THING 10 Second Life

Second life is an online virtual world that is imagined and created by you. First you have to create an avitar that will be you in second world. I did create one but I just did some basic things to mine so that I could play. I learned how to walk around in steampunk victorian caledon. I learned how to fly and sit. I talked to 2 people. I really don't see myself doing this too much, but I think kids would love it. I can see how you could get lost in here for hours. I looked at some educational areas and liked the physics and astronomy place as well as the second china idea which I thought was great. I can see how people could experience things in another country without actually going there. I think teachers could use this to let their students experience many different things. My son said that he would go in with me so that I could experience doing something with him.

THING 9 Slideshare

Slideshare allows you to share powerpoint files online. I like it because you can also view other powerpoints. I think it would be great idea for librarians from all over to be able to share the different presentations that they make. This would be a great way to either use the presentation or adapt it for your own use.

Students could also upload their presentaions and that way they could work together from anywhere. Plus students could get ideas for their own presentations from other students.

I got some great advice from one of the sites we had to view to help me with my own presentations, so I will share.

1. Use both words and graphics----65% graphics and 35% words.

2. Don't use pictures that dont relate to the topic.

3. Adding audio is effective.

4. Use an on screen host to engage the viewer.

THING 8 Screen cast

A screen cast is a digital recording of a computer screen. Atomic learning uses screen cast to teach their lessons. I have used atomic learning a lot. I have had Camtasia for quite a while as we got it included with snag it, but I had never used it. My son worked with me to get my microphone to work as it was having problems. I had 2 ideas to make my screen cast, but the first one didn't work as I wasn't connected to the SBISD network and the second idea would have given away some library codes and I realized that I couldn't do that. The screen cast that I did was my son's idea---it is silly, but it showed that I learned how to do it.

THING 7 Video Resources

I listened to the codes of best practices video and just learned that the kids will be confused about what should be copyrighted or not. Having the book would be a good idea.

I looked at all of the video sources shown and learned that there was more out there than I was aware of. They were all good and I plan on sharing several of them with my staff.

Hulu was the first one I saw and I found the section on Farah Fawcett. While not so educational, I was interested because I went to high school with her. I was so sad that she died and I have been keeping up with all of the news items on her.

PBS video is a great site. I looked into several of the history sites and I liked how you could filter so that you could get just where you wanted to go. I looked at some cold war videos.

THING 6 I phone and I touch

I have used my friend's I phone to play with some of the apps. It was fun to use and I would like to have the same phone from Verizon when I am able to update my phone in November. I thin teachers would rather the kids have I touches than allow I phones because of the trouble they might have with students wanting to text their friends all of the time while in class. Someone called the I touch mobile learning which is how the world is moving today. We cannot be without our mobile devices. Still the kids will be able to benefit from using an I touch. I know that the library will be getting several for use next year and I will be interested in seeing how well they do. I know that there will be many uses for them such as the calculator, using google, brainteasers, on line lessons, a calendar, gps, taking notes, and being able to work together from anywhere.

Thing 5 Facebook and Twitter

I have 2 sons and a daughter-in-law who all have a facebook account. I have watched them use it for years. Every time I go to my son's house, he lets me get on his account and catch up on all of his old friends. I love doing this as I have not seem any of these people since my boys were in high school. Also. one of my teachers created a facebook project this past year and I worked with her on this project on people in history. The kids had to pick a person that they wanted to research and then create a facebook page for that person. Then they could invite other people that were created by their classmates. it was a huge success as the kids loved doing it.

Twitter is interesting. I have never used it, but I know that thousands of kids are using it every day. This generation is becomming used to keeping up with their friends not much by phone but with twitter or by texting. They want instant information. Each twitter can only use 140 characters, so it has to be quick. I am not so sure how to use this in the classroom, but I look forward to hearing what other people have to say about it.