Week Three: Thing #5

While exploring Flickr, I came across a library of “free to use” photos. This Flickr account is an example of the many online sites where students can find photos to use for projects without having to get copyright permission. For example, here is the link and photo of a river in Africa which can be used by anyone without asking permission.
http://www.flickr.com/search/groups/?w=685365@N25&q=africa&m=pool

and, another Africa photo free to use from Flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/susan_van_manen/3316355039/

Week Two: Thing #4

While creating this blog it was necessary for me to refer to the “HELP” feature a few times. Something I have learned to do---read the directions! I think knowing that the directions may have the answer is one more learning skill!

Registering my blog was the easy part! Fast response and comments are very helpful! Thank you, Ann.

Week Two: Thing #3

One of our staff members does not like having her photo taken and further does not want her photo posted on our high school web site. After I learned how to create an avatar for myself, I decided to create one for this staff member. I made one for her, emailed the jpg to her for approval, and then posted it on our website. This may be the answer for other staff members with the same reluctance of having their photos posted on our web site.

Week One: Thing #2

“My Learning Contract” has been printed out and completed. I am using this self-paced Web 2.0 class as my first attempt to follow this signed contract.

After participating in the tutorial and reflecting on my current style of learning, it seems that I function in “bursts and fits”. Meaning that I tend to spend a lot of time on a project, then leave it for so long that I have to spend quite a bit of time reviewing what I have completed previously to continue. It feels like a waste of time having to review so much and if I could work and learn in a more consistent manner then I might be able to begin from where I left off, using my time more efficiently and making progress in a timely manner. This challenge sounds like a time management issue including taking responsibility for my own learning and making it happen.

Once I have learned something it is very easy for me to teach and share. I have a large, full toolbox that I rely on for my continued life long learning experiences.

Participating in the “7 ½ Habits” tutorial using the audio, text and photos via the internet is in itself an effective tool for learning and it is one of my goals to use this kind of format for several library lessons that I would like available for my high school patrons.

Week One: Thing #1

The main reason I signed up for this class is to experience some of the new technical features available to us free from the web. I have played around with some of these elements before but sometimes it takes more practice for me to become proficient and comfortable with new things. I also hope to partner with two other librarians in our district so we can make this a group learning experience. And one more reason to stay abreast of new technologies is to be able to relate with what students know about these internet tools. It is interesting to know that not all students know about all these Web 2.0 functions. There are some students, for various reasons, who do not even have an email account. I hope that once I learn about these Web 2.0 'things' from this class, I will be able to share what I know with students who need to know and to learn from those who already know and are willing to share with me.

Test Post #2

There is a staff member at our school who will not let anyone take her photo. I really would like to have a photo of her for our school website. After I made my avatar last night I got the idea to make one of her and put it in place of her absent photo. I designed one---it is great. Now I just have to add it to our website. We shall see if she likes it enough to keep the avatar OR if it will encourage her to let me take a REAL photo of her for the website!

Test blog entry

Whew! This is actually very hard trying to figure out how to get the avatar onto the blog and how to navigate around in this space. Using the "open new window" feature seems to work a little bit. There must be easier ways to arrange the layout and such, I just have not figured it out -- yet. Lots of new accounts to sign into and to remember. I am hoping that by next week it will all be easy and familiar for me!