Thing 23: Summary

1.What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?
I think Rollyo was one of my favorites.  I think it has much more appeal than a bookmark site like Delicious.  It was a lot of fun to use and so easy after I watched the video!

2.How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?
In the short-term, this program is helping me get my required professional development hours.  However, in the long term, it's helped me realize that there's so much out there to keep learning about and I have to stay on the up-and-up if I'm going to be a good teacher, librarian, and Web 2.0 authority!
3.Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
I think that this program helped me focus on ways to use these things within a library setting.

4.What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?
Hmmm, I can't really think of anything.  I love that you offer it to people not in SBISD.

5.If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you choose to participate?
Yes.

6.How would you describe your learning experience in ONE WORD or in ONE SENTENCE, so we could use your words to promote 23 Things learning activities?
Useful

7.Now go and comment on some of the other Players' blogs?
Done and done!

Thing 12: Commenting

1.  I liked how Blue Skunk talked about asking yourself "Are you contributing to the conversation?"  I also like how Cool Cat says that you should hyperlink to your post if you talked about the same thing.  I think those two aspects are super important.  It's letting the blogger know that you truly are reading what they're saying and perhaps validating their post.

2. I also commented on http://www.shelfconsumed.com/.  This is a blog written by a librarian coordinator for new librarians.  It gives all sorts of neat stories and helpful hints.  The article I commented on was the struggle between the book the KID wants and the book the TEACHER wants the kid to read.  The post showed a great way to help difuse the situation and work towards a compromise.

Thing 22: Nings

The Ning that I joined belongs to my district at http://friscoisdlibraries.ning.com/.  I find nings to be very similar to wikis. Although, as opposed to a wiki, there is a discussion feature that appears to allow for quick communication between users.

After reading another student's blog, I joined Sarah Dessen's http://sarah-land.ning.com/.  I know middle school and high school-aged students love her books and it's nice to be able to stay up on those types of things.

Thing 21: Podcast

Here's a podcast I made as a booktalk for The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.  I created it using PodBean.com and since I learned how to embed media in the last post, I embedded it here!

Powered by Podbean.com

It's fun to create these types of things.  It'd be nice to embed these into a library's blog or website to get students and perhaps even parents excited about these books.

Thing 20: Video Streaming

You Tube Video


I have embedded my own videos into my blogs, but never something from YouTube.  This was fun!  I also enjoyed having a minute to search for education-related vlogs and videos.  Yeah!

Thing 19: Web 2.0 - Pandora

I LOVE Pandora.  This tool is a streaming music site that, based on your music preferences, streams music you like.  For example, if I were to set a "Lady Gaga" channel, it would play songs by Lady Gaga and other musicians that have songs related by beat, rythym, etc.  It is SO nice not to channel surf the radio.

I think this could be useful in the library to stream clean songs into the library for student enjoyment.  Not only that, but it could help students find related music within a genre.

Thing 18: Online Productivity Tools

Google Docs: I've used this a LOT in my Master's degree.  I have use this more as a document hosting tool for my portfolio as opposed to a collaborative tool.  A lot of my peers have stated that they've enjoyed using it for collaboration.  I have found with Google Docs that oftentimes the formatting of documents ends up changing.  Saving things as a pdf helped, but then you can't collaborate.  It definitely has its pluses and minuses!

Open Office: This was a life-saver when I bought my new computer! I couldn't afford to buy Microsoft Office but was in the middle of my degree and had to write a bunch of papers! I was able to use several of the tools.  It was a little hard to get used to at first, but it was really helpful.

Thing 17: Rollyo

For whatever reason, I'm having a hard time with this one.  I'll come back to it.

I get it now!  Thanks, Bruce Goodner!  And it's SOOO cool!  I can definitely see using this in a library setting.  Or a classroom setting.  Or on a home computer.  Or anywhere!  This is a tool I have never seen before and never used.  I like the way it looks and the fact that the kids can only search select websites.  Awesome!

http://rollyo.com/txmel/travel/

Above is my link to a bunch of travel websites.  I searched some other Rolls and found one I liked, removed a few links, added a couple more, and made it my own.  Fun!

Thing 16: Wikis

I have used wikis a lot in the past year and a half.  I have some strong feelings toward them.  I don't really like them.  Here's why.

First, I hate wikispaces.  There's not spell check and the formatting is impossible.  I like PB Works a lot better, but it's still a challenge to format. I don't like that anyone can change my work.  I am aware that the wiki tracks changes, however, sometimes they're confusing and hard to read.  On top of that, it's up to an individual to look at the changes to see if I did my work or not. Finally, I have found the multiple pages and links hard to manage and make sure they're not broken.  It can be hard to keep up with if you are not proficient in the program.

Despite my dislike for wikis, I know students use them and like them.  I can see them being used in instructional settings for collaborative projects, world-wide discussions, and/or brainstorming. I think my dislike for wikis stems from the fact that they were NOT explained to me when I began using them. I was unfamiliar with the technology but expected to just jump right in and get wiki-ing. If students don't know what they are (which most of them do), explaining them clearly and thoroughly will help.  Also, leaders need to set strict guidelines and information for the project and track the changes often to keep the project and students in check.

Thing 15: Library Futures

I've read several things by author Michael Stephens and listened to my boss talk about one of the conferences she went to where he spoke.  I found his article very poignant.  He points out that librarians in this day and age need to focus on being technologically adept and fast-thinking.  I think these are incredibly important. 

