Thing #9 (Week 4) Locate a few useful School Library related blogs and news feeds

I'm still having a brain freeze on how to add RSS feeds for blogs without having a Bloglines account. I went to Google Blog search and found the class blog and was able to add it as a feed, but not to have it show up with my other feeds on my Google desktop.
I can see the usefulness of keeping up with blogs since they might be more newsworthy as opposed to websites, that is if I can figure out to do it. I found several interesting school library blogs, especially those from LM-NET, although with just so many hours in a day, keeping up with RSS feeds might end up being as time consuming as checking bookmarks.

Thing #8 (Week 4) Learn about RSS feeds & set up a blog reader account

Since I already have an account with Google, I used their reader to set up my RSS feed. After viewing their video, I was able to choose among several subscriptions or search for my own by keyword. Then it was a simple matter to go back to my Google desktop to add the feeds so that I can see them when I log in. Now I won't have to rely on my ever expanding list of bookmarks to keep up with events. I chose my hometown newspaper, websites on quilting, genealogy, knitting and second life.

As an experiment to see if I can "push" everyone's class blogs to my desktop as well, I tried to add them to my RSS feed account, but didn't have much success. I'll keep trying, but I think this depends on whether or not others have set up their blog for public viewing. I thought this would make it easier to keep track of everyone else's experiences.

In a school/library environment I can see feeds being used to individualize online experiences between teachers and their students.

Thing # 7 (Week 3) Technology of interest...

While touring Flickr I came across information about this library site on Second Life: http://infoisland.org. If you're curious about the "virtual library world", for $ 125 you can sign up for a course through the University of Illinois GSLIS called Second Life 101.

Thing # 6 (Week 3) Flickr fun, mashups and 3rd party sites

I investigated Yahoo's Trip Planner, where you can copy other people's travel itineraries and edit them for your own use. This site uses Flickr to post pictures for each leg of the journey with comment from the participants - giving the reader a better idea of each locale. I may visit this site when I plan my trip to Europe.

I also checked out Mappr, an application that maps Flickr photos by location all over the US. So, if you click on a location, you can view a picture of it. I could use this in conjunction with the Trip Planner if it covered more parts of the world.

Thing # 5 (Week 3) Explore Flickr

I first heard about Flickr at a library workshop last spring but didn't sign up at the time. I created my Flickr account today, but I'm at home and don't have any picture of my library to upload right now. I'll do that on Tuesday if I can figure out where the blogging tool is. I did notice the similarity of the use of tags to subject headings - cataloguing gone mainstream! I was also pleased to see that the LOC has contributed some of their American Memory collection to Flickr through something called The Commons.

Searching the Flickr site for "libraries", the first photo that caught my eye was this one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/logosinberlin/359892153/
called "Timemachines" - a very appropriate title for a shelf full of books waiting to be read. I like the comment feature on Flickr that allows you to carry on a conversation with the photographer about different elements of his work.

Things 3 & 4 (Week 2) Create & register your own blog & avatar

Well, I found that it wasn't very difficult to create my blog with Blogger as I already have a Gmail account and didn't have to remember yet another password. This was a big plus for me. And I enjoyed selecting my personal avatar at http://avatars.yahoo.com This was also very simple since I have another e-mail account with Yahoo (yeah! no new password). I would've liked more options to go along with my hornetlady handle though. I found that I had to alter the directions slightly in order to add it to my blog but I got through it okay. I've registered the blog and am anxiously awaiting a message from my cheerleader.
I've never blogged before, but at least one teacher at my school has. She set up a blog for her students to communicate with her while she was on a teacher exchange in England. Her students posted to her blog in the library and I was surprised at how many students weren't all that familiar with it. We just assume that teens are experts at all things digital, but it's not always the case.
As I mentioned in my last post, I'm planning to invite my colleagues at McCann Tech to follow my progress and learn along with me. I sent them the following e-mail:

FYI…I’m the 2nd week of a course I’m taking for professional development called “School Library Learning 2.0” and thought I’d invite others at McCann to come along for the ride as I learn more about the emerging Web 2.0 technologies. These are the same internet technologies (Podcasts, Flickr, RSS Feeds, etc.) that our students are already using and we’re all just trying to play catch-up! It’s always good to be ahead of the curve, or at least close behind…
The course will take me through “23 things” or activities designed to give me hands-on exposure to a variety of new stuff. As I finish each “thing”, I’ll post the results of the experience on my personal blog (Blogging was the Week 2/Thing #3 assignment). To follow my progress go to http://hornetlady.blogspot.com Yes, I’m the hornet lady – take a look at my avatar (if it isn’t blocked)…
Feel free to add comments to my blog, especially any ideas for classroom collaboration that these “things” generate for you. Who knows where this journey might lead?

Thing #2 (Week 1) Lifelong Learning Habits

The Seven and 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners tutorial* covers familiar ground. I think most librarians are lifelong learners by default - we almost have to be if we're to be effective in our jobs.
Although I strive to achieve each of the seven habits, I tend to struggle with number three: View problems as challenges. It's difficult to stay calm when things get hectic as they normally do in a school. I'll admit to an occasional panic attack.
By far the easiest habit for me is self-confidence in my ability to learn new things. It should come in handy throughout this course.

*Tutorial developed by the training specialists at the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County

Thing#1 (Week 1) About this course

I'm excited to be experiencing all these new technologies along with my library colleagues. When you make mistakes together it doesn't seem so bad! I know I'll be making my share. And in the interest of collaboration, I'm planning to invite the faculty and staff at my high school to follow me on this journey by reading and commenting on my blog. I'll try to encourage them to learn along with me so that we'll have lots of ideas when we get to Wiki Week!

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