end of the semester wrap up

Here we are at the end of the semester...Wow. This class has definately been an adventure. What I have walked away with is immeasureable. Technology is really changing. What I new growing up is not the same by a long shot. The programs we have been taught have opened my eyes greatly to what we have acheived.
Each assignment we have had to complete has added greatly to my resume. It is wonderful to have ann opportunity to experiment with all that we have.

copyright and librarians

Simpsons chapters this week were very interesting. I feel that librarians should not be the ones in charge of copyright issues entirerly, it should be a shared responsability with administration. I believe this way for one reason and that is that teachers and educators share the need to know the rules of copyright and they do make alot of mistakes which cause trouble with the copyright laws. This can cause trouble for the school financially. The best thing educators can do is if they are unsure they should find the answer out definitively by asking. By asking this takes the responsibility from there shoulders.
I also believe that copyright laws are put into place to protect but it can be very difficult finding the correct way to persue copyright safety when you have to fumble through so many different rules and regulations.
On to writing a new resume!

e-Books

The topic of this weeks discussion being e-books brings many questions to light for me. First I wonder if doing away with textbooks in lue of ebooks is such a great idea. I like that you can access textbooks quickly using ebooks but I am still in favor a picking up a book to find information. I also wonder if constantly using a computer screen for reading really helps eyesight. I also have noticed by using a kindle ebook that the screen is very small.
I wonder if ebooks will be more or less expensive than textbooks? I think that the price of textbooks is becoming more and more expensive so if ebooks can be a cheaper alternative I am definately in favor of that.
As for ebooks in a classroom setting I like the idea of them for reference materials because they cut down on shelf space needed in the library. As for using them in an elementary school I think that they are alittle advanced. Although I like the idea of the creativity that can be used to create ebooks as way of exploring a unit or lesson. In attending the online conference I discovered that creating ebooks can be quite easy and fun and that the students enjoy doing this type of work. It also makes for a nice alternative for parents to follow what there children are up to at school.
All in all I like the idea of ebooks. We will see if they take off after they work out the problems they have with there hardware. On to next week.

my tool belt

In week 10 of my class I am finding that my tool belt is growing regularly. Everyday I find that I have the opportunity to learn new tools and envision which ones I find useful in my ideal library and technology center. As for Digo I am excited to be able to have such an easy way of keeping track of web sites that I wish to refer to on a day to day basis. Being able to share with groups is another positive. Would I recommend Digo?, sure I would. Each new tool is a valuable addition to anyones tool belt for the professional world.
I don't neccessarily believe that every tool such as Wiki's are meant for every area of education but by taking a course like this it allows one to be able to experience and experiment with new technologies being developed. Wiki's are great for upper education but I do not believe I would use them at an elementary level due to there complexity.
In becoming a librarian I do believe that it is important to become familar with new technology. I think it would be wonderful to be able to keep up to date with online courses such as this one. Keeping in touch with growing demand for change in education can be difficult but with aides like this one it makes it much more fun.
What can I say about blogging.. Well it is obvious that I really like blogging. It's a great way to express creativity..
On to next week!!

online conference

Ok so I attended 6 sessions of an online conference this week. I thought the conference was very informative and well presented. The first conference keynote presentation I attended was entitled the Wizard of Apps. I believe that the presentation was very interesting and well organized. The idea to set the presentation to the tune of the Wizard of Oz was unique and quirky. This also caught my eye and my interest. The information presented was also well thought out. I guess I am not as creative as some folks when developing something like this. I have not figured out what made her come up with the idea but it was ingenious to enlist the schools theatre group. I discovered that when listening to song and dance it can make any topic fun to participate in.
The next presentation I attended was one on writing e-books. What a wonderful way of getting students involved in researching topics such as Ancient Greece. I always knew this exsisted but never understood how easy and interactive this could really be. I also agree that this is a wonderful way for parents to see how their children are working and what they are learning. I really do think that this also keeps attention and creative flowing. Would I ever use this in my classroom..Absolutley.
These were my favorite of the presentations I attended and I look forward to more in the future.

PowerPoint Presentations

Powerpoint presentations are very useful in a wide variety of arenas. When starting to use powerpoint it is very easy to become confused and agitated but as you navigate the program it becomes much easier and even fun to become creative. I am in agreement that when creating a powerpoint you should be aware of your audience. Obviously you are not going to put childish images into a professional staff development presentation. But for student this would an ok idea in order to hold their attention. Unfortunately I have been subjected to some pp presentations that could use some serious TLC. I thin power points are a great way to show information to students and it is even fun at the higher levels to have the students assist you in creating your presentation. I am a great fan of power point presenting but I think you really have to be somewhat computer savyy in oder to have fun using it.

blogs or wikis

week 7 already. On to blogs or wikis. Well as I sit here blogging I can see a difference between blogging and wikis. I do have to admit that I like blogging a bit better. Even though I feel more information can be laid out on a wiki. As I read through the many articles and chapters by Richardson I found myself developing a liking for both pieces of technology. When i have my own School library media center i feel that I will using blogging to keep students informed of what is happening in the library, however I will keep a wiki tio provide quick access to information relevant to school projects such as databases. Choosing between the both is very challenging that is why I feel incorporating both is benefitial.
As for collabortive projects in a graduate study class. I have mixed emotions. I clearly understand that group work is important but I feel that most of us already understand this and know how to be an active member of a group. The project assigned was interesting but most of us seemed to be coming up with the same ideas.
So on to week 8....