your presentation come alive. All the other presentation sharing tools demonstrated by other classmates was pretty impressive. The majority of the programs were found to be easy-to-use and quick to learn, but most of all fun to work in. Taking notes in Webspiration was such a creative way to record key ideas and continually re-organize them.

Day 2

We flew through Day 2. There was so much material we covered and I certainly tried to keep up with the flow. I got left behind a few times but quickly got back on track. The Google lesson was the highlight for me. I was fascinated by all the apps available, and plan to use as many as I can. On Twitter I believe I'll be doing more reading than sending tweets. It seemed as though it can become very time-consuming. I found Delicious multi-functional, however it wasn't my favorite. I did like the Nings, wikis and social bookmarking sites. There is an unbelievable volume of information "out there" in cyberspace that we can interact with. Some of the resources we covered I will continue to use because I can already see the value, and realize how it can enrich my lifelong learning and communication. Since there are so many resources, I plan to be selective in which sites I follow. Learning all this has me ready to upgrade my mobile and computer technology to enjoy it to the fullest.

Using Blogs in the Library

Blogs are an excellent tool which can be brought into the media center for many fun projects. I'd like to use it to collaborate on classroom projects, and for group projects forums where classmates can review and comment on one another's digital book reports. The outcome of blogging I'd wish students to realize is their personal opinions count, and that they have a say so too, and to share, share, it's fair.There's so much to learn from one another as they're going through similar stages in life, with likes and dislikes, presenting a way to make new friends.