In my first blog entry, I was asked to write about my strengths and weaknesses in reference to technology. I have to admit, I really thought I was fairly up to speed on many things. Boy, was I wrong! Yes, I did know how to use a computer, use my email, and search the web for information, but I had NO idea how much more is out there!
I have learned so much about Web 2.0 (which I had never heard of before) and all the tools available for me to use as I begin my library endeavor. I stated in my original post that a big part of my problem with new technology is that I was either afraid of it or too impatient to learn it. Although I have made great strides in my education during this course, I admit that I still have some fear and impatience. However, I am learning to push through those barriers to get to the amazing resources and creations that await. For example, the idea of creating a presentation of my own was quite frightening! Getting started with a Prezi was daunting, but as I worked through it, it became a challenge and was quite fun. I plan to use Prezi again soon. For me, it just takes the right mindset. I know I am capable of doing incredible things if I will just have some confidence. Creating my Tech 5 project was very similar, as well. When I started, I really had no idea what I was doing, but I worked through it and learned so much from it. Obviously, that's the reason why we have these projects!!
This course has allowed me to be exposed to so many fabulous opportunities that involve using technology. Most of these tools are things that I probably would never have known about otherwise. I have to admit, I feel much more adept at learning new things now, and if I can just get myself out of my own way, who knows what I can create next??
Monday, July 25, 2011
The Job of Organizing
For a librarian, organizing materials is something that must be done on a continuous basis. Books, magazines, periodicals, and now numerous types of technology must be kept up to date and usuable for the library patrons. Back in the day, it wasn't just anyone that could be entrusted to take care of these tasks. There was much training expected of the person in charge of all this information. Today, with the help of Web 2.0 and its many wonderful uses, a "regular old librarian" can take care of everything in her library without spending hours and hours in training. This is good news, as far as I'm concerned! The internet and all its amazing capabilities has given us more resources than we know what to do with. We can manage our catalogs, check books in and out, create webpages and blogs, visit library wikis, and connect with our campuses. That's just the tip of the iceberg!
Some might argue that because of this massive availability of Web 2.0 tools for use by the "common folk", a librarian is not needed as much in the library setting. I beg to differ. Though it's true that more and more people are learning about these tools and resources and putting them to good use, it is vital that we keep our librarians right where they are. There are so many new ways that librarians can, themselves, become a resource for their campuses. Speaking from personal experience, I know there were many technologies and tools available to me as a classroom teacher, but I had no idea how to begin using them. Most districts offer training sessions on many of these new programs, but who has the time to go to all of them? The librarian has an opportunity to be a technology leader on her campus and to help her teachers and staff begin to learn and use all the fabulous tools that are available. Because the Web 2.0 resources are so user-friendly, teachers can take the training they receive at their own campus and begin to use it in their classrooms. As new things come up in the tech world, again the librarian can model and demonstrate more options. This kind of personal resource is invaluable to teachers!
As for the "food for thought", I feel that the tags used on social networking sites, such as Delicious, are much more helpful than traditional subject headings. By using these tags, you can choose to label things any way you see fit for your own personal use. Also, being able to add multiple tags to one thing allows you to put one particular bookmark into more than one category. For example, if I have found a good website about making a red velvet cake for Valentine's day, I can tag that site with different key words for future use, such as cake, red velvet, cream cheese icing, or even Valentines. I may not always need the site for the same reason, so having those various tags allows me to find more information that is relative to my search. Traditional subject headings can often be too broad, which can result in hours of searching in order to get to one specific idea. I love tags and I look forward to using them more in future research.
Some might argue that because of this massive availability of Web 2.0 tools for use by the "common folk", a librarian is not needed as much in the library setting. I beg to differ. Though it's true that more and more people are learning about these tools and resources and putting them to good use, it is vital that we keep our librarians right where they are. There are so many new ways that librarians can, themselves, become a resource for their campuses. Speaking from personal experience, I know there were many technologies and tools available to me as a classroom teacher, but I had no idea how to begin using them. Most districts offer training sessions on many of these new programs, but who has the time to go to all of them? The librarian has an opportunity to be a technology leader on her campus and to help her teachers and staff begin to learn and use all the fabulous tools that are available. Because the Web 2.0 resources are so user-friendly, teachers can take the training they receive at their own campus and begin to use it in their classrooms. As new things come up in the tech world, again the librarian can model and demonstrate more options. This kind of personal resource is invaluable to teachers!
As for the "food for thought", I feel that the tags used on social networking sites, such as Delicious, are much more helpful than traditional subject headings. By using these tags, you can choose to label things any way you see fit for your own personal use. Also, being able to add multiple tags to one thing allows you to put one particular bookmark into more than one category. For example, if I have found a good website about making a red velvet cake for Valentine's day, I can tag that site with different key words for future use, such as cake, red velvet, cream cheese icing, or even Valentines. I may not always need the site for the same reason, so having those various tags allows me to find more information that is relative to my search. Traditional subject headings can often be too broad, which can result in hours of searching in order to get to one specific idea. I love tags and I look forward to using them more in future research.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
The Machine is Us/Using Us
The internet is an amazing and ever-changing source of information. It has become a mainstay in our lives for many reasons. The evolution of the web has allowed us to locate information, share ideas, connect with others, and do countless other things with the click of a button. But how does all this happen? Computers didn't just create web pages and internet sites on their own. People are the reason for all these glorious possibilities. Someone had to create that social networking site. Someone had to create that photo sharing site. However, most of us don't ever think about how all these sites came to be. We are just happy they are there!
We, the people, are the creators and masterminds behind all the tools and services that are found on the web. Sure, there is a wealth of information to be found on the internet that originated somewhere else, but someone had to put that information on a web page and organize it so that others could find it. And I say, "Hats off!" to those people. I, for one, cannot imagine a day when I wouldn't open my laptop and pull up numerous sites used for anything from checking email to paying bills. People did that.
To say the machine is us simply means that we are the creators, editors, and producers of the web. We determine what information is presented and how. We decide whether or not the information we find is what we're looking for. However, it is also true to say that the machine is using us. Though we created it, we are now chained to it. I doubt there are many people in our world today that don't rely on the internet for something in their daily lives. We have become so dependent on the web to meet our needs that most of us can't imagine life without it. It is a mutual dependency-we need the web, but the web needs us, as well.
We, the people, are the creators and masterminds behind all the tools and services that are found on the web. Sure, there is a wealth of information to be found on the internet that originated somewhere else, but someone had to put that information on a web page and organize it so that others could find it. And I say, "Hats off!" to those people. I, for one, cannot imagine a day when I wouldn't open my laptop and pull up numerous sites used for anything from checking email to paying bills. People did that.
To say the machine is us simply means that we are the creators, editors, and producers of the web. We determine what information is presented and how. We decide whether or not the information we find is what we're looking for. However, it is also true to say that the machine is using us. Though we created it, we are now chained to it. I doubt there are many people in our world today that don't rely on the internet for something in their daily lives. We have become so dependent on the web to meet our needs that most of us can't imagine life without it. It is a mutual dependency-we need the web, but the web needs us, as well.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Handheld Devices
There are a wealth of handheld devices out in the world these days, ranging from cell phones to tablets. Many of these devices are being used in our schools to assist with teaching and learning. While I'm sure there are great uses found for almost any type of new technology in schools, my vote is for the Kineo by Brainchild.
The Kineo is a 7" tablet computer/e-reader, somewhat similar to an iPad. It is sturdy, well-protected, and very portable, which are all wonderful attributes of a computer being used in school and touched by many young hands. It is very reasonably priced at $325 per tablet (Brainchild, 2011), making it a wonderful choice for any campus on a budget. To think that our campus could buy about 30 of these tablets and stay within our $10,000 budget is very exciting!
A very important characteristic of the Kineo is the amount of access that students have to internet sites. By this, I mean there is no unauthorized searching to worry about, no random pop ups to deal with, and most importantly, no chance of anything other than educational content being viewed by the students. The Kineo was specifically designed to be used in an educational setting. The content of books and lessons on the tablets is controlled by school officials, and there are no messaging or camera abilities on the tablet. It is a device to be used for educational purposes only.
One more amazing feature is that the creator of the Kineo offers curriculum and content to be used on the tablet that is specifically designed to meet standards for the state in which it is being used. Think how fabulous it would be to have material that is already geared towards achieving our state goals! Not only would the students love getting to use these tablets themselves, the teachers and staff would have multiple uses for them, as well. Classes could use them to take book quizzes during library visits or simply have their own "copy" of the book being read aloud by the librarian. Teachers could use them as support tools to test their students' understanding of a subject matter or to give an interactive presentation in the classroom. Faculty and staff could use them in meetings to take campus surveys or sign up for upcoming events. The uses are almost neverending!
I hope my enthusiasm for the Kineo has been evidenced by now. I can't think of any better choice for a purchase of handheld devices on our campus than this product.
References
Brainchild. (2011). Kineo Android Tablet. Retrieved July 1, 2011, from http://www.brainchild.com/KineoPage.html
The Kineo is a 7" tablet computer/e-reader, somewhat similar to an iPad. It is sturdy, well-protected, and very portable, which are all wonderful attributes of a computer being used in school and touched by many young hands. It is very reasonably priced at $325 per tablet (Brainchild, 2011), making it a wonderful choice for any campus on a budget. To think that our campus could buy about 30 of these tablets and stay within our $10,000 budget is very exciting!
A very important characteristic of the Kineo is the amount of access that students have to internet sites. By this, I mean there is no unauthorized searching to worry about, no random pop ups to deal with, and most importantly, no chance of anything other than educational content being viewed by the students. The Kineo was specifically designed to be used in an educational setting. The content of books and lessons on the tablets is controlled by school officials, and there are no messaging or camera abilities on the tablet. It is a device to be used for educational purposes only.
One more amazing feature is that the creator of the Kineo offers curriculum and content to be used on the tablet that is specifically designed to meet standards for the state in which it is being used. Think how fabulous it would be to have material that is already geared towards achieving our state goals! Not only would the students love getting to use these tablets themselves, the teachers and staff would have multiple uses for them, as well. Classes could use them to take book quizzes during library visits or simply have their own "copy" of the book being read aloud by the librarian. Teachers could use them as support tools to test their students' understanding of a subject matter or to give an interactive presentation in the classroom. Faculty and staff could use them in meetings to take campus surveys or sign up for upcoming events. The uses are almost neverending!
I hope my enthusiasm for the Kineo has been evidenced by now. I can't think of any better choice for a purchase of handheld devices on our campus than this product.
References
Brainchild. (2011). Kineo Android Tablet. Retrieved July 1, 2011, from http://www.brainchild.com/KineoPage.html
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