No more blogs for me...

Since I started a grad course for a reading specialist certification, I haven't had time to do any more with this. Interesting as it was, I can no longer pretend I am going to finish it.
My apologies to all participants.

Week 6 - #15 - Web 2.0 and Library 2.0

A lot to absorb this week and a lot to ponder as to the future of libraries, and in particular, school libraries. The articles about Library 2.0 and what the libraries now and of the future may, will, or should do got me thinking about my budget, access my students have to the library collection, and how to best get input from my patrons about what they would like to see added to their library.
I already have a survey I ask students to fill out to tell me what they would like to see added to their library's collection (yes, it is their collection, not mine, the school librarian). What I don't have in place is a way for parents to make suggestions about what they would like to see added to their child's library. I don't have an easy way to get input from classroom teachers (it has to be easy for teachers or they won't bother - they simply don't have the time).
So the question I will be pondering is what would be the best (and least time-consuming way) for me to get input from all three groups.
A lot to think about...

week 5 - #12 - rollyo

Interesting idea... not wowed by it, but can see it's use. The web sites that can be searched at the same time are ones that do not require a login - that's a serious drawback for how I would use this to search book vendors.

week 5 - #11 Lulu web 2.0 award list

Lulu is a site where anyone who has written a book can get it published. There is a charge (I did a test for a landscape shaped book, simplest binding, but not spiral, the cost to make one book came to $11.30). Great idea for teachers who would like to make a class book.
I question, however, the value and quality of some self-published books. I've seen some and I wouldn't waste my limited library book budget on them. That's not to say that all self-published books are worthless; there are gold nuggets to be found amongst the fool's gold!
It will be interesting to see how the big publishing houses respond to this new way to publish one's own work. Will it open up more possibilities for first-time authors?

week 5- #10

I created an image using comic strip generator - see the link on my web site
http://teacherweb.com/PA/Schwenksville/MrsCurtis/photo2.stm

For the amount of time it took me to create this image, to do it again, I'd either have to be home sick and bored or have a very specific and urgent need. While it's cool and I can see applications for teaching students about trusting what they see on the Internet by creating false images, it is time consuming unless you use it a lot and get very good at it.

RSS feeds - week 4, #8,9

RSS feeds certainly can keep you up-to-date on the latest information and topics you are interested in. The advantage of them is that you pick those that interest you without the need to go to each site and search it. In essence, the search is brought to you.
My school uses it to keep parents up-to-date on activities, early dismissal, and other information that would be important for parents to know.
School libraries could use it to remind parents about library activities (upcoming book fairs, author visits), however it needs to be used wisely as we've had some parents who have unsubscribed from our school's RSS feed because they got too much from the school.

Technology = week 3, #5,6,7

Technology in my district is often viewed as a means to an end rather than a tool. Technology has wonderful potential when used as a tool, but we need to remember it is just that, a tool! I have my own web site and use technology to teach my students. Our students use technology every day, so that is their world, but they also still use pencils and paper, too!