Thing #16

Wikis are a innovative tool that seamlessly wove it's way into our technological lives. I've found that many users began using Wikipedia and did not realize that they know it was a tool called a Wiki. Since other applications of the tool are now available, we find that we know how to use it. Schools can use wikis in communications with parents. In planning a school carnival, career day, or health fair, parents should appreciate being able to help in the planning without having to pack up their younger child and drive to the school. That might help to improve parental involvement.

Thing #12

I've been commenting on some blogs but did not use my SBISD email address. I become protective of my email address because I don't want a lot of reply mail and debate about my points-of-view. I hope this does not create a problem. If necessary, I can go back and list the titles of the articles.

Two of the most interesting blogs were from "Two Cents." There was an article about John Quincy Adams being a Twitter (he kept short blurbs about where he was and what he was doing on a daily basis). I had to comment that I never desired to visit the Twitter website until I read that article.

I also commented to Mary Grace Landrum's blog. I admire her work on the school board and she arranges to attend our school's Career Day every year.

Thing #15

To me, Library 2.0 means a fluid learning environment that infuses the best of technology with the existing (traditional) library structures. Meshing the two environments requires listening and talking -- collaborating and introspection.

Library 2.0 requires lots of forethought because to create a hasty 'solution' could be as detrimental as remaining unresponsive to technological innovations. Being a Library 2.0 change agent (librarian) requires answering the question that libraries have been answering throughout its history, "What is the best, easiest, and most cost effective method to deliver the most relevant and useful information to those we serve?"

Thing #14

In my keyword search, I found that the qualifiers made quite a difference (no surprise there!). Searching for 'All of the Words', it located 164 entries. No entries were found for the 'exact phrase.' There were 722 blogs about education (by any authority and in English) and 722 results in the URL search. There were 27 found in the Tag search.

Tagging is a valuable tool because it allows the user to narrow the search for information. Just as qualifiers (i.e., all of the words, some of the words, exact phrase, etc.) help to locate the right information, tags confine the search to blogs, sites, bookmarks, etc. that have the same tags. Technorati can help an educator because it provides so much information about blogs.

Thing #13

This bookmarking site can be very beneficial -- especially in my situation. I have 3 computers (one belongs to SBISD) and I find myself very frustrated when the bookmarks I need are not on the computer I'm using. I need to be able to access all my bookmarks from anywhere! As stressed in the tutorial, being able to share bookmarks with coworkers will make all of our jobs easier. We've already been sharing bookmarks through a link in an email message. Using a social bookmarking site means that the site becomes accessible from any computer, not just the one I was using at the time. I've already added some bookmarks to my Delicious account.

That's All for Summer 2009

I learned a lot and look forward to next summer. I know that I won't have some of the many distractions that I have had this summer (and I'll begin knowing a lot about 15 of the 'Things'). We re-acquired our strip shopping center (http://www.loveandtruth.us) which became a time hog! My focus is now on moving forward in that ministry, which includes getting that website in much better shape!

I have already been introduced to some of the Things between 11 and 23 so it'll be easier when I try to tackle it next summer (if it's offered). Thanks for the opportunity!

Thing #11

I Love LibraryThing!!! After having lost several books, my husband and I would both love to keep an catalog. We are very serious about our books!

Library Thing is super simple to use. I posted 7 books in almost no time at all. I plan to use it in my counseling office so that I'll have an inventory of books on every counseling subject. This will be very beneficial. I used to write that information on a sticky note and post it inside the front cover of the book. It would take a long time to find the book that would be appropriate for a particular student's age and counseling topic when I'd have to open each book and read the sticky note.

I checked out some user groups. I haven't found a user group that I want to join, though. I was very interested in the Christianity group.