Thing #17 Rollyo

http://rollyo.com/zctfe/animals/

This will be very useful!!  This is exactly what I needed!  It is is both more useful and safer for the students.  I did a quick one on Animals, just because that is always an intersting topic for kids when learning to read. 

Another great hit!  I have one day left to finish the course so I must move on....

Thing #15

Reflection on Away on the Icebergs:  This opinion is what has initially avoided my use technology.  He mentions that there is no longer a need to keep books on hand because of the new digital age.  Change is not easy, but one of the things I like to do the most is walk into a public library and check out books.  Of course this is not something that will change in the next couple of decades, but I don't even want to think about the time in the future that books will be an oddity. 

His last point is true that we no longer go to a library as a source of information due to the amount of information on the Web 2.0.  So the libraries are going through a change to keep up with the changes in the world.  Growing up, the library was one of my favorite places to be.  It was the place to learn.  As I have gone through this course, I get the same type of feeling as I did in the library in the sense that I could look up any of my favorite topics and I can learn new things.  Using it as a teaching tool is also exciting.  Coming into the age of technology isn't as bad as I thought if I use it in this fashion. 

Thing #16 Wikis

I thought maybe I'd know something on here, but no!  So now I understand what a wiki is and I would like to start one for my students.  It would create a sort of review of skills learned.  At the same time, they would be learning how to use it and practice using tech.

Just posted two entries into the sandbox.

Thing #14: Technorati and Tags

Technorati's links are currently not available to see the popular blogs list.  But this was my favorite website that we had discovered earlier in the class.  Searching for blogs on google is not very helpful.  This site is a one stop shop for blogs.  Tags make finding photos and blogs easy to find. 

Thing #13

I had skipped Thing #12 and done this one already!  I was one of those people who had hundreds of bookmarks the old fahion way.  It was so great to learn about Delicious!  This is so much easier and helpful.  I will be able to actually find the bookmarks now.  For the staff, it is much easier to share with others the links that we find. 

I am learning so much!

Thing #12 Commenting

I thought the point of CoComment was interesting for those who comment on blogs.  I found it interesting that as a commenter, you become part of the the life of the blogger.  And if you to now be shy to contribute...if you have something to say, go ahead. 

I commented on five Library2play blogs...that was easy.

I decided to comment on the first blog I've read and been interested in.  It was really nice to be able to comment to a person that I find inspiration in.  The tips here were helpful in feeling confident to comment finally.  I chose another blog to comment on from her blogroll.  I decided to comment on that one because she is a photographer and I am interested in developing that skill.  Her latest blog was about her trip to San Franscisco and I was just there two weeks ago...it was nice to see familiar places. 

Ok, so I think that this Thing has taken the most thought and time so far.  But has been tremendously helpful to be able to join the online community.

Thing #11 Library Thing

My passion for teaching literacy stems from my own passion for literature and research.  I own over 200 books and always wished that I had an inventory of them.  This is my chance...I could do a few a week.  Even if it's slow, but I would like to be able to find the book I'm looking for easier.  It could also be a good time to say good-by to some books in order to make room for new ones...that's easier said than done :)  Being an avid reader, I'm always looking for the next great book and this is a good site for that.