Thing 3: Online Communities

Well I was able to spend a little time last night looking at Twitter.  I joined and added a few people tyo follow.  I was able to do a little searching and find some interesting things, including a pinerest page with good ideas and a librarian templte page that different people had posted.  I like the idea of having ideas floating to you, but Twitter isn't something that I will keep up with too often.  I can see the benefit of having a hashtag for a conference or wikispace and getting constant updates... the 140 characters bugs me for some reason.  I can see how professionally, politically or even if you followed certain famous people how it could enhance your life.  As a regular person I have too much going on in my own life to give constant 140 updates about my life let alone read about other friends and regular people's constant comments.  Facebook is enough of that for me.

Once interesting thing I did come across was I placed "elementary librarian" in the search box.  I was surprised that it did not look at the descriptions of people, only what people posted.  Some talked about running into their elementary librarian or remembering their elementary librarian.  One guy posted "What do you think the least stressful job in America is? My guess is that is has to be an elementary school librarian"... hmmm if he only knew!

I currently have a Facebook account, although I don't spend a lot of time there.  I do check in once in a while.  I can see the benefit for having a library group page for your school library especial if the students are on facebook and check in regularly.  Parents might also benefit since it is so easy to quickly update and add something to a facebook page.  At my elem level I hesitate to start one since the students should not be going on at that level.  A public library page would also be nice for quick updates, new book titles, and special events.

Thing 2: part II

I also had been wanting to work with Animoto for a while, but last time I tried for some reason it wouldn't let me sign up right away.

I put together a little video of my son.

http://animoto.com/play/UXNPFvmzAePXUBSd2X8BWg

Again... it isn't letting me embed the video so I will have to play a little bit later.  Just wanted to get this done and play with Animoto.

Thing 2: Digital Storytelling & Presentation Tools

Wow, has three weeks already passed me by that I am seeing the 3rd thing up and ready to go!  Yikes.  The vacation when I thought I would be catching up on my work had me in bed, and the following week going back to school had my son running high fevers.  Luckily we are all on the mend and I got to try out a few tools. 

I have been wanting to use voice thread for a while, but just hadn't had the chance.  I was hoping to work a 5th grade poetry project with it later in the year.  I thought it might be fun for my 1st graders to try with the project we are currently working on with hibernating animals.  Usually we find out facts and make a stapleless book they all can fold and color with the facts they found.  Maybe we will try voicethread instead.  Here is a sample of what I want to create with them.

http://voicethread.com/share/2591167/

Couldn't get it to embed this morning.  Will try something else later.