Thing #17

I had no luck with PSD Wiki. I couldn't figure out how to log on. I feel like a broken record, but at this point I can't find much of a need in my life for wikis. I think I just need to spend more time with it.

Thing #23

What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?
My favorite discoveries are Flikr, Rollyo, Zoho Writer, and NetLibrary.

How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?
It has moved me toward my goal of incorporating more technology into my personal life and my teaching life. It has helped me to overcome some of my fears around technology.

Were there any take-aways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
I am still amazed at just how much is out there on the net. There seems to be a whole world that I am barely participating in. This overwhelms me, yet further motivates me to keep learning.

What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?
I think it is a sound format.

If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you again chose to participate?
I probably would not. I procrastinate too much, which left me frustrated at the end because there was too much information to cram in. I also need more guidance where technology is concerned. Luckily, my husband helped me out.

Thing #22

How cool is this! I must get an MP3 player! Two titles I ran across are Annie Oakley: Woman at Arms, and Authentic LIfe of Billy the Kid (we just finished a Fort Collins History Unit, and western expansion is where my mind it). What a great way to pass the time on my long drives to Nebraska!

Thing #21

I spent time looking for education and literature podcasts on the Odeo site, but to no avail. The only education sites I found were for higher education. I have listened to funny podcasts before (Ricky Gervais for example), but have yet to run across any that would help me in the teaching profession.

Thing #20

You can find the funniest things on You-Tube, most of whcih I would not use in my classroom. There are some good videos made by students. I probably wouldn't have my students make videos and post them on You-Tube, but I could show them some examples of videos other students have made. Below is a School House Rock about grammar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7S_B9GcRI0k

Thing #19

I think mango and spanishpod both sound very cool. I did not sign up for the free trials, as I am getting uncomfortable having parts of myself flying all over the internet (not that I'm worried about security, or even anybody caring at all, it just feels weird to me). I could see mango being very useful to students as it exposes them to conversations in different languages by native speakers. Not as good as visiting the country, but better than hearning an English teacher speaking Spanish.

Spanishpod sounds like it might be helpful for teachers trying to learn Spanish (or maybe students, I'm not sure).

Thing #18

Zoho Writer could not have been any easier to sign up for. Although I didn't spend much time on the site, I love the idea of having access to my documents on any computer. I can't believe I haven't heard of this before. Teachers are always tryin to do work at home and them end up e-mailing things to themselves at school and then reformat them. What a pain.

Thing #16

I really like the idea of a wiki for a specific upcmoning event, not just for a library, but for any event. I've heard of people having a wiki for their family reunion, for example. I also liked the wiki book review from a library. As with the rest of the tech I've learned about in this class, I don't fully understand the benefit of a wiki, but I'll get there.

Thing #15

There will always be a need for libraries filled with books. This I know, because I prefer reading books over reading a computer screen. My eyes get tired. A laptop would help, so I could at least get comfortable. I'll have to get one of those.

My understanding is that in it's most agreed upon definition, Library 2.0 means that libraries will have to change in order to accomodate the patron's need for access to technology. (This doesn't sound exactly right, but I know what I'm trying to say.) Beyond that, I think Library 2.0 looks many different ways to many different people. Some of the articles I read seemed like people except an awful lot from libraries. Our local libraries already struggle financially. Where is all of the money going to come from?

The possibility of libraries become tech. oriented and collaborative between libraries and its patrons is an exciting one. I do not have a clear picture in my mind of what libraries should look like in the near future.