Is it the end or only the beginning?

For me, this is the beginning, not the end.  Although I am nearing the end of my professional career, there are some things I have learned here that I will take into retirement.  Some of them include:

Flickr

Animato

iGoogle

Blogging

I think that these tools will enable me to keep using my mind, continue being a lifelong learner, and share what I have learned with other people.  My goal will be to use these tools not only for me and my family and friends, but also to share with elderly people to enable them to keep in better communication with their families and friends, too.

I really want to share some of these tools with my current students.  The "gee-whiz" factor makes this worth exploring--making school more fun while educational for the children.  I'll be contacting our ETF to make certain I understand the district requirements for parental permission and documentation.

Things #23

Creative Commons is an interesting way to maintain some control over work but make it part of the public domain.  Someone mentioned that Peggy Sharp gives people who attend her conference the right to copy the notebook to give to others.  She says she does this because she know the conference attendees will anyway.

Attribution is usually required, but a fee is neither assessed nor is it collected.  The 23 Things has a block at the end on the right column that says the program was created by Helene Blowers and is covered with a Creative Commons License.  There are two other credits given.  I think that this will enable a number of people to explore their creative side by building upon the work that has gone before to make an even better, more creative whatever.  This is in keeping with the Library 2.0 ideal of always being in Beta.

 

Things #21

This Thing helped me reinforce the session we had Podcasting for Librarians.  I think the most powerful feature is the ability to have the subscription service.  This enables the podcasts to be fed from the server at a time other than when the subscriber wants to listen/watch it.  The whole file is on the computer and ready to go.  There was an interesting diagram on the TeacherTube--Podcasting versus audio files that show the effects of "Freeing data from destination."  It showed one person who was connected to the net with a dial up modem.  The podcasts could be aggregated at a time that the person was asleep or otherwise not using the computer.  This would save a great deal of time.

I found an interesting podcast when I searched travel and Australia.  I was easily able to add it to my iGoogle aggregator, but was having some trouble putting it on my blog.  I may have been about the time for the scheduled maintenance on the blog.  I'll check it later to see if I can add it.  It was some Australian music that I found interesting.

I think individual podcasts available on the library page that showing how to find a book would be helpful.  I'm going to give it a try.  I did open an account at Odeo's Studio.  I'll see how it goes.

Things #12

For what ever reason I seem to have missed a couple of these. I am now on MySpace! Yipee! It seems to be very easily established. I think. I think that librarians need to know about things that are important to their students. Because this is very important to many of them, it helps to know a little bit about it. I feel that I can at least know some of the words.

I think there are better tools to do things at school that also have less potential for the downside. There are so many horror stories about things that happen to kids that seemed to start on their MySpace. I wonder if this were a school sponsored activity if the district, school, administrator, or the librarian would be found liable.

I also think this would help librarians who have school age children be more alert to the potential dangers and be alert as their children are on line.

Things #6

I found using iGoogle maps and Flickr together was a great deal of fun. The pictures I used were from a tractor club plow and play day. I was able to use the the feature that combined the topographical map that also showed the road. The resolution from the topographical map was good enough that I was able to see the actual field where the event was held. (No, we were not seen. the satellite must have passed overhead and taken the picture before we were there!) :>)

I wonder what the students would draw to illustrate different images from The True Adventures of Charlotte Doyle at various locations in the book. Then the images could be scanned, loaded into a computer, then located on a map. The map would need to have her starting trip in England, the places on the voyage , the land journey to her home in America, and the final trip back to sea. I'm sure there are better stories that would lend itself better than this one, but hopefully I have been able to paint and understandable picture of this.

Things #16

The sandbox wiki was very easy to use. I added a post to it several days ago. Then I was greatly pleased to see an alert where Mary Mc had added a post after mine.

We used a wiki when we developed the library evaluation instrument. Today I was assigned the task to write a grant. I plan on teaching teachers at the point of need by using the wiki to track additions, deletions, and other changes. I believe with a little teaching I will have a core of teachers ready to lead team members to become more technologically proficient. This will be an interesting exercise, especially because I plan on being done with the 23 Things! Yeah!

