Week 9 (#21) I'm getting into podcasts!

Tonight I was determined to complete the exercises on podcasting, so I set about to explore the directories linked under 23 Things only to discover that I could not access Podcast.net or Yahoo Podcasts. So, I thoroughly explored both Podcastalley.com and Educational Podcast Directory, and I must say that I preferred the educational podcasts. I listened to bits of a large number of podcasts tonight, so I could honestly say that I really, really like Radio Popcorn, which comes from Kowloon Junior School in Hong Kong. Once I stumbled upon how to access their website, I became even more excited by everything they have to offer!

Check out KJS at: http://clc.esf.edu.hk/GroupHomepage.asp?GroupID=410

Thanks to the course I took introducing me to podcasting, coupled with all I learned from the exercises on #21, I have a much better understanding of podcasting now, and I think that's what Web 2.0 is all about (I can't believe I ended that sentence with a preposition!).

Week 9 (#22) I'm not sure how I feel about e-books!?!

You may be asking yourself, "What happened to number 21???" During the time I have been working on Web 2.0 activities, I took a three-hour class on basic podcasting. I know we used software called Audacity, and I want to look over the class handouts before I write about podcasting. So, for tonight, I am putting #21 "on hold."

This evening, in addition to exploring the World EBook Fair site and Project Gutenberg, I also "Googled" e-books to see what else I could learn. After a bit of digging, I decided to search each site offering free e-books and downloads for "The Emperor's New Clothes." While I was able to find this selection in various formats and appearances on several sites, I am still wrestling with how I feel about the act of online reading.

Every single night before I go to sleep, I read in bed, and I don't think I would enjoy this nearly as much if I had to balance my laptop to do so. There is something very warm and inviting about holding a book in my hands while nestling in my bed.

Similarly, I find a great deal of satisfaction in holding a book in my hands while bringing it to life, so to speak, by reading the story aloud. I cannot envision a read aloud storytime involving my computer or laptop.

I don't mean to sound negative; I think my reaction to e-books would better be described as "lukewarm" at this time, but I'm working hard to keep an open mind.

The good news is that I don't feel as threatened by e-books as I did before I completed this activity. I don't think they will be replacing real live librarians in the near future.

Week 9 (#20) It Had To Be This Video!

I feel like I looked at 1,000 different book and library related videos before settling on this one. I could be IN this video, and it is such a nice juxtaposition from my avatar of a meek little me in a pink nightgown.

I felt a huge sense of relief when I finally made it to #20 of the 23 items, and I actually already knew a bit about YouTube. I could get lost looking through the videos that are here!

Week 8 (#19) One of My FAVORITE DISCOVERIES!!!

I think LibraryThing is amazing and wonderful, and I am especially impressed with all the libraries I can search, even though I usually stick with the Library of Congress. I actually got hooked on LibraryThing way back in Week 5, so I was eager to check it out further at this point in Web 2.0.

Besides being interesting and a great deal of fun for me, I can see where librarians/libraries strapped for funds and short on personnel could use the cataloging aspect as a real time and money saver.

I am fascinated by the social aspects found in Zeitgeist, as well as the suggested tags for each title.

I was astounded at how easy it was to join, and I couldn't stop at adding only five titles to my library. I actually started by adding the titles from the current Texas Bluebonnet list that I have read thus far this summer, but then I also tried grabbing the webpage for the Masterlist off the TLA site, and this produced some interesting choices for me, as well as some unexpected results. For example, where I should have ended up with 20 titles in all, I now have 23, so I will set about to figure out why I have three more than should be there. To access my library catalog, please click on the link: http://www.librarything.com/catalog/smccoy

When I was searching for titles individually, I did notice that the book entitled Atherton: The House of Power produced no results, so I searched by the author's name, only to discover the book came up only as House of Power, even though the word Atherton is clearly on the cover that appears. I found this rather strange.

So, I'm off to delve deeper into LibraryThing, which is one of the most exciting things to which I've been introduced in Web 2.0. I am so glad I've kept at this online excursion called Web 2.0. Even though Web 2.0 has taken me awhile, I will always be glad I have been introduced to all the topics about which I knew absolutely nothing before this course.

By the way, thanks to how easy it is to delete from my catalog, I now have twenty Bluebonnet titles (which is what I should have), rather than 23 (where some duplicates had occurred when I grabbed the entire list on top of the individual titles I'd already added)! The learning never stops.

I also want to take a moment to thank Shirley and Jen for their willingness to add this course to what I know are their already overly busy schedules!!!

www.sodahead.com

Weeks 7 & 8 (#17 & 18) I'm on a roll!

Well, I have added an idea I have to our curriculum sandbox, but I want to mention it on my blog as well.

I want to host a Bluebonnet blog for Angleton students in grades three through six. I visualize this as a place where students could promote the titles they really liked, as well as comment when they come upon a title they feel might be more appropriate for the Lone Star List. I would like to see this blog take on a life of its own.

I am seeking other librarians, language arts teachers, parents, students, etc., who would be interested/willing to participate or have their students participate.

Ann Booth comes to mind -- hint, hint!

I am pretty pumped that I was able to add the Bluebonnet logo, and I did so easily!

I included Week 8, #18, on this blog because I just fell in love with Zoho Writer. I never knew any sort of web-based word processing application existed, and I found this one particularly user friendly. I will concentrate on using Zoho Writer when I am writing poetry.

Now, I'm off the explore Google docs, something else about which I want to learn!

Week 7 (#17) Missed me?

It has been quite awhile since I've had time to devote to finishing my Web 2.0 activities, but I'm back. I went to the section on Blogging, and I got some great ideas from others.

I am very interested in creating a Bluebonnet blog, where students could review the current titles. At first I thought it would be best to keep comments of a positive nature, but the more I think about it, the less I want to "shape" the kids' comments. The Bluebonnet titles are supposed to be good books, and if they fall short of this expectation, then let the truth be known.

I am also pondering some kind of library research project that could be shared around, with a blog to track the happenings. After reading all the good ideas tonight, my brain is storming. I'll have to see where I land!