Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Method 4--RSS feeds

Here are some feeds that I have been following:

http://readingyear.blogspot.com/2011/06/this-child-every-child-book-about.html

http://literatelives.blogspot.com

https://www.google.com/reader/view/?tab=my#stream/feed%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Ffeeds2.feedburner.com%2FSLJAFuse8Production

I have been using Google Reader and find it a very easy way to keep up with the many different blogs I enjoy reading.  I have not explored the recommended feeds, or the search capability, and
will look forward to exploring that feature more.

Method # 3--Cloud Computing

I’ve been using Gmail, Google Docs and a Google calendar for personal use, and I enjoy the convenience of being able to access these tools at both home and work.  Google docs has been helpful for me when switching from Mac/PC formats at home and work.  Google calendar has been a great organizer for our family calendar.  I love the ability to combine the calendars of my husband, daughter, myself and school.  Having all our dates on one calendar makes life so much easier for all of us.   I do, however, worry about privacy issues.  This is one of the main reasons I have avoided Facebook/My Space programs.  I want my personal life to be personal. I don’t really want myself that exposed to the world.   I appreciated Jenny Levine’s reminder that Google is a business and should we trust that what they are doing with the information they are gathering is always going to be in our best interest?  I think this is going to be one of the areas where libraries are really going to need to be educating our patrons (especially our younger patrons) on the pros/cons of cloud computing, as well as other 2.0 tools.

For my school library, I can envision many cloud computing benefits when  working with colleagues, students, and parents.  It will open up the library walls and allow more access to
library programs.  I think that this will be an amazing tool to keep connected
with colleagues on scheduling lessons in the library as well as planning lessons.  It is becoming harder and harder to find time to meet, but with Google Docs, we could be working together even if we’re not in the same space.   For students, I envision them colloborating on research projects together, but at their individual homes...sharing research, ideas and the actual project.   I can also see students in the library using google docs to create lists of what to read next type pages with peers adding on their favorites, as well as creating list of teacher favorites for students peruse.  I would love to have parents be able to add the library event dates from the library google calendar to their personal calendars, so they can see all that is going on in the library over the year, month, and week and can plan with those dates in mind.  This will also give them a clearer vision of our library program and it’s importance and impact on the school.

I think I am more cautious about cloud computing for myself.  While I am excited about  the many benefits to cloud computing such as taking time and place out of the equation,  I also see the problematic issues that surround relying on one place to store all our information and the security woes of giving businesses access to all our thoughts, interests, and data.  I look forward to learning more to help me balance the good and bad of the cloud, so I can make educated decisions for myself, my library and my patrons.



Friday, June 24, 2011

Methods 1 & 2

From the videos and articles presented in the first module of A Dozen Ways to Two Step, my understanding is that Web 2.0 is a perfect way to add ownership to the immeasurable amount of ever changing  information on the web and within a community.  It allows for contributions from the users to create a more powerful way to gain knowledge, learn, share and formulate ideas.

Schools using Web 2.0 tools can enrich the learning of their students as they learn how to use information in the many different tools as well as learn that each Web 2.0 tool has multiple uses.  As our users become more proficient and comfortable with different online formats, teachers and librarians will have to assist students in not only learning how to use these tools, but also learning how to navigate conduct and safety issues when working with different formats.

In our current economic times, with school libraries on the chopping block, Web 2.0 tools can be a way to enlighten our patrons, both parents, teachers and students, to the many different facets of the library.   Library PR has been an area that I have not focused on, but I hope that I can use some of the different tools presented to showcase the library program.  Creating a  that moves outside the library walls, to classrooms and homes.   A way where  library activities can be read, viewed, and discussed, and where reading can become a collective entity with students, teachers, and parents sharing titles and suggestions creating a collaboration within the school community.

Whether introducing, or furthering the understanding different Web 2.0 applications of each tool, I’m looking forward to collaborating on different projects that will facilitate the learning of students, teachers, and parents in my school.