Things #22

This was a very painless experience. I was able to produce the Animoto Short at school, meaning that the filters were not too difficult for this project. I wished I could have included some additional pictures from my Flickr account. However, that part of the process was filtered more, apparently.

The navigation to get the site embedded was confusing to me. The navigation icons do not open until a video is selected. This makes more sense now that I think about it, but it was not intuitive, at least to me.

I showed the Short to the afternoon Library Club because one of the members in the club is in a picture that is part of the short. They seemed to enjoy it. I think this could be used as a publishing activity for a class project.

Things #20

I can see how people could spend a great deal of time browsing YouTube with the seemingly inexhaustible supply of video content!  I entered John Deere 720 into the search box because of my interest in antique John Deere tractors.  (I also tried Antique Tractors and got some hits that allowed me to narrow my search to my favorite, John Deere.)  I found it very interesting that people interested in antique tractors would make a video and post it on the web using some of the newest technology.  The combination of old and new is a wonderful mix.

The process was time consuming, but not difficult.  I finally let the embed load while I went to sleep.  This morning it was on my blog, all three attempts.

One use that jumps out at me is to embed a video of how to conduct a search using the OPAC.  It seems the same students struggle each week to find a book in the allotted time.  I anticipate there would be a great deal of "play" time spent for a few weeks, that would be fine if the embed could help them improve their search strategies. 

Things #19

I signed up for MindMeister and Flowchart.com. The MindMeister invitation came quickly. In less than 15 minutes I was able to begin my first MindMeister. With the Spring Brake scheduled in March, I began to sketch our plans while in Virginia. It was easy. I could add to the list and edit it easily. This seems to be a Thinking Map way of organizing information.

I tried twice to sign up for Flowchart.com. I never got the confirmation email either time.

Tonight I went to Gliggy.com and signed into the free site. I made a flowchart of an activity scheduled for Friday. Although it was easy, I think it is no easier than Kidspiration. The biggest advantage would be the ease with which a group could collaborate with it being on line. The chart I made can be found at http://www.gliffy.com/pubdoc/1358849/M.jpg

I can hardly wait to see what this looks like after I post it.

Things #18

I explored Yelp.  I especially checked out Dallas, TX  religious organizations and the Alexandria, VA Arts and Entertainment.  I really like the easy of using Yelp!  It was great to have the map with the linked numbers to the sites.  I did not find First Baptist Church of Dallas or Rockwall on the map.  I will check with the staff members at our church, then create a posting listing our church.  I think some social military organizations that I am a member of would be helped by being located on Yelp.  It is another way to get the organization's name and mission/ministry out to the public, especially the computer literate generation, such as Mesquite ISD Librarians!    :>)

Carol and I will be going to Virginia during Spring Break.  One of the locations on the Arts and Entertainment page for Alexandria is a link to museums.  One museum that interested me is Fort Ward, because I have seen seen the sign any number of times, seeing it on Yelp makes me want to gather more information about it, then visit it during Spring Break.  (I learned from the Yelp site that it was a fort that helped protect Washington, DC during the Civil War.  Interesting, as least to me!)

In school, Yelp could be used to gather information about tourist attractions in a selected city. Additional information could be gathered to assist in making a travel brochure as a publishing activity.  It will be interesting to see if the District filters have a negative effect on this site use.  There was no need to establish an account to view, but there is a requirement to establish one to post a review.

Overall, an easily used, informative site!

Things # 17

This seems to be an easy program to use.  The biggest advantages that I see are in those places where people travel a great deal.  it could always be available, if only off line while on an airplane.  Once access to the net was reestablished, a person could get caught up quickly. 

I also like the automatic word count when the document is saved.  That seemsreally cool!

The different word processing features on the toolbar make this item easier for collaboration than a wiki, I think!  Collaboration between a librarian and a grade level clarifying the goals and a rubric for a project could be done here.  Regardless of the cool tools, that is still the goal I have:  improve collaboration!

