When first coming to the class, I felt that much of what I already knew was going to be rehashed and maybe presented in a different light. What I found out was that I needed to be refreshed in the topics I thought I knew and that there was much more I needed to know.
One of the areas I really enjoyed knowing about was the availability of open source programs. As an educator/librarian in the middle school, I am confronted with a number of students who have stated the did not have programs for presentations, image editing etc. Having the information about all the available open source programs will help many of the students in producing similar work as their peers who have purchased familiar software suites.
As a media specialist, I find myself being delegated tasks for the school that can be considered those of a public relation's person; however, this task is a necessity for the library. Discovering the many available image generators will provide another level of publishing. Introducing students to these websites will certainly gain their interest in other topics I may have to offer.
What I've taken away from 550 is an area of learning which I categorize as intertaining learning i.e. wikies, blogs, Petchu Ketcha, tweeter, rss feeds and more. These programs are certainly going to play a part in the lives of the community of techies but eventually a part of many others' lives (just think of Star Trek and the infamous communicator - our blue tooth today). Somehow the future (the future is at hand) educators need to know how to integrate this technology into the curriculum.
If I were to change anything of the 550 journey it would be to isolate the area on technologies and create a course on how to use them to enhance the library experience and how to use them in the classroom to enrich the curriculum. I would be very much interested in more information in this area.
Friday, April 17, 2009
No more stomping the pavement:Online Applications and Tools
The new online tools are really making an impact on everyday life. We now have websites for purchasing books, researching health topics, genealogical research and much more. One of my favorite is Career Builder (http://www.careerbuilder.com/); a site for searching employment opportunities (not that I'm looking).
Career Builder lets you look by state, city, job type, time posted (you can search by most recently posted to those ads posted weeks prior). Being able to search by time posted comes in handy. If you have access to the web 24/7 you have the opportunity to be the first to see the position posted. It also has a link that allows you to see the average pay for a particular field in certain locations.
One important feature of this site is that it allows you to create an account (free) and request notifications of positions that fit the criteria you presented. For those who are seeking employment today, sites like Career Builder takes a situation most find unpleasant to be in, a little more stress free.
Career Builder lets you look by state, city, job type, time posted (you can search by most recently posted to those ads posted weeks prior). Being able to search by time posted comes in handy. If you have access to the web 24/7 you have the opportunity to be the first to see the position posted. It also has a link that allows you to see the average pay for a particular field in certain locations.
One important feature of this site is that it allows you to create an account (free) and request notifications of positions that fit the criteria you presented. For those who are seeking employment today, sites like Career Builder takes a situation most find unpleasant to be in, a little more stress free.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
You Tube - Really!!!! Outside the Box
With the onset of YouTube, the doors have been flung open to almost anyone to present a message, information or just gripe. Many consider this an issue with so many other things to consider rather than hearing a young man pleading for the media to "leave Brittany alone." But You Tube can also be a vehicle for enlightenment. Consider the video on the displacement of students in New Orleans; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js5P_56d1bY&feature=dir .
Here was an opportunity to let the world see the collateral damage of the devastation caused by Katrina. Rather than still pictures cataloging the damage, you hear and see the students who were affected by the immediate evacuation of their dorms. The tremor in their voices is a much more compelling attribute of having it on you tube.
You also have podcasts by ITunes that are providing students k-12 with a wealth of information that will enrich their education. It is also allowing (some may question the motive) students to post their own podcasts (with the school district's approval). So at the elementary level students are being introduced to the use of podcasts and learning a technology they are most likely already have some knowledge of (at least the viewing part).
Bottom line You Tube and other podcasting sites are a part of life today.
Here was an opportunity to let the world see the collateral damage of the devastation caused by Katrina. Rather than still pictures cataloging the damage, you hear and see the students who were affected by the immediate evacuation of their dorms. The tremor in their voices is a much more compelling attribute of having it on you tube.
You also have podcasts by ITunes that are providing students k-12 with a wealth of information that will enrich their education. It is also allowing (some may question the motive) students to post their own podcasts (with the school district's approval). So at the elementary level students are being introduced to the use of podcasts and learning a technology they are most likely already have some knowledge of (at least the viewing part).
Bottom line You Tube and other podcasting sites are a part of life today.
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