Thing # 7 : Technology

Ways to incorporate technology into my library seems to be on my mind a lot lately. It seems that each time I introduce the smallest little technology thing my students go nuts and are suddenly engaged and excited about coming to the library. A new favorite of my students is PhotoStory. Several classes just finished some research and we put the results into Photostory (you 'drop' in a picture and audio can be recorded to match along with music, it is quick and easy to use and the results are fun). In their 'free time' they are recording the audio portion and I have lines of students waiting to record. It makes them feel like stars. Their faces are pricelss when I play the final project for them. They are so excited that they forget that they are working with a partner they don't necessarily like and did research.

I am starting to have the students create book reviews in the same way. They are actually excited to share and talk about books because technology is involved.

Technology is not the be all, end all. But it increasingly provides a way to spark excitement and interest that leads to students being excited about learning and for that I am grateful.

Thing #6 : Flickr toys

Flickr toys are so much fun!!! Made trading cards and a movie poster and my teenager was impressed. The best part was it was easy (ok, impressing the teenager was good too).

Now I need to figure out a way to use it in the curriculum. The trading card is easy, I already have the kids make trading cards so maybe we'll try them this way next time. These are tools that students will be excited to use.

Thing #5 Flickr

Spent some time on Flikr. Some of the images are stunning and some well..... Searching was an interesting experience, did not always get pictures of what I was expecting. Photos had multiple tags and some of them made me really stop and think.

Posted this photo of my library, Waiting to Read. Am a little frustrated and confused because although I posted and tagged it, it is not showing up when I search.

Tagging could be a good way to teach keyword searching to students ...... have them take photos and 'tag' them and then have others choose keywords and try to find them.

Thing #3: Blog and Avitar

I am still amazed I have a blog set up!! It is one of those things I talked about and never did. It was so easy!! Of course now the problem is going to be finding thoughtful things to say.

As I was setting it up I was thinking of all the ways it could be used. Discussions about Books, Professional Development discussions about the book study books we are reading, etc. The possibilities are exciting and endless.

Setting up the avitar was cool. My teenage daughters want one too. The sweater is very similar to one I wore this week - same pattern just different colors.

Thing # 2: 7 1/2 Habits

I watched "7 1/2 habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners" with interest. I was happy that I could recognize and actually practice to some degree most of the habits. The one I identify most closely with is "taking responsibility for your own learning." It seems I am always signing up for a workshop or class (sometimes it drives my family nuts that I am always taking another course). I also read constantly on any number of topics - my house and car are overflowing with newspapers, books, and magazines. Each year I challenge myself to try something new - whether its needlwork, learning to knit (that didn't go to well - I am left handed and all thumbs :), or trying a new recipe. I always want to learn more.

The habit I struggle with is Habit 1 "begin with the end in mind". When I jump in to my 'learning' I often have no idea where it is going to go. I'll start because it seems fun or interest me but beyond that I have no idea what I am going to do with the skill. Then I get frustrated because I don't have a plan and the new skill gets set aside and often forgotten about.

So I guess a new goal for me is to take a breath, think and make a plan before I leap into my next learning adventure.