Thing #10

I enjoyed making a trading card from the website "Dummies Books".
http://dummies.book.cover.txt2pic.com/


Made with free image tools @ TXT2PIC.com

Gosh! What a "gold mine"--especially with the Custom Sign Generator. I'm always looking for creative ideas for bookmarks. I know that I'll think of something to do with ALL of the cute pictures on these sites. I really had a time getting my design in the blog. Finally, I realized just where you could cut and paste the html. Was I dancing around the house when the trading card "magically appeared" on my blog.

Thing #9-

I read all of the information in Thing #9 but didn't get to post until a few weeks later. So, I had to "re-read" & experience it ALL over again.

My thoughts on Newsreaders.
I liked the "Cool Cat Teacher" because the topics relate to what I do with the library. The site is very current and visited frequently by many people. The points on "Creating your circle of the wise" had some helpful information-look for responsible conversationalist learners. Also, not being so over whelmed with all of the information to read but read "snippits" during the day when you have a few minutes.

I couldn't get the Feedster link to work. I was amazed at how involved Springbranch ISD is with their blogs (366 to be exact). Google Blog Search is very easy to use.

Technorati had so many different feeds to look at but the site was very organized and easy to navigate. I found the news interesting to read. It was a lot more detailed than another site which I have used in the past. Topix has the latest news also. I like this site better.
I found an advertisement of about Webinar 2.0 that I might pursue.

I set up several blogs to read but have forgotten to read Google Reader. Tonight I looked at it and wow, do I have a lot to read. Finally, I opened up Edublogs' award winners and found Vaughn had won the award for librarians and had also blogged about the same library conference that I attended. Her comments about the sessions that she attended were informational because I didn't get to the same sessions.

Thing #8

I viewed the short video and learned about RSS feeds. I had trouble with the sound. After several tries, I was able to view. Then I set up an account with Google Reader. I wasn't sure which blogs that I should include. I typed in several different keywords and searched various blogs. I was interested in "elementary school librarian" and technology with elementary students". I found some interesting blogs to read and put those links into my Google Reader. At least all of the "similar" blogs are together for searching.

As the video said, "Get it all in one spot!" I'll have to see if this works. I'm excited about learning new technology. I know that reading the blogs will support my efforts to teach students new technology. I am always "on the go" so having all my news in Google Reader will be helpful. I'd like to begin using this technology on my Elementary Library Page, especially as someone else said, "I'll use this for book reviews."

Thing #7

I set up a Google notebook. I am always "on the run" and need a central place to "record" my findings. I especially look for new websites for my school website. Now I won't have to send the information to my e-mail or put it on my flash drive. I think it is wonderful that I can "have it all there" within the Google notebook.

http://www.google.com/notebook/#b=BDT3iIgoQzrHF3Y8j

I have also used the Google advanced for finding PowerPoints relevant to what information I was wanting to learn or use with my students. Last year I went to a session at TLA where Google demonstrated "Google Earth". I've used it with students and you hear, "Ooh, ahh!"

Thing #6

Wow! Flickr is so easy to use. There is a trick though getting your digital images to look right in the various activities that I explored. I found so many ways use Flickr mashups! I can think of a new way to write a brief bookreport with the trading cards or advertise National Library Week. I have a class that has written a book and its looks like Flickr creates books. Also, my third and fourth graders study the different areas of the United States so a Flickr toy-trip planner or mappr would be easy to create.

Thing #5,

I explored Flickr further. (I've used it some for our high school class reunions). It is so important to tag your pictures. I noticed that libraries used Flickr to advertise their programs, show new books, show images of their libraries, information to get patrons involved in the library, and social networking.

What's New With Media

As you can see I created a blog and avatar. I worked and worked with the directions on creating an avatar (I didn't even know what an avatar was before I started this assignment.). I had set up my blog before putting the avatar in. Well...I worked and worked until I completely deleted my blog and re-created it with the avatar in it. Wow! I finally was able to follow the directions when I started over. Now the avatar doesn't look like the one I set up with my yahoo account, but believe me...I have learned so much!

Also, I had worked with Flickr before. I had set up an account for our high school class reunion pictures. But now I understand what tags are and I even joined the librarians' "share your pictures".