Thing #11.5

1. What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?
I have to say my favorite discovery was the screencasts. I think it is an incredible tool to use to show how to use difference resources in the library. Unfortunately, I was unable to transfer the screencast I created to my blog. I feel like I would benefit from more training on this resource.

2. How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?
This program has made me feel more confident using the web 2.0 tools that are so important to 21st education.

3. Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
I can honestly say that I was surprised by all of the things we had to learn and apply. I was surprised that we didn't have to create a facebook page or twitter though, but imagine that will happen in the future.

4. What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?
I could use some more help in using some of the tools especially the screencasts and virtual world. I felt like those were two things where we could use some real hands-on training by other users who are more familiar with these tools.

Thing #11 - Digital Citizenship

First of all, I'd emphasize the importance of not sharing personal information on the internet in order to practice internet safety.

Second, I will tell them to make sure that the sources they access online for research are accurate and current by teaching them how to evaluate websites.

Third, I would teach them the importance of internet etiquette.

Fourth, I would teach them the importance of digital security. In other words, students need to know that their computers need to be protected from viruses and their files need to be backed up and saved.

Fifth, I would teach them the importance of digital law. They need to know that information on the web is copyrighted and cannot be copied. They also need to know that it is illegal to hack other user's nformation or download videos and music without permission or payment.

Nine Themes of Digital Citizenship- Copyright 2007-2009. Mike Ribble.

#10 Virtual Worlds

Second Life and other online virtual sites can be used by students to develop global literacy skills. Virtual worlds also offer students a chance to immerse themselves in a 3-D environment much like the gaming worlds that many of them are already familiar with. It offers them the chance to build their own environment or work in a team in order to meet teacher or librarian guidelines. I know that other librarians in the district use it to help their students take a virtual tour of sites around the world with a virtual tour guide. I, however, think that elementary students need to be guided by and adult when visiting these sites.

Thing #9 -- Slideshare

I definitely think that slideshare and 280 Slides is an indispensable collaborative online tool for students to use to create multimedia platform presentations that can be shared and viewed globally or locally. These presentations can also be saved online rather than on the computer hardware.

Thing #7 - Video Resources

For your blog posting, select two videos from any of these sources and discuss how you would be able to use them in your library or classroom. Do you have any additional sources of videos that your have found on the web. Tell us about them!

As a librarian, I would definitely use the PBS video resources site to enhance what students are learning in the classroom. I watched an episode of NOVA Science Now on how dinosaurs became extinct and think it can be used in the library or classroom. I like the way each episode of Nova Science Now has links for only the part you would like to show to your students instead of having to watch the whole thing to get to the part you want. I also liked the Blinkx site for kids and would show the how to make puppets video to students in order for them to recreate the stories they hear in the library or in their classroom.

Thing #6- iTouch Apps

Wow! The question should be changed to what can't you do with iTouch Apps in the library. I would obviously recommend downloading Bookshelf, which allows students to use their iTouch for reading, Talking Phrasebooks to get commonly needed foreign language translations, Birthdays in History to learn about famous authors, inventors, artists, etc., WeDict to look up words, WordPress for blogging, and Brain Tuner to keep students' minds sharp.

Thing #5 - Microblogging

For your blog post, describe your experiences with Facebook and Twitter. Give suggestions as to how these resouces could aid students in and out of the classroom. Give ideas for using back-channeling at school.

My experience using Facebook and Twitter is limited at this time, but from what my friends, family and colleagues say and judging from the many links provided by Library 2Play, these two forms of microblogging are becoming the new way to communicate and keep in touch with people around the world. According to what I read, this is how students prefer to communicate today and if we want to reach them as educators, then we need to learn how to use these tools and how to access them in order for us to be truly innovative. Students who are studying a topic in government or social studies can actually twitter someone in Washington to directly ask them how they feel about a particular issue.

Back-channeling can be used to help engage students in a skype presentation, or an online conference or even when they are viewing a film. In this way, the presenter and viewer can become more in sync. Also, according to the links posted, this method allows the playing field to be levelled between the speaker and the audience. It also gives a voice to those students who might not participate verbally, but don't mind texting in their opinions, questions or suggestions.