Week 6 #15

I was particularly struck by John Reimer's article, To better bibliographic services. His main thesis is that libraries should get much greater mileage out of the metadata they create. If libraries can begin to move away from proprietary software and begin using 2.0 tools to provide access to their holdings, then tagging can greatly increase the functionality of our data.

#14 Week 6 Technorati

I did explore this and practiced putting tags on some of my postings. I then went back and took them out. I tend to be a private person - note that I didn't even want to creat an avatar that would in any personify me. I realize that much of what I have out on the web is searchable and viewable. I also realize that the current generation is all about sharing and going public. That is fine and dandy for them, and having explored all these tools, I can help them with what they want to do and perhaps guide them to do it in a responsible manner. I just don't want to be out there with them.

Week 8 - #19 Library Thing

I am addicted to mysteries written by female authors. I share books with several friends and we are always losing track of what we have read and what we haven't. We have been using Library Thing since last year to help us keep track. We have yet to do a complete retrospective listing however.

#22 Week9

LibriVox - oh my. There are books for my 9th graders! I could download some of the novels like Pride and Prejudice for my EL and RSP students. We have one CD of most novels, but that means that students have to share. I could download these free ones and put them on inexpensive SanDisk players and have enough for everyone who needs it.

And then - you can volunteer to read. What a lovely way to spend my retirement. Now if only I could retire...

#21 Week 9

I subscribed to Hennepin County Library - TeenLinks Podcasts. I found their podcasts interesting as they reviewed not only books, but movies as well. One of my schools has a Radio Club that puts on radio dramas. I have tried to get them to do a podcast, however, they rarely follow copytight guidelines so I am cautious about posting anything that has questionable permissions.

In UTube I found some videos called BookWink that are book reviews of children's literature. One of the sessions I watched was called Sharks and deals with both fiction and nonfiction books about sharks. It would be a great activity to be able to do with students. They list related books on their website BookWink.com. All the videos are available on the web site - perhaps I'll put a link to the site on my school web pages.

There is also a funny one called Librarians.

Week 8 - #18 Zoho

I created these questions for discussion of the book Tangerine using Zoho and then sent them to Blogger. If this works at my school it will be a life-saver for students. It is very difficult for them to transport work to and from school as they are not allowed to use email, our computers do not have floppy drives, and flash drives are frowned upon. I can't wait to give it a whirl. I have used Google docs to collaborate with staff to create district reports, but it is blocked on the student network. I'm hoping the filter has yet to "notice" Zoho.

Discussion questions for Tangerine by Bloor.

Paul is legally blind. There is physical vision and emotional vision. What did Paul see that the rest of his family could not?

Paul's home is built on termite infested land next to muck fires that burn continuously and attends a school that falls into a sink hole. How does this setting reflect the emotional foundations of Paul's life.