Week Three, Thing 2 -- Flickr mashups

It is impressive how many skilled programmers are out there creating interesting stuff for the rest of us to do. So far I have made movie and inspirational posters from my photos, ID cards, spelled new words, compared photos of my town and places I've visited with my own impressions...the list goes on. I find I really appreciate the chance to be creative for its own fun sake -- not for any job-performance-related reason. Brings out the smile for sure!

Week Three, Thing 1 -- Learn about Flickr

This is more fun than anyone with a serious job should be allowed to have. I can think of endless uses, both for my students and personally, for Flickr. I am still getting the hang of the group thing, and once again, I feel shy about sharing. I guess I have to get out of "lurker" mode in all of these 2.0 situations; I find I want to stay in the background and not get out there.

Anyway, for a non-visual "word" person like me, it's great to spend some time just looking at and playing with images. And to remember how visual my kids and my students are.

Sites like Flickr are such a gift to the rest of us; technology at its best.

Week Two Thing 4 -- register your blog

I registered my blog and now it's official; I can be seen online with other participants and while I am not necessarily stymied by this while writing, I immediately feel regret after hitting that "publish" button.  It's an openness that this Vermont Yankee has a bit of trouble with, and yet my students and children don't, so it's helpful to try to walk in their shoes.

Week Two Thing 1 -- set up your own blog

Blogger was very easy to use.  I've used Wordpress and I think I prefer Blogger.  I would love to show my kids how to use it; I think they would enjoy writing on a blog, but part of me thinks it is either too risky (because of safety or just hurt feelings when people comment on their blogs) or too artificial (if you put so many protections on the blog that no one is truly reading or commenting on it).  

It's a whole new world for parents and librarians and we have to make individual judgments as best we can.

Week 1 Thing 2 -- Lifelong learners

I enjoyed the online tutorial about lifelong learning and this is, of course, a great exercise for someone who works in education to be gently forced into putting my learning process online for many to see.  (Of course, there are probably not many who will see it, but it isn't easy to put yourself out there, and students must do that every day).  So along with thinking about lifelong learning, I am thinking about my students and the value of seeing from their perspective.  So this group of exercises will have another layer of value to it for me.

Week 1 Thing 1 -- Introduction to 23 Things

Already I have learned a lot just by reading the 23 Things blog.  I didn't realize my home town library had started a presence on the web until I saw a link on the 23 Things blog.  I think of blogs as personal diaries, but I am now seeing many more possibilities.  I am very excited about taking this learning journey.

Back to Work

I just got back from a week long road trip with my family to Michigan. Yes, we planned a road trip when gas prices are at an all time high! It was fun to see some of the great lakes and the midwest, but we were glad to be home, and as always, impressed to see our beautiful Vermont again. We felt we were very objective in thinking it was much more gorgeous than the midwest.

We visited my niece, who works for Google in the midwest. What a great company to work for! It has definitely spoiled her for working anywhere else!

Now it is back to work; lots of projects for school librarians over the summer. Someone asked me if I worked in the summer. If I didn't do anything regarding my library, I don't think I would be able to start the school year! We have computers to set up, a wireless system to attack, DCF books to read, books to order and process, a collection to finish cataloguing online, never mind all the usual AV equipment maintenance, etc. It may be my poor time management, or it may be the nature of library work. What do you think?