Thing #16: Wikis

I could really see using wikis in collaborative lesson planning. We could add and delete without physically tracking everyone down. Best of all, we could include a reflection on the lesson and keeping what worked and changing what didn't. This would be a great way to build from year to year. Also, as we found things throughout the year, we could put it in and not worry about keeping up with post-it notes. I can't wait to use a wiki this year.

Also, the Commoncraft videos are fantastic in their explanations.

Thing #15: Web 2.0, Library 2.0 and the Future of Libraries

From Tom Storey's article on Web 2.0 on Next SpaceWeb, he describes the 2.0 principles as "simplicity, rich interactivity, user participation, collective intelligence, self-service, novel and remixed content—Flickr, MySpace, FaceBook, del.icio.us, YouTube, LibraryThing—to name a few." After watching the UTube video, I could not have said it better. Web 2.0 will be people driven which I find very interesting after years of being guided by the media and marketers. I find this a nice change to finally have other voices to hear.

Although it was at the college level, I really like what Rick Anderson had to say in Away from the "iceberg." He challenges librarians to let go of some of the age old principals in order to eliminate the "barriers that exist between patrons and the information they need." As a teacher, I believe that students are best served when they can think for themselves and I am not the only "director" of the show. I believe the same is true in a library. The word "collection" no longer just means physical holdings within the walls of a library. It now includes the vast amount of information that can be accessed through the internet.

Finally, I would really like to visit Dr. Wendy Schultz's 4.0 Library. This type of library might be coming faster than we can even imagine.

Anderson, R. (2006). Away from the "icebergs." The OCLC Newsletter, 2. Retrieved from

http://www.oclc.org/nextspace/002/2.htm

Storey, T. (2006). Web 2.0: Where will the next generation web take libraries? The OCLC

Newsletter, 2. Retrieved from http://www.oclc.org/nextspace/002/1.htm

Thing #14: Technorati and How Tags Work

I took a look at Technorati and even joined. I was able to search blogs and posts but not tags. It was interesting browsing through the top 100 tags. Clicking on one of the top 100 provided a lot of different kinds of information on that particular tag. If there is a way to search for tags, this site does not make it user friendly. I came up with zero posts and blogs for School Library Learning 2.0. I changed my search to "4th of July" and came up with 23 blogs and 97 posts. On Delicious, Flickr, and LibraryThing, tags are very easy to use. What I like most about tags is they are a "people powered search" per the Chicago Tribune. I sincerely hope it stays that way.

Thing #13: Tagging and Discover Delicious

During a workshop this evening, the person sitting next to me kept pulling up her Delicious account and adding websites to it as the speaker was sharing. When I asked her about it, she said this was her favorite thing in all of "23 Things." No matter where she is, she can access websites that she knows will be helpful. Her tags of copyright was a page long. Of course, I had to go home and find out for myself. I can really see using this. Many a time I had someone share a great website with me and I would loose the slip of paper I had written it down on. With delicious, I can input it and access it from any internet connected computer.

I know that one day I will not have that daily or even weekly access with my friends in the library program. Sharing what we each find helpful in our jobs will be one way we can stay connected and continue to help each other.

I can see a lot of Delicious in my future!

Thing #12: Creating Community Through Commenting

As we dive deeper and deeper into blogging, I have found two favorite blogs: Cool Cat Teacher and Blue Skunk. Not surprising, their blogs were a part of this lesson. My two postings tips come from Cool Cat Teacher. First, make your comments meaningful. While affirmations of "I agree" or "great job" are nice, commenting should be a conversation. She even suggested that really good comments have nuggets of truth that inspire. Second, don't be afraid...to comment. Sometimes I have conversations in my head about not being afraid about a lot of things. I am fearful of commenting on these two blogs for fear of sounding stupid. I could see a comment back along the lines of "Newbie, I can tell." I am just hoping that they apply some of the grace Cool Cat Teacher talks about in her blog.

I did post on Cool Cat Teacher and Blue Skunk. I'll share the results if acknowledged.

Now off to post to my fellow newbie friends in the blog world.

Thing #11: LibraryThing

Last fall, Dr. Gibson showed our class her LibraryThing list of books. At the time, I thought that was just a nice idea. Now that I have joined the site and added some of my books, I do not know why I didn't join sooner. It is extremely easy to join. (Seems as if I say that about each of these assignments or things.) The groups are mind boggling. Frankly, I do not know how the members read and still post. The one that I looked at the most was the Challenge groups where members set reading goals for the year. If you want to look me up, I am PamalaK.

Thing #10: Online Image Generator

I tried out the Image Chef (http://www.imagechef.com/) and Happy Face Generator (http://www.happyfacegenerator.com/). They are both so easy and quick. These two sites would be great in the library. They could be eye catchers for a newsletter, emails, lesson introductions, and staff development presentations. They are just plain fun.