Today's learners are digital natives and seem to almost require technology in their learning experiences.  By being able to incorporate the technology and present it in an interesting way, students are more likely to enjoy their learning experience and take more information away from it.  Librarians are the forerunners in getting teachers to incorporate that technology into their lesson plans.  Collaboration and co-teaching are great ways to help them do this.

Thing 14: Tagging

I like tags.  I don't often do the tagging myself, however, I read through them to see what other people have tagged items as.  I do this a lot when I'm looking for books in the public library system for my MLS classes and need something specific.

I can't say that I search by tags very often.  I seem to get strange results when I do that.  Again, I have searched by tags when I needed something that my search terms weren't bringing up.

I think tagging can be a good tool for students to use.  Generally, they search for terms that the subject heading might not understand.  For example, they might search for home instead of house or domicile.  They can use tags to see what others students think this work is about.

Thing 13: Tagging

I have used Delicious for several of my graduate classes.  However, since that class, I haven't done much with it.  It didn't make much sense for me to keep up with it if I didn't need it.

But!  Once I get into the library, I can see recommending this for teachers to use to give resources (websites and other bookmarks) to their students.  In addition, I can see using this and allowing teachers to view mine for them to find resources, links for lesson planning, and awesome ideas.  This would be a great way to save paper and be more efficient with the little bit of time we have with kids.

Thing 11: LibraryThing

I love the fact that with Library Thing, students can see my collections and can see what I'm reading.  Teachers can use it to share what they're reading and make connections with the students and their reading.  I wonder how I could use this with a reading promotion program like Read It Forward or something similar...I'll have to keep thinking about that one.

Thing 10: Online Image Generator

I've used a lot of these in my classes.  My students have loved using Glogster.  They created posters about themselves as little kids.  It's fun to give them time to express themselves with pictures, etc. after learning how to do things in Spanish.  Here's a link to the one I created.

http://srtasmith.edu.glogster.com/cuandoeranina/

Thing 9: Library-Related Blogs and News Feeds

I didn't care for most of the search engines.  I enjoy searching blogs either by searching through the google reader "explore" option or by clicking on links within the blogs I read.  I know that's a longer process, however, if I enjoy a blogger and they enjoy another blogger, it would make sense that it would be a blog worth checking out.

Thing 8: RSS Feeder

What do you like about RSS and readers?
What do I LOVE about RSS feeders?  The fact that I go to one spot and get updates on everything I could possible want!  Whether it be my friends' blogs, blogs about reading or baking, or updates of webpages...it's great!


How do you think you might be able to use this technology in your school or personal life?
I already subscribe to many and it keeps me up-to-date on everything I want to be kept up on.

How can libraries/teachers/administrators use readers or take advantage of this new technology?
This is the way I stay current with new books coming out and reviews.  Teachers can find blogs that update them on new sources, lesson plans, and great ideas.

Thing 7: Google Apps

I already use most of these Google Apps on a regular basis.  I have Picasa albums from my trips overseas, I use the Google Feeder, Calendar, and Docs often.

Here's a link to one of my photo albums.  I had just learned how to put up crown molding and this is my first solo attempt.

http://picasaweb.google.com/smith.melissa.a/ITried?authkey=Gv1sRgCM_LobbXy_GVGQ&feat=directlink

Thing 6: Third Party Sites

I made a trading card using BigHugeLabs.  I could definitely see using these in the classroom and making a "set" to review culture, grammar, and vocabulary!  Here's a picture of what I've done.

Thing 5: Flickr

This is a picture of the Teatro Nacional performing the beginning of the Mexican Hat Dance.

Gabofr. Aguascalientes. Digital image. Flickr. Web. 14 June 2010. http://www.flickr.com/photos/gabofr/4625588071/.

Through this "Thing," I've learned a lot more about Flickr.  It's nice having a choice of images that are usable in the classroom.  In addition, it's nice being able to search tags.

Thing 3: Blogging

Blogging isn't new to me.  In fact, this is the 5th Blogger Blog I have set up.  I use them all regularly as they're for different classes that I am taking through my master's program.  In addition, I have a blog specifically dedicated to the Spanish classes I teach (through my school district).  The process is easy but I constantly forget how to export my avatar into other sites, such as blogs.  Yahoo Help isn't the easiest tool to use, either.  However, with enough playing (*wink* from Thing 2), I found out and was able to import.

Thing 2: 7.5 Habits of Life-Long Learning

After watching the video I noted the following about the habits.  First, I noted that I already do most of these things naturally.  I love to learn and do so often.  In fact, I could even say that I crave learning.  The hardest of these habits for me is to view problems as challenges.  Too often, I feel as though I view them as problems.  Sure...it's all about the vernacular.  However, sometimes I notice myself getting frustrated instead of embracing them.  The easiest for me is to teach and mentor others.  As a teacher, it's what comes naturally to me.  I want to show off what I've learned and teach others to use what I know!

Blog Title

I began this blog as a jumping-off point for my 23 Things site.  I chose the title for a couple of reasons:

1. Well, do they?  This is just one thing librarians can help find answers to.
2. It's the title of a wonderful Jack Prelutsky poem found in The New Kid on the Block. 
3. It just makes me smile.