23 Things Project: Thing 20 Online Image Generators

Blocked at work. That is what happened on every site I tried to access in regards to this 23 Things Project item. Now I am trying to rush to get this project done by the deadline -- which is today, of course. At home, I tried the Image Chef website. Here is the picture I created:

This image reminds of some bookmarks I saw for sale a couple of years ago. All the images included food related photos with bookmark slogans. Here is another image I created:

I could see using Image Chef to create graphics for bookmarks and posters for the library to promote the library program or to promote books and reading.

Enjoy and remember, books are the cat's meow,

Debra

23 Things Project: Thing 16 Podcasts and Vidcasts

Learning to create my own podcasts and vidcasts have been kicking around in the back of my mind for a while now. I listen to podcasts on a regular basis on my IPod. I keep up with my favorite knitters and what going on in the fiber world through podcasts. I learn about new books and new authors through podcasts. Podcasts are a fun way to pass time while I am pretending to exercise or while I am knitting on the couch. Podcasts are a great way to ignore the rest of the world for a while too, especially while sitting in waiting rooms.

For this 23 thing project item, I decided to create a vidcast showcasing the books on the middle school Gotta Keep Reading list of the next school year. I wrote some narration introducing the different books and added some music from my daughter's playlist.

I enjoyed creating the vidcast, but it was frustrating too because I had to learn the computer software first. Then I had to buy a microphone since I didn't have one at home. Next, after adding the narration, the software wouldn't play the background music, then it played the background music too loudly and you couldn't hear the narration. After a very frustrating couple of hours, I finished it. So where is the vidcast? It is lying dormant in the My Documents folder of my work computer and I'm finishing this post at home. Problem, no? Problem, yes!

I will post the vidcast tomorrow when I get to work. I hope you enjoy it.

Debra

Here is the vidcast:

23 Things Project: Thing 22 Recess

Time to play...time to play, who has time to play? I didn't really want to go back and re-visit other things because I had already spent too much time on them, so I decided to check out the LiveBinder instead. I found this cool site listed there called UsefulCharts. Now this I can get into. The charts are easy-to-read at a glance and has lots of neat stuff for the trivia geek in us all.

Useful Charts

I also checked out Lesson Index for reader's guides to novels. It had lots of titles and resources. Check it out here: Lesson Index

That's it for now,
Debra

23 Things Project: Thing 21 Shelfari

Like Goodreads, Shelfari is a book geek's paradise. Now, if I could only find the time to add all the books in my personal library. Maybe then I would stop buying the same book twice. Don't ask how many times that has happened to me. No, really, don't ask. It's embarassing.

What I want to know is...does Shelfari have an app for my Droid phone or my IPad, so I could have it handy when I am book shopping? Then it would be perfect. I liked how you could search for related books and authors. And lo and behold, the all-important tagging is alive and well in Shelfari. Now, that I understand tagging, let's play.

I'm afraid though, that Shelfari will be my enabler...I have a terrible weakness for books. A terrible, terrible weakness for books. Someone needs to do an intervention and fast.

Oh well, there are worst things to be addicted too!

Happy reading,
Debra

23 Things Project: Thing 19 Nings

Today's post: cloudy with a chance of nings. Okay, so that's not what it means, but I had no clue what a ning was before this project started. I didn't know what half of these things were -- I'm learning. I've learned that a ning is like a virtual meet-up. It's a way to share thoughts, feelings, ideas, and best practices with others who are in your same profession. I signed up for the teacher librarian ning. It looked like it would have a lot of good information to explore.

I could see how a ning would be good for collaborating with other librarians, getting ideas for programming, touting your successes and asking for advice with less than perfect programs. It is a way to connect and build relationships with other people in your field. It's good to interact with people other than the ones you work with on a regular basis.