Things #15

I see the wikis being used much like the chat rooms in WebCT, the software program used, while I was getting my MLS online at UNT. Those who were in a group, working on a project that all were expected to participate in, yet have only one person post, could make significant contributions, give input, share ideas, suggest changes, and even suggest a change of direction. It did require everyone being in the chat room at the same time.

The wiki, however, enables changes to be suggested at a time that is convenient for each user. Someone may need to establish a time that all contributions need to be made, but for the most part contributions and changes can be suggested and tracked using a wiki.

This is what the library advisory group used when we were working on the Library Appraisal Instrument. Everything that had been accepted was sent to the committee, it was further disseminated to other librarians, input was gathered, then taken to the next meeting. It was a very helpful tool.

I think that the filters within the district will make this very awkward for the students,especially the elementary ones. I wonder if a small group could work with it by using home computers. That could be a useful thought to discuss with parents of my Library Club as a way to keep in touch over the holidays and breaks. This could be another way to encourage students.

Things #14

Wow! The library landscape may be rapidly changing, especially for the library user willing to change. I have copied so,e quotes from the readings with the kink following ech post. I will insert them, then add my reflections:

Build better data Perhaps the most important principal of Web 2.0 at OCLC is that “data is the next Intel inside.” O’Reilly argues that “every significant internet application to date has been backed by a specialized database.” For OCLC, this of course immediately calls to mind the decades of investment that member libraries have made in the quantity and quality of the metadata that comprises WorldCat. We’re involved in a number of projects that are intended to expand the database i

http://www.oclc.org/nextspace/002/4.htm

Who checks the data for quality?

Streamline metadata creation Libraries have a long history of collaborating on cataloging. This should be extended to coordinated multi-institutional activity, perhaps even beyond the library sector. The systematic sharing of bibliographic data across institutions can lead to the automatic sharing of enhancements and freeing up of resources to put more material under bibliographic control. If there is similarity in the uses made of bibliographic descriptions by publishers, vendors, and libraries for their inventories, and if there is significant overlap among needed data elements, then it makes a lot of sense to pursue a single metadata creation effort whose results we all can use.

http://www.oclc.org/nextspace/002/5.htm

Library 4.0, the neo-library: Experience This will be the library for the aesthetic economy, the dream society, which will need libraries as mind gyms; libraries as idea labs; libraries as art salons. But let’s be clear: Library 4.0 will not replace Libraries 1.0 through 3.0; it will absorb them. The library as aesthetic experience will have space for all the library’s incarnations: storage (archives, treasures); data retrieval (networks—reference rooms); and commentary and annotation (salon). Available as physical places in the library “storefront,” they will also be mobile, as AR overlays we can view (via glasses, contacts, projections) anywhere. Both virtual and augmented 3D reality will enable us to manipulate data via immersive, visual, metaphorical, sculptural, holographic information theatres: the research and analytic experience will merge with drawing, dance and drama.5

http://www.oclc.org/nextspace/002/6.htm

In order for small libraries to succeed, they need to think big. Here are some suggestions:
0. Develop an innovative strategic and tactical plan. Work on one tactic at a time, and eventually, you will accomplish your goals.
0. Network with other libraries, especially other library types (i.e., academic and public). School libraries can learn from other library successes.
0. Make the most of your ILL capabilities
0. Purchase more electronic content and use local and state consortia, including your OCLC network.
0. Consider adopting the customer service motto, “we want to serve you,” and mean it.
0. Be more visible to your patrons by applying for library awards and grants.
0. Ingrain your services into your patrons’ world so that they cannot live without you.
Finally, promote your services. This seems simple, but otherwise students and faculty will not be aware of your expanded services.

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


Santa Monica’s Screen Broadcast:

http://www.smpl.org/screencasts/ibistro/owc/index.html

OCLC Terminologies Service will map and connect knowledge organization schemes

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

The tight linking of OCLC PICA local and central system solutions with the global services of OCLC provides a close synergy between the two organizations that can deliver local, national and global solutions for libraries. And once again it shows how something small can lead to something big.

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

One thing seems clear even at this stage of the research. Although the researchers are studying VRS chat transcripts, much of what they have found has to do with interpersonal communication and providing good service to clients. As stated by Tenopir,1 this “analysis can help improve any interaction between librarian and patron.”

