Thing 20 - YouTube

Of course, I've checked out videos on YouTube before, but I never thought of them as a learning tool. I checked out some library sites. Some of them were pretty good, some not so much. But kids love this stuff, so designing a project and making a video for YouTube would be something they would love to do. Instant motivation! Too bad we can't use this at school.
Naturally, I checked out some Orioles sites and watched some of my favorite WVU football and basketball videos. Just love that Pat White!

Thing 18 - Zoho and Google Docs

I loved these. I registered with both. I looked at Zoho first. It was pretty easy to use but I had to make a few adjustments. I created a document just for fun to go with my Orioles blog theme. Tried inserting a table and a picture.

I really liked Google Docs, especially the template feature. Kids would love this. Documents would look very professionally done. Teacher possiblities included the syllabus, certificates, and lesson plan templates. I also liked some of the holiday things.

An advantage to using online productivity tools is that it would eliminate sending emails of things to myself that I created while at home/school. One disadvantage I can see is what happens when you need a document and the server is down?

I created a document in Zoho, but could not post in on my blog. At this point, I don't know what the problem is. I've spent two days trying to do it - the arrows keep spinning, but it won't open the window. I'll try again later.

Thing 17 - PB Works

This was very confusing and couldn't get on the links provided. Decided to move on to thing 18 and discovered the change jennifer made. After that, it was very easy to follow.

Thing 16 - Wikis

I checked out some of the sites on wikis and learned some ways that libraries were using them. I looked at the Merlin link also. I know the format is different, but wikis seem to me to be the same as a blog. I liked the idea of using them to promote events - in a community or a library, for example. I thought a good use of a wiki in a school library would be to have kids review books they have read and maybe rate them. Of course, the problem with wikis is they can be edited.

Thing 15 - Web 2.0 Perspectives

I read two articles. The first was Icebergs. I tend to agree with some of the author's points. The past few years, I have been ordering much less nonfiction that kids would use for research. Examples would be science fair ideas, history projects, etc. Students would much rather use the web, although sometimes they are surprised when I show them a book with exactly what they are looking for. That being said, I don't think anything will ever replace a book for those who love to read. In the words of one of my 6th grade students when she opened a new book for the first time, " Did you heard that? Nothing is better that opening a new book!" My kids and even my husband think I should consider Kindle, but I just love holding that book in my hand.

I also read Temporary Place. In the words of the author, "What are libraries? Libraries are not just collections of documents and books, they are conversations, they are convocations of people, ideas, and artifacts in dynamic exchange. Libraries are not merely in communities, they are communities: they preserve and promote community memories; they provide mentors not only for the exploration of stored memory, but also for the creation of new artifacts of memory. What was the library of the past? A symbol of a society that cared about its attainments, that treasured ideas, that looked ahead multiple generations. Librarians were stewards, trainers, intimate with the knowledge base and the minds who produced it. Librarians today are not just inventory management biobots: they are people with a unique understanding of the documents they compile and catalog, and the relationships among those documents." I totally agree!

Thing 14 - Technorati

I really liked the appearance of this site, and after watching the tutorial, it looked very easy to use. Found out Boing Boing was the number one blog site, and I guess I just don't get it. I did not find it interesting at all - at least in the time I spent looking at it. I looked at the "Book" tag, and read a blog about one of my favorite new YA books, Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. The Learning 2.0 posts were different in number depending on the tags used. Even though I liked the appearance of Technorati, I would probably use Delicious.

Thing 13 - Delicious

I think Delicious is one of the 23 things that I can and will use. My list of bookmarks, especially on my home computer, is long and sometimes I can't find what I'm looking for. Or, it never fails, but when I'm at one computer, I need something bookmarked on the other computer. I created an account, and have explored a little, but it is going to take a while for me to be comfortable enough to use it. I'm trying to come up with useful tags that will narrow my searches. I'm also interested in the social part of this site - looking at what others found not only professionally, but in my interst areas when not at work would be a great time saver. I looked at the public library's account, and found some great things. This is good for me because I can get impatient and if I can't find something right away, I just give up and say I'll look later.