So, come on everybody, let's NING!
Debra

23 Things Project: Thing 18 Mashups

So, I was playing around with the various mash-ups mentioned in the Thing 18 original post and discovered a great way to wile away even more time. Mash-ups are like the RSS feeds, easy to get lost in the discovery. I really liked the Catchy Colors Colr Pickr mash-up. I could see using this mash-up app to create color focused collages and displays for the library. You could take this app and add the chosen photos to the mosaic app and viola, create something wild and crazy to use to highlight books and curriculum topics. I also like the Bookr app. What a great way to allow students freedom to create their own books in the style of their favorite authors! You could have the students create their own photographs and drawing and then create their books based on a character or a plot line or even an author's style.

I explored the trading card app and created my own librarian trading card too! What fun! Check my card out!

Hope you enjoy this,

Debra

23 Things Project: Thing 17 Video Sharing

Sharing your favorite videos is so easy today. With such resources as YouTube and SchoolTube, you can find a video for anything. I searched YouTube for librarian videos and found some very interesting ones from a Library Thriller video to Librarians in Fashion. The Dewey Decimal Rap was hilarious. Next, I moved on to SchoolTube and searched for reading videos. I found this great video promoting reading from Gurnee School District. It was amazing and right on the money. Check it out here.
Gaga_for_Reading (here is the URL address as well).

Having access to so many video resources would benefit teachers of all content areas. My orchestra teacher uses YouTube to show students quality performances of musical compositions. I have used YouTube and SchoolTube videos to promote pleasure reading and research skills. Students today are used to different methods of instruction than we were, so a savvy teacher and librarian must stay up with the times.

Enjoy some Gaga for now,
Debra

23 Things Project: Thing 15 In the Cloud

"Get your head out of the clouds." That was what my mom used to say to me when I spent more time daydreaming than cleaning my room or doing my homework. Amazing how things have changed, now it's okay to have your head in the clouds or at least your documents, that is.

Cloud computing is a great way to collaborate with other people. A few years ago, I collaborated with some of my peers on a presentation about libraries for a workshop we were presenting at our former college. We did some initial planning through Google Docs because when you have moved past your college years, it is harder to find time to meet with people to work on a project together. If you have some extra time, you jealously guard it and don't want to give it up, so using cloud computing like Google Docs makes sense for everyone.

I could see how using something like Google Docs could be useful in the classroom, especially for group projects. Not every student has a computer at home or access to the Internet, but can usually use the school computers to work on projects or computers at the public library, so being able to access a common platform like Google Docs would make it easier to get the project completed.

Google Docs forms could be used to gather information about how users feel about the library program or gather suggestions for programs or books to purchase. Alas, there is so many productivity tools out on the Internet that it is becoming totally overwhelming to me.

For now,
Debra

23 Things Project: Thing 14 Microblogging

Microblogging...what an interesting term. Maybe I can remember that one more than tweeting. I talk to my daughter about Twitter but I also call it twittering. Needless to say, she loves correcting her mamma. "Tweeting" not "twittering" duh mom! So I joined the Twitter world at her insistence a while ago. Again, I am a lurker, not a poster.

I have learned about lots of great books and learned about new writers as well. I have two Twitter accounts -- one for my work interests (debrayocum) and one for my personal interests (dkyocum). I follow publishers and authors on my work account and knitters, Dr. Who people, and my family on my personal account. I like having my interests in separate accounts. I also have found that I like using my IPad to read the Twitter feeds more than my Droid phone. It is easier to switch between accounts that way.

My daughter shares all kind of weird tweets from her Twitter account with me. It makes for great drive to school conversations. She is also a huge Tumblr user. Tumblr is interesting to say the least. Some unusual stuff out there.

I never thought about setting up a Twitter account for my school's library, but it might be useful. I could see using it to send mini-updates on what's going on in the library. I could use it to showcase new books or highlight curriculum connections. I might just set one up now that I've thought about it.

Forward ho!
Debra

23 Things Project: Things 12 & 13 Wikis

It's Wiki time! Now wikis are more than just a way to explore odd topics like on Wikipedia. It is an easy way to get students involved in their own learning. I could see how a wiki could be an integral part of student learning once the teacher instructs students on the proper care and feeding of the wiki.

I checked out several class wikis as part of this 23 things project item. I found a variety of different wikis from the super simple to complex arrangements of class notes and more. It got me thinking about how would you use a wiki in the school library. I could see using a wiki for book club discussions and library program suggestions, maybe even library research. I need to explore this idea further, but not now...

I visited the Pasadena Librarians Wiki and dipped my toes in the sandbox. Okay, so I just put a link to my blog  in the Play in the Sandbox section, but still I finished that portion of the assignment. I'm still not sure if I like wikis because it is a little too easy to change things, plus everyone posts in different fonts and colors and that kinda bothers me -- not aesthetically pleasing to my eyes. I guess I am getting old.

Ta ta for now,
Debra

23 Things Project: Thing 10 & 11 Useful Library-Related Blogs

This 23 things project item is reminiscent of thing 4 on RSS feeds, but now I have to focus on library-related blogs only. It is interesting to read how other librarians run their library programs especially since I believe my own library program is still evolving into what I had envisioned it to be when I applied for the job. It is much harder than I thought to create an effective library program, so reading other librarians' trials and tribulations are very informative. I only wish I had time during the work day to explore these resources further instead of relying on my family time to do so. Any ideas how to do this? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

I checked out several of the suggested blog search tools during the course of this project thing. Using Google Blog Search was like using the regular Google Search. Everything was familiar and still sometimes hard to find exactly what you are looking for...just like a regular Google search. I tried out Bloglines, but didn't get far because frankly I am tired of creating accounts to do anything. So I let that one go. Next, I looked at the Edublogs Awards Blog. I liked the way the blogs were sorted into categories. I could pinpoint my search to library/librarian blogs and explore from there. I have checked out Edublogs before on one of the previous 23 things project item. I like this site for looking for education related blogs. I tried to use Suprglu to search for blogs but couldn't even get the site to come up.

I found some cool middle school librarian blogs, even though middle school in most districts have a different configuration than my middle school. The Book Bug, The Media Specialist's Guide to the Internet, and The Adventures of Library Girl are now either in my Google Reader account or in my bookmarks. I couldn't figure out how to add The Adventures of Library Girl to my reader account.

Now if I could only find the time to check the Google Reader, I could keep up!

'Til we meet and read again,
Debra

23 Things Project: Thing 9 Technorati Tag

Tag...you're it. Searching the blogsphere is like playing "tag". Sometimes it's easy and you catch everything...other times it's real work, not a game. That's how I feel about trying to understand some of these tags people use. I feel the same way when I search databases. It like a game -- am I going to win today or not?

I searched Technorati for my favorite topic to read about -- knitting. I found 2919 blogs and 18 posts using the regular search box; and 0 blogs using the blog directory. This confused me. How can you have 2919 blogs, but only 18 posts; conversely, how can you have 2919 blogs and 0 blogs in the blog directory? Huh?

So, I searched again, this time using young adult literature as my search term. The results were 129 blogs, 7 posts, and again 0 blogs in the blog directory. Obviously, the blog directory doesn't like me. I concluded that Technorati and I don't really share the same interests. Next, I checked out the popular blog tags and found that if I wasn't really into all things techie or politics, maybe I should go home and try "tag" with someone else.

Tagging could be fun or it could be tedious. It's all in the mind of the tagger. Some people will never understand how the mind works to make connections, I know I don't when it comes to trying to understand how my daughter's mind makes connections. It's a big game, alright.

Play on!
Debra

23 Things Project: Thing 8 Del.icio.us Tagging

Tagging used to mean spray paint and "creative" expression of the illegal sort, but nowadays it means categorizing information. I spent some time checking out the del.icio.us site to see what the deal was with tagging sites. At first, I didn't like the look of the interface, but I got used to it. It was easy to view other people creative tagging of sites. It reminds me of my daughter's hash tags in Twitter. Some people make odd connections to information. I did like the use of comments when you save and tag a site though. People have interesting ideas about how to use information presented on different sites. It seems that in today's technological society tagging is now a multiple meaning word with lots of interchangeable terms. Tag, label, hash tag...what else is out there?

I can see how del.icio.us could be used as part of the research process. It would be much easier to organize sites for students to explore on their own than allow them to venture out on the web without assistance. It would require more up front planning on a teacher or librarian's part, but it would pay off in the end with better Internet-based information used for research projects.

I do like the ability to view your saved bookmarks on any computer as well. It would have come in handy when we bought our new computer. It also would save time if you needed to access sites from home or from work as well. There has been many instances when I needed a site address that I had saved and of course was always away from the computer I saved it on...if I could even remember which of the many techie devices I used in the first place.

Tag on 'til next time,
Debra

23 Things Project: Thing 7 Social Networking

Everyone is so caught up in social networking these days. It seems like you have to have a Facebook, a LinkedIn, and Twitter, and many more (insert name here) in order to be a part of this big Internet world. Well, I have all those things, but I don't feel any more a part of the Internet world than I did before. I don't post, I don't tweet, I don't post pictures...so do I really need these things? I do lurk...I do read and think about what people are saying online. I still think it is kinda silly though. It's kinda like blogging, do you really want to put your whole life out there for strangers to see? I still undecided about how I really feel, so I'll keep lurking and posting to this blog at least until the project is done...then we'll see. I might like it by then, who knows?

My favorite social networking site is Ravelry.com. It is a social media site for knitters and crocheters and other crafters. I find patterns, yarn recommendations, advice, and fabulous pictures of people's knits. I'm pretty much a lurker here too. I don't post many comments to the forum groups I belong to...currently I have 39 posts, whereas my best friend has over 4,000 posts. See the difference!

Now, on to the assignment...Facebook and the library. I went to my Facebook account and "liked" the Harris County Public Library. Why? It's my local library. I want to know what's going on there, in case I want to participate. It is a super cool Facebook page. Lots of stuff to see and read.

As to having a Facebook page for my school library...it could be a good thing as long as you update it. Lo, here in lies the problem. I am not an updater. I barely update my SchoolCenter library site. I start the school year off with good intentions, but they fade away quickly. I'm sure I would be the same way with Facebook. (See my above confessions about posting).

I could foresee some issues with having a Facebook library page. You would have to be careful about posting student pictures. You would have to censor your comments as well. You would have to monitor other's comments too. And what about if the original "owner" of the library page moves on to another job?

I could see some good outcomes as well. You could keep people up-to-date on the library happenings, you could recommend books, you could discuss issues and books with others. Again, the update issue raises its ugly head...you would have to be diligent in keeping up. I'm just not sure if I'm up to the challenge.

See you soon,
Debra

23 Things Project: Things 5 & 6 RSS and Newsfeeds

I must admit that it is too easy to get caught up in searching and reading blogs to include on a RSS reader. What started out as an easy assignment...you know, shouldn't take more than an hour or two, turned into several days searching and reading...getting caught up in the clicking on one thing after another. Don't get me wrong, it was fun to read some on the outrageous things posted on the Internet, but true confession time...I probably won't keep up with most of the RSS feeds I choose for this assignment. I hate to admit it...but I forget about most of my techie things after a short while. I let my IPod die, I forget to charge my Nook and my IPad, and shocking as it may seem -- I forget about charging my cell phone as well. I hate checking email and forget about posting to social media sites. Heck, I can't even keep up with reading my magazines.

So, what did I choose for my RSS feed assignment? Well, to be honest, I just choose things I enjoy reading about -- knitting, books, and a few library related blogs. I signed up for a Google Reader account because it was the first on the list and I already had a Google email account set-up (had to make one when I bought my smartphone). I'm following my favorite knitters who produce podcasts that I listen to, my favorite yarn suppliers and producers, a few personal librarian blogs, the main library organizations, and my favorite library journal publishers.

Reading the tidbits on the Google Reader takes some getting used to. I like to see everything at once, but no, you have to click on the titles to see the pretty pictures. Not a problem with text only entries, but knitting blogs have delicious pictures of yummy knits. I did find a new knitting favorite through this assignment: Wendy Knits. She has a wicked sense of humor and a Siamese cat too.

I explored the newsfeed section of the assignment too. But I must admit, I don't care too much about reading news stories. We watch enough news on the television for me. Topix seemed to have a couple of fun things to explore but that's about all.

Until next post,
Debra