1-Carol Tenopir, “What Chat Transcripts Reveal,” Library Journal, March 1, 2006. http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6308689.html

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

Watch WorldCat grow—a new record and 13 new holdings are added about every 10 seconds:

www.oclc.org/worldcat/grow

Lyle's reflections:

It seems to me that we are in the middle of a struggle between controlled vocabulary and tags as a way to look for information. As certain tags become the norm, they will become part of the "thesaurus." That development from bottom up will take some time and awareness on the part of the user.

Another key question is, "Who controls the quality?" The great thing about the philosophy behind Library 2.0 is that it will make more information available to the user by using RSS feeds and other new technologies. It seems that the task for librarians in Library 2.0 envirionment will be to assist users in the ability to assess the gathered information. The assessment will need to include applicability, accuracy, helpfulness, timeliness, and how to avoid redundant articles.

Some of the ideas, for example, having a link on the catalog page to other libraries' collection, are already done for the MISD libraries but in a different way. I see the advantage of having the link on the results page. If a student is looking for a particular title, it would be very handy for him/her to be able to search the other catalogs with just one click, rather than going back and clicking on "All." It would be even easier if the public libraries could be accessed from that page. I wonder what that would take and cost!

Thing # 13

As I navigated through del.icio.us I thought that this might be part of the solution to my problem while working through the 23 Things.  I had to add a link to each of the browsers on several different computers to help speed up the process.  I think that this will be the ticket to eliminate some of this.  I really want to try this on the two computers I use in the library, the one in the office and the one just outside the door to my office.  I have had to step from the library into my office to find a page on a a website on the favorites page.  I will not know the effects of the filters until I set it up.  That will be grist for another post.

I can really see the use of these tools for research.  The tags would serve like folders for various items related to that paper.  Multiple tags would enable a researcher to use an article for more than one paper.  At the elementary level, assuming that these tools are available, students could select websites that contain needed information in small amounts of research time,  tag them, and continue to expand their sources while drafting their paper.  A personal application could be the Quest students could do small bits of research, Furl their information on one computer, but always be able to access it from any computer.  I wonder if that will be possible with the discreet logins and passwords the students have.  I will contact my ETF about that.

  One feature that I though was really helpful is the ability to save that which is needed or the whole page.  Another feature that would help in group projects is the ability to save and email.  This could add meaningful content, but I think its application for elementary school children would be limited.

 

Things #11

I have been looking for a cataloging system for my personal library and I think I have found it. Spider's catalog shows some of the many things of iterests I have. While reading tagging article linked to LibraryThing, I was struck by the thought that this is like adding a new building at a college campus and waiting for the paths to appear before sidewalks are added. It get's messy in the rain before the concrete is poured, but they do run the way the users want them. It seems that this concept is like the free text/thesaurus discussions. The tags will be messy for a while, but will soon be a consensus. I thought the author's understanding and communication of the subtile, perhaps even emotional distinctions of synonyms, was a well thought-out and reasoned argument. The tag approach allows the various groups to be formed free from top down thinking.

Things #10 Yet Still Again

Of course I do not have the picture of the girls that I used to make the comic in a previous post. I selected a picture from our Plow and Play Day and played with it a bit. I want to see if I can actually link the picture to this post, and to retrieve it from another computer. Wish me luck!

Things #10 Continued Yet Again

This time I created a comic from a picture of me with two "short girls."The comic of the picture was made using Comic Strip Generator. This was an easy program to use after I figured out how to use the second picture I downloaded. I had hoped to be able to like the comic in this post. I'll try it at school on the Dell so I can use the right click mouse and the functionality of copying pictures that I better understand. If I can figure it out, the word comic will be a hot link!

Things #10 Continued

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Here is an ImageChef.com Studio Neon Animated.  I liked being able to enter the graphic, as well.  It is easily done, but I still do not know why I have two if them.  If you read this and have an idea, I am definitely interested in knowing what I am doing wrong.  I will try their short cut rather than copying the code.

