Thing #5 Microblogging

I love the analogy that technology is to the classroom as the water is to the sea.

Facebook: I signed up: I asked my daughter if I could be a "friend", signed up with a group: School Library Journal and I read the article: Book Clubs for Kids. This might be an enrichment for our 5th graders in MDE's Great Books program. I read Chen's article, 2 Cents Worth, plus Twitter in Plain English.

Does Twitter matter? Ask people in oppressed countries... Twitter spews forth the truth instantaneously and uncensored. In addition, with the use of only 140 characters, it makes one more disciplined in tweeting (?)...less verbal padding, etc.

Twitter in the library? Elementary? The "possibility door" is always open.

Back-channeling: Great concept with focused users. The "rub"? It will be getting presenters comfortable with the audience quasi focused on them.

Thng #4 Video Posting

OK...confession. This was my first time to peruse both sites...and, "no", I did not know until now that there was a SCHOOL TUBE. My technology skills preclude uploading a video (making a video is on my "to do" list). I signed in on YOUtube. So easy to navigate. My search for both sites was: Zheng He. YOUtube was excellent. I installed Windows Explorer 8 because my current browser was about to go KAPUT! I have no idea if that was good or not.
I found all the video quality to be out of focus.

I hated TEACHERtube. I tried to sign in and it would not let me install GOOGLE Search...needed to use IE7 or Firefox 2 so I was dead in the water.
Did NOT like any of the videos, pictures, channels, etc. that I searched on. I would use YOUtube to enhance lessons.

Thing #2 Bookr

I have tried multiple times alone and with the help of the magic fingers of Vaughn. We could not post the physical book at this time, but it was a learning expierence on how to work in HTML and hyperlinks. WOW! This a GREAT tool for the kiddos!Can hardly wait to use it with them.


Insects by Honeybear

Thing #3 Like Skype

Oh, my gosh!My head is buzzing, my eyes are crossing, my back aches, my shoulders are knotted...it is just overwhelming!Live videoconferencing...I want my students to talk with children in Pakistan's elementary schools... (Three Cups of Tea)...free"telephoning"(international too!) from your laptop, etc...miraculous deeds for education, industry, and personal use. I cannot begin to fathom how my grandchildren's life will unfold in this technological tsunami!

Thing #2 Image Generators: Voki & Bookr

What fun! I will need help- again- getting them posted to my blog!Oh, well, continue the learning. The kids will love doing both of these image generators!

Thing #1 Video Comments

The video was inspiring, intimidating, succinct, and a lesson for a whole new vocabulary genera.I envied the student's ease and tech knowledge. I would fail that teacher's class if I were currently enrolled....the concept was staggering. Absolutely, librarians can facilitate many (probably all) concepts. And where does this leave the future of university book stores? No more textbooks.....new or used!

Could It Be Columbus?