When I tried to post, I got an HTML error.  When I deleted the highlighted code, this is what was left.  Help!

Things #10

">This ">">This " border="0" alt="" />
   Although a great deal of fun, this will definitely have a steep learning curve.  I have checked out the CustomeSignGenerator.com.  I have found yet another activity that will entertain me in my "Golden Years!"  :>)    When I pasted the HTML I had two pictures.  My solution was to see where the code repeated, then delete it.  However, my Red Power Ranger moved from between the plow and tractor to its current location.  I will put it onto a magazine and see what it looks like.  I will include that on Things #10 continued.  I think this would be a great application for students who get recognized for a particular achievement, find a magazine cover related to that achievement, then help them design their own cover.  I think this could also be used just to let students and faculty have a wonderful time playing.  I know from my own experience that when I get focused, I settle down.  I can not help but think that some of are artistic hyper students could be assisted with projects like this.  My vision is that they would become so involved, that they would have exhibited some self-control that could be complimented after the project is complete.  That would be one big success!

When I tried to post, my HTML would not be accepted.  Now I am back to two pictures.  I'll see if I can not redo it and post another Things #10.

Things #9

The Cool Cat Teacher blog is so well organized, colorful and packed with a great deal, perhaps too much, information. I read the Circle of the Wise. I agree. I need to surround myself with folks who are smarter than me, especially in techology.

The Blogline's Search tool seemed to work very easily. tried Mesquite ISD and found out that James Huckaby in risk management is now on a state board. Although several were similar, I think the easiest was on the Google Blog Search. Not surprisingly it functioned like a Google query search. When I tried mesquiteisd on the Google Blog Search, I found a very interesting post: Mary's post about us doing the 23 Things. It seems wonderful to be in the early phase of this type of training and to have the incentives in place to help me want to do this, and learn while doing, no while playing!

I added the Cool Cat Teacher blog and Suprglu. Candidly, I have not yet spent enough time exploring the responses I get from them in my reader to know which is the most helpful. Much like learning the collection of books in the Pirrung library, I believe that I will be better able to know what feeds satisfy my information "appetite."

The only other tools or ways that I found were being more aware of the RSS icons. It was good to get some repetitions of finding, selecting, and adding new feeds to my reader!

And finally, the picture really has nothing to do with this Discovery Exercise, but I saw this option on the message and thought I would give it a go. It went easily! Like other uploads, the picture file must be easily found for it to work easily!

Things #8

I guess I should have entitled these two postings "Pieces of Eight!"

I have created a public page on GoogleReader. The URL is:

http://www.google.com/reader/shared/00469454204154096247

It does not appear to be a link.  Just highlight, copy and paste in a browser.  It works!

:>) :>)  :>)

Things #8

     I have opened a GoogleReader account.  I really like the ability to collect information in one place.  The only folders so far are one for the MISD blogs and one that I call news.  The content of the first, of course, are the blogs of some of the librarians.  I chose some of the recommended feeds from the 23 Things list for my "news" folder.  Of course, after setting it up, it took me some time to read the various listings within GoogleReader.  I really like the ability to scan the headlines, chose to read it by clicking on it, or just mark read if not, then going to the next.  I found that I had already been informed about some of the news articles.  This really speeds the reading/becoming informed process.

     Frankly, I better see how it can help me personally a bit easier than professionally.  However, setting up the blogs into a one stop location is a prelude of things to come.  Because I have been working on this at home, I do not have to overriding to keep "playing"  If only having to override once to get into my GoogleReader account will let me into the linked sites, I see a tremendous advance there.  I can hardly wait until tomorrow to check it out.

     I think that the elementary school libraries can begin to introduce this technology to the students in a limited way.  I want to try some of it with the Quest students I have from 8-830 each morning.  I also see a wonderful application for those teachers who are involved in a master's program.  The RSS could really help them collect information for papers, projects, and research.  Many of them are of the age that technology does not intimidate them.  

This stuff is "way cool!"   :>)

Things #4

I think I would like to use a blog for a discussion group with different clusters of people. For students I would see a number of different applications: a book discussion, a way to provide guidance for homework, posting assignments, and even reminders for upcoming events. I would even like to make the same things available to parents.
I think that after the learning curve, I would like to use it to get information to the teachers. At this time, it seems that this would be redundant, however. I already use email to accomplish these goals. The blog gives some additional features, like adding pictures, developing threads of discussion, and able to see the all the comments. However, I think that I will need more experience before I become proficient enough to show the stakeholders that it is worth their time to climb the learning curve.

Thing #7

The following is the URL for my personal calendar. I only included one event in March to practice how the calendar works. It seemed easy enough. I plan on adding one to the school and library web page.

http://www.google.com/calendar/ical/lmetzler%40mesquiteisd.org/public/basic.ics

I also personalized an iGoogle web page. The initial set up went well. Then I tried to add a frame gadget and was unsuccessful in being able to import a picture into it. I tried putting them into a Picasa album. I copied them to another computer. Has anyone been able to add that gadget?

Setting up the Picasa was easy. I seem to remember that we had done that before. I put a bunch of different pictures from our tractor club Plow and Play Day.

All in all, this was a very helpful, informative, and wonderful "thing!" I have some students that I work with that I would like to be able to set up some of these things. Other than the parental permission, is there something that I should do?

Things #6

In my haste, I titled the Flickr exercise Things #5 when it should be Things #6. My bad. :>(

Things #5

I feel a little like Gizmo in the Beetle Bailey cartoon. I have three computers running to do this. (Note to self: Learn how to make a split screen! :>) )
I have an account open in Flikr, have posted several pictures to it, including two tagged MISDLTP20. These are two pictures taken after the ceremony at the Pentagon. I asked my family to go with me to The Wall. We stood in front of panel 31E, Line 44. The name that Carol and I have our hands on is 2LT Gary Richard Clark, killed December 6, 1967. He was my OCS roommate for about 5 months, and he was a friend. He and Jan were going to spend Christmas together in Hawaii.
I have found that posting the pictures in Flickr is very easy. It's very much like posting a picture to the school or library web site. The only glitch I ran into was insuring I posted the pictures from the computer that had them in a file on it. Opening the account was easy, adding the tag line was easy. This was a fun "thing" to do!
I think that for my technology use base, it really helps that I am doing this away from the interruptions of the library. One day, I don't think that it will matter, but it does now! :>)

Things #2

I think that the hardest habit will be number 4:  Have confidence in yourself as a competent effective learner.  Because of my lack of exposure to some technology, I lack confidence in my ability to learn its use competently and effectively.  I have another struggle that is not unique:  I have many commitments that keep my schedule packed.  However, I know I can learn this stuff!  After all, I did use technology to complete an MLS on-line.

I think the easiest habit will be number 7:  Teach/Mentor others.  The things that will probably propel me to learn these new "things" will be the opportunity to teach some of my students.  I am already using the trading card website to help students conduct research at various levels.  It is even more exciting when I see students teaching others, also.

Things #1

I want to learn a great deal more about technology.  As a 63 year old, I have come into technology, or should I say technology has come into, later in life.  My first introduction to e-mail was during my trip to visit the troops in Bosnia one Christmas.  My son had set up an e-mail account for the family.  Within about 20 minutes, I had sent an e-mail to him and gotten a return while I was in Hungary.  I was hooked.

I did my MLS on-line.  That furthered my abilities, but they are still very limited.   I am already having to set up another Blog site due to some glitch.  I want to become more proficient for myself and also for my students.  (I feel like I'm improving already!  I am posting this while in my recliner!  :>) )

I also want to learn enough that I could have a ministry for seniors in assisted living/nursing homes.  My ministry would be to help these dear people maintain contact with family and friends over the internet.

Lyle's Lines is now SpidersWebSite

For what ever reason, my previous blog is inactive. I decided to restart the process. I will e-mail my new site to Mary and Debbie once I have completed this posting.

The name comes from my first call sign that I used in Vietnam. There was a time when I was both tall and thin. I asked my soldiers to come up with a call sign. Spider is was in 1968. To some of my soldiers that I see from time to time, my call sign has now morphed into a